Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“Come on,” Marty pleaded, stinking hot breath blowing in my face. The guy had had garlic with dinner, and didn’t know to brush afterwards.
“No Marty,” I said, batting his hands away. “We’re supposed to be studying, not doing this.”
“Doing what?” he whined. “I’m not even doing anything, you won’t let me!”
Exactly. And that’s how things were going to stay. Slamming my book shut, I stood.
“Marty this isn’t going to work. We can’t be study partners anymore,” I announced.
The adolescent boy leaned back in his seat, picking at those yellowed teeth. I couldn’t help but notice he had a dark brown cavity on his left incisor, rotted and painful-looking.
But the teenage boy was done with me as well. He sneered.
“You’re never going to be a vet,” came those nasty words. “You’ve got years and years ahead of you, girl. And this class? On animal physiology? Please, you’re never going to pass.”
My ears burned, face growing red. It’s true I was only at step one of a multi-phase process. But why did he have to belittle my goals? I’d make it, someday.
“Don’t say that,” came my stiff words, picking up my book bag. “Don’t even talk to me anymore.”
Marty guffawed again.
“Don’t worry,” he sneered. “I won’t. You’re just a tease, Maggie, walking around in that tight sweater. Not worth it at all,” he huffed angrily.
My mouth dropped open. The sweater wasn’t tight! It was just a plain cotton crewneck from the Gap.
But that’s how my body is. Every top highlights my girls, the luscious Double Ds unstoppable, jiggly and soft, curving generously. But what were my options? To wear a garbage bag? Swath myself in a sheet?
So I didn’t even dignify his comment with an answer. Lips pressed in a tight line, I swept out of the library, head held high. I wasn’t going to let a loser like Marty get to me.
But everything with Bowzer’s owner was different. That blue gaze roaming over my curves sent sizzles down my spine. I’d gone hot and then cold and then hot again, unlike the constant creepy crawly feeling in Marty’s presence.
And suddenly, the alpha reappeared at my shoulder.
“What else do you think I should get?” came that deep-throated growl.
Oh my god! I’m such an idiot. I’d been standing there in the middle of the aisle, lost in a daydream. Specifically, a fantasy about this man right here. So I looked up, brown eyes wide.
“Um, what do you have on hand again?”
A perfect black eyebrow quirked.
“Nothing at all,” he drawled, the corner of his lip curving upwards.
Right, right. I’d forgotten.
“Oh, okay,” came my stammer. “Well, why don’t you take the bag to the register and I’ll grab some other things for you while you’re waiting? It’s no trouble. “
I blushed again, hoping he didn’t notice. But of course, that azure gaze missed nothing. Sweeping over my frame, another smile pulled at the corner of his lips.
“Sure thing,” he rumbled. “We’ll just be over here. Come on, Bowzer.”
And with that, master and pet moved towards the registers. Meanwhile, I kicked into gear like there was a fire under my butt. Dashing through the store, I grabbed anything and everything that made sense, piling stuff high in a shopping cart. An XL doggie bed, dishes for food and water, and toys. Lots and lots of chew toys. Plus some heartworm medication, a doggie toothbrush just in case, and a book on pet care. That would be enough.
A few minutes later, I rolled up to the cash register just in time to hear the man chatting with Leah, my manager.
“Maggie’s been very helpful,” he said to Leah, a middle-aged married woman with two kids in high school. Nonetheless, she was drooling over the handsome customer, her frizzy gray hair even wilder than usual.
“Oh of course,” she purred. “Maggie’s our best.”
“Exactly,” said the dark man. “And your best employee deserves a raise.”
What? Really? He was putting my name in for a raise? This guy was not only a hero, but a god. I blushed rosily, bosom heaving once more.
“Oh thanks,” was my breathless interjection. “I appreciate the compliment.”
The man turned my way then, another smile playing at those perfectly sculpted lips.
“Thank you,” he drawled, a twinkle in those eyes. “Maggie, right?”
Was it my imagination or was there some kind of hidden meaning in that sentence? My inner voice scolded me. You’re overreacting, it scoffed. Please girl, get a grip. Act normal for once.
So I nodded briskly once more.
“Yes, that’s right, and it was my pleasure, sir. And please make sure to give one of those training schools a try. Your sister would appreciate it, I’m sure, and it’d be good for Bowzer.”
His bright blue eyes dipped down, and then up, and then down again. Oh my god, did this alpha just give me the once over again? In my lowly DoggieMart apron, with my hands dirty from stocking food?