Page 3 of Reluctantly Married

A young golden retriever bounded up to the car, barking. Adam rubbed the puppy’s head, getting down on the dog’s level. “Hey, buddy. Whatcha’ doing over here? You shouldn’t run away like that.”

“Whose dog is that?”

“The neighbor’s. But he keeps sneaking away and coming over here.” He scratched the dog’s neck while receiving puppy licks all over his face. “Yes, you’re just a naughty boy, aren’t you?”

Megan laughed. “You really punish him, huh? No wonder he keeps sneaking over here.”

“You’re right. I can’t help it though.”

She glanced around the stretch of land. “No dog of your own?”

He stood, sobering. “No,” he said simply. Adam sent the dog back in the direction he’d come.

A stone path led them around the house to an old barn. He opened the door and flipped on a switch. Megan was surprised to see the barn had electricity and a cement floor. It was quite clean inside. Several large empty cages lined one wall. A sink and a refrigerator took up another. Adam crouched next to a smaller cage, opened the door, and gingerly picked up a baby raccoon. A bandage covered what was left of his right front leg, barely a nub.

The animal sleepily snuggled into Adam’s large chest as he examined the bandage and then refilled the water dish. Megan exhaled. “He’s adorable.”

Adam stepped closer. “Do you want to hold him?”

“He won’t go all raccoon-crazy on me and scratch my eyeballs out, will he?”

He chuckled, a sound she was beginning to enjoy. “No. The little guy’s nocturnal, this is his nap time. Plus, he’s on pain killers, so he’s extra lethargic.”

As he came closer, Megan became aware of Adam’s strong build and masculine scent. Maybe it was the fact that he had a cute baby animal in his arms, or that he was going to fix her car this afternoon, but her heart sped up, and she had trouble breathing. She shook it off. This was totally unacceptable. She could not be falling for Adam Warner, her pig of a co-host.

She gently took the raccoon in her arms and stroked his fur. “I had no idea they were this soft.”

Adam nodded. “We call this one Stumpy.”

Megan stepped back. “No, you can’t. You’ll hurt his little raccoon feelings.”

He let out another laugh that spread warmth through her. “You’re kidding me.”

She allowed a smile to show on her face. “Maybe. But I still think he’s too cute for an ugly name like that. How about Champ?”

He wrinkled his nose. “That sounds like the name of a Great Dane or a Greyhound.”

“You’re right.” She peered down at the coloring on his little face. “What about Bandit?”

“Perfect.” Adam’s smile was pleasant. Affectionate. Not like when they were on camera. It messed with her head.

She turned away. “How often do you take in animals?”

“It varies. Sometimes I have four or five at a time. Other times, just one.”

Another minute passed while she stroked the raccoon, then she handed him back to Adam. He laid him on the blanket in the cage and fastened the door.

He stood, and she smiled up at him. “Thanks for letting me hold him.” The goofy grin wouldn’t leave her face. He took a step closer, and invisible electricity tingled between them. Heat seared her cheeks.

What was she doing? Flirting with him? What was wrong with her? She mentally smacked herself. This was Adam, the same guy who made little digs at her every day on air. The same obnoxious brute who insinuated she was putting her all into her work because she couldn’t get a man.

She had to pull herself together. Adam was good looking, but not worth the heartache. She was sure of that. Another glance at him, and she melted inside like chocolate on a summer day.

Oh, heavens. She was falling for Adam Warner.

2

Adam straightened his tie, shiftingin his seat. They would be back from commercial break in less than two minutes, and introducing their guest. Leon seemed extra excited about today, sure it would be another hit. Their YouTube popularity was growing by leaps and bounds. It could get them into syndication. He and Megan might be household names by next year.

---