“Caught some rainbow trout. We are having it tonight.”

“I could have another date, sir. You haven’t asked.”

The silence on the other end of the line let me know this may not have been a smart card to play. His voice was ice. “Do you?”

“Of course not,” I said quickly.

“I have to go. Have a good rest of your day.”

“Wait, Jay—” Shit. It was a stupid move. I was so over petty games years ago. I shouldn’t have done that but at the same time, his reaction was pretty uncalled for. He’d called me to make me happy and I’d shit on it.

Crap.

Looking at the clock, I noted it was three-thirty. Suddenly, the rest of my day looked a little bleaker. I snapped out of it quickly, helping Marcy plan a European vacation for a family of six. On my very first day, I’d learned the differences in all kinds of currency, what countries were strict, and which were the best to visit in what season. Marcy was amazing. She was beyond patient and I could tell it had nothing to do with it being my first day, which was a relief. The worst kind of job nightmare was starting a position only to have your new boss go all Exorcist after a few weeks. I’d definitely taken a bite of that pea soup once or twice in my life.

I decided to nip this misunderstanding with Jayden in the bud. I did my usual laps when I got home then showered quickly. It had been almost a week since our last date and I wanted his smile, his kiss, his conversation.

I also wanted to rip his clothes off and worship his baby maker. But hence, I would settle for the first three and keep at it at his pace.

My dress was way too short and showcased my legs, and I’d blown out my hair for a lengthy affect. I wore my only owned pair of stilettos and smelled of vanilla lotion (an aphrodisiac for men according to my witchy sister Sabrina). I knocked on his door, waited and got nothing. I was just about to walk away when it opened.

“Hi,” Randy, the guy I recognized from the pool, greeted me. He washed me with his eyes in a slow, sick way and I shivered, immensely repelled by it. Though Randy was far from an eyesore, he gave me the creeps.

“Hi, umm, is Jayden here?”

“No,” he said as Jayden passed behind him, eyeing me before he went down the hall and into his bedroom, shutting the door. Stunned with what just happened, I looked back to Randy who was clearly busted. It was as if Jayden didn’t care that I’d seen him.

And it was complete bullshit.

I saw golden fur in the corner of the room as I scanned it. Thinking quickly, I whistled for him. Trip plowed his way through Randy’s legs and into me. I grabbed his leash from the floor next to the door and hooked it up to his collar as I glared at Randy.

“Well, you can tell that asshole that I am stealing his dog, and when he’s ready to talk, he can have him back.” I attempted to stalk off, but Trip took off like a bat out of hell, earning his name and making me stumble in my too short skirt. I heard Randy start to laugh hysterically as I begged Trip to slow down. I fell twice on the way back to my apartment, scraping my knees on the concrete while I hung on to Trip for dear life. When I fell the second time, one of my heels snapped. Trip looked back at me as an afterthought and came at me, tongue lashing to lap up my face.

“Dumbass. Seriously, CHILL OUT, TRIP!” After a brief pity party, I made it back to my apartment and let Trip loose to run through the house, hearing an absent crash as I limped to the kitchen with my blood covered and newly purpled knees. Grabbing a plastic baggie, I filled it with ice then caught my reflection in the microwave. My hair was jacked from the humidity and my mascara was smeared from Trip’s heavy petting. Fifteen minutes ago, I’d been ready to rock Jayden’s world. Five minutes ago, he had carelessly told me to kiss his ass.

And for what?

I thought about the stupid stunt I had just pulled and decided it was a bad move to steal his dog. If he wanted nothing to do with me after something as stupid as playing coy, then I needn’t bother. Even as I thought it, I knew it wouldn’t fly. I had a serious taste for Jayden Monroe, and I didn’t want it to be over. Still, if we even had a chance, I would make it clear that his reaction to my teasing wouldn’t fly, either.

I would’ve immediately taken the dog back, but the truth was I was exhausted and hurting from stealing him. It would have to wait until I had at least cared for my slimy knees. I sat in my bathroom, wincing as I ran a rag over my bloody knees when I heard a knock on the door as Trip barked, alerting me. I was suddenly fearful it was Jayden. Shoes still on and one still broken, I limped my way to the door and looked through the peephole to see that, in fact, it was...and he was angry.

I opened the door as Trip stood next to me, happy to see his master.

“What the hell, Hilary!”

“Sorry, it was a bad move,” I said, opening the door.

“You don’t just take a man’s dog,” he scorned, snatching Trip’s leash from my hand.

“Yeah, spoken like a true hypocrite.” Jayden’s eyes covered me as he noticed my broken shoe and torn up knees.

“What happened?”

“Don’t ask. There you go. You have your dog.” My voice was trembling and I couldn’t for the life of me make it stop. Emotion filled my chest as he scrutinized me. I let him take me in, my arms crossed over my chest, before limping to my couch and relieving my feet of my heels. He walked over to the table where I had thrown my wet washcloth and sat on the couch next to me, lifting my legs so my feet were in his lap. He resumed cleaning my knees without a word. I watched him as he gently dabbed up the dirt and then leaned in and blew on them.

“I’m not good at the boy/girl stuff,” he offered after a few minutes.

“You ever thought about trying the man/woman thing?” He refused to look at me, keeping his eyes trained on my knees.

“Clearly, you don’t like to share. I get it. I don’t, either,” I remarked about my comment earlier. “I don’t think it’s worth throwing away a handful of good dates, but you obviously feel differently.”

“I think about you day and night,” he said as his eyes finally drifted to mine with a look so intense if I hadn’t already been sitting, I’d have to. The flutter in my stomach warmed me and spread quickly throughout my limbs.

“I’m trying here, but I’m not an easy guy to get along with.”

“You’ve done a great job of being an asshole today,” I agreed.

“I’m not sure what I want from you, Hilary.” He leaned in and blew on my knees before he placed a soft sweet kiss below both of them. I closed my eyes against the growing fear of what he was about to say.

“If this is going to be some speech about hooking up just for fun, I should warn you now, I’m not the type of girl for that.”

He pulled me into his lap gently to avoid bumping my torn skin.

“I overreacted,” he said in apology and then followed it with actual words. “I’m sorry.”

“I stole your dog,” I said with a smile.

“I have to admit, it was pretty slick,” he said, his hands massaging up and down my legs.

“Don’t shut me out like that. You ruin a perfectly good argument that way,” I said, leaning into him.

“Should we be arguing this early?” he asked with a smile.

“Why not? Emotion shows you care. We’d make a great Fred and Ethel,” I said hoping, he’d catch on to my I Love Lucy comparison. It was my absolute favorite show.

“Let’s shoot for Lucy and Ricky,” he said as his fingers threaded through my moisture-induced afro. “You look like hell.”

“Thanks,” I said quickly as I pumped my hand behind my head twice with ‘hot stuff’ emphasis.

“Clean up and come over, okay? Randy is going out with the screamer and staying with her tonight.”

“When are you going to let me cook for you?”

“When your knees don’t look like mini ET’s.” I chuckled as he leaned in to sip my lips and whispered a low, “I’m sorry. I would have come around.”