Page 32 of The Dating Mishapp

She tsks my comment and ignores the hint of sarcasm. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And besides, everyone loves puppy dog eyes.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Speaking of puppy dog eyes, have you seen the new chief?”

I fight a smile. “Yes, I met him. He’s okay.”

“Okay?” She points to Dr. Webster, the town’s optometrist. “Honey, you’d better make an appointment soon like yesterday if you think that man is justokay.”

“My eyes work just fine,” I say when I notice a sea of black tuxes accompanied by beautifully dressed women on their arms. I glance around. As if he were looking for someone, Jack catches my eye and dips his chin subtly. I return the gesture with a small smile.

Even in a room with a hundred other men, Jack Perkins stands out. The sharp tuxedo fits him perfectly and his freshly cut hair is parted and gelled in the same way I’d styled it on Monday. While taking in his God-like appearance, my legs, involuntarily, bring me to him.

“Wow!” A huge grin stretches across his smooth face as he leans in and places a firm hand on the small of my back. He pulls me flush against his body and I inhale his scent. He grazes my cheek with his lip. “You look absolutely edible. And I’m starving.”

A bubble of nervous laughter erupts as my cheeks start to burn. I step back and drop my eyes. “You can’t say things like that.”

“Why not?” He lifts my chin and looks at my lips.

“You’re such a flirt. Did you say this to all the women tonight?”

Again, he shakes his head. “No, just you and your daughter. She’s the spitting image of you.”

My mouth opens. “You told my daughter she was edible?”

“No! What the fuck! I told her she looked beautiful like her mother.”

I hear a succession of barks and glance over Jack’s shoulder to the pen designed to showcase all the adoptable dogs.

“Oh, my God. I need to go see them!”

Jack extends his arms and waits for me to slip mine through.

Once linked, he raises my hand and kisses it softly. His eyes crinkle with delight when I return the smile.

“Nice haircut,” I say as we cross the room, nodding and greeting a few people I know. I notice Jack is looking around, not paying any attention to what I’ve just said.

“Do you not like it?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Your haircut. Do you not like it?”

“Oh, no. I do. And I got an incredible massage, too. I’m hoping the attention I got was a perk of being chief.” He caresses my hand with his fingertips.

“Definitely a perk.”

“You know if I didn’t get it cut, I was gonna have to wear my hat, butsomeonestole it.”

“Lucky for you. I’m glad you didn’t wear it.”

“Why’s that?”

“You look yummier without it.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Yummier?”

I smirk and nod once.

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