books.”
“And I have this job that puts people to sleep, or they want to know how much the brain weighs or why they can’t remember their phone number from first grade, and the next thing I know, I’m in full professor mode.” He laughed. “It’s a real nerd bonanza over here,” he said, gesturing to himself.
“You and me both.”
His grin was dazzling. “Superheroes, huh? DC Comics? Or Marvel?”
“Dude . . . DC of course.”
Max’s grin broadened. Carly could have walked into his smile, never to be seen again, but she was jolted by a dog jumping up onto her lap and panting his bad breath into her face.
“Baxter!”
Max faded back from her, laughing. “They must be hungry,” he said. “It’s getting late.”
She hadn’t noticed, but the sun was sliding down into the horizon. Even the young musician was packing up her things. Carly didn’t want this afternoon to end. She wanted to sit right here and stare into Max’s eyes forever.
He obviously had different ideas. He was picking things up.
They cleaned up, gathered their dogs. On their way to the gate, Carly stopped by to put a couple of dollars into the woman’s guitar case. “You’re so good,” she said.
The young woman grinned. “Thank you!”
“Do you have a card or something? I’d love to catch you in town.”
“Oh.” The woman patted herself down, then began to dig through her purse. “I don’t have a card, but I can give you my name.”
“That’s okay. What’s your website?”
The woman looked up. “I don’t have a website.” She had found a receipt and a pen, and dashed off her name on the back of it, then handed it to Carly. “I’m playing at Scholz Garten’s chili cook-off next weekend.”
Carly looked at the piece of paper. Suzanna Harper. “Great. Thank you!” Appalled by Suzanna Harper’s publicity game, Carly stuffed the paper into her pocket. That woman had some real talent and all she had was the back of a receipt? She resisted shaking her head and hurried to catch up to Max.
Max had hooked the dogs to their leashes and opened the gate for her. They walked out to the parking lot and paused so that he could give her Baxter’s leash. “This has been great, Max.”
“Yes, it has, and I’m so glad you think so, too. I can’t remember the last time I talked so much about myself. I was a little worried.”
She had really enjoyed it. She glanced at the parking lot. “I was thinking . . .” She looked down at the dogs.
“That we should totally do this again?”
The flutter in her began to beat like a flock of hummingbirds. “I mean, you know, Baxter obviously really, really needs this. And I don’t think I’m getting another dog walker.”
“Absolutely. It’s clear that Baxter’s neurotransmitters are not firing on all cylinders.”
“I was just going to say that.”
“And as I have not had the time to find another dog walker, Hazel needs it, too.”
“You have to look out for her. She’s your girl.”
“Red Bud Isle Park?” Max suggested, his gaze on her mouth again.
“Tuesday?”
“Perfect.” He put his hand on her elbow.
“I don’t know how Baxter will survive until then.”
“That’s the great thing about dog brains. They have no concept of time.” He pulled her close. “Thank you for today, Carly. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to talk.”
Her gaze went to his mouth, too. Full, plump, kissable lips. Very kissable lips. “I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to listen. I particularly liked the part where you confessed to being bad at dating.”
“I don’t mean to brag, but there is so much more where that came from.” He dipped his head, slipped two fingers under her chin, and tilted her face up to his. “I’m probably going about this all wrong, but . . .” He touched his mouth to hers. His lips moved on hers, shaping them to his. It was a simple kiss, not overly sexual, but somehow that made it so hot that Carly was surprised she was still standing. And when he did lift his head, he ran the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “Hazel and I can’t wait for Tuesday.”
“Baxter and I . . . are trying to breathe,” she stammered.
He chuckled softly, let go of her elbow, and walked across the parking lot, Hazel trotting alongside. Carly wanted to move but her legs felt as buzzy as her head, and Baxter didn’t seem to care.
Oh, but Tuesday would not come fast enough.
Twelve
Max had