As I take a step toward the pile, Toto looks me in the eye as he swivels around and lifts his back leg. My mouth hangs open, and he commences in peeing all over the only set of clothes that Levi had to put on that are not stained bright red with tomato sauce.
“Toto, no!” I cry out, trying to step-clomp over to him as fast I can, not that I can do anything about it now. It doesn’t help that there is a lot of urine coming out of this dog. A lot.
“Hey, Georgie, can you hear me?” Levi calls again.
I look in the direction of his voice and then back at my dog. “What have you done?”
Slowly, I make my way down to the bathroom door, step, clomp. Step. Clomp. That’s me, limping in my most exaggerated way. Step, clomp. Step, clomp.
“So,” I call out, leaning against the door as the water cuts off, “we’ve got a bit of an issue.”
“What’s that?” Levi’s voice is muffled. He’s probably under a towel. At least I had quick access to towels in my suitcase when we got back here.
“Your clothes,” I peer back down the hall only to see Toto sniffing the pile as he lifts his leg again. “Toto! Stop. Lie down.”
There’s clamoring on the other side of the door before it swings open. I find one very wet Levi Porter standing in front of me with a towel loosely draped around his hips.
I spy abs. I spy a rock-solid chest. I spy…
“What does Toto have to do with my clothes?”
Levi shakes me out of my dazed state. Is my jaw still attached to my head? I have no words; this man is half-dressed perfection. His broad shoulders glisten with droplets of water, each muscle defined and sculpted, like a work of art. The towel hangs low on his hips, teasingly revealing just enough to send my heart racing. He moves with a casual grace, every step commanding attention. I try to tear my gaze away, but it’s impossible; he’s like a magnet, drawing me in with ease.
Do not look at his body, do not look at his…I can’t help it, my eyes must be boring a hole into his abs. Movement catches my attention and I follow a trail of water as it trickles down his twelve-pack—because why bother with six?—ever so slowly and oh so deliciously headed to where the towel meets his skin.
I am not prepared.
“Hey.” He chuckles, fully catching me gaping at him. “My clothes?”
“Peed on.” Noeasy way to say it. I take a step back and try to get out of the trajectory of his Adonis-like figure. What I wouldn’t do to touch one of those muscles. My eyes flick to find his dancing with what I can only describe as sheer delight.
He laughs. “You’re joking.”
I shake my head vigorously. Maybe too vigorous because I feel dizzy. “It wasn’t me.”
Levi’s eyes widen and he throws his head back and laughs. His laugh is good and rich, and he’s distracted so I can stare at his chest some more.
And it is nice.
“So, Toto peed on my things?” he asks.
“Sorry, it happened so fast,” I say, waving my hands in the air around me. I need something to keep them busy; they feel detached from my body right now. Knitting. It’s a good day to take up knitting. Keeps hands busy so they don’t try to reach out and touch someone. Like Levi. “Maybe the smell of your dogs was on them?”
“That’s a very real possibility,” he says, bright blue eyes still sparkling. “But…” He looks down at his towel. “It leaves me with literally the towel I’m wearing.”
I chew on the side of my cheek, not laughing but thinking. I snap my fingers. “I know—I’ve got some oversized clothes you can wear.”
“You?” Levi looks my body up and down, from the top of my head to the tip of my feet. “We’re not quite the same size.”
I mean, he’s right. I’m about five foot six, and he’s gotta be pushing six foot two. “I didn’t say the look would be pretty or trendy, but it’ll get you home so you can get to your own things.”
“Fine,” he acquiesces. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I start my step-clomp out to the living room, headed to a suitcase I know has clothing in it, turning around when I hear the sound of feet hitting the floor behind me.
“Figured I should follow you so you don’t have to double back and hobble all around,” he says, smirking. “You sound like a serial killer in a Halloween movie.”
“Aren’t you the sweetest?” I say sarcastically, forcing a syrupy sweet Southern drawl to my words, making him smile.
