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“Hey. Eden, tell me there’s a dog under all that mud?” Mario walks out, a covered tray in hand.If he’s noticed anything between me and Sergio, he doesn’t show it.
Is it in my head?
I look down at the dog. “I’m about to find that out for myself,” I say triumphantly as I bend and pick him up. Mario grins. He’s handsome, and most women would call him attractive, but he doesn’t even turn my head… as itshouldbe.
Mario jerks his head at Sergio. “Serge, wanna come with me? I gotta pick up a new car. Due in at noon.”
“Yeah,” Sergio says. “I’ll go.”
I watch him get into Mario’s car without a backward glance at me, as if he needs to escape.My heart sinks.
Have I only imagined chemistry between the two of us?
Ugh. I’ve got it worse than I thought.
After their car roars out of the parking lot, I realize I’m still standing staring after it, the muddy little dog held tightly in my grip.
I give myself a mental shake and focus on what I need to do. I won’t stand around here moping, imagining he’ll look my way again, or brush a stray strand of hair out of my face, or call meEdenin that husky, dreamy voice of his.
Nope.
He’s my boss.
And I’ve got work to do.
“Well,” I say softly to my new friend, “I’ve got to get you”— I grimace at my own muddied clothing—“andme cleaned up, before I get back to work.”
It takes four full bathtubs of water and half my bottle of shampoo before I find out the true color of my buddy, and I realize thatheis indeed ashe.
Turns out the gray fur is actuallywhite.
She’s absolutely beautiful and perfect. “We’ll call you Daisy,” I say to her. She shakes water all over me in response.
I groan. “Okay, now it’smyturn to shower.”
I get Daisy settled down on a towel in the room and leave the door a bit ajar so she doesn’t get scared, so I can take a quick shower myself, when I hear her barking.
“Hey! I’ll be right there. Just be patient. You can”— I raise my voice so she can hear me over the sound of her own barking— “COME IN!” Poor thing must be frightened.
I grab my glasses which promptly steam up, toss a towel around myself, and open the door further. “I went as quickly as I could. Now if you—”
I freeze, staring through foggy lenses at Sergio.
“I got you something,” he says gruffly.
“Me?” I look at the bagPaws and Tail Emporiumacross the front.
“Got some stuff for the dog,” he says, turning his head away as if embarrassed.
I look down at myself and let out a little scream.
I grabbed one of thesmalltowels. It covers only the most prominent parts of my body but leavesnothingto the imagination. I don’t thank him. I don’t even respond. I run back into the bathroom and slam the door behind me.
I stifle a whimper press my forehead against the wooden frame and hope he doesn’t hear me banging it. I wouldn’t come out in a sleeveless gown, much less atowel.
“Eden? You okay?”
“Fine!” I lie. “Can you…hand me some clothes, please?”
