He barked once.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Do you still have Bunny?”

Robert turned, vanished into the living room, and charged back with the tattered, sopping-wet bunny in his mouth. A fierce pleasure pounded through Slade, knowing the dog still loved the gift.

Kate shook her head and grinned. “It’s his favorite thing in the world. I insisted on washing it the other day, and he waited in front of the dryer for half an hour.”

His throat tightened. “I’m glad.” He straightened up and hungrily took her in. Her cheeks were flushed, but he figured she’d been exercising. Thinking it was over him would hurt too much. “Am I interrupting?”

She shifted her feet. “I was going to take Robert to the dog park. Let him run a bit.”

“Oh.” He stared at her like a teenage chump. “Maybe I can come with you? I want to talk to you about something.”

Kate hesitated and pulled her lower lip between her teeth. His gaze focused on those lush, pale pink lips and he wished to hell she was sucking on something else. “I guess so.”

Her reluctance made him grin. Always trying to get rid of him, even from the first. “Great. Let’s go.”

He reached for the cart, called for Robert, and deftly hooked up the straps. She grabbed two water bottles, a NY Mets ball cap, and headed out the door. Their long strides ate up the pavement as they walked into town, and the wheels of Robert’s cart steadily whirled. “Baseball fan?” He pointed to the cap perched on her head. Damn, she looked adorable with her ponytail bouncing.

Kate laughed. “Nah, Gen’s sister Alexa is a huge Mets fan. She gives out gear for birthdays and Christmas.”

“Hope her husband isn’t a Yankees fan.”

“Uh, yeah, better not go there. How about you? Sports guy?”

“No time. But I watch the Olympics.”

“Hard-core.”

The dog park was half filled with a variety of breeds. Kate opened the gate, which housed a large lawn, various toys, and huge water bowls. Exchanging greetings with the other owners, they leaned against the gate and watched Robert take off in his cart, whizzing round and round with his ears pinned back and his tongue lolling in ecstasy. Slade relaxed, chuckling at the simple pleasures of taking a walk on a beautiful early spring afternoon. Usually he was at the office catching up on work, at the gym, or trying to do something halfway productive.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

Oh. Right. Back to the real goal of his visit. “Jane. I just came from her house.”

Kate let out a sigh. “You know I can’t discuss her situation, right?”

“No, this is different. She told me she’s dating this guy Brian, a poetry teacher, and things are getting a bit intense. Said you advised she was going too fast. What did you mean by that comment?”

She watched Robert run and seemed to mull over her answer. “I can’t give you much without breaking confidentiality. I always counsel my clients on diving in too fast, just in case. I always advocate slow and steady because it seems to work better for the percentages of successful relationships.”

He strummed the gate with his fingers. “Do you think she’s in any trouble?”

Kate shook her head. “Jane seems fully capable of handling the situation. That’s all I can say for now, which was probably too much.”

He nodded. “Good enough.”

“That’s it?” she teased. “You trust me now? Don’t think I’ll raise my prices and make Jane mortgage her apartment?”

He studied her face, her soft smile, and shining eyes and wondered if he’d ever get over her. “I trust you, Kate.”

The words drifted softly in the breeze. She stiffened, recognizing the hidden meaning in his statement, and she stepped closer. Time stopped. Sexual energy swarmed and pulled them together. Helpless to resist the spell as luring and sweet as spring, he bent over and touched his lips to hers.

The kiss was gentle. Undemanding. A slight brush of the lightest touch, whisper soft and as heady as a shot of adrenaline on a bungee jump. Her eyes darkened to a stormy navy blue. He scented her arousal from here, and his nostrils flared with the need to take, claim, possess.

Instead, he swallowed a curse and drew back. He didn’t apologize, and she didn’t demand one. They stared at each other for a while, until Robert’s barking broke through their bubble and dragged them back to reality.

“Want to visit the doggie bakery?” Kate asked.

Robert barked twice.

“Somehow, I don’t think that was a no,” Slade said. “Let’s go, buddy.”

