Mistletoe Magic (Paradise Place #6) - Natalie Ann Page 0,15
the two of them left and I didn’t ask.”
“What do they look like?” he asked.
“Hang on. I’m going to send you a picture. I’ll get them after work tomorrow. I bought everything I need today for them. It’s going to be hard to leave them all day long, but they will be crated and fine. Once they are big enough, I’ll bring them to doggy daycare. And when I volunteer it’s not all day anyway.”
He waited and heard his phone go off, then looked at the picture of the two brown dogs. It was easy to see which one was the male and which was the female. The male was almost standing over his little sister.
“Very cute,” he said. “Got names picked out yet?”
“Luke and Leia.”
“Star Wars,” he said.
“That’s right. They are both fighters and siblings and it seemed fitting.”
“Kind of like you,” he said.
“I thought that. I mean no one would think I was much of a fighter. Not really. But it did remind me of my brother Rick and me. He’s older and so protective of me.”
“I was the same way with Meena. I think it’s a big brother’s job and right to do that.”
“I think so too. So how was your day?” she asked.
“The same old same old. Court in the morning. It’s Molly’s case, but since she’s new I like to keep an eye on her. She’s good and will be fine. I got home less than an hour ago and made breakfast for dinner.”
“Yum,” she said. “French toast and pancakes are my favorite breakfast for dinner meals.”
“I didn’t think of them. Bacon, eggs, and toast here. It was pretty fast.”
“Did you eat the whole package of bacon?” she asked. “That is one of those things I struggle with. If I make anything with bacon I have to use the whole package or I pick at it until it’s all gone and then I regret it.”
“Guess we share that. It was just a small package. When we are done on the phone I’ll go work out so that I can absolve my guilt.”
“You’re so skinny though. You don’t need to work out.”
“What no guy ever wants to hear,” he said, knowing his voice was on the grouchy end.
“I didn’t mean it that way. Just that you must have good metabolism.”
Many had said that to him before. “I do work out though. Just lift weights.”
“Hmm,” she said and he’d felt his pulse pick up some.
“So I’m going to take a guess that we are on the same page about another date?” he asked, knowing that he needed to get this clarified and set up. He wasn’t sure how long he could wait to see her again.
“We are,” she said. “Could I cook for you again if it’s before Saturday? I just don’t want to leave the dogs locked up all day and then leave at night too.”
He was going to suggest Saturday night out, but if she wanted to get together sooner, he was all over it.
“We can do dinner at your place one night. Then maybe I can take you out to dinner on Saturday?”
“Sounds good. What is your schedule like this week? I get out of work at four and am normally home no later than four thirty.”
“I can make any day work,” he said. If he had work, he’d catch up another day, but he wasn’t passing up the opportunity to spend time with her.
“How about Thursday then? Since I’m off, it will give me more time to figure out dinner. Does six work for you? I know your office closes at five, but I’m sure you’ll want to go home and change. Not that I mind you in a suit.”
He smiled. “Yeah. It’s expected to wear a suit and tie, but it’s what I hate the most about my job. Thursday at six it is.”
“Then I’ll let you go and work off that bacon,” she said. He could hear the laughter in her voice and as much as he wanted to stay on the phone and talk with her, he didn’t want to push his luck.
“See you Thursday, Robin.”
“Bye, Brian.”
It was the first time she’d said his name and he liked the way it sounded on her lips almost as much as he liked the feel of her lips against his.
7
The Shy One
Robin was running around faster than the roadrunner after ingesting a five-pound bag of gummy bears.
Luke and Leia were under her feet, they were tripping her up, and they were getting