Page 125 of Tell Me Something True

So fucking perfect.

“Didn’t Dr. McNabb talk to you after the procedure was done?” she asked, ignoring whoever was calling her.

He shrugged. The vet had talked to him. She’d told him she’d removed seventy-six quills, most of them on Titus’s face and in his mouth, a few in his neck and paws. Luckily, none of them had caused any serious damage.

“I wanted to hear it from you.”

Verity flushed with pleasure and he wondered what else he could do that would put that pretty color in her cheeks and throat. What else he could tell her that would have her staying with him, just a little longer.

She stepped closer, moving to stand on the opposite end of the tailgate. Titus immediately scrambled over to her—and almost toppled sideways off the truck.

“Easy,” Verity murmured to Titus, reaching out to steady him at the same time Reed did.

Their fingers brushed against his dog’s side, and she immediately yanked her hand away, which had Titus whining and nudging her hand with his head.

Yeah. His dog had it bad.

Not as bad as he did, though, because when she stroked her hand over Titus’s head, he got jealous. Of his dog.

Jesus.

“He did great. Yes, you did,” she told Titus. “You were such a good boy. And very brave.” She sighed, then faced Reed, her hand still on his dog’s head. “I know I’m going to regret this, but if Titus needs a safe place to stay while you’re at work tomorrow, Ian and I will watch him. But the offer is only for tomorrow and it’s only because he shouldn’t be left alone for the next twenty-four hours.”

Christ, but there was no end to how fucking good she was.

It made it that much clearer how different they were. How far out of his league a girl like her would always be.

“I’m bringing him with me to work tomorrow.”

Tommy, his boss at the garage, said he could bring Titus in for a few days. After that, he’d have to figure something else out. There was no way he could leave Titus tied up out back again, and he sure as hell didn’t trust him in the trailer with his old man.

“Oh. Okay.” Except she didn’t sound like it was okay. She sounded disappointed. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call the office.” She turned back to Titus, giving him one last pat. “I hope you feel better.”

Then she moved to walk past Reed.

He stepped in front of her. “Are you hungry?”

She stopped. Took a step back, keeping distance between them once again as she frowned at him. “What?”

“We could get some pizza. Or ice cream.”

Ice cream would be better for his wallet, especially now that he had an emergency vet bill to pay. But he’d suck it up and get whatever she wanted. Do whatever she wanted.

And that realization didn’t terrify him nearly as much as it should have.

“What is happening right now?” she demanded, because even something as simple as asking her if she wanted to get a pizza had to be turned into a major deal.

When it came to Verity Jennings, nothing was easy.

But he was starting to think it didn’t have to be. Because it would always be worthwhile.

He took a step toward her, and when she didn’t back up, he took another. “I want to buy you dinner.”

For a moment, she looked stunned. Joyful.

For a moment, just one, he let himself hope. Told himself that for once, he could have what he wanted. Even if it only lasted as long as it took them to eat dinner.

Promised himself that he wasn’t going to fuck this up.

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