Claiming Holly (Holiday Cove 1)

“How’s your little pup?”

I smiled, remembering that the last time I’d seen him in the hall, Hunter had tugged his leash right out of my hand as I’d been trying to open the front door. “He’s a handful. But he can also be adorable, which is pretty much the only thing saving him right now.” Greg laughed. “Thanks for asking.”

I resisted the urge to give him a once over. Greg wasn’t movie star hot, but he was tall, had a solid build, and an easy smile. He worked in software sales and drove a very fancy sports car. We’d been neighbors for a few months and had exchanged casual greetings here and there as we met in the hallway or parking garage. He was always polite and friendly toward me. After I’d introduced him to Rachel, she’d insisted that he was “into me,” but I refused to believe it. Greg was nice to everyone.

Truthfully, dating Greg—or anyone else—was so low on my list of priorities that I didn’t even spend much energy thinking about it. Rachel was far more interested in getting me back onto the market, but even she’d backed off her matchmaking attempts since I started my accounting business. Getting it off the ground and going through my first full year of acquiring clients, balancing the workload, and pulling off my first tax season as a solo CPA, with no support staff, had been my full focus, sixty plus hours a week for so long, I doubted I would have even taken a date with Brad Pitt.

Not that he was asking.

“Hey, I was thinking of heading out this afternoon to catch a movie. Any chance you’re free? We could get lunch or something before if you’d like?”

Greg’s question caught me off guard, and my mouth opened before I had an answer to spit out, so I stood there like a gaping fish for a good half a minute, before my brain power kicked back on. “Oh, um, Greg, thanks for asking. I’m actually headed out of town this afternoon.”

Greg chuckled and glanced down at his watch like it was a nervous habit. “No problem. I figured you were busy.”

Before I realized what I was doing, I reached out and set a hand on his arm. His blue eyes met with mine, alight with hope. “No, really, Greg. I’m heading up the coast to Holiday Cove. I have a rental there for a couple of weeks.”

“Oh.” He nodded and his smile came back to life. “That sounds great. Do you need anyone to water your plants or get your mail? I’d be happy to help out.”

“That’s sweet, but I got it under control.”

“Right.” He nodded again. “Well, maybe when you get back then.”

I sputtered again and pulled my hand away. “Right, well, maybe…we’ll see.” My eyes drifted over Greg’s shoulder to the large clock on the far wall of the gym. “Listen, I should go, but thanks again.”

I turned and hustled out of the gym before further embarrassment could ensue.

“God, that was weird,” I muttered to myself as I waited for the elevator to arrive. I glanced behind me to make sure Greg hadn’t followed me out. Rachel’s sing-song voice chimed in the back of my mind, asking why I hadn’t said yes, or planned to meet when I got back.

The elevator arrived and I stepped aboard, leaving the self-doubt on the other side of the metal doors. I had a laundry list of tasks to complete before I could pack up Hunter and start for the beach, and my frequent conversations with myself were all the proof I needed that I needed to get to the beach as soon as my Honda CR-V could take me!

“That’s the last of it! You ready for an adventure?” I called out to Hunter, shutting the front door behind me. I’d just finished the last run down to the car and all I needed was one mischievous puppy, before we could hit the highway.

A puppy that was nowhere to be seen.

“Damn!”

I slipped my sling-back sandals off and started down the hallway toward my bedroom—his usual hideout.

Mostly because that’s where my shoes lived.

Sure enough, as I rounded the corner into the master suite, Hunter was smack dab in the middle of the faux fur rug at the foot of the bed, his sharp puppy teeth digging into the heel of my brown suede pumps. I screamed at the sight of the impressions in the delicate fabric and launched myself at the little terror.

“Hunter! No, no, no! Bad puppy!” Hunter took off, abandoning the shoe. I snatched it off the floor and was immediately flooded with guilt at the chubby little rear end sticking out from the bed skirt. I took a deep breath and sank to my knees. I reached under the bed and pulled his warm little body into my lap. “I’m sorry little guy. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. But no more shoes! Okay bud? These things cost more than a year’s supply of your fancy kibble. All right?”