“Rex!”

The shout behind me was answered by a series of happy yips. Those yips drew closer, and by the time I turned, a small puppy had jumped up my leg. The adorable bundle of golden fur and joy scrabbled at my knees, stubby tail wagging back and forth like a windshield wiper stuck on the fastest setting.

“Hey there, little fella,” I said as I knelt to pet him. “Where’d you come from?”

I didn’t have to wait long for an answer. Pounding footsteps heralded a man sprinting down the path, his eyes searching frantically. He slowed when he spotted the puppy, coming to a stop a few feet away. His furrowed brows relaxed, and a small smile transformed his face from dark and worried to amused as he watched the puppy try to lick my face.

“This guy yours?” I asked.

It was a rhetorical question. If his actions hadn’t given him away as the puppy’s owner, the leash dangling from his hand would have.

He held up the object and gave it the stink eye as if it had insulted him personally. “I knew Rex would have to grow into his collar, but I didn’t realize he could slip out that easily.”

His voice was impressively calm for a man who’d just been running at top speed. The athletic build of his body wasn’t an accident.

“Good thing I was around to catch him.”

Rex hadn’t lost interest in me, licking my hands and sniffing everything within reach. The man crouched beside me and slipped the collar over the curious puppy’s head while he was distracted.

“He really likes you. I owe you one. I’m Carter.”

His hand was warm around mine. From this close, he looked even better.

“I’m Madison. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I take cash or credit.” I gave him a wink.

Carter chuckled. “Are you busy? How about a walk along the High Line and a coffee instead?”

I gave him a once-over, not bothering to hide it. Carter had a lean but strong frame that matched my preferences perfectly. I’d been looking for a new fling after shutting down my last one.

Plus, his puppy was adorable.

“Done.”

Rex whined when Carter helped me to my feet, but he soon forgot his complaints as he foraged ahead, stretching the leash taut as he sniffed at everything within reach.

“So, Madison,” Carter said, “do you go by Maddie?”

I shuddered. “No. God, no. Please never call me that. I hate it.”

“Wow.” He whistled. "I'll be sure never to make that mistake again. I'm assuming there's a story there?"

“Not one I want to go into," I said. The less that topic came up, the better. I had to change the subject. "How long have you had Rex?”

Carter’s smile widened as he looked down at the energetic ball of fluff like a doting father.

“Only a week so far. It’s been an adventure.” He spoke plainly, but stories hid behind those words. “It’s been both more hectic and more fulfilling than I thought possible.”

As I walked at his side, our arms brushed against each other every few steps. There wasn’t anything sexual about the contact, but I craved his touch and shifted closer so that my shoulder pressed into his arm. With every step, Carter’s right leg dragged slightly at the end of his stride. I only noticed because it pulled him away for a split second.

“Where did you get the limp?”

A walking group with matching hats approached from the opposite direction, and Carter’s hand found my lower back as we paused. I squeezed toward him to give them room on the path. His hand was hot through my thin shirt, and a flush crept up my back and curled around my neck as I looked up at him.

Oh, yes, he was exactly what I was looking for.

“You noticed that?” A slight frown touched his lips.

From his tone of voice, he wasn’t happy about it.

“Is it a secret?”

Carter shook his head. “No. I’m just not used to answering questions about it. Most people don’t pay that much attention.”

Something about him drew me. In only two minutes, I’d worked up a keen interest in this stranger with the excitable puppy. A mystery only added to the appeal.

“You look like a man worth paying attention to.” I said the words quietly, but with feeling.

Lost in the moment, Carter’s eyes ran circles from mine to my lips. It was far too early for us to kiss. We’d only just met. But I yearned for it, eager to further test the natural connection between us.

A sharp tug on his wrist and an impatient, high-pitched bark stole his attention.

“Rex! I know it’s an exciting world out here, but you’ve got to pace yourself. And don’t bite that butterfly.”

The puppy ignored his master’s comment, jumping at the end of the leash and snapping at a monarch butterfly just out of reach. Carter sighed and shared a suffering look with me that broke into a shared laugh.

The moment was gone, and I had to settle for that sexy smile.

“Have you had a dog?” Carter asked as we resumed our stroll.

“I had one when I was little, but that was so long ago. It would be amazing to have one but I just can’t afford the time to look after pets. A year ago, I was inches away from adopting a cat, but then I got a promotion at work and most of my free time evaporated.”

“So, what do you do for work?”

“I’m at a small publicity firm, but it’s struggling. My boss couldn’t afford to hire anyone to replace me, so the promotion really just meant that I’m still doing my old job but with even more responsibilities. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but it’s just such long hours. And since we specialize in events across the country, I can be working at any time of any day.”

“At least you love it,” Carter said. “Still easy to get burned out though.”

“I do love it, but what I really want is to join an agency someday. Until then, I’ve got to pay my dues in the industry.” I spread my arms and breathed deeply. “That’s why I’m out here, enjoying the fresh air while I have a chance. Every Sunday afternoon, this is my escape. It’s even better when I meet puppies and mysterious men to keep me entertained.”

That made Carter laugh. “If I’m good at anything, it’s entertaining people. That’s my job.”

“Oh, really? What do you do?” I asked. “Wait, let me guess. Comedian?”

“God, no. Be funny on command for money? Not my forte.”

I gave him a hard look. “Male stripper?”

“Ha ha. Look who’s the comedian now.”

I shrugged. “No judgment here. You could pull it off.”

Carter raised an eyebrow. “Thank you? Not sure anyone’s ever told me that.”

“Wait a second.” I took his left hand and inspected it. The fingertips were heavily callused. “You’re a musician, aren’t you?”

He blinked. “Wow. You really are observant.”

A grin spread across my face. I loved winning, even if it was a meaningless little guessing game with a man I’d just met.

“Even more, you’re a guitar player. I haven’t seen calluses like that on anyone else. Do you play in a band? What kind of music?”

Carter smiled and looked like he was holding back a laugh. “I guess you could say I’m in a band, and we mostly cover oldies.”

“You’ll have to invite me out so I can see you perform,” I said. “Do you have a ton of groupies?”

The laugh he’d been repressing escaped. “I wouldn’t say I have any. Want to be my first?”

“If you’re lucky.”

The rapport between us was so strong that it took me by surprise. Few men could match and keep up with my sense of humor. With Carter, it didn’t feel like work, making the conversation flow. It wandered like a mountain stream, taking its time through the landscape, flowing along the path of least resistance, not rushing toward the destination because the sea would always be there.

By the time we reached one of the small cafes on the High Line, we were as well acquainted as two strangers on an impromptu blind date could be.

That’s when it all went wrong.

My stomach dropped at the familiar voice behind me.

“Madison? Where the hell have you been?”