The Best Next Thing ((Un)Professionally Yours 1)

For a shocking moment Charity absolutely believed the words were aimed at her, and she didn’t quite know how to react to them. But good sense reasserted itself seconds later, and she coughed to cover up her irrational misconception.

The sound drew his notice, and he eyed her curiously.

“Sorry,” she coughed again, for emphasis, and circled her forefinger in front of her neck. “Ahem, frog in my throat.”

“Do you need some water?” His eyes were grave with the beginnings of concern.

“I’m good. Thanks. You never raise your voice at her,” she said, thinking it prudent to change the subject. “Even when she frustrates you or disobeys you.”

“Of course not,” he responded, sounding shocked. The thought of raising his voice to the dog had clearly never occurred to him. “That would scare her.”

Such a simple answer. And yet it said so much about his character.

His eyes roamed around her small home again, and landed on her textbooks and notepad on the kitchen table. She had been studying when Stormy had bounded into the room.

“What are you doing?”

“Paperwork,” she lied. This was too personal, something she hadn’t shared even with her family. But she had kept up with her studies, and continued to pay for her practice number, in the hopes that she could one day step into the career that she had abandoned in favor of Blaine.

“Paperwork?”

“Yes.” She hoped he would respect the finality in her voice and not probe any further.

“Okay.” A long pause before he dislodged some of the gravel in his throat and refocused his attention t

o the snoozing dog on the floor. “Come on, Monster Mutt, it’s bedtime. I’m sorry for the intrusion, Charity.”

Her throat went dry at the sound of her name in that quiet, gruff voice but this time she didn’t protest his use of it. There was no point in clinging to that extra layer of decorum. It had been hard enough thinking of him as Mr. Hollingsworth before his dog began bringing her his underwear as gifts.

“I didn’t mind,” she said, feeling her lips tilt upward in a small smile. It had been so long since she had smiled spontaneously that the movement felt unfamiliar. “She was just being friendly.”

“I didn’t think you liked her. Well, dogs in general actually.”

“I like dogs. But I didn’t think it was prudent to become too attached to her. In case you changed your mind.”

There was a short, awkward silence and Charity wondered if she had offended him.

“Why would I change my mind?”

“You’re a busy man. I thought maybe, after you had time to think about it, you’d decide you didn’t have the time for a puppy

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“I’ve come to appreciate that. And I apologize for the unfair assumption.”

He looked uncomfortable and acknowledged her apology with a curt nod. He bent to scoop Stormy up, and Charity felt a pang of envy as the dog snuggled against that strong, beautiful, naked chest.

“Have a good night, Charity.”

“You too.”

He turned to leave, but Charity spotted the abandoned cotton boxer briefs on her sofa and grabbed them without thinking.

“Miles.”

He whirled around at the sound of his name. His intense gaze honed in on her face.

“Yes?”