hadn’t heard her debating out loud with Coco the merits of red as opposed to pink claw polish?
The little doggy diva loved to be spoken to, uttered soft, throaty noises in reply. Serena knew Coco was just responding to the attention she craved in her needy, poodle way. But Serena found it fun to pretend they were having a genuine conversation.
She suspected Nick Whalen would think it eccentric at the very least.
She cleared her throat. Channeled cool, detached professional. Someone totally unaffected by the six-foot-three hunk who towered over her. “Nick. Hi. Is everything okay with Bessie?”
“Yes, perfectly okay,” he replied. If testosterone had a sound, it would surely be his voice.
“You sound surprised,” she said, carefully putting down the claw polish when she realized her hand was trembling. Damn! Her brain and her libido seemed to be at war when it came to this guy. She slid her hands into Coco’s fur, and scratched her behind the ears, much to the poodle’s butt-wiggling delight.
“Surprised? Maybe. To be honest I didn’t think a dog would like being left all day with a load of strangers.”
“That she’d prefer being locked in a yard by herself? Remember, dogs are pack animals. It’s natural for them to enjoy the company of other dogs. And people, too. We’re part of their pack world.”
“So it seems. Kylie fixed me up with the password for the doggy day cam, too, so I can check on Bessie during the day if I need to.”
“Glad to hear Kylie is looking after you.”
Like she hadn’t heard every last detail of Nick’s visits from Kylie. The new client had caused quite a stir among the all-female staff.
“The day cam is a great idea. When I log on, Bessie looks like she’s really living it up. Is it possible to get a copy of the tape?”
She shook her head. “That would be an invasion of privacy of the other clients. Sorry.”
He shrugged. “Just an idea.”
“We have to be careful who we even give a password. The footage can be used as evidence in a canine custody battle.”
Doubt creased his forehead. “How so?”
“Putting the dog in day care can be cited as a sign of neglect of care by the partner suing for custody.”
His unsuccessful attempt at masking his “I can’t believe I’m hearing this” expression amused her more than it bugged her. He had a lot to learn about the canine subculture of San Francisco.
But she didn’t feel inclined to be his tutor.
Now, if he wants tutoring on how to please her, she would be delighted to oblige.
Ohmigod, where did that thought come from? And the tremor of anticipated pleasure that shivered through her? She gripped the fur on Coco’s neck so hard the little dog yipped.
She had spent the last three days trying to tamp down the temptation to fantasize about her sexy new client. Which was just the kind of disruption she’d been trying to avoid.
She’d done daily battle with herself to stay away from the check-in desk when she knew he was due to drop off or pick up Bessie. And now she had to admit to herself that she was losing the battle. She was so glad he had hunted her down she just wanted to sit and feast her eyes on his face.
“How’s Freya doing?” he asked with what sounded like real interest.
“She’s comfortable and happy. She watched Lady and the Tramp today.”
Serena saw he struggled with himself not to make a smart remark about the movie. “That’s, uh . . . nice,” he said. “What about her owner?”
She welcomed the chance to talk to someone about what had happened with Joe Godfrey. She had not told anyone else at the center about the new arrangement with Freya’s owners. Her staff would just tell her she was too much of a soft touch. She lowered her voice. Couldn’t help but notice when Nick lowered his head to hear her.
She took a quick, deep breath at his closeness. He smelled of leather and sandalwood and—was that pepper? Whatever it was, he smelled good. “You know, it’s awkward
The little doggy diva loved to be spoken to, uttered soft, throaty noises in reply. Serena knew Coco was just responding to the attention she craved in her needy, poodle way. But Serena found it fun to pretend they were having a genuine conversation.
She suspected Nick Whalen would think it eccentric at the very least.
She cleared her throat. Channeled cool, detached professional. Someone totally unaffected by the six-foot-three hunk who towered over her. “Nick. Hi. Is everything okay with Bessie?”
“Yes, perfectly okay,” he replied. If testosterone had a sound, it would surely be his voice.
“You sound surprised,” she said, carefully putting down the claw polish when she realized her hand was trembling. Damn! Her brain and her libido seemed to be at war when it came to this guy. She slid her hands into Coco’s fur, and scratched her behind the ears, much to the poodle’s butt-wiggling delight.
“Surprised? Maybe. To be honest I didn’t think a dog would like being left all day with a load of strangers.”
“That she’d prefer being locked in a yard by herself? Remember, dogs are pack animals. It’s natural for them to enjoy the company of other dogs. And people, too. We’re part of their pack world.”
“So it seems. Kylie fixed me up with the password for the doggy day cam, too, so I can check on Bessie during the day if I need to.”
“Glad to hear Kylie is looking after you.”
Like she hadn’t heard every last detail of Nick’s visits from Kylie. The new client had caused quite a stir among the all-female staff.
“The day cam is a great idea. When I log on, Bessie looks like she’s really living it up. Is it possible to get a copy of the tape?”
She shook her head. “That would be an invasion of privacy of the other clients. Sorry.”
He shrugged. “Just an idea.”
“We have to be careful who we even give a password. The footage can be used as evidence in a canine custody battle.”
Doubt creased his forehead. “How so?”
“Putting the dog in day care can be cited as a sign of neglect of care by the partner suing for custody.”
His unsuccessful attempt at masking his “I can’t believe I’m hearing this” expression amused her more than it bugged her. He had a lot to learn about the canine subculture of San Francisco.
But she didn’t feel inclined to be his tutor.
Now, if he wants tutoring on how to please her, she would be delighted to oblige.
Ohmigod, where did that thought come from? And the tremor of anticipated pleasure that shivered through her? She gripped the fur on Coco’s neck so hard the little dog yipped.
She had spent the last three days trying to tamp down the temptation to fantasize about her sexy new client. Which was just the kind of disruption she’d been trying to avoid.
She’d done daily battle with herself to stay away from the check-in desk when she knew he was due to drop off or pick up Bessie. And now she had to admit to herself that she was losing the battle. She was so glad he had hunted her down she just wanted to sit and feast her eyes on his face.
“How’s Freya doing?” he asked with what sounded like real interest.
“She’s comfortable and happy. She watched Lady and the Tramp today.”
Serena saw he struggled with himself not to make a smart remark about the movie. “That’s, uh . . . nice,” he said. “What about her owner?”
She welcomed the chance to talk to someone about what had happened with Joe Godfrey. She had not told anyone else at the center about the new arrangement with Freya’s owners. Her staff would just tell her she was too much of a soft touch. She lowered her voice. Couldn’t help but notice when Nick lowered his head to hear her.
She took a quick, deep breath at his closeness. He smelled of leather and sandalwood and—was that pepper? Whatever it was, he smelled good. “You know, it’s awkward
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