For the first five minutes of the meeting, Colton was pissed. This woman had been driving him crazy in and out of work. First at work because she kept avoiding this damn meeting. Then about his dog. He wanted to date her.

He pushed all of those thoughts aside and concentrated on the meeting that was happening right now.

He didn’t have the time to be thinking about the fact she’d known who he was. She had to and yet he hadn’t had the first clue who she was or what she did.

As the meeting continued and she brought them to points of the potential contract that were not workable to her, he admired her skills.

She was a confident woman.

He’d noticed that at the dog run.

She knew what she was doing. Her reputation proceeded her and, considering that he’d been an ass to her that first day, no wonder she’d been hesitant in arranging a meeting with him.

By the end of the meeting, everyone started to leave. He told his colleagues to go on ahead without him. He had a few things to do.

With just him and Sugar in the conference room, he closed the door, giving them the privacy that they both needed.

“I know you’re angry,” she said.

“You knew who I was?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Honestly … I didn’t know what to say. You took me by complete surprise with your presence and I wasn’t sure what to say or how to change what was happening. You weren’t listening to me when I said I wasn’t a dog walker. You clearly believed I was just being difficult. I walk my own dog.”

“Yeah, I fucked up there.”

She smiled. “I have to say that is the first time I’ve heard that kind of language here. It’s new for me.”

“This deal means a lot to me. I wasn’t thinking. You were in control and I guess I don’t know what I was thinking. Clearly, I was hoping that you were the answer to all my prayers. I had this dog that I should have left at a pound. I couldn’t deal with him but I didn’t want to take him to a place that might put him down. He’s not the best dog but he belonged to my sister. I loved her and losing her was hard.”

“I am really sorry about her. I’m also sorry for misleading you. I knew who you were and to be honest, I didn’t know what to do. It’s why I avoided this meeting for so long. That was my mistake.”

He saw she was sincere.

When he walked in she looked like she wanted to run in the opposite direction. He knew all about that feeling.

“How about we have a fresh start?” she asked softly.

“I’ll put the past behind us if you can, Sugar.”

She took a deep breath and he saw she liked the sound of that.

“Okay. That I can do, Colton.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sugar. Now, seeing as our meeting went well and I feel like I can finally think, how would you feel about going on a date with me?”

“A date?”

“Dinner. That’s all I’m asking for.”

“We’re not allowed to … date associates.”

“Technically I’m not an associate. Once this negotiation is through, I won’t have any contact with you, will I?”

“Not unless you have any problems. I tend to delve into the negotiating stage. It sounds complicated but it’s really not. You just need to know how to talk to people.”

“Ouch!” He put a hand over his heart. “You hurt me.”

“I don’t mean like that.”

He got a chuckle though and he’d take it.

“Okay, if I can’t have a date how about we enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company while taking our dogs for a walk? You can teach me all of your neat tricks. Maybe help me handle Boscoe a little better.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I’m a sucker for a canine and I love walking mine. Deal.”

“Time and place?”

“If you and Boscoe are up for it, you can meet me outside of my place.” She opened up her notebook, pulling out a piece of paper and writing on it.

“It’s not that far from where you live. I’m surprised we haven’t bumped into each other.”

He’d have remembered seeing her.

“That’s my address. I’ll meet you on the sidewalk.”

“I look forward to it.” He couldn’t think of a second or third reason to talk to her. “I better be going. It was a pleasure, Sugar.”

“You too, Colton.”

He turned out of the office, making his way out of the building and to his car. Not only did he have the contract he’d been wanting, but also a woman’s address. Resting his head on the steering wheel, he couldn’t believe what a prick he’d been to her. All along she’d known who he was. No wonder she’d made him wait.

He was such a dick to her, jumping to assumptions just because he wasn’t paying attention.

Back at the office, he finished up his emails, dealt with a couple of clients, and then avoided the celebratory drink at a job well done.

For the first time since he’d been working, he was out of the office by five, at home by six, washed, ready, and with Boscoe on the lead by half past.

Walking the streets with him made him a little nervous. Boscoe was so unpredictable.

Standing outside of her apartment building, he didn’t know if he was to ring the bell or not.

He hoped she wasn’t disappointed by his outfit. He’d completely stripped out of his business clothes and settled on something casual: a pair of jeans and a crisp white shirt. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he marveled at Boscoe, who sat waiting.

Did he know who they were waiting for?

Either that or he’d somehow trained his dog without knowing it.

The moment Sugar appeared, he saw the change in Boscoe. His tail wagged faster and there was an excitement about him. Looking up, he saw why. Sugar hadn’t dressed for business either. In a small summer dress, she looked so fucking beautiful that she made him ache.

Walking their dogs was the last thing on his mind.