Page 10 of Sweet Love at Bayside
Violet laughed harder. “Thedogbrought us together?”
Rick couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m totally confused.”
“Join the party,” Desiree said. “Oh, gosh.” She shook her head, hiding her laughter behind her hand again. “I’m sorry. It’s our mother. She’s—” She pointed at her head, making circles with her index finger. “It must be her dog, but we didn’t even know shehada dog.”
She reached for Cosmos, and as he handed him over, he covered her hand with his. She blinked up at him through long, thick lashes, giving him that innocent look again, the look that made his stomach go squirrely.
“I’m sorry he went in your pool.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her if he’d wanted to. “I’m not.”
“Are you a Savage or a Masters?” Violet’s serious tone severed their connection.
Rick felt himself grinning. “Savage. I’m not into BDSM.” He caught Desiree blushing, and it made him want to tuck her up against him and cover her with kisses.Kisses?She really had gotten under his skin.
“I assumed differently, considering how pissed you were at the dog.” Violet searched his face, openly assessing him.
“Violet,” Desiree said under her breath.
Rick met Violet’s serious gaze. “I’ve been chasing this dog for two weeks. It’s wreaking havoc with our pool filter system. If I came across angry, I apologize, but that’s why.”
Her eyes slid to Desiree, then back to him. “We’ll make sure he stays in the yard.”
“Why are you suddenly so serious?” Desiree said to Violet. “You sound mean.” She lifted her chin as the puppy licked it, bringing another sweet smile.
“She’s not being mean.” Rick understood where Violet was coming from. If a guy had shown up to pick up Mira as angry as he’d been about the dog, he’d question him, too. “She’s being protective.”
“Of the dog?” Desiree petted the pup and looked questioningly at her sister. “Vi, I’ll take care of him.”
“So now you’re staying?” Violet asked.
That caught Rick’s attention. “Were you leaving?”
“I was considering it. It’s complicated.” She glanced at Violet. “But I still have some things to work out here.”
A hint of a smile lifted Violet’s lips, softening her hard edges, which Rick was glad to see. He’d wondered if Desiree’s complications had to do with a boyfriend, and although he was relieved to see that it had to do with family, he was even more curious about the dynamics between her and Violet.
Violet reached for the dog. “Give me Trouble. I’ll see if Lizza has food for him.”
“Cosmos,” Desiree said. After Violet went inside, she looked apologetically at Rick. “I’m sorry she acted like that.”
“She was fine. She’s just watching out for you.”
She glanced at the door. “Isthatwhat that was?”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve given the same tread-carefully vibe to plenty of guys who were hitting on my sister, Mira.”
“And here I thought she was just being mean.”
Her gaze fell to his chest as it had last night, and he remembered he was wearing only his running shorts. She licked her lips, heating him up from the inside out. Her eyes met his, and she had the guilty look of a kid who had been caught with her hand in the candy jar. And man, did that look good on her.
“Thanks for bringing the dog back,” she said nervously. “I had no idea my mother had a dog, much less that he’d been running wild like that. I’ll make sure he stays away from your pool.”
He reached for her hand before she could flee. “I’m glad he was. You might never have called, and I’d be left searching for the gorgeous woman I drenched forever.”
She laughed softly. “Somehow I think you’d find a replacement pretty darn fast.”
“Oh, there’d be a line of women waiting. You can count on it. But I’d be too busy trying to figure out how to find you to notice.” Her cheeks pinked up again, and it endeared him toward her even more. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
