Page 31 of Some Like It Hops

“Charlie?” Griffin’s voice is muffled from the other side of the door.

“Shit.” I run my hands through my long hair, trying to tame the tangles. “Just a second!” What is he doing here? I look down at the romper again and shake my head. Sometimes I get really lucky with my Amazon purchases. Other times…

Well, let’s just say this safety cone orange romper looks nothing like the photos—which were a mutedrust, by the way. I look like a well-fed baby in a saggy onesie.

Whatever. Who cares what Griffin thinks anyway? It’s not likeIcare or anything. I pull open the door and my heart skips a beat. Then another.

Damn. Okay, so I definitelydocare.

And I definitely don’t want to be wearing this outfit, but here I am.

He’s gotten better looking, I think. The bastard.

Or, maybe I just uglied him up in my head to make myself feel better.

He’s dressed in a suit that really could make me become a suit girl. Navy so dark it’s almost black, with a crisp white shirt beneath and a paisley tie with shades of magenta and pink, with little bits of navy to tie it all in. He has a matching pocket square in his coat pocket. He looks like he just stepped out of a men’s fashion magazine.

He searches my gaze without the usual cockiness, almost like…

Like he’s looking for approval? But that can’t be.

He finally breaks eye contact and I pull in a shaky breath as casually as I can muster, but then he looks me up and down slowly, and my breath hitches. His gaze has the same stupid affect on me as it did the day we met—caressing my skin like a physical touch.

“You’re late.” I shut the door on him and cover my face with my hands. I just did that. I just shut the door on the most beautiful man to ever walk the earth.

He knocks lightly. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“You need a new watch?”

“What?” There’s amusement in his tone.

“So you can tell time, Griffin.”

“Oh.” He pauses for a long time. “Are you going to let me in, or do I have to apologize through the door?”

I mean, I could make him apologize through the door…

“Your neighbor is looking at me funny.”

I roll my eyes and open the door. “Fine. Come in.”

Pops rushes to my side, pushing past me to attack the incoming stranger.

And, by attack, I mean, stand up and throw his feet over Griffin’s shoulders so they’re eye to eye.

Griffin nearly stumbles, but he straightens, leaning his head back to get a better look at the massive Great Dane in his face. “Whoa, whoa, who’s this?” He strains against the force of my dog, whose tongue is millimeters away from connecting with Griffin’s face.

“Pops! Get down!” Oh my god. Griffin’s suit probably costs more than my condo.

Pops jumps down and I grab his collar, tugging him backward. “Pops! You can’t do that, buddy.” I grab his face and make him look up at me. “No one will think you’re scary if you slobber them with kisses!” I shake my head and release him, then point to his bed. “Bed. Now.”

Pops huffs loudly, looks longingly at Griffin, then pads over to his bed and flops down all dramatically.

“So, that’s Pops.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that.”

Griffin nods slowly. “I think I’ll be okay. What’s the story there?”

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