“Did you bring your daddy a special present? Shall we give it to him now or make him wait until later?” Her singsong voice carried across the stark, businesslike interior of his office building and Brutus, whipped into a frenzy of excitement by her tone, whined and wagged his tail so hard he almost sent one of the receptionists flying.
Daniel grabbed Brutus’s lead, intending to take him out onto the street where they could continue the conversation in some modicum of privacy, but Brutus was so excited to see him that he leaped up and planted his paws in the middle of Daniel’s chest.
Recognizing the ridiculousness of the situation, Daniel laughed. If he ever had decided to get a dog, he would have chosen a dog exactly like Brutus, who had a healthy disregard for people’s opinions and society’s conventions.
“Oh, he is so pleased to see his daddy.” Molly sounded delighted and Daniel decided to play her at her own game.
Sometimes, when you were caught in a fast-flowing current, the best thing to do was to stop fighting it.
“And I’m so pleased you dropped by. I left early this morning and didn’t want to wake you.”
Her eyes widened and color streaked across her cheeks.
Over her shoulder Daniel saw his client close the car door.
One minute until he walked into the building.
He had to find a way to make Molly run, and he only knew one way.
He tugged her against him and she swayed off balance and landed with her palm flat against his chest. She gave a gasp, but before she could protest, he kissed her. He’d intended to keep it brief, but the moment her mouth opened under his he lost track of time. He slid his hand into the silk of her hair, cupping the back of her neck and holding her head steady for his kiss. He explored her mouth, absorbing her, tasting her.
It was only when someone cleared their throat, that he remembered where he was and reluctantly let her go.
They stared at each other, dazed. It was hard to know which of them was most thrown by the kiss.
“I’ll see you later.” Somehow he managed to speak. “I should be home by eight. Don’t cook. I know you have a lot on your mind right now…” Like a thousand different ways to kill him. “I’ve got this.” He saw the look of alarm on her face as she realized she was no longer the one in charge.
“There’s no n
eed to—”
“I insist. It’s my thank-you to you for looking after Brutus while I’m working.”
The client walked through the door and Daniel decided it was time to end this encounter. “Rebecca?” He turned to one of the girls who worked on reception. “Ask Marsha to call Rob and get him to bring the car around. He can take Molly and Brutus home.”
“Of course, Mr. Knight.” She hurried back to the desk and the rest of the women gradually dispersed, no doubt to spread the gossip that unattached, incurably single, man-about-town Daniel Knight was finally involved with a woman. And enjoying sole ownership of a dog.
He suspected office life was about to take a turn for the complicated.
Acknowledging the client with a lift of his hand, Daniel took Brutus’s lead and led him out to the street.
Molly turned, a dangerous spark in her eyes. “You borrowed a dog.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you that if you tell me why you ran away after that kiss in the park.”
She took a step backward, flustered. “That has nothing to do with anything. You used a dog to meet me.”
“Yes.”
“Were you intending to tell me at some point?”
“Today. But you didn’t show up.”
“I was busy. I have a meeting with my publisher later, and—”