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Now, if only Coach McCoy looked at me like I have all the treats…instead of like I’m holding a box of sardines. His eyes narrow, and I remember he told me to throw my hat at him.
I’d rather throw my clothes, but I refrain and flash him a wide grin.
“I am the proud owner of Dog’s Day Out. I have a route where I go and pick up twenty dogs daily and take them out to the resort to play with their friends. I have over two hundred dogs on my roster, so my days fill up very quickly. But for you, I’d make sure to have a standing opening for your pups. What are their names?”
His face is unmoving as he says, “Gretzky and Gordie.”
“Fun! Hi, boys! Aren’t you the cutest boys ever! I love pittys, as you can tell, but I haven’t seen two lilac-colored ones before. So gorgeous.”
No reaction. I mean, the boys are dancing in place, but their dad only looks down at me. Anyone calls my dog pretty, I’m wiggling my ass like he does his tail. I’m a whore for nice words. “I actually got them in Texas.”
His voice is so deep, a bit of a brogue to it, and has me squeezing my thighs together. I watch as his eyes travel down my body, zoning in on my thighs, before he whips his gaze back to my eyes.
Oh. My.
I clear my throat, almost choking on my spit before I go on. “So cool! I got Darcy here from the pound. He was a little baby, and I just adore him. Don’t I, Darcy? Aren’t you Mommy’s baby boy?”
Darcy wiggles like a fool, and McCoy’s dogs whine. But when he snaps his fingers, both of them quiet down. Both pups sit like two little statues, looking like perfection. I meet his gaze, which leaves me breathless.
Maybe I shouldn’t watch his dogs?
I might hump his leg before Darcy can.
I swallow hard and grin even wider at him. “But yeah, you can add on baths, vet care on Thursday when the vet comes in, and even a stay-over if need be. I have two employees who stay at the resort overnight if I’m out dog-sitting, which since you said they don’t do well in resorts, I would be up for doing for you to watch the boys. I’d bring Darcy with me if that’s okay, but I don’t have to. He loves his peepaw and can go stay with him.”
McCoy says nothing as he stares down at me, making me feel self-conscious. I cross my legs at the ankles and wrap Darcy’s leash around my hand as I gaze up at the coach. I’m not sure if he can feel the tension between us, but it’s suffocating me, and whoa, I need to go. I press my lips together and then force myself to smile at him. “So yeah, here is my card.” I open my little card carrier that is attached to Darcy’s leash and hand it over to him, making sure not to touch his hand.
I don’t trust myself one bit.
“Please reach out. I’d love to watch your boys, so you don’t have to worry about them and can focus on the play-offs. We’re all on the same team, right?” He still doesn’t say anything, just nods as he looks down at my card. Unable to be in his presence anymore, I nod. “Okay, so yeah… It was great meeting you. Look forward to hearing from you?—”
I’m mid-step from turning and walking away when he cuts me off. “Is Darcy fromPride and Prejudice?”
I beam up at him. “The one and only. Though, my Darcy isn’t very regal.”
“He needs training.”
My grin falters a bit, but I hold on to it tightly. I can’t cuss out the coach of our team. My peepaw will have words, and I don’t want McCoy bad-mouthing my business. He’s lucky he’s who he is, or I’d rip him apart for talking about my baby. “I spoil him abit, but he is in school. He’s only a year old, so he may end up a bit regal one day.”
He nods. “He has beautiful coloring.”
I preen. “He does. He’s my baby.”
I watch as his jaw works, his eyes twitching only slightly as he nods. “Were your parents fans of Jane Austen’s works?”
I force a smile. I’m not a fan of my parents, but I do appreciate my sisters’ and my names. “My mom was. Are you a fan?”
“I am. My mother used to read them to me as a child.”
“So did my eldest sister, Louisa. It’s how I learned where all our names came from.”
“Clara is fromSanditon?”
I nod eagerly. “Yes, but I’m nothing like her. We only share a name.”
“I can tell.”
When his lips tip up, my heart explodes in my chest. Well, hell, smack my ass and call me anything you want, because I’ve never seen a man as hot as this one before me with a little half grin that was designed to make girls like me swoon. It’s not even a full smile. Just a little tip of the lips, and I’m in awe of him. I swallow hard, unable to keep myself from beaming up at him.