They strolled into town. Stopped in the bakery for Robert and got him a frosted, organic peanut butter donut and a pepperoni twist for later. The Swan Pastry shop was next door, and Slade dragged her inside and bought a bag of biscotti, honey almond, double chocolate, and lemon divine. They munched and weaved their way through the crowds, admiring art in the windows, and spent almost an hour in the secondhand bookshop. The smell of leather and paper hung heavily in the air, and he breathed it in like a drug. He purchased a biography of FDR and got her The History of the Pit Bull, which featured a glossy photo that looked exactly like Robert.

After a satisfying lunch at the hot dog truck, they sipped chocolate mochas and then headed back. The wind grew crisp and the sun disappeared, signaling an end to the idyllic day. When he stopped in front of her house, regret pierced him. He wanted to come inside, cuddle up on her worn-out recliner, and watch the sunset. He wanted . . .

He cut off the thought and forced the words out. “I have a date tonight.”

She stiffened. Then nodded. “That’s good. Who with?”

“Tammy. I spoke with her on the phone a few times. Seems nice. Different from the others—a bit older and seems to hold similar philosophies.”

Slade ached for her to meet his gaze, but she ducked her head and concentrated on finding her keys. “Ken knows what she’s doing. I hope it works out. Thanks for keeping me company today.”

“Thanks for telling me about Jane.”

“Welcome.” The key slid in the lock and she opened the door. “See ya.”

He petted Robert good-bye and watched them disappear. The light went on in the living room, and soon the sounds of the TV drifted through the half-open window. He stood on the pavement for a while, looking in before finally turning away.

This time, he didn’t look back.


TAMMY.

She hated her already.

Kate stabbed her spoon into the small carton of Chunky Monkey and shoved it into her mouth. Why did he have to appear on her doorstep today of all days? Before his date with another woman who was probably perfectly matched? She’d been fine these past two weeks. Better than fine. She was almost cured of Slade Montgomery, and that wicked one night, and decided she may even want to date. Soon. Very soon.

But now he screwed up her head again, with those gorgeous jungle eyes, and sinful mouth, and tousled golden hair. His scent was a delicious mixture of ginger and spice that made her want to howl like a bitch in heat. She wished she had never introduced him to the idea of jeans, because those Levi’s molded his ass and showed off his other assets. Assets she had personally explored and enjoyed. Assets that weren’t hers anymore.

Assets that Tammy better keep her hands off of.

Kate fumed and ate. She glared at the TV where The 40-Year-Old Virgin played and didn’t even gain a chuckle. If Steve Carell failed, she was doomed. Even the extra fudge chunks weren’t helping.

Groaning in defeat, she wondered if she should climb out of her sweats and go out. Mugs was still open, and a call to Kennedy would give her a date. She could have a few beers and socialize instead of sinking into a black depression alone, regarding a man who was not meant for her.

Life kind of sucked.

The idea of putting her feet into boots instead of her fuzzy slippers confirmed her choice. She finished the carton, tipped back two glasses of wine, and let her mind fade into television numbness. Somewhere she read that every hour spent sitting and watching TV cut off her life by two minutes. Oh, goody. Maybe she’d be done with this hell sooner rather than later.

Forget it. She’d go to bed early, switch off her brain, and be better in the morning. And she’d be much more careful about letting Slade into her house or even engaging in a conversation. He was too dangerous, and she was an addict.

Kate shut off the TV, turned out the lights, and stomped to bed.


“I’M SO GLAD WE finally set this up.”

“Me, too.” Slade gazed at the woman across the table. Her black hair was fashionably short and her smile real. She liked the gym, worked as an attorney in property law, and was divorced. So far, the date had gone perfectly, and he honestly liked her.

“I’m surprised you’re open to a matchmaking firm,” she commented, cutting into her steak. Her appetite was so much better than those of the other women he took out. Not as good as Kate’s, of course, but still worthy of his need for consistent gourmet food. “I interned for a divorce firm in my younger days and it’s a real bitch. Kind of ruins your idea of a happy ending.”

Surprised at her astuteness, he grinned. “Yeah, I got slightly singed along the way.”

“More like roasted, I bet.”

He chuckled and took a sip of wine. “Let’s just say I’m open to the idea of a companion. Someone without high ideals but willing to date and explore a relationship on rational terms.”

She nodded with approval. “Me, too. Freaks me out when a guy starts talking about his biological clock or settling down. I love my work, my life, and have plenty of hobbies. But sharing it would be nice. Seeing what happens.”