Page 87

“Well, no, I love filth. But it’s filth that you heard some other women name me. It’s… belittling to us. I want something from you.”

She was studying me like I’d said something particularly interesting. What she said though was, “How about muffin? It’s like cupcake without the frosting. Like you and me.”

“First of all,” I began, “a muffin is not at all a cupcake without frosting. It’s an entirely different thing. Second, if one of us has the frosting, it is me.”

“Well you already took cupcake, muffin.”

Ro tried to hand Mac back to me, and I refused, making her carry it inside herself.

I was following her through the front door when I asked, “You know you’re outrageously out of control at this point, don’t you? Out of control and out of line.”

“What are you going to do about it, muffin?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

I followed her through the house and when I realized where she was going I said, “It’s bedtime. What are you doing in your office?”

“It’s not bedtime. It’s not even nine p.m.”

“Let me rephrase. It’s take you to bed to mess around until we’re tired enough to sleep time.”

“I need to do a few things. You go on ahead without me.”

“Without you? What would be the point of that? You want me to jack off?”

“That’s your business.”

I was downright surly now. This night had not gone my way even a little bit. “If you’re working, I’m working. Let me know when you’re done, Miss Workaholic.”

I went and sat at my desk and did nothing productive. I was sending her funny memes when something small and wet touched my bare foot.

I pushed my chair back and looked under my desk.

The tiny dog was sitting there and staring at me. “You look ridiculous,” I told it. “Like a stuffed animal with a personality.” It just continued to give me adoring eyes.

Ro walked in then. “Oh, there she went. She must like you.”

I glared at her. “Where… How… Why did you even get this thing?”

“A sweet little granny at church was selling them and I jumped on the chance. Poodles are a great breed. My parents have two. They’re smart and sweet and easy to train. Pets are good for you, you know. They make you happier.”

“It thinks it’s a dog,” I noted. Its poof of a tail was wagging, its whole body moving with the motion. “It does little dog things but it’s smaller than a rodent, and not a large rodent. I don’t want a dog, but if I did it wouldn’t be something utterly useless like this thing.”

Ro was unfazed. “We’ll see. This is only day one.”

“You’re not as cute as you think you are,” I told it. The cursed thing was still giving me that soul sucking stare. “What does it want from me?” I asked with disgust.

“Love.”

My brows shot up and I sent Ro an arch look. “It’s come to the wrong place for that. I thought you said it was smart.”

“The more shit you talk about this dog, the more silly you’re going to look when she steals your heart. I’m not above rubbing it in.”

That reminded me. I leered at her. “Me neither. Come here.”

“Nope, sorry. I’m only attracted to men that love dogs. We’re obviously not compatible.”

“Come closer and say that to my face. Better yet, come sit on my lap and tell me all about it.”