Page 26 of The Mr. Right Checklist

I should not be thumbing out my next message, but I can’t help myself.

Fletch:

Does Little Miss Sunshine have a dirty mind?

Destiny:

A lady never tells. Now get your mind out of the gutter and go enjoy your creamy treat.

Destiny:

Destiny:

Excuse me while I pull MY mind out of the gutter.

Destiny:

I laugh and I look down at my furry beast. “Our new friend is a little nutty, but she sure makes me laugh.”

Chapter Nine

FLETCH

Destiny sent me a half dozen pictures from her second walk with Molly on Tuesday afternoon. I was surprised at how much they brightened my day. I’m looking forward to seeing her tonight to help her with the computer, but I got held up helping a student after work and head home a little late to let Molly out.

There’s a note on the table again in that loopy cursive. I read it as I open the back door and Molly bounds outside.

Hi! I hope you had an amazing day at work. Please bring Molly tonight. I don’t want her to miss out on her daddy time, and Clementine misses her.

I shake my head. “No way am I bringing my beast to terrorize your cat.”

Stop shaking your head. Molly waits all day to see you, and I bet you miss her as much as she misses you.

How can she possibly know that?

I don’t care if they race around the house. You saw how close they ended up last time. They’re already friends at heart, just like us!

She signed it with a heart rather than her name, and for some reason, that silly little heart made me happy. I look up as Molly comes in the back door, tail wagging, as if she knows she got an invitation. “I guess you’re coming with me.” I crouch in front of her, scratching behind her ears. “No chasing the cat this time, okay?” She licks my face, and I imagine she’s thinking, Yeah, right, and snickering, because my dog is just as smitten with our vivacious new friend as I am.

My phone vibrates with a text.

Chuck:

Your girl is a class act. She brought me a basket of cookies she baked to thank me for my help. When she gets tired of you, send her my way.

She’s not my girl. There’s no reason for jealousy to be clawing up my spine, but fuck if it isn’t. I pocket my phone without replying, trying to break free of that uncomfortable feeling, and head into the kitchen to feed Molly. I drop the note from Destiny in the junk drawer with the one she left yesterday.

After I feed Molly, there’s just enough time to get to Destiny’s. I snag the second Loverboy Destiny left for me yesterday and polish it off on the way over in lieu of dinner.

I barely finish knocking on the door before it flies open, and Destiny, adorable in a purple scoop-neck T-shirt and cutoffs, exclaims, “I’m so glad you brought Molly!” as my monster bolts past her. “I just got off the phone with Arjun! I’m meeting with him next Thursday at seven.” She launches forward, throwing her arms around me.

Destiny’s excitement is contagious, and laughter tumbles out. Stifling the urge to go after my dog, I return Destiny’s embrace, the strawberry scent of her shampoo infiltrating my senses. I hold her a moment longer than I probably should, enjoying the feel of her in my arms.

“Congratulations, sunshine. That’s awesome.”

I set her on her feet, and she takes my hand, dragging me inside, talking a mile a minute. “I have so much to tell you!”

Looking past her, I see Molly and Clementine standing on separate couches, staring each other down. Molly’s tail is wagging. She’s ready to play, but Clementine looks wary. I nod in their direction. “I think I should get Molly.”