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Tripp had already opened the windows to his office, and Hemi was sitting on one of the chairs with her nose up against the screen.
“There. All better,” I said as I bagged up the trash and handed it to Tripp who tried to hand it to Steed.
Lifting his palms, Steed took a few steps back. “Hard pass.”
Tripp looked like he was about to come undone. “You listen here, this is all your fault.”
“My fault?” Steed asked. “How is any of this my fault?”
“Chloe! She’s your daughter, she dognapped Hemi and then hid her out in your office, and your wife guilted my girlfriend into taking the dog.”
My heart soared when Tripp called me his girlfriend. I loved hearing that come from his lips.
Steed stood there in silence before nodding his head. “I see your point, but—”
“No buts!”
“But,” Steed went on, “You were the one who left and didn’t make sure Hemi was in her crate.”
Tripp balled up his fists and was about to let loose.
“Steed, I think I can help Tripp from this point on with the clean-up.”
“Oh, I didn’t come here to help him clean, he wanted to talk to me. Speaking of, what did you want to talk to me about?”
Pushing Steed out of his office, Tripp said, “Never mind. Just get out of here before I punch you in the face.”
Glancing back over his shoulder, Steed dumped a bit of fuel on the fire. “Now how would that look? Attorney running for mayor hits brother and kills dog.”
“I didn’t say I was killing the dog.”
“You did about ten minutes ago.”
“Get out, Steed!” Tripp yelled. He slammed the door shut and then looked over to Hemi who was now sitting in her crate with one of her toys in her mouth.
His entire body sank, and he let out a defeated sigh.
“I can take Hemi to work with me from now on. I’ll keep her in my office and make sure I have a crate at both places. It’ll be fine,” I said.
“She ate my favorite pair of shoes.”
A slight chuckle slipped out, but I pulled it back in when his eyes snapped up to mine.
When his mouth twitched with a smile, I returned one. His hands reached for me, and I let him pull me to his lap.
“I’ve been thinking,” he softly said.
“Oh yeah? While cleaning up dog poop?”
His body shook when he laughed. “No, before that. I think I have an idea that will get you out of the clinic and into another one.”
My brows pulled in tight. “Tripp, I used every bit of my savings on that clinic.”
He nodded. “I think we take Gerald up on the offer to buy you out. Let him give you the money back that you paid Doc. He would have had to buy Doc out anyway. I’m pretty sure we can get him to pay the full price you paid Doc. He’s getting pissed and wants his place.”
“Then what do I do?”
He brushed a piece of hair back that had fallen from my ponytail. “Do you know how fucking sexy you are in these kitten scrubs?”
I looked down at my scrubs and rolled my eyes. “I’m glad to see you’re easy to please when it comes to my clothes.”
There was no denying Tripp was turned on, even though his office was a mess. I could feel his hard length pressing into me.
“I want to make love to you.”
I smiled. As much as I wanted to straddle him and ask him to take me right now, knowing he had been with Mallory in his office—probably on this very sofa—turned my stomach.
“Then we should head to your house or mine,” I said, trying to keep my thoughts out of my eyes.
He frowned slightly and then lifted the corner of his mouth in a slight grin. “Mine’s closer.”
I stood and clapped my hands together. “Okay! Let me get this place cleaned up and…”
Tripp pulled me to him. Cupping my face with his hands, he stared into my eyes. “Talk to me, Harley. You’re holding something back.”
Swallowing hard, I closed my eyes and let out a breath. “I know you were with her here, and I can’t bring myself…” I gazed into his beautiful baby blues. “I’m sorry. I know it’s stupid and I have no right to feel that way.”
“You have every right. If I knew you had been with a guy in your office at the clinic I wouldn’t like it either. I’m sorry I was insensitive to that just now.”
The corners of my mouth turned up. “I love you, Tripp.”
Heat built on my cheek where his thumb rubbed lightly back and forth. “I love you so much, Lee. More than you will ever know.”
His lips pressed to mine and I reached up to grab his arms. Tripp’s kisses always left me dizzy. When he pulled back, I let out a soft moan.
