She pulled into the driveway and parked next to Rob’s truck. Her heart leaped in anticipation. Something about living with him and caring for Maverick together had her thinking about him differently. He wasn’t just Trevor’s best friend anymore. He was her friend, too. Or was it more? There was definitely an attraction between them, but he never crossed that line. What if the attraction was one way? What if he didn’t feel attracted but was only being kind? Although she thought of him differently now, what should she do about it? It would be awkward beyond belief if she acted on her feelings, and he didn’t feel the same way. No, she’d keep her feelings to herself.
“Hi, I’m home,” she yelled as she came in the back door. The kitchen was empty, but she smelled something delicious. She opened the oven door and peeked. “Oh, man, pot roast!” She looked up as Rob entered the room. He looked good enough to eat, with his tight T-shirt stretching across his muscled chest and jeans, worn white in some select places. Her gaze dropped to his feet. When had a man’s bare feet seemed sexy? She had it bad. She struggled to get her thoughts in line.
“How’re my two boys?” she asked.
“Boys? We’re not boys. We’re manly men, aren’t we, Maverick?” Rob retorted, dropping to one knee to ruffle his companion’s fur. The dog panted and looked like he was smiling as widely as the man.
“I stand corrected. Manly men. I’ll remember that.” It was difficult not to laugh out loud.
“How was your day?” he asked as she put her purse and tote bag down on the floor near the entrance into the hallway.
She shrugged. “A little slow. The kids are out of school for teachers’ conferences, so things weren’t as busy. I had time to do a little research.”
Rob looked like he was biting back a smile. “Of course. What did you research?”
“Dog training. I got a book by Woolsey Craine. He’s the one who had a TV show showing people how to manage unruly dogs. It was on the Animal Channel.”
“Sorry, not familiar with it. We didn’t have much time to watch cable in the Sandbox.”
“He teaches humans how to be better leaders with their dogs. He says the problem usually isn’t with the dog; it’s with their owners.”
“I get it. There’s probably some truth to that.” He paused. “You aren’t thinking there’s something wrong with you, are you?”
“Not really. Maverick is well trained, but I don’t want to make mistakes with him.”
Rob laughed, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s so funny?”
“You are, honey. You’re doing fine with him, except when you use baby talk.”
“I don’t do that!”
“Oh, yeah. You do. You call him your ‘love bunny.’ He’s a military dog. A warrior, not one of those fluffy dogs you’d carry around in your purse.”
“I’d never do that! He’s so sweet, though. I sometimes can’t help letting him know I’ve fallen in love with him.”
A silence fell, and she realized what she’d said. It was true, though. She loved Maverick. Only somehow, talk about falling in love seemed uncomfortable to them both. She changed the subject. “What did you two do all day?”
“We jogged to the park and did our PT for a while. Then I went to the store to get the fixin’s for dinner.”
“It smells wonderful. How long until we eat? Do I have time to take a shower?”
“Sure. It’ll be about a half-hour before it’s ready. If you aren’t out, I’ll just keep it warm until you are.”
“Thanks.” Her eyes roamed his body, wishing she wasn’t so attracted to him. What had happened to her? She hadn’t been interested in anyone except Trevor. It had always been Trevor, but he was gone. She didn’t want to be alone forever.
***
Rob breathed a deep sigh as she left the room. The more time he spent with MJ, the more he wanted her. That wasn’t why he was here. His mission was to teach her how to handle Maverick. As much as he might want her for himself, he couldn’t take advantage of her vulnerability. Sometimes the way she looked at him made him want to forget that she was Trevor’s girl. He’d like to take her in his arms, kiss her, taste her, and make her fall apart.
He grabbed pot holders and took the roasting pan out to check it—perfectly tender, and the veggies were cooked. He’d let it sit for a few minutes.
MJ joined him again, dressed in tight-fitting yoga pants and a sweatshirt that said “Juicy.” Lord, help him. She didn’t understand the effect she had on him.
She finished setting the table and slid down into her usual chair. Maverick got up off the rug by the door and came over to put his head on her knee.
Lucky dog. He tried not to be jealous of the animal, but it was difficult.
He put the pot roast on a plate and surrounded it with the vegetables, pulling out a serving
