Part 3 (1/2)
He settled back to smile at her, and belatedly picked up on her comment. ”He feels better clean, and you wil , too.”
With that said, he whistled for the dog, who came tumbling over to him.
Gary opened a towel and stood. ”Hand him up to me.”
Erin lifted the squirming dog and Gary wrapped him in a soft towel. Wiggling his whole body in happiness, the pup licked Gary's chin.
”I heard you mention ticks,” Erin said for lack of anything better.
”I tossed them into the yard. Nasty things.” He settled the dog against his chest. ”You want to dump that tub and come inside? I think the little rat has to be hungry.” He went in without waiting for her, but was stil holding the dog when she entered.
”What's wrong?”
”I'm trying to figure out how to contain him in my kitchen, or do you think he'd be better off in my bathroom? It'l be closer to us.”
Closer to us? Erin mental y floundered. Did she even want to resist? ”Uh . . .”
”What?” He stepped past her to consider the doorway that led to his living room. ”You don't expect me to drive you home tonight, do you? And even if I did, what would you do about your car? You'l need someone to take you over there to look at it, right? I'm good with cars. I can help with that.”
He'd already done more than enough. She'd sooner pay a garage than impose on him further. ”Gary . . .”
”I know that look, Erin. You're ready to go al independent and argumentative on me. And I can handle that. I like that side of your personality.”
She would never understand him.
”But,” he added with exaggeration, ”I have a feeling I'l need my hands free to . . . counter your arguments. So hold those thoughts for just a minute, okay?” He set the dog down and went about opening a can of puppy food. The dog waited with bated breath, poised to leap, his ears up high.
The second Gary set the dish on the floor, the little dog attacked.
Erin's heart softened. Poor little guy. ”He must've been half starved.” She couldn't believe how fast he ate, which made her think of something else. She cast a sideways look at Gary. ”I don't suppose you included potty training in al your plans?”
His bare shoulder lifted in a negligent shrug as he, too, watched the dog gobble down his food. ”I think he's part pig.” A half-smile kicked up the corner of his mouth and he looked at Erin. ”Newspaper for tonight, more intense instruction tomorrow.”
He real y had thought about it. ”So . . . is he your dog then?”
Lifting his hands, palms up, to remind her that they were now free, Gary grinned and came to her. He looped his arms around her waist and hauled her in close.
It felt right to be snuggled up against him like this, familiar but also new and exciting. Given their long history, the familiarity made sense; over the years, she'd had plenty of hugs from him. But that had been in friends.h.i.+p, and this was so much more.
”Actual y,” he whispered, ”I'm thinking he'l be our dog.
Mine and yours.” His gaze drifted to her mouth and stayed there. ”What do you think?”
Mine and yours? Did he mean as a couple?
Or was he just asking for help with the dog?
He did go out of town a lot, so he'd need someone to watch the dog when he was away. She'd be happy to do that. Her apartment wasn't big enough to accommodate a pet ful -time, but she'd always loved animals and the little dog was so cute. . . .
”You're thinking about this way too much.” This time when Gary kissed her, he took his time.
And he took liberties.
His tongue touched hers, teased, moved over her lips, and then sank in deep and hot. His hands stroked her back, and then her behind. He lifted her to her tiptoes and slanted his head and kissed her like a starving man.
Erin gave up.
It wasn't easy to focus, but in the farthest reaches of her mind, she was aware that he'd come after her without complaint. He'd been more than wonderful with the dog.
And truthful y, she was tired of resisting him.
How could it hurt for her to stay the night?
He left her mouth by slow degrees. His hands remained on her bottom keeping her bel y pressed close to his pelvis.
Stil so near that she could see his eyelashes, he whispered, ”Should I take that as a yes?”
She wasn't entirely sure about the question. ”I guess so.”
His smile went crooked. He relaxed a little more. ”Way to boost my ego.”
”Your ego doesn't need a boost.”
”If you believe that, then you real y don't know what you've put me through the last few months.” He kissed her again, hard and fast. ”Let's go before you change your mind. You can shower while I finish settling the pooch. After you've gotten more comfortable, we'l talk.”
”About what?”
He winked. ”Longevity. Commitment. Misguided intentions.”
”Wow. Sounds . . .” Intriguing. ”. . . heavy.”
At the door to his bedroom, he stopped. ”Towels are in the bathroom closet. Help yourself to my wardrobe if you see something you'l be comfortable wearing. I'l go take the puppy out again, then grab my own shower in the hal bath.” He leaned into the room to take her mouth again.
”Meet you in the bed in ten minutes.”
With a pounding heart and fluttering nerves, Erin watched him go. Heaven help her, she could hear him whistling.
Unwil ing to waste a single second of the ten minutes he'd al otted, she closed the door and hurried to the bathroom.
Antic.i.p.ation had him rus.h.i.+ng through his shower in record time. He thought of Erin showering, Erin naked.
Erin waiting in his bed. Finally.
Only half dry, he pul ed on his boxers and peeked into the kitchen at the pup. After eating his fil and soiling the backyard, the little dog had plopped happily into the cozy bed he'd made for him.
Poor little guy.
He turned out the light and headed down the hal . Erin had left his bedroom door ajar, and when he looked in, he found her in the bed, the sheet pul ed up to her chin. Except for the hal light s.h.i.+ning into the room, it was dark as Hades.
Knowing he had to slow down, Gary stepped into the room, but left the door wide open. He'd waited so long for her that he didn't want to miss a thing.