“Certainly not each other, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” I said with a chuckle. “Actually, we haven’t done anything except watch an old movie...very far apart from one another on the couch.”
“Oh,” she said, sounding quite unimpressed.
“I’ll call you later, all right?” I said, trying to sound brave and stay strong in the face of whatever Charlie was going to throw at me that day.
“Promise?”
“Promise,” I said, then hung up before she could push any further. Tammy had the gift of gab, and I knew if I kept talking to her, I’d spill every last worry about everything before I even knew what hit me, and that woman couldn’t keep her mouth shut about anything.
As I drank my coffee, I pulled up the number for the temp agency. They didn’t have openings for me yet, but they promised I was on top of their call list. The woman I usually spoke with wasn’t in, and the other one just sounded too busy to really give me much time, so it was the best I could hope for. After I hung up, I refilled my coffee, wiped up the little I’d spilled, and went back to my laptop to search for jobs online. Unfortunately, there were very few to choose from, but I saved them in my queue anyway, so I could apply to several at once.
I was heading back into the kitchen to get my second full cup of coffee when a thundering parade of paws and fur raced downstairs, heading right toward me. Billy jumped up on me, and I nuzzled his face and scratched his ears before giving attention to the others.
“Morning,” Charlie called out as he entered the kitchen.
I swallowed hard and felt my face go hot. He was still shirtless, and I couldn’t stop staring at his barrel chest, so big and powerful, with rippling muscles everywhere. Damn! I opened my mouth to reply, but any casual morning greeting got stuck in my throat, causing me to actually cough a little.
He winked at me as if he knew what he did to me.
I glowered, looking around for something to throw, but Max was still in his arms. As much as I wanted to hit Charlie with the closest spatula, I wasn’t about to risk hurting my precious puppy. “Did they all sleep with you all night?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said.
As he set Max gently on the floor, I grabbed their food bowls and started dishing out their breakfast.
“I was eating beef jerky and watching TV in bed. I guess they couldn’t resist, and they just sorta never left. I’m glad I have such a huge bed. Gets kind of lonely in there sometimes.”
“You could’ve woken me.”
“Really?” he said, sorely misinterpreting my meaning.
“I mean so I could come get the dogs,” I clarified, shaking my head and wanting desperately to throw a heaping handful of kibble at him.
“Oh, no need. I actually loved it. Matter fact, when you leave, I’m going to adopt a couple rescue dogs myself.”
“Really? That’s awesome. So many need good homes.”
“I never realized what I’ve been missing.”
The corners of my lips tugged up in a grin. “Yeah, you all looked pretty comfortable.”
I poured out the food, then set down one bowl after the other. The dogs ate quickly, devouring every last morsel before charging for the back door. Charlie offered to let them out, and I made him a cup of coffee as the pooch parade disappeared outside.
“Thanks,” Charlie said when he returned and took the coffee from me. “I see your job hunting already,” he mused from across the kitchen, looking at me strangely over the brim of his coffee cup.
The laptop! I tapped my fingers on my mug. “And you’re still nosy as ever.”
“You left it open,” he argued. “It was hard not to notice when I walked past it. I had to peek.”
“What for?”
“Just to make sure you aren’t watching some kind of crazy fetish porn with my Wi-Fi.”
“Not funny, Charlie. Besides, I’m sure that honor belongs to you,” I spat with a roll of my eyes.
“It does, but I swear I’m not that same guy anymore. I mean, look. I’m letting a friend stay with me and it’s completely platonic.”
I sighed, and the look on my face grew serious. “I just want to be out of your hair before too long,” I said lightly. “I don’t want to overstay my welcome, and I don’t like taking advantage of people or being a burden.”