But as he looked around, saw the bright, clean walls and the cozy atmosphere. She didn’t have a lot of furniture, but what she had was a hell of a lot better than what he owned. And “owned” wasn’t exactly the right term. His furniture had been given to him by friends who’d upgraded. Or he’d found something on sale somewhere. The only items in his apartment that were worth anything were the television and the coffee maker. Oh, and his grill. He turned and peered out the back door, nodding in approval that she didn’t have a grill. No competition there, he thought.
And with that in mind, a thought that was more appealing with every passing moment, he had a goal.
“Finish up, woman,” he ordered, taking his dish to the sink. “We have things to do!”
Sage hurried up and gulped down most of her omelet, then rushed to put the remainder into a container. She’d eat the rest for dinner tonight. After getting a dog! How exciting!
“I’ll just be a minute,” she said and raced into her bedroom to grab a pair of sneakers. Should she wear her boots? That would be interesting. But no, she needed to be practical.
Coming out of her bedroom, she felt both nervous and oddly excited. Was that because she was allowing herself to spend the day with Arik? Or because she was getting a dog?
Probably both. The excitement was caused by spending the day with a man she’d found terrifyingly fascinating from the first moment she’d met him. And terrified because she wasn’t sure that she could handle dog ownership. Dogs were a huge responsibility. Was she up to it? Especially with all of the weird stuff happening around her place lately?
Or would a dog alert her to intruders? Would a dog stop whoever it was that was tormenting her? Was there even someone tormenting her? Or were those strange noises at night and odd incidences around her house simply her imagination playing tricks on her?
She grabbed her purse and hurried out the door. “You’re not going to make me get a dog if I don’t find one that suits me, right?”
Arik pulled the door to her house closed behind him, then checked to make sure it was locked. “I’d never force you into any sort of situation in which you felt uncomfortable, Sage,” he vowed, putting a hand to the small of her back as they walked to his truck. “And going over to Tom’s place doesn’t mean that you must come away with a dog.” He opened the door to his truck and looked down at her. “It only means that you’re going to visit a place where there are dogs. If you find one that suits you, one that will help you feel…safer…while you are out here alone, then that’s perfect. Otherwise, you come back here and I take you out to dinner. No questions asked. No pressure.”
Arik watched with amusement as she put one hand on the door of his truck, and the other on the seat, trying to figure out how to get into the cab of his truck. It was a big truck, one that suited him perfectly. But he was at least a foot taller than Sage.
When she couldn’t quite figure it out, he simply lifted her into his arms and gently set her down on the seat. “Better?” he teased, then closed the door as her cheeks stained with pink.
Damn, he loved it when she reacted like that! It gave him hope. Hell, just the fact that she hadn’t kicked him out of her house last night, that she’d allowed him to stay overnight, albeit in her guest room, gave him hope.
“Mind if we stop by my place on the way so I can change clothes? I used your shower this morning, but I need…”
“Of course I don’t mind,” she interrupted. “Maybe we should do this another day? I’ve already imposed upon so much of your time.”
“Don’t you dare get out of that truck,” he laughed, starting the engine and fastening his seat belt. “Let’s go. I’m eager to pick out a dog for you. I’m thinking a German shepherd could work. He’ll keep you safe, and they are incredibly loyal animals. They form a perimeter in their minds that they like to protect. And they will protect you with their life, if necessary.”
“Don’t say that!” she gasped. “I don’t want a dog, or anyone, to die trying to protect me! Besides,” she wiggled in her seat, obviously uncomfortable, “I consider it my responsibility to protect my family. And an animal that I bring into my home would be part of my family.” She looked out the window. “At least, that’s what I would do.”
“You never owned a pet when you were growing up?”
“No. My father didn’t like them. He said they were mess makers and nuisances.”
“They aren’t. At least, not if they are properly trained and groomed on a regular basis.”
“Groomed?” she queried. “What’s involved in grooming?”
He glanced over at her, and damn if she didn’t look enthusiastic!
“Dogs need their hair brushed and cleaned, just like anyone else. If you don’t wash and brush them, then their hair can get matted.”
“Really?” she whispered. “That sounds…interesting.” Unconsciously, she stared out the windshield as she pictured caring for a big, fluffy dog. “I’d love to try grooming a dog.”
“Every week? Maybe more often?”
“Yes!” she replied without any sort of hesitation. “Where is your place? What kind of place do you live in? An apartment or a house? Do you rent or own?”
“I have an apartment about five minutes from here,” he said, turning right at the end of the street to head into town. “I’ve rented the place for
