“Let me get this straight: you’re blowing me off for some dogs.”
Forcing a smile, I replied, “Homeless dogs. There’s a difference.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Jeff, I’m offering you sex. Do you get that? I mean, do I need to just come out and say I want to sleep with you? No, I want you to fuck me.”
“Okay, I didn’t really see that coming from you.”
“Why? Because I didn’t jump in bed with you the first night we met? I might not have done it this soon, but I thought you were giving me the vibe.”
Damn that vibe.
“Listen, Kenzie, you’re really sweet, but—”
She held up her hands. “Please don’t say it. Let’s just end this here and now before my ego gets any more bruised.”
I placed my hand on her shoulder and leaned down. Gently kissing her on the lips, I rested my forehead to hers.
“You know, I really do think you’re hot as hell.”
She laughed. “Well, obviously not as hot as the dogs.”
This time I laughed. “You need me to walk you to your car?”
Placing her hand on my chest, she shook her head. “Nah, I’ll be fine. I’m only a block away. Thanks for lunch, though.”
“Sure.”
Chewing on her lip, she grinned. “Whoever she is, I hope she realizes what a catch you are, Jeff Johnson.”
I opened my mouth to say something but closed it again. Standing there, I watched as Kenzie waved goodbye and walked nearly a block before she got into her car.
Blowing out a breath of air, I made my way to the parking lot and to my truck. Glancing at my watch, I had plenty of time to get to the shelter and park in the back so I was out of sight. Each time I came in, I loaded up my truck with the trash and took it to the dumpster; it was the perfect excuse to park in the back so there was no chance she would see my truck.
Walking up to a tree, I sat down so I had the perfect view. If there was one thing I knew about Ari, she was a stickler for her schedule. She’d come to the shelter on the two days she got out of school early. Make her rounds inside and then pick two different dogs each day to take out in the yard to play. I could see her perfectly, but she couldn’t see me through the trees. It was a sick game I played twice a week, but I didn’t care. It was the only thing that kept me fucking sane.
“Milo! Bring me back the ball! Come on, boy!”
I smiled as I watched Milo completely ignore Ari. I gave her five minutes tops before she wouldn’t be able to stand him ignoring her.
“Good girl, Lucy Lou! You know how to listen, unlike Milo here.”
Milo barked and started running off with the ball.
“Come on, boy! Milo! This is why you don’t have a family you stupid dog! Get your butt over here!”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched Ari chase Milo while Lucy Lou chased her.
“Lucy Lou, don’t bite my butt!” Ari laughed at the game the three of them played, while I sat there and took it all in. Damn that girl. She both annoyed and thrilled me, but she always held my attention, whether she knew it or not. She had ever since the moment she first showed up on her decked-out bike.
“Jefferson! You can’t tag me if I wasn’t it,” Ellie protested as we all stood in a circle. Me, Ellie, Rodney, and his sister Lynn.
“Lynn was it!” Ellie argued.
“I wasn’t it, Ellie. Rodney tagged you before you got to the tree.”
Ellie glared at Lynn, and before I could say anything, I heard a voice from behind me.
“Hey, y’all.”