The CEO, the Puppy and Me

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. When she didn’t stop—when she grasped the door handle—he said louder, “Hey! Did you hear me? I’m sorry.”

She paused with one arm around the dog and her other hand on the handle. Apologies were easy. Why should she believe him? It was best they end their brief encounter now.

“I’m not used to having people in my home—in my space,” he said. “And I spend most of my time at the office working so my social skills may be a bit rusty. Can we start over?”

He was trying, she’d give him that. But even so, she wasn’t willing to open up about how her family had been blown apart by a devastating secret.

But she also sensed how hard that apology was for him. And it deserved a response because those manners her mother taught her at a young age, well, they were still a part of her—even if she didn’t know who she truly was.

Gia turned back to him. “Apology accepted.”

A small smile pulled at the corners of his lips. He went from being incredibly handsome to incredibly sexy in zero point six seconds. Gia’s heart stumbled.

And then she realized she was smiling back at him. How was that possible? One moment, she was furious with him. And then the next, she’s smiling at him like some lovesick teenager.

She pressed her lips into a firm line. “I should be going.”

“Don’t. I mean, stay. I shouldn’t have been so blunt.” He at least had the decency to look contrite. She supposed that was something.

“You were being honest.” Now that she’d cooled down a little, she could see his perspective. It wasn’t like he knew her at all. She was a perfect stranger. A rich man like himself was probably used to people trying to take advantage of him. But she wasn’t one of those people.

Just then the puppy whimpered.

“I better take him out.” And with that she made a hasty exit.

Luckily, there was a small park just across the street and down the road a little way. She and the puppy were there in minutes. There were a few benches. Nothing fancy, but she wasn’t the only one there with her dog. It seemed to be a popular spot.

Now what was she going to do? Return to the apartment and a man who unnerved her with his sexy good looks? Or just head off on her own?

* * *

That went wrong.

Completely wrong.

And now he’d run her off. That hadn’t been his intent. Well, maybe it had been at first, when he thought she was a con artist. But he saw the pain in her eyes when he’d accused her. That sort of pain couldn’t be faked. It was real. And he was the one who had caused it. He felt awful.

He started for the door. When he realized he was chasing after her, it startled him. He didn’t chase after women. If anything, it was the other way around, especially lately because of that silly movie. Seriously, it wasn’t even fifteen minutes of fame. It was more like sixty seconds. And it was never supposed to amount to anything. And yet it had gained so much media attention.

Ric stopped himself as he reached the door. Maybe it was best that he let her go. After all, she wasn’t going to be related to his uncle. He was as certain of that as he was his name.

And now Gia was one more complication he didn’t need—didn’t want. He knew the dangers of letting someone into his life. When they found something better, they moved on—no hesitations, no apologies. He refused to let himself be vulnerable again.

She would find her own way—or she wouldn’t. He knew something about attempting to track down missing parents. You didn’t always get the result you wanted.

He turned and headed for the kitchen. He didn’t know why. It wasn’t like he was hungry. Still, he opened the fridge and stared inside. Nothing appealed to him.

He wondered what Gia would do for dinner. It wasn’t like she could just stroll into a restaurant with a dog. Again, not his worry.

He closed the fridge and then opened a drawer with a stack of takeout menus. Some of them had worn edges. His gaze scanned the first menu. Not even his most indulgent selections could tempt him today—

Buzz. Buzz.

The doorbell drew his attention. He slipped the menus back in the drawer. So she’d changed her mind. Interesting.

His steps were swift. He swung the door open, about to greet her with some glib comment but the words died in the back of his throat. It wasn’t Gia and the puppy. He refused to acknowledge the disappointment that settled in his chest.

“Hi.” A young man in a black and white suit smiled at him. “I believe you were expecting these.” The man moved aside so Ric could see the purple luggage.