Page 10 of Must Love Dogs… and Hockey

“I haven’t been having the best luck lately. You could say my life is like the love child of a train wreck and a dumpster fire.”

Easton chokes on a laugh.

I focus on Otis again. He’s gazing longingly at Lola. Clearly he just wants to be friends. I cautiously set Lola on the ground and watch as Otis sniffs around her.

“Heishard to resist,” Easton says, watching them too. “He seems to like women. What else is going wrong in your life?”

I’m not about to share all my woes with a douche stranger. “Nothing.”

He shrugs. “You’re too pretty to have a dumpster fire of a life.”

I roll my eyes, even though my heart quivers at the compliment. Because, yeah…he’s gorgeous. “This isn’t the time for flirting. Read the room, dude.”

He laughs, and it’s a fantastic laugh—low and deep and rumbly. “I’m not flirting. I’m just being extra friendly to someone who’s extra attractive.”

“Oh my God.”

Lola is now checking out Otis, sniffing his butt. Otis responds by checking hers out, and they do the canine version of shaking hands and introducing themselves.

“I admire how you jumped in to save your dog—er, your friend’s dog—when she was being attacked. That takes guts.”

I study him with narrowed eyes. Is he for real?

He gives off an air of bold confidence and a reckless charm, but his smile is genuine and his expression sincere. That annoys me even more.

I reach out and rub Otis’s head. I’m not mad athim. “He’s not vicious. And it wasn’t his fault. He’s a baby. He just needs to be controlled better.” I give Easton a pointed look.

“I get it.” Easton holds up a hand. “I’ve learned my lesson.”

“How old is he?”

“I don’t know.”

“What? You don’t know how old he is?”

“Like I said, I got stuck with him.” After a beat he adds, “Although I admit he’s fun.”

“Of course you are. Aren’t you? You just need to grow up and learn how to behave.” I lean forward and kiss Otis between his big brown eyes. “You’re a good boy.”

“I don’t suppose you’d want a job dog sitting?”

I snort and flash Easton a sideways glance.

“Really. I don’t want to just get rid of him to a shelter.”

I give him a look with my chin down. “You don’t even know me.”

“Babe. You’re gorgeous, smart, and gutsy. And you like dogs. You rescued a dog that’s not even yours. You have to be a decent person.”

Heat washes down through me at the compliments from this hunk of hotness, but I laugh. “Wow, youdoknow me.”

He smiles too, a sexy bad boy smile that heats me up and makes my belly flutter.

“Seriously, you don’t even know me.”

He nods at Lola. “Someone else trusts you with their dog.”

“True.”

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