I got the house—and myself—ready.
A little “sprucing up” of my already tidy house turned into spring cleaning. At one point, I went full-on crazy and dragged out the steam mop. I didn’t know much about having casual sex, but I knew a steam mop wasn’t supposed to be involved. By the time I was done, everything was sparkly fresh and the house smelled overwhelmingly of PineSol. I opened a few windows and turned on some fans while Kona gave me dirty looks.
That dog truly needed to learn how to let bygones be bygones.
“What’s done is done,” I informed her as I headed for the bedroom. She trailed behind me, nails clicking on the hardwood floor.
My sudden desire to clean like royalty’s arrival was imminent had cut into my time, so I made my shower quick. With a towel tucked around my waist and my hair still dripping, I headed for the closet. Kona tracked my every move, lying on the rug beside the bed. I pulled out the first thing I saw that wasn’t workwear—black trousers and a charcoal button-down shirt. I held it out for a minute, wondering if it was a little too dressy. She gave me a skeptical look.
“What?” I asked. “Too much?”
I didn’t know what wolf-hybrid speak was for “you’re doing the most,” but she managed to convey it with just a look. I put the outfit back and tried again with some khakis and another button-down.
Kona panted.
“What’s wrong with this?” I demanded. “It’s the button-down part, isn’t it?”
I finally shut my closet door and went over to my dresser. “We like to call this the I like you, but I’m not that into you zone,” I informed Kona as I pulled out a pair of jeans and a gray Henley. “So, if he’s offended, this is your fault.”
After I was dressed, I glanced around the bedroom to make sure everything was in order. I’d changed my sheets and made the bed with so many throw pillows, it could’ve doubled as Genie’s vacation bottle. I took off half the throw pillows, like a sane person, and stashed them in the closet.
I’d put condoms and lube in the top drawer of the nightstand—after opening the brand spanking new box of condoms and taking out a few, just so I wouldn’t look too pathetic. All that did was remind me I hadn’t had sex in three years, and even then, it hadn’t been all that great. People still swiped right for sexless monks, didn’t they?
There was a knock at the back door, which brought an abrupt end to my madness. That was unfortunate. Quite frankly, I’d been interested to see what I’d get up to next. Given another thirty minutes alone with my thoughts, I might’ve started power washing the house.
I opened the door to find Journey standing there, a small bag in his hands. The smile on his face immediately put me at ease. “Sorry I’m late. It was harder than I thought to give the old man the slip. He thinks I’m checking the mailbox.”
I barked out a laugh. “Seriously?”
“I didn’t say it was a good excuse. I just needed something to get me past Deputy Dog’s nose.”
“Speaking of dog noses….” I looked at his feet, but apparently he’d left his little companion at home. “Where’s Fifi?”
“Sascha,” he corrected. “Her name is Sascha now. Last I saw, she was perched on my father’s lap, and they were watching TV. Even though he’s still pretending he doesn’t care for her.”
“God forbid Jack should admit to liking a purse-sized dog.”
He chuckled. “He’s completely gone over her. If you see him around town with Sascha in a satchel, just pretend you don’t notice.”
He looked good in well-worn, soft-looking Levis and a button-down shirt. He smelled even better. I gave Kona a sideways look as she pushed her way in front of me. I told you button-down shirts were okay. That would teach me to take advice from someone whose beauty routine consisted of shaking out her luxurious fur.
“Can I come in?” he finally asked.
I flushed as I realized I was only standing there staring at him. He looked amused as I stepped back to let him in. I closed the door behind us and stood there feeling all kinds of awkward.
I gestured at the bag in his hands. “You didn’t have to bring me a gift.”
He reached in the bag, plucking out a bone. Kona went on high alert, sitting on her haunches with her ears pricked. “I didn’t.”
I