Page 7 of Rival for Rent

He gave me a look of pure disgust. “I definitely didn’t call for you.”

That stung more than I cared to admit. I didn’t flinch—I’d spent too long in the military for that—but still. We hadn’t been friends in high school, but we hadn’t been enemies, had we?

I could picture him so clearly, small and nerdy, his backpack weighed down by way too many textbooks. Always sitting at lunch with Ava Karstein, whispering with her in the library. Not that I’d spent much time in the library—academics weren’t my thing—but somehow, I always knew where Ava was.

I’d had such a crush on her all through middle school and high school. She wasn’t the kind of girl a football player like me was supposed to go for, but she was funny, whip smart, and while shewas tiny, she had enough personality to fill a stadium. But she was always with Kai.

Looking at him now, something hot and sharp twisted in my chest. Kai had no right to look so disgusted. He’d dated the girl I’d been hopeless over for years. Not that it mattered anymore.

According to social media, Ava had been happily married for three years, and she’d had a baby six months ago. I was long over that crush. But the way Kai was looking at me still hit something raw.

I tried to make sense of it. “Sorry, maybe there was some kind of miscommunication. Dana told me someone had called for a bodyguard—”

“That was Dana who called me?” Kai’s eyes went wide.

“Yeah, she’s the manager for Heart—” I stopped short. “Wait, did you really not know it was me who was coming over?”

“No,” he said flatly. “I didn’t even decide to call for a bodyguard until last night. And she didn’t tell me your name.” His scowl made it clear he thought she should have.

“Sorry about that,” I said slowly. Bella was still panting like she’d die if she didn’t get to me. “I obviously didn’t know you were the client either. Why did you call yourself Oscar?”

He frowned. “It’s my middle name.”

That didn’t really answer my question, but he didn’t seem inclined to elaborate.

“Oh. Well, if you need me—that is, if you need someone—”

“I don’t,” he snapped. “This was a mistake. Goodbye, Mason.”

He said it like he hoped I’d drop off the face of the planet. And yeah, that hurt more than it should’ve. I wasn’t close to anyone from high school anymore. It might’ve been nice to reconnect. Made me feel less adrift in DC.

Kai’s face told me he didn’t want any of that. He pulled the door open wider and reached for Bella’s collar—but she was faster. She shoved through and leapt onto the front step, up on her hind legs, her front paws thudding against my chest.

She wassolid. I grunted softly as she collided with me. Not that I was worried. All she wanted to do was lick every inch of exposed skin she could get to.

Kai looked furious, and I gave him a sheepish smile. “Sorry, are you teaching her not to jump?” I rubbed Bella’s head and shoulders, then gently lowered her to the ground. “Come on, girl, back down. That’s it.”

Her four paws had barely hit the step before Kai lunged for her collar again, but she slipped out of reach and tore off down the sidewalk. She gamboled into his neighbor’s yard, buried her head in their tulips, then rolled her entire body in a patch of myrtle.Vinca minor. I’d learned that name at my landscaping job.

“Bella, what are you—” Kai said, stepping forward, but I waved him back.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get her. No need to mess up your tux.”

He gave me a look like I’d insulted his mother, and I had no idea what I’d said wrong. I stepped carefully into the neighbor’s yard. Bella was now wriggling on her back, legs in the air, not a care in the world.

“You,” I said, crouching beside her, “are a naughty dog. Very naughty.”

I wagged a finger at her snout, then booped her nose. Her tongue lolled out even farther, and I couldn’t help rubbing her belly for a minute before gently rolling her over and grabbing her collar.

“Good thing you’re cute,” I murmured, walking her back to Kai’s door. I gave him a tentative smile. “How long have you had her?”

“Don’t do that,” he said, glaring at me.

“Do what?”

“Act like you care. Act like you’re not—like you didn’t—” He broke off, shaking his head. “Just give me my dog back.”

He reached for Bella’s collar. Our fingers brushed, and I felt a jolt shoot through me. My gaze jumped to his face. Had he felt that too?

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