Page 13 of Make You Mine

“No, he’s not here,” I heaved a beleaguered sigh. “Richard had a work thing, but Cody is the worst guard dog ever. He’s a golden retriever and falls in love with everyone he meets. He’d probably love it if there were ghosts here. The more beings available to give him attention, the merrier.”

“I can’t wait to meet him. I’ve always wanted a golden retriever like Lassie.”

“That’s a collie, silly.”

“Oh, Benji?”

“He’s a mixed breed.”

“Shit, Beethoven?”

“St. Bernard. You’re really bad at this.”

“What, making conversation?” I looked up from my knitting to see him trying to smile at me. His mouth was quirked higher on one side.

“Haha, you’re cute.”

“Ahhh,cute. Just what every forty-two-year-old man wants to be,” he joked.

“There’s nothing wrong with being cute,” I insisted. “In fact, you shouldwantto be cute. It’s better than being an arrogant asshole like most of you are.”

“Attorneys?” He leaned in closer. “Some of us do try to maintain a small sense of charm.” His voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. “Or is it men in general?”

“Men in general,” I confessed while inwardly excluding him from the running list of arrogant assholes I’d met in my life.

“I won’t even begin to argue with your opinion of men. In my line of work, I see the worst.”

“I bet you do,” I mumbled. “I can’t believe I’m having an entire conversation with you in my ratty bathrobe and a face mask. Whatever must you think of me?”

“Your nightgown underneath reminds me of something from the Golden Girls.” Was he trying to make me feel better?

“Oh god.” I was mortified. “Thank you, it’s a caftan.” The face mask served me well and hid my flaming cheeks. “I dressed like this to show Richard I don’t give a crap about him or what he thinks of me. Don’t tell anyone.”

“No worries. I can keep a secret.”

“You’re an attorney. You must have loads of secrets.”

“That I do. Here’s one, pass me your knitting.” I handed it to him and watched in awe as he finished the row I was working on.

“Wow, your skills are impressive.”

“My mom taught me. It’s relaxing.”

“Not for me. I’m considering another hobby.”

He set the knitting aside and leaned back on the couch, crossing his long legs at the ankle. I allowed myself a quick peek at him. The muscles in his torso were accentuated by the fitted T-shirt that clung tightly around his pecs and biceps. It took all I had to keep my eyes from wandering over his body to look my fill. I managed one discreet up and down, but it was hard not to keep staring. “Want to hear another one?”

“Huh?” I muttered, distracted, as I felt an urge to know everything about him. “Oh, I mean, sure. I love secrets.”

“I like talking to you, Piper.”

I let out a nervous laugh as I reeled in my desire to flirt my ass off. “Thanks, they used to put my desk in the hallway back in school.” Cracking jokes was my preferred way of handling unexpected compliments, so I went with that. “Fair warning—I can definitely talk, and sometimes I just can’t stop.”

“That’s not the drawback you seem to think it is.”

For a moment, neither one of us spoke. Silence stretched between us, not quite awkward, but notnotawkward either. I was intrigued.

He leaned back and pulled his phone from his pocket. I jumped when my text notification went off.

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