Neighbor Dearest

“Yes. They’re totally growing on me. As long as I don’t mention bacon.”

“When does he come back?”

“Sometime Saturday afternoon, I think.”

“Does the ex take the dogs on weekends?”

“They alternate. The dogs are staying here this weekend because I guess Jenna is going away. So, she won’t pick them up Friday night. They’ll just stay over.”

“These dogs are like kids!”

“Kids that are practically the size of full-grown men, yeah. You should see how much room they take up in the bed. But I have to say, it’s been nice sleeping next to a warm body or two.”

“Not exactly the kind of double teaming we read about.”

I snorted. “Definitely not.”

“Sweet, though.”

“Yeah, it really is.”***I’d decided to sleep over at Damien’s on the last night. That way, I wouldn’t have to leave my bed so early Saturday morning. If I was already there, the Double Ds might let me sleep in a little longer.

Friday night, I curled up next to both dogs on Damien’s couch and watched a documentary.

When I retreated to the bedroom shortly before midnight, they both followed me into the bed. With two snoring dogs flanking me, I fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, it felt like one of them was wrapped around me. It smelled like Damien in the bed more than usual. When a hand moved across my abdomen, my eyes flashed open. I jumped then flipped around only to be met by the most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen.

“Damien! What are you doing here?”

He placed his hand on my hip and playfully nudged me. “This is my bed.”

God, I loved it when he touched me. He rarely did.

Painfully aware of his hand still resting on my hip, I cleared my throat and said, “I know, but what are you doing here so early?”

He slid his hand off of my hip, causing me to ache for its return.

“We drove through the night.”

We?

My stomach sank. “Who’s we?”

“Tyler and I.”

“Your brother went with you to L.A?”

“Yes.”

“How long have you been back, and where are the dogs?”

“I came home about five in the morning. When they saw me, they bolted to the living room.”

“Why?”

“They know they’re not allowed in my bed.”

My jaw dropped. “They’re not?”

“No. They were taking full advantage of you. They know to stay out of my bed when I’m in it.”

The dogs were standing outside of the door looking guilty when I glanced over at them. It was kind of cute.

“I had no idea.”

“It’s not your fault. I never specified. I guess I trusted that they would follow the rules. They must have been loving you.”

“Actually, I enjoyed sleeping next to them. I guess you could say we bonded.”

Looking amused, Damien rested his head on his hand as he continued to lie across from me. “Look at you…warming up to the dogs.”

“I just assumed they slept with you.”

He shook his head. “You’re tiny compared to me. If I shared a bed with them, there would be no room. I’d never get any sleep.”

“They are cover hogs.”

“I can’t thank you enough for watching them. Let me take you out to dinner tonight.”

Disappointment filled me when I remembered my date. “Actually, I can’t. I have those plans with Brian.”

“Shit. That’s right. Well, maybe tomorrow instead.”

“Okay. I’d like that.”

“Actually, there’s this new burger place that opened up in Sunnyvale. Apparently, there’s like a mile-long line to get in no matter what time of the day you go, but they’re supposed to have the best burgers in the world. They have crazy desserts, too. Wanna try it for lunch tomorrow instead of dinner?”

“That sounds great, yeah.”

“Cool.” He glanced down at my legs then back up at me. “Where’s The Piano Man taking you?”

“Piano Man?”

“Steinway. Pianos.”

“Oh.” I smiled. “I forgot about that. Actually, fondue, remember? Dipping his stick?”

“Ah, yes. Well, don’t let him divert to Bad Boy Burger. That’s where we’re going.”

“Okay.” I grinned, becoming lost in his eyes for a few moments before asking, “Was your trip successful?”

“Yeah…saw some friends.”

“I thought you said it was business.”

He paused then said, “Tyler and I went to meet with some people about some stuff that may happen in the future, yeah, but we also have some friends in that area.”

Hmm.

“Well, I’m glad you’re home.”

He smirked. “Was Jenna nice to you?”

“Nice enough.”

“That’s Chelsea code for she was a total bitch.”

“No. She wasn’t overly friendly but not a bitch.”

“I’m sure she hates you.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Actually, I made it clear that there was nothing going on between us, so why should she hate me?”

“Because I doubt she believes that I’m just friends with someone who looks like you.”

“Well, it’s the truth.”

Guilt was starting to creep in as I thought about my snooping.

I suddenly got up. “I’d better get going.”

He followed me off the bed. “Stay and have breakfast.”

Between my fantasizing about him yesterday and his touching me, I needed relief—not breakfast.