Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)
“He’s good,” Josie said. “He ate today. He just really needs a loving home.” But people were afraid to take chances on pitties, no matter how little the mix of genetics.
The breed had a bad reputation but Kendall didn’t care. She’d fallen for Steve, named by the person who’d dumped him at the shelter when training became too hard. She’d have taken him home, but Kendall’s building rules allowed for only one dog, so she had to leave her heart here every night. It was probably a good thing or she’d end up being the crazy lady who hoarded dogs. All she could do was spend the day giving otherwise abandoned dogs all the love, cuddles, and talking to that she could, in the limited time she was there.
“I’ll take him for a walk in a little while and spend some time with them all.”
“Sounds good,” Josie said. “I left some paperwork on the desk for you.”
Kendall nodded and got to work. The morning passed quickly, and before she knew it, lunch was fast approaching. She’d brought a cup of yogurt and fruit to eat at her desk, but first she wanted to finish up the filing.
Kendall bent over a metal cabinet, putting away the paperwork for recent adoptions, while Josie was in the back, showing a
family the available dogs.
The sound of the front door chimes caught Kendall’s attention. “I’ll be right with you,” she called without looking up.
“Take your time,” a familiar masculine voice said, and Kendall’s hand froze midair.
She lowered the papers, dropping them on top of the cabinet, and slowly rose to her feet, her heart slamming against her chest, a million beats a second.
She turned to face Julian, immediately struck by his good looks, as she was every time she laid eyes on the man. They’d first met at the gym, and she’d been captivated by his dark hair, green eyes, and sexy smile—completely unaware he’d already known who she was and that he had been setting her up the whole time he’d been sweet-talking her into his clutches.
Today his dark hair was cut short, his facial scruff a hot, sexy addition to his overall good looks. He wore a pair of faded jeans that molded to his strong thighs, a black tee shirt, his forearm muscles bunching from beneath the short sleeves, and a pair of leather bracelets she didn’t remember on his right wrist.
His overall appearance was casual, sexy … and wary, if the expression in his eyes was anything to go by. But she didn’t trust anything she saw at a glance. Not when it came to Julian Dane.
He studied her, her body heating as his gaze raked over her. She didn’t look her best, didn’t have to for the job she held, but she straightened her shoulders, meeting his gaze. As if she hadn’t thought about him in ages. Which wasn’t true. She hadn’t let herself think about him, cutting off any wayward slips he made into her consciousness.
Nobody had done as much damage in her life as Julian, mostly because she’d cared so much and he’d used her feelings for him against her. She was determined to handle him with the cool detachment he deserved.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, amazed her voice sounded calm and composed.
“I wanted to see you.”
His smooth, deep voice washed over her, better memories of their time together warring with the knowledge of his real intentions. He’d wined her, dined her, and the sex between them had been incredible. She’d fallen for him hard, appreciating how he’d enjoyed her highs, not realizing he was doing more damage by encouraging her erratic behavior.
“I have nothing to say to you, Julian. Go away.” She picked up the still-to-be-filed papers with shaking hands.
He stepped up to the desk, and she was grateful for the barrier between them, but it didn’t prevent her from catching a whiff of his masculine scent and familiar, woodsy cologne.
She swallowed hard, forcing away memories of his hands on her body, gliding up her thighs, over her sex, bringing her to an intense orgasm.
“I’ve tried to talk to you a couple of times.” He spoke, unaware of her inappropriate thoughts. “Kade and Lexie haven’t let me get near you.”
Kendall narrowed her gaze at what sounded like an accusation against her twin and her husband. “Don’t you think there’s good reason for that?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw, the only indication her words hurt him. “Give me five minutes. Please.”
“I’m working.”
“After work, then.”
She shook her head. “I have an appointment.” Therapy, the subject of which he’d just altered by showing his face here and forcing her to think about him again.
“After your appointment?”
When she didn’t immediately answer, he went on. “Lunch today? Tomorrow?”
She scowled at his persistence, frustrated with herself because she was curious about what he had to say. But she wasn’t ready to give in, mostly because she didn’t trust herself to be alone with him.