I laughed, hugging him close and burying my face in his fur. “I know he’s a great guy, Oreo. I’m just... Well, I’m just scared I’ll lose our friendship in the process if I say yes.”
Oreo whined and lay down beside me, placing his head carefully next to Max’s much smaller one.
I petted him for a little while until Tank and Billy came over. Soon, all four were sprawled out in the sun, fast asleep. I pulled myself free and headed back inside to see how the movers were coming along with my things. They did an excellent job, and I was impressed with how much care they took in handling my stuff.
“You want pizza or Chinese takeout for dinner? It’s on me, of course.”
“No, let me,” I argued and followed him into the kitchen. “You paid for the truck.”
Just as I pulled my wallet out of my purse, he reached over and snatched it out of my hands, then held it above my head, like he was playing a childish game of keep-away. I glowered at him, but he didn’t give it back; instead, he just placed it on top of the fridge where I couldn’t easily reach it.
“Freakin’ asshole,” I muttered.
“I’m sorry? What was that? Your freakin’ knight in shining armor? Your freakin’ procurer of a big ass moving truck? Your freakin’ harvester of dinner?”
I smiled and turned away, but his hand caught mine, warm and comforting in ways I’d only dreamt about when we were younger. My feet came to a stop, and I waited for him to pull me around and kiss me.
Instead, he let me go. “I don’t want you to think kissing me is a requirement to live here.”
“I didn’t,” I said. “It’s not like we have a written lease or anything.”
“Uh, putting that in a lease would make it a whole other kind of contract,” he said with a wink. “Look, Jaime, you’re my friend. Yes, I’m madly attracted to you, but if you just want to remain friends, I get it. There are no strings attached here. You need a place to stay. That’s all this has to be.”
“You’re going to lose your inheritance if you don’t find somebody quick.”
“That’s my problem, not yours.”
“But me living here could ruin your chances.”
“Why? You’re a childhood friend I’d do anything for. If a woman doesn’t understand that, I don’t want to marry her. Also, she’s gotta like dogs.”
“Hmm. Well, I hope you find your fake Miss Right.”
He smiled. “The movers will finish up soon, and then I can show you to your room.”
He moved away from me, and a minute later, I heard him on his cell, ordering Chinese. I stood there in the middle of his huge house, staring at the swords on the far wall, and I thought back to that first night when I broke into his house. I remembered the heat that filled my body at his touch, the deep hunger in his eyes when he realized who I was. I swallowed hard.
Damn, this isn’t gonna end well, I thought. One way or another, I’m going to lose the only man that ever really got me. And in the end, it will be all my fault.
Chapter 14
Oreo nudged Charlie’s arm again, and the rice spilled from his chopsticks and landed all over the floor.
“Oreo!” I scolded as Charlie laughed and the dog scarfed down the rice greedily, without even looking at me, then sat back waiting for more. “I told you we were asking for trouble eating on the floor,” I told my stubborn host.
Charlie laughed and patted Oreo on the head. “Eh, he just wants what his daddy has.”
He reached out and hand-fed the other three, including Max, who had not left his side since we sat down to eat. The little guy leaned into Charlie’s side as he munched happily, and all four of them loved every damn second of it.
“Dogs seem to like you,” I said. “Why don’t you have one of your own?”
“I’m too much of a globe trotter,” he said as Oreo leaned over and licked his face. “I’ve always wanted a pet, but I guess it wasn’t really convenient, with all that traveling. I guess there’s just never been time in my life.”
“Ah. Not the settling-down type, huh?”
“Not before, but now... Well, I think I’m ready. I mean, a man can only be a wanderer for so long, you know. At some point, he wants to find a place to set down roots.”
“And you’ve chosen to set down roots here?”