Page 50 of Must Love Dogs… and Hockey

“You should have.” Carlin eyes them. “They’re both hot.”

“I know.” I sigh. “But it’s girls’ night. Right?”

“Chicks before dicks,” Maya says.

“I’m not interested in dick anyway.” I wave a hand.

“Except that of a certain hockey player,” Carlin says.

All eyes turn to me.

“What?” I stare back at them.

“You seem to be developing a little crush on Easton Millar,” Carlin says.

“I am not!”

“You talk about him all the time.”

“I talk about his dog. He’s a client.”

“Suuuure.”

“We need to meet this guy,” Maya says. She pulls out her phone. With a few swipes, she has Easton’s team headshot on her screen. She nods approvingly. “Okay, I get it.” She shows the phone to Adriana, then Carlin.

“You two had lunch together yesterday,” Carlin points out.

Again, Maya and Adriana give me wide eyes.

“It was just lunch.” I raise my hands.

A waitress arrives at our table. I order a draft beer and the others order cocktails. Drinks come with a free pizza, making this a great place for someone broke like me to hang out.

“And I have another New York Bears client,” I tell them. “I’ll be walking Loki for Colton Gunnerson. He’s their goalie.”

“That’s great!” Maya nods. “Is he single?”

“He lives with his girlfriend. She’s a Victoria’s Secret model.”

“Ah.”

“And I got two more emails today from potential clients.” It seems like my addition of “Easton Millar, forward for the New York Bears, says Lilly at Walk ’n Wag genuinely loves her clients and provides convenient and responsive care” has helped get me some attention. I have to make sure and thank him for that.

“Congratulations!” Adriana gives me her sweet smile. “You’re killing this.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that. But I’m glad I’m getting more jobs.”

Our drinks arrive. Adriana picks hers up. “To Walk ’n Wag.”

We all toast. I’m feeling pretty good today. Things are looking up. Also, I keep remembering how Easton looked at me yesterday, during our lunch when his eyes were warm and his smile flirty, and after when our eyes locked and neither of us wanted to move away. I got all heated and tingly and practically floated all the way to Apollo’s home.

It’s been a while since I felt like that. I felt…desired. Appreciated. Like I was the focus of all Easton’s attention. And that attention was…exciting.

“I couldn’t date Easton,” I say. “He’s a client.”

The girls all grin. “So youhavethought about it,” Maya says.

“Okay, maybe I have. I keep telling him we can’t date.”

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