She’s so curvy. Everything about her is mouth-watering, tempting, her hips curving outward in an enthralling shape. Her eyes are wide and excited making her look so enticing.
What would she do if I suddenly wrapped my arm around her and squeezed my hand down on her ass, massaging as I pulled her right up against me?
Would she run, slap me, yell at me to get off her property?
“I’m not in trouble, am I?” she asks softly.
I shake my head. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
That’s the truth, at the most basic level. She broke the law. She trespassed in somebody’s home, stole what was technically their property. I could tell she was lying as she relayed her story.
But, at heart, she did the right thing. She saved Bones. He’s clearly thankful for it too.
“So…” She raises her hands.
“I thought you’d like to know I adopted Bones,” I tell her.
She gasps as she walks barefoot down the porch. The house is well-presented, the stones clean, the grass cut, but there are countless signs of work that needs to be done.
The exterior is flaking. Half of the stone steps have crumbled. The carpet in the hallway is faded and threadbare in places.
I resist the urge to reach into my pocket, taking out my wallet. I can’t risk offending Piper.
“Why?” she asks.
“I was going to get a dog anyway,” I explain. “And when I heard about Bones, I knew he was the one for me. He needs a steady home.”
“He’s amazing,” Piper whispers, looking down at the small pup. His tail starts wagging immediately. “After everything, he’s been through. I thought it would take him longer to recover.”
“Every dog is different, the lady at the shelter told me,” I say. “She said some are traumatized by their abuse. Some retreat into themselves. But some are just happy to put it behind them. Don’t get me wrong. He’s still a handful. He’s already destroyed half my couch.”
Piper laughs, and then quickly covers her mouth. “I’m sorry. That’s not funny.”
I grin, chuckling. “It is a little. Don’t worry. You should’ve seen the look on his face. He stared up at me as if to say, What’s the problem? Didn’t you want this couch completely wrecked?”
She gifts me with more laughter, the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. It makes me want to kiss her, to share in her unbridled joy. I haven’t felt like smiling – sincerely, unselfconsciously beaming – in years.
“He doesn’t like being left on his own though,” I go on. “I’ve taken the day off, to get him situated, but I’m on the hunt for a dog sitter.”
She nods along, her eyes flitting between me and Bones. I may be imagining it – wishing it – but it’s like she can’t look at me for longer than a few moments.
But that doesn’t mean she feels the same. Maybe she’s just uncomfortable.
Her eyes widen even more. “Wait, do you mean…”
I smirk, nodding. “Yes, you. I can’t think of a better candidate. Especially after seeing how excited he was to see you.”
She reaches down, offering the back of her hand. Bones nuzzles it, whining softly.
“He could do with some training too,” I say. “But I wouldn’t expect you to handle that. He’s been barking at everything – people, animals, any sound – for the whole walk. Luckily I don’t embarrass easily.”
I don’t mention my other reason for wanting to hire her. Apart from the bond she clearly has with Bones – it’s like the little guy knows who saved him – it would mean seeing more of her. It would mean having her in my life.
I need that. I’ll go insane if I never see her again.
“What would the job involve?” she asks.
“It would be quite demanding,” I admit. “You’d need to be there while I’m at work for now. My hours can be on the longer side, depending on my caseload. I know it’s a long shot. I’m sure you’ve got college, maybe a job already…”
“Yes, I’ve got college,” she says. “Well, it’s an online course. I do it from home. And I’ve been looking for a job, actually.”
I swallow, as the words fate and destiny bounce around in my mind.
I’ve never believed in things like that before.
“If you give me your email, I can send over the terms. I think you’ll find them fair.”
They’re more than fair. I want to provide for this woman for the rest of our lives, but I can’t come out and say that. The next best thing is paying her handsomely for taking care of the little guy.
“Sure,” she says, grabbing a paper and a pen from the table by the door.
After scrawling her email on it she hands it to me.
As I take it, our fingers brush. It’s the barest touch, fleeting contact, and yet it causes my body to buzz and my blood heat. It makes my seed rise up as though trying to escape, trying to find the quickest path to her womb.