Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
We can’t only ever be seen going out places. It wouldn’t be believable that we’re a couple who only gets caught in public. This is perfect for our cover.
I shoot Mason a quick text asking if I can bring Leila, and he responds that Malia told him she’d kill him if he said no. I smile as I pull up Leila’s contact and hit call.
“Hello?” she answers, her voice skeptical.
“Hey, Leila, it’s Spencer.”
“I know; your name popped up when you called. What’s up? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I was just wondering if you wanted to go with me to swim in my friend’s pool this afternoon. It’s hot out.”
She sighs. “Trust me, I know. Shiloh begged for a walk this morning, and I’m still sweating. The AC in my apartment barely works.”
“Perfect! And you can bring Shiloh, too. The yard is fenced in, and I bet he’d love to swim.”
“He does love the water.”
“Then it’s a date. I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
I tell Mason that we’re going to have a dog visitor as well. He loves dogs as much as I do, but his similarly busy lifestyle keeps him from having one of his own.
As much as I love the BMW, I opt for my pickup truck to pick up Leila and her furry dog. It’s a huge F150 with a lift kit that Leila will have to climb up into, but it’ll handle Shiloh better than my car.
When I pull up in front of Leila’s apartment, she’s already standing outside wearing a pink and grey striped dress over a bathing suit I can see tied up behind her neck. She has Shiloh’s leash in one hand, and a big beach bag slung over the other shoulder.
I jump out of the truck to help her. “Jeez, are you bringing your whole apartment?”
Leila laughs and shoves me playfully. “It’s just a towel for me and some toys for Shiloh, plus his lunch. He doesn’t like to go long periods without food. Plus his water bowl, obviously.”
“All the necessities.”
“Exactly. Are you sure it’s okay if I bring Shiloh? I don’t want to impose on your friend. I don’t even know them.”
“I already ran it by Mason, and he’s excited to meet you and the dog. If I’m being honest, he might be more excited about Shiloh.”
“I approve of that.”
As I suspected, she has to hoist herself up into the truck. “What are you compensating for?” she asks when I get in.
I roll my eyes. “I thought it looked cool. This was the first car I bought when I got my license.”
“It’s far too big.”
“It does what I need it to do. Shiloh seems to like it.”
He sits behind us in the extended cab with his tongue dangling from his mouth, a smile on his lips.
“Shiloh likes adventures.”
“He doesn’t get car sick does he?”
“We drove all the way here from Mass. He definitely doesn’t get car sick.”
“Good.”
I put the truck in drive and head toward Mason’s, making a quick stop at the liquor store on our way. Leila and I chat about our weekends, her spending most of hers working while I’ve been mixing work and pleasure. It feels so easy to be here with Leila, not worrying about anything but the road.
When I pull up into Mason’s horseshoe driveway, his valet comes out to park the car after Leila, and I get out with the dog.
“Did I just step onto a movie set?”
I laugh. “Mason is a tech genius. Apps galore.”
She looks down at her dress. “I feel like I should’ve put on something fancier.”
“We’re hanging out by the pool. You’re wearing the exact right outfit.”
Leila still looks skeptical when I lead her and Shiloh around back to where Mason and Malia are already seated in lounge chairs, soaking up the sun by the pool.
The pair jump up when they see us. Leila holds tight to the leash, but Mason tells her she can let it go. The fence will keep Shiloh in, and he wants to meet him.
The dog loses it when he’s set free. He jumps everywhere, excited to make some friends.
“He likes you,” Leila says. “He likes everyone, though. Shiloh is a people-dog.”
“He’s adorable. Thanks for bringing him. I wish I could get a dog.”
“Maybe you and Spencer should share one.”
Mason and I look at each other like that’s the best idea we’ve ever heard.
“We’ll pin this and talk about it later,” I say. “Do you have a cooler for the beer?”
He points to the blue cooler already set up with ice, and I load it up while Malia and Mason introduce themselves to Leila. They think this relationship is real. They’re both blabbermouths, so I don’t trust them with the truth.
“It’s really nice to meet you, Leila. We hardly ever have girls around. I’m so glad Spencer brought you by!”