***
Where are we? Nathan’s car stops in front of a large gate in front of an old, two-story house. The paint is peeling off, and the glass in one of the windows is boarded over.
My eyebrows furrow. Why did Nathan bring me to a place like this?
Suddenly, I hear a bark. Then another.
Dogs?
Before long, the lights turn on inside the house and the door opens, a pair of dogs rushing out to meet us. For a moment, I feel afraid that they might bite, but Nathan bravely steps forward.
“Easy, boys.”
And just like that, their barks change and their tails wag.
“Oh, it’s you, Nathan,” the middle-aged man on the porch calls out. “I was wondering why Red and Rover suddenly seemed so excited.”
“I’m sorry to come here so late, Ted.” Nathan approaches the porch with the dogs, and I follow.
“No worries,” Ted says. “I was still up watching TV. Besides, it’s your property.”
So, this place does belong to Nathan.
“Sam, this is Ted,” Nathan says. “He was a friend of my dad’s. Ted, this is Sam.”
“Nice to meet you.” Ted offers his hand, and I shake it.
A friend of Nathan’s dad? I’ve never even heard of his father.
“Ted’s going to be looking after this place,” Nathan adds. “He’s the only one here now, but I’ll hire a few people to help him.”
“What exactly is this place?” I ask, unable to rein in my curiosity any longer.
“Well, it isn’t much now,” he answers. “But it’s going to be a dog shelter.”
“A dog shelter?”
Now, that’s a surprise, especially coming from someone who preferred robots as pets.
“I thought about some things after you left last night. I thought about the dog I used to own, too. And I decided it’s not a bad idea to put up a dog shelter. You wanted to put up one, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but…”
He decided to put up a dog shelter just because I suggested it?
“This house is old, but it’s got a lot of rooms. We’ll fix it up, put in the necessary equipment, maybe even turn one room into a clinic. Then we’ll start taking dogs in. Stray dogs mostly.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You bought a house just to make it into a dog shelter?”
“You might find it hard to believe, young lady,” Ted says. “But this man’s very generous.”
“Thanks, Ted.” Nathan pats him on the shoulder. “But I don’t need any help impressing a woman.”
Ted chuckles. “Of course, you don’t. I’ll leave the two of you alone.”
After Ted goes inside with the dogs, Nathan sits on the porch stairs. I do the same.
“You and Ted seem close,” I tell him.
“Well, he was more of a father to me than my father ever was.”
I want to know more but decide not to pry. “Is that why you chose Ted to run this place?”
“That, and the fact that he loves dogs.”
“I can see that.”
“He’s had Red and Rover for years, and I don’t think I’ve ever known him without a dog. He gave me one, too, a Labrador I named Todd.”
“Nice name.”
“Do you have a dog?”
“We have lots of dogs back home,” I answer. “On the farm.”
“I see.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t own a dog at my apartment. But they do allow cats, so I have one. A silver tabby named Siberia. She’s three now. And I have three goldfish. They all get along somehow.”
“You really do love animals, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do,” I admit with a sheepish grin. “Maybe it’s because of my brother, Jack. He loved animals. He was a veterinarian, actually.”
“Was?” Nathan gives me a puzzled look.
“He’s gone now.”
Nathan lowers his head. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
I shake my head, not wanting to dwell on the tragedy. “What about you? Surely, you must also have something you love.”
“Love is a strong word.”
That I can’t deny.
“There are a lot of things I enjoy, though,” he adds. “For example, I’m enjoying spending time with you right now.”
My heart skips a beat at the way he looks at me. I look away.
“Did you bring me here just to show off and impress me?” I ask.
“Is it working?”
I don’t answer. But yes, I’m impressed. No guy has ever given me more than a bunch of flowers before. True, the dog shelter isn’t exactly mine, but it feels like a gift to me.
The best gift.
“And also to prove to you that I’m not as heartless as you think.”
I look at him, a pang of guilt stabbing me in the gut. “I’m really sorry I—”
“It’s okay,” Nathan cuts me off. “You were being true to yourself. I can’t fault you for that. Actually, you’re the first woman I’ve been with who’s acted that way. It’s refreshing.”
I smile. And to think I was feeling scared that he might get me fired because I spoke my mind.
Just then, my stomach grumbles, reminding me that I only had a salad, which apparently has already been digested. It’s embarrassing, but Nathan just chuckles.
“Hungry?” he asks.
I nod.
“Shall we grab something to eat?” he asks, standing up. “Actually, I’m hungry, too. I didn’t really get to eat dinner.”
I get up and shake the dust from the back of my skirt. “Why were you at the Marriott?”
“I was supposed to meet someone who had an interesting idea for a new app but he canceled at the last minute. I was on the phone with him when I saw you leaving.”
“You noticed me leaving?”
“I think I’d notice you anywhere.”
My heart skips another beat.
“Then I saw that guy go after you…”
“Barry Baker,” I inform him. “He’s a member of the paparazzi. We’ve bumped into each other a few times before, though I loathe to put him in the same line of work.”
“Of course not. You’re a professional. He’s a con.”
“That he is,” I agree.
At the memory of what he did to me, I cringe. “I can’t believe he kissed me.”
Nathan turns to me, touching my cheek. “Let me wipe that memory away.”
And the next thing I know, his lips are on mine. Unlike last night, this kiss is soft, gentle.
And yet, it has a stronger effect on me, making my heart race.
Like before, I can’t resist. I can only surrender, my eyes closing as I kiss him back feebly, my lips parting to let his in.
His tongue explores slowly, thoroughly, wiping every trace of that horrid mouth-to-mouth — I don’t dare call it a kiss — from earlier away. And when he’s done, he leaves me warm and wet and melting.
Wanting more.
Just then, Nathan’s phone rings, disrupting the moment.
“Hello,” he answers.
I try not to eavesdrop, watching his expression instead. He seems concerned. Worried, even?
After the call, he looks at me with a frown. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. Lucas wants to meet me now.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll drop you off back in town, but I’ll have to cancel that dinner.”
I wave my hands. “No problem. I don’t mind really.”
“I feel bad, though. Can we have dinner tomorrow, instead?”
I only pause to think for a moment. “Yeah. Sounds good. I have work at noon but I’m free in the evening.”
“Great. Why don’t you give me your number so I can call you to let you know what time I’ll pick you up and where?”
“Sure.”
I do that. He gives me his number as well then smiles at me. A genuine smile. Not a grin.
A breathtaking smile.
“It’s a date, then.”