thought my cynical black heart was dead.
I’d thought wrong.
Because after I’d closed myself into my apartment, my brain had been stuck on the flowers in the lobby. It’d twisted and warped the accidental delivery into something more. Once I’d stopped fighting the fantasy, it’d been the thing I’d needed.
That the flowers were for me.
That like right out of a cliché movie, I had an admirer.
That someone thought I was sexy.
That I was desired.
Wanted.
And the star of my twisted fantasy was none other than the hot bodyguard with the perfect everything.
It may have been enough to get me off but the reality that followed that high was a steep plummet. My already bruised psyche was left banged up and suffering from whiplash.
Sitting up, I pulled on my pajamas and tried to hype myself up for the long walk to my couch.
It won’t always be so hard.
I’m in control.
I’m… going to bed.
Flopping back, I pulled the blankets over my head and gave up.
Chapter Seven
Right
Him
EVEN IF I hadn’t known her schedule, I could tell where she was heading from her mood.
The shelter.
It was the only time there was any excitement in her step. Any emotion in her expression.
It was the only time she seemed even slightly happy.
Moving around her apartment, she gathered her things before heading for the door. She paused suddenly and backtracked to her kitchen island.
What’re you up to?
After a moment, she picked up something and left.
I patiently waited until the coast was clear before going into her building. I got my answer about what she’d done when I saw a piece of paper taped to her door.
Flower delivery person: You have the wrong apartment.
No, I don’t.
Setting the vase down, I pulled the note from the door and pocketed it.
It’s the right apartment because it’s sure as fuck the right person.
Briar
For the dogs with stupid names
I’VE SAID IT before, and I’ll say it a million times more.
Animals are better than people.
Sitting on the hard floor in the shelter, I let the dog climb all over me. The way I figured, if an eighty-pound pitty took me out, that was how I went. There were far worse ways to die. But even with his immense size—and the fact he thought he was a lap dog—he was careful in his pursuit to lick every inch of my face.
Yeah, real killer beast and menace to society he was.
People rarely wanted to visit the pit bulls, much less adopt them. And those who were interested never passed our vigorous screenings, either because they had no clue how to train one or because we suspected they wanted to use them for fighting. That meant pit bulls were left to pay the price for shitty humans.
I could relate.
One of the metal doors squeaked open and then closed with a heavy clang before voices echoed in the concrete room of cages.
I recognized my boss’ voice when she asked, “Do you currently have a dog?”
Uh-oh.
Busted.
“No,” whoever said. “We were just driving by and saw the shelter, so we thought we’d stop.”
Oh. Impulse pet adoption.
Yeah, those end well.
Sue gave an unintelligible murmur that said she was thinking the same thing. “Well, these are the pups we have waiting for their fur-ever home. This sweet pit bull is Mr. Worldwide…” She did a double take and her words trailed off when she saw me sitting in the cage. “And that’s Briar, my best employee. She’s not available to adopt, otherwise this whole place would fall apart.” Despite her kind words, her eyes were narrowed and her lips curved down.
As were mine when I saw the way the couple eyed Mister with disdain—and not just because his name was a stupid play on the singer Pitbull’s nickname. Mister didn’t look too impressed with them either as he stood protectively in front of me.
Yup.
Animals are way better than people.
Sue gestured down the line of cages. “Go ahead and keep meeting the other dogs, and I’ll be right with you.”
The couple happily moved on, likely looking for a tiny, cute toy breed that came already trained, never barked, and was in perfect health so they wouldn’t incur any vet bills.
They’d have better luck adopting a unicorn.
“What’re you still doing here?” Sue asked. “Your shift ended over an hour ago.”
Oops. Time flies when you’re snuggling dogs.
“I was just visiting Mr. Worldwide.” Sue opened her mouth, but I continued. “And I clocked out before I came in here.”
That appeased her enough that her features softened. “Is he doing okay?”
“Sad and lonely earlier. He just needed a