If she didn’t find someone to “watch” over her, Armie would likely do it himself. Or they would have to spend their whole day driving back and forth to the hospital. He would miss his daughter’s science fair, and it wasn’t some elementary event where they showed off homemade volcanoes. Noelle was in her senior year of high school and competing for scholarships.
Also, she might save the puppy from having to go to some horrible shelter.
She looked at Zep. She knew what she was about to say was a mistake, but she didn’t see that she had any other choice. She was desperate. “I need someone to make sure I can wake up every couple of hours.”
Zep stopped and looked around as though trying to make sure she was talking to him. “You want me to call my sister or something?”
His sister and her husband, Harrison Jefferys, owned a B and B, the nicest one in town. That could be the solution. She could check in for the day and sleep on the couch in the great room. She’d heard their family dog was almost like a nanny to their little boy. Maybe he could be a nurse, too. “Does she have any rooms open?”
Armie huffed and Lila started shaking her head as though they both knew she planned to ask a dog to help her out before she’d ask the human male in the room.
Zep nodded as though that was what he’d expected. “Sorry. I was talking to Sera and Harry last night and they’re completely booked. They’ve got a big family coming down for the week. From somewhere back East.”
Then she didn’t have a choice. She closed her eyes and wished the ground would swallow her up. It would be easier than doing what she had to do now. She sighed and opened her eyes because the ground was still firm beneath her. “Would you do it?”
The slowest, sexiest smile crossed his face. “I can definitely wake you up, darlin’. Though I’m more used to putting pretty ladies to sleep. Wait. That came out wrong. Never mind. I can do it.”
She already regretted the choice. It might have been better to let the snake have her.* * ** * *
“You don’t actually have to stay, you know,” Roxie said as Zep eased into the driver’s seat of his truck.
Well, he should have known she would say that, but it still disappointed him. He also couldn’t let her get around Lila’s dictates. “It’s all right. I don’t mind.”
Daisy was in the back of the cab. It wasn’t one of those big cabs that could fit three people. It was cramped, but Daisy treated it like a dog run. She took three steps to one side and then turned to race the whole small bench to get to the other side. Yipping all the way.
The dog was excited.
Zep was kind of excited, too, but he wasn’t allowed to show his excitement by getting a case of the zoomies. He was going to get to spend time with her that didn’t involve being thrown in a jail cell.
Most men would have given up by now. Most men would have walked away and found someone easier to deal with, someone who would actually admit she liked said man in question. It wasn’t like he hadn’t dated since they’d spent that one fateful night together, but none of it had been more than casual. He hadn’t even had sex since he’d been with Roxie.
Not that anyone would believe him. Even though he hadn’t even made out with a woman in a year, it hadn’t seemed to have made a dent in repairing the town’s view of him. One day he would sit his own son down and have a long conversation about the importance of male chastity and how once a man is established as a horndog, it’s almost impossible to get rid of the stain.
Zep knew he should believe her when she said she didn’t want to see him again. The trouble was she went out of her way to be around him.
It wasn’t the first time he’d had some beautiful creature snarl his way even though it was obvious she needed some affection.
He had to find a way to prove to her that his affection wasn’t merely sexual. He could take care of her in other ways.
He winced because Daisy didn’t have the same issues Roxie had. She was boundless in her need for love. As in she knew absolutely no boundaries. She had her paws on the back of his seat and licked the side of his face with enthusiasm.
Roxie giggled. He’d never heard her laugh in a way that was pure joy. “She likes you, Guidry.”
“I need her to like me a little less until she’s had a bath.” He put the truck in reverse and eased out of the space. He wanted to tell her this was the most loving he’d gotten since he’d been with her, but he was smart enough to know she wouldn’t want to hear it. Nor would she likely believe it. “You need anything before we go back to your place? Lila said you might not feel like eating, but if you do, it’s all right. I could stop by Dixie’s and get something to go.”