“You carried a Dalmatian who was being sick everywhere. And you gave me a place to stay, even though you don’t normally allow women to sleep over.”
“Just don’t leave a toothbrush or I’ll expect free therapy.” The gentle amusement in his tone made her pulse pound.
To distract herself, she took a sip of wine. Berries and wood smoke exploded on her palate. “This is delicious.”
“My neighbor and I share a passion for wine. This was one of his discoveries. We share tips.”
“You have neighbors?” She glanced around the spacious apartment. “It feels as if you’re in your own private castle.”
“There are other private castles close by. Which is useful on the days I need to borrow a cup of sugar.”
She laughed. “Or a dog.”
“That, too.” He topped up his glass. “Is that why you were so angry this morning? Not because I borrowed the dog, but because you misread me?”
“I was thrown.” The alcohol slid into her veins and she felt some of the tension in her body ease. “I formed an opinion of you based on your relationship with Brutus. And then it turned out you didn’t have a relationship with Brutus, so none of the things I thought about you were true. It was confusing.”
He put his glass down. “My relationship with Brutus is real enough.”
“You’re fond of him. And given that you only borrowed him to make me notice you, that surprises me.”
He grinned. “It surprises the hell out of me, too. Brutus is a great character. Turns out I might be more of a dog person than either of us thought.”
Every conversation she had with him seemed to erode another of her defenses. He was charming, that was true, but usually she found charm easy to resist. Charm could be all surface and it could tarnish under certain conditions. But there was so much more to Daniel Knight than charm.
“Are you telling me you’re thinking of buying a dog?”
“No. I’m telling you I like Brutus. It’s an individual thing.” He pushed his phone toward her. “I didn’t call the vet. I thought you’d want to do that. While you talk to them, I’ll make us something to eat.”
“Thanks.” She took the phone, almost afraid to use it in case the news was bad.
“Do you want me to do it?”
She was touched as much by the fact that he understood her thought process as she was by his offer.
“No. But thank you.” She gripped the phone and dialed, all the time telling herself that if it was bad news they would have called.
It turned out she was right. There was no news. Valentine’s condition was the same, and so far none of the tests had shown anything useful.
“No change.” She pushed the phone back toward Daniel. “They’re still pretty sure he must have eaten something, but without knowing what they can only give him supportive treatment. They said something about trying to maintain normal function of the organs until whatever he ate is flushed out through his body.”
“Harriet called twice while you were in the shower. She’s worried.”
“Harriet is wonderful. When you told me you had sisters, I had no idea it was Fliss and Harry.”
“I didn’t know you knew them, otherwise I would have insisted on an introduction. Would have been easier than borrowing a dog.”
“I still can’t believe you did that. Are you always that inventive?”
“No, but you were totally engrossed in your dog and it seemed like the only way to get your attention.”
“Was the running in the park for my benefit, too?”
“I’ve been running in the park for years. It’s the best part of the day. After the sun comes up and before the crowds arrive.”
She felt the same way. “This morning when I went to your offices I never in a million years dreamed I’d be spending the night in your apartment.” In the moment of crisis she hadn’t given it much thought. She’d snatched at the chance to stay as close to Valentine as possible. Only now, when the immediate crisis was receding, was she starting to feel the intimacy of their situation. Whatever the reason, it didn’t change the fact that she was alone with him, sharing dinner and sleeping under the same roof.
She was acutely aware of him.