Page 30 of Driven to Love

Water dribbled from her lips. “Sorry. I didn’t realize.”

Laughter filled the small room. “My puppy. Max.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you had a dog.” Stupid. Of course. For a moment, Addison thought she’d lost her touch. Her body had never been wrong before, and her female parts lit with excitement every time Nash was near.

“I got him the same day Cade got Daisy. They’re littermates.”

What did she say to that? The guy had a puppy. That was… sexy as hell. She toyed with the edge of her shirt.

Her personal phone rang. Saved by the bell. “Excuse me.”

She picked it up and scowled at the screen. Mark. What the hell did he want? She’d made her answer to his proposition perfectly clear. Heat crept up her neck. She didn’t need to look at him to know Nash was watching her.

Nope. She tapped the delete button. She was not having a conversation with her ex in front of the one man who turned her legs to jelly.

He pushed off the wall. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She straightened.

“Something’s not right. I can tell by the creases on your forehead.”

“I don’t have creases.” She smoothed the space between her eyebrows. He was right, but creases were an understatement. They were more like cliffs. Damn Mark. He’d called her twice this week, and she’d let it go to voicemail both times, hoping he’d get the hint. Looked like it was time to block his number before she needed Botox.

A shadow loomed over her. Nash leaned down well into her personal space. “Who’s putting that look on your face? Do I need to take care of him?”

A lump formed in her throat. Did Nash Steele just offer to take someone out for her? Wait. He couldn’t have meant that. Could he? Everything about Nash at that moment screamed he’d do more than have a talk with her old boss, and damn if it wasn’t the sexiest thing she’d seen.

She bit back the urge to pull him closer. Instead, she leaned back, cleared her throat, and shook her head. “It’s my old boss. I don’t want to talk to him.”

He scanned her face. Trapped in his gaze, she inhaled. A wave of dizziness washed over her. It could be the smell of grease and brake cleaner, but she’d bet it was just him. If he didn’t move back soon, she’d grab a fistful of his shirt and yank him the rest of the way and taste those sexy lips.

The door opened, and Nash straightened.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Did you order more of these oil filters? This is the last one.” Leon waved the box in the air.

“Let me get that number.” It had been so busy this week that she hadn’t done the inventory. Between all the admin tasks and her receptionist duties, she was still getting a handle on her job. She’d come in this weekend and do it.

“Just wanted to let you know. It’s quitting time. I’ll see you Monday.” Leon handed her the box and gave her a brief salute.

She waved goodbye, and Leon disappeared through the shop door.

Nash stepped back, his hand on the doorknob. “If you need anything—”

“I won’t.” She straightened some papers on her desk. Not avoiding, just busy. Yeah, that was it.

“Have fun on your date.” His words were followed by the click of the shop door.

Addison slumped back in her chair. Man, that was close. She’d been a fraction of a second away from kissing Nash Steele.

He has a puppy. That one fact chipped away at her reserve. So what? It didn’t mean he’d be a good bet for her. She once dated a guy who had a dog just to pick up women.

Something had her doubting that was Nash. The guy didn’t need a dog to attract a woman. Hell, they fell at his feet.

She pulled out her mirror and refreshed her lip color. He might not need the dog, but she knew his type.

But did she? The more she was around Nash, the more she questioned herself, and that scared her. She snapped the compact shut. Because the one thing Addison Benedict had learned young was never to doubt herself. Confidence was the one thing that tipped the scales in pageants and in life.

She shut down her computer and grabbed her purse. She had a little time before her date. Peeking through the shop door, she frowned. Nash was standing under a car. Her mouth watered at the flex of his arms.