Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)

“Romantic history?” Josie asked, a grin on her face. “Because that was some thick tension between you two the other day.”

“Mmm hmm.”

Josie rolled her eyes, at the same time treating her to a knowing grin. “And that’s all I’m going to get, obviously.”

“It’s really complicated, and I have to decide what to do about it.” And that, Kendall thought, was an understatement.

“Would it help if I did the check-in?”

Kendall shook her head, knowing this was something she needed to do herself. “No. Thanks. I can handle it.” And him.

She hoped.

“Okay, I’m off to check out the kenn

els, then. Man the fort up here.”

“Will do.” Kendall waited until Josie walked out before picking up her cell and calling Julian.

He answered on the first ring. “Hey there,” he said, sounding happy to hear from her, his voice, deep and rumbly this morning, causing a shiver to ripple over her skin.

“Morning. How was Steve last night?” she asked before he could wonder about her reasons for calling.

“I couldn’t take the whining. He sounded so damned pathetic, so I scooped him up and put him in my bed. Again. Slept like a baby all night.”

Lucky dog. She bit her tongue to keep the words from spilling out.

“And this morning, he ate up the canned food, which smells like shit, by the way, and he seems more like himself. Except for the lump on his back from the water. Makes him look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other than that, all’s well here.”

She exhaled a relieved breath. “I’m glad to hear it.” Now, she needed to hang up. Get off the phone before—

“So I was thinking,” he went on, oblivious to her thoughts. “I feel bad for Steve. He’s in a new place and has no friends.”

She shook her head and laughed, an unwilling smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “He has you. I’m sure he’ll survive.”

“Well, I don’t know about that. The poor guy’s coming from a shelter with lots of dogs, you know? So I was thinking, what if we introduced him to your dog?”

“Wait. What?”

“Waffles. Isn’t that her name?”

“Yes, but—”

“Every guy needs a good girl in his life.”

God, now he was being cute and sweet. “Julian—”

“Not to mention, I need to find a good dog park, and I’m sure you take Waffles to one, right?”

“Yes. Near my apartment.” She gripped the phone tighter in her hand.

“So what if we met up there this weekend?”

Her head was spinning at the speed of this conversation. She wondered if he was doing it on purpose, keeping her off-balance so she wouldn’t hang up the phone or dismiss him out of hand.

“You want to meet at the dog park. This weekend.”

“I figure Steve will be one hundred percent well by then.”