‘The bleach is under the sink,’ Adam told her, pointing at the kitchen. ‘If you get rid of the shit, I’ll mop the floor.’ He gave her an enquiring look. ‘I thought you said he was house-trained.’
Kitty tried not to look guilty. ‘Maybe he’s just not used to it here. Did you let him out this morning?’
‘I let him out pretty much every two hours in the night. Every time he woke me up yapping.’
She felt terrible. She’d always assumed dogs slept through the night straight away, hadn’t considered they might be more like babies than adults. ‘That sounds awful. You must be exhausted.’
Now she looked at him, she could see the dark shadows beneath his pretty eyes.
‘Yeah, well, next time you want to bring your dog round, maybe let me have a week’s notice first. I’ll stock up on sleep in advance.’
‘It’s not my dog. It’s Jonas’s dog, I’m just the sap who has to keep it hidden,’ she pointed out.
Adam raised his eyebrows. ‘I think you’ll find I’m the sap around here. I don’t see the stupid mutt crapping all over your floor.’
‘Just give him the chance,’ Kitty muttered.
The puppy was sitting happily on the slate tiles in the middle of the cabin, wagging his tail and staring up at Kitty with a satisfied expression. She grabbed a bag from the kitchen, scooping the mess up with the plastic, picking at the remainder with some kitchen towel.
Oh boy, did it stink. It must have been all that meat they’d given him yesterday. Clearly it didn’t agree with his intestines. Luckily, Adam pulled a bucket full of bleached water over, mopping at the floor with easy movements, the clean smell of ammonia replacing the earlier stench.
Christmas really couldn’t come soon enough. After that, the puppy wouldn’t be her problem any more. Wouldn’t be Adam’s either. Strange how that thought didn’t make her feel any better. Even stranger that even though the crap on the floor was absolutely disgusting, she was somehow enjoying herself.
‘There, all done.’ Adam took the bucket and mop and placed them outside on his porch. It was strange watching this man, the same man who was responsible for all those amazing documentaries, being so domesticated in his own cabin. Sexy, too.
Damn it, she needed to stop with that line of thought.
‘Thank you for being so gracious about it,’ Kitty said, scrubbing her hands in the sink. ‘You didn’t have to be.’
He gave a half-smile. ‘It’s fine. He’s a dog, a little mess is to be expected. And anyway, it’s helped me decide what I want from you.’
She blinked rapidly. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Remember last night? When I said you owed me for looking after the dog, and I needed to think about what you could do in return? Well I’ve decided. I want you to come down here every morning and help me with the dog. You can feed him, help me clean up. Maybe take him out for some exercise.’
There was a depth to his voice that sparked her interest. Not that it needed sparking. She was hyper-aware of his proximity, and his masculine presence. It surrounded her like a blanket.
‘I can’t,’ she said, breathless. ‘I have Jonas to look after. I have to get him up, make him breakfast. He’ll wonder where I am.’
Adam shrugged. ‘Annie can help you. So can Mia and Everett if they want you to keep the dog secret. Come over before he’s up, if you want, I’m always awake before six anyway.’
‘You are?’ Her mouth felt as dry as the logs crackling in the fireplace. Her face felt as hot, too.
He nodded. ‘Yeah. And I really could do with your help. I go running every day, I don’t want the dog interfering with my routine.’
‘But you’re OK that he interferes with mine?’ Damn, she really should just bite her tongue off and be done with it.
Why was it that every time Adam looked at her, she felt a jolt of pleasure rushing from her head to her toes? He was just a man. OK, so he was a very fine, very strong, very gorgeous man. But he was still just a man.
‘If you don’t want to help me, then say so,’ Adam said. ‘Maybe Annie can come down or something.’
‘No, no, it’s fine.’ She nodded, as if to emphasise her words. ‘Of course I’ll help. After all, you’re the one doing me a favour, or at least doing Jonas a favour.’
‘OK then. If you can get down here by six thirty, that will give me enough time for my run before you need to get back to Jonas. And if there’re any problems, I’m sure Annie will help.’
Kitty nodded, trying not to think of how early she’d have to get up in the morning. Early enough to make sure she’d done her make-up, brushed her hair, and wasn’t looking like some hag-troll. ‘I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.’
This time his smile widened. ‘I guess you will.’ His gaze locked on hers, and for a moment it felt as though all the air had been forced out of her chest.