The CEO, the Puppy and Me

Ric plastered on a smile, like the one he’d worn at dinner when Mr. Grosso had started going on about how a man who could invest in a long-term relationship was a reliable sort of man. Yeah, it was that smile.

“Can I help you?” Ric asked the young woman.

“Can I get a selfie with you? My friends are going to be so envious.”

And so Ric granted the young woman one photo together. When it was over, Ric pulled his hat lower and added a pair of dark sunglasses.

“I don’t think that’s going to help,” Gia said as they walked away.

He shrugged. “I don’t know why I agreed to do that movie.”

“Sure, you do. You thought it would be fun.” At least she hoped that’s the reason he’d done it.

“In truth, it was a bet and I lost. My friend starred in it and had producing rights. It was just supposed to be a small clip, no big deal. And then I don’t know what happened.”

She knew exactly what had happened. Most every woman on the planet who had seen the clip was now part of the Ric’s fan club. Secretly she was a member too. Not that she’d ever admit it to him.

“Most men would die to be in the position of having women throw themselves at them.”

“I’m not most men.” Any hint of the smile that had been on his face was now gone, and in its place was a distinct frown.

“Why is that?” She shouldn’t have asked. It was none of her business. And yet her mouth just kept doing its own thing. “Did someone break your heart?”

At first, he didn’t respond. “It was something like that, but it’s in the past. And now I have my career to focus on.”

And here she thought she was the only one hiding behind a wall in order to kee

p from getting hurt. She sensed his wall was much thicker than hers and had been reinforced over years. How did one break down such a wall?

Deciding she needed to lighten the mood, Gia asked, “Would that be your acting career?”

He frowned and then shook his head. “A guy takes a sixty-second spot in a movie and everyone blows it out of proportion.”

“Oh, but those sixty seconds were quite something.” And then, because she couldn’t resist teasing him, she asked, “So was that a body double? You know for those washboard abs?”

His lips pressed into a firm line as his brows drew together. “You know that was all genuine. No stunt doubles were involved in the shooting of that scene.”

Then, because she was having fun, she said, “I don’t know if I believe you. You might have to prove it.” When he reached for his shirt as though to rip it off and prove himself, she hurriedly reached out and grabbed his forearm, holding it in place. “Not that I wouldn’t mind the show, but weren’t you trying to stay under the radar?”

He glanced around, as though for a moment forgetting they were in public. “Yeah, right. But I was serious. It was me. All me.”

She couldn’t help but laugh as he stressed the point.

His dark brows drew together. “I’m serious.”

“I know you are. That’s what’s so amusing.” She couldn’t stop smiling.

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to.” Men and their egos.

When they reached the gelato shop, it appeared they weren’t the only ones to have the idea on this perfect summer evening. As they stood in a long line that stretched out the door, Gin drew people’s attention. Passersby stopped to fuss over him, and the pup ate up all of the attention. There was no shyness when it came to Gin.

“Wait. Aren’t you Ric Moretti from Into the Sunset?” a young woman asked.

“It is him,” another young woman agreed.

“Hey, everyone!” the first woman shouted. “It’s the hottie from Into the Sunset.”