Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Ignoring Asher’s groan, a sound he made often around her, she knelt down by the car and opened the bag, pulling out the food. Two burgers, not one. She grinned. Asher was more of a softy than he liked to let on.
Lucky bounded over, and she rose to her feet, watching as
the pup ate the plain patties – so fast it was obvious he’d been starving.
“I left his water and dish by the sports shed,” she said, glancing at Asher.
With a sigh, he shook his head and pulled them out of the bag she hadn’t noticed he’d taken with him. Grinning, she poured water into the bowl and let the dog go to town. After he finished, she cleaned up and put all the garbage along with the bowl back into the bag.
Full and obviously grateful, the dog leaned against her leg, and she glanced up at Asher. She’d never been the kind of girl to flutter her lashes and act coy to get what she wanted, but if there was ever a time, this was it.
She widened her eyes and met Asher’s gaze. “He needs me.”
“Nikki, no. Come on, he’s covered in sand and who knows what else. Getting a dog off the island is complicated.”
“But not impossible, right?” She deliberately fluttered her lashes.
“Cut it out,” he muttered.
She bit down on the inside of her cheek. “Please?”
“That dog is not getting in my car.”
He said the words but there was no heat behind them, so she opened the back door and Lucky jumped inside.
She shut him in and turned to Asher with a wide, happy, grateful smile. “What’s that you were saying?”
He rolled his eyes but still opened her door like the gentleman he was. A few minutes later, they were on their way back to the estate, Asher mumbling something about pushy women, needing to find a vet, and getting the damned dog a bath before he gave them all fleas.
But the person who’d been hurt twice, who’d clearly hardened himself against women and relationships, had shown her the man he really was.
And she liked everything she’d seen.
* * *
Asher hopped out of the Rover, hoping Maggie would put an end to this stray dog thing, since he’d obviously been a pussy. He’d taken one look at Nikki’s pleading eyes, and despite knowing she was deliberately playing him, he’d given in when he could have forced the dog back out of the SUV. But he couldn’t do it. Not to the happy, tail-wagging, dog and especially not to a grinning Nikki.
He didn’t recognize himself. Not one damned bit.
He needed Maggie to take one look at the dirty animal and refuse to let him into the house. Asher would find a rescue place on the island to give him to, and he’d spend time comforting Nikki. Would he feel like shit about it? Yes. But it was the right thing to do.
Except the minute they stepped into the house and Maggie met them at the door, she took one look at the mutt and her eyes warmed. “You poor baby! Where did you find him?”
“On the beach,” Nikki said. “He’s so hungry and thirsty. I already gave him water and burgers but—”
“He needs a bath next.” Maggie pulled out her cell and hit a button, then put the phone to her ear. “Corey? I need you to take a trip into town. I’ll send you a list of pet supplies I need.”
Then Asher watched in shocked silence as his housekeeper and the woman who was changing him in not subtle ways walked off together, dog following them.
Shaking his head and knowing he was outnumbered, he let them go. He needed a shower, too. Afterwards, he pulled out his laptop and researched what they needed to let them travel home with a dog. Information found, he then searched for the name of a vet on the island. If Nikki was going to take the dog to the States, he needed an exam for a certificate of veterinary inspection, a rabies shot, and an ISO-compatible microchip.
He paid the vet a hefty fee to stay open late and fit them in as his last appointment after his normal business hours, which gave Asher and Nikki time to eat dinner first. If he didn’t get the paperwork and vet check done, Nikki would lose that happy smile and she’d worry about being forced to leave Lucky here when it came time to leave. And Asher had already come to the conclusion he liked seeing her happy.
What he didn’t understand was why he cared so damned much. This was supposed to be a favor for a friend. A babysitting job. One where he looked out for Derek’s sister until the tabloid shit blew over and she could go home. Instead, he was getting closer to her, confiding in her, letting her into his bed. And now making sure she could keep the dog she’d fallen in love with. All because he liked being the one to put that genuine smile on her face.