Page 35 of Puppy Love

“Was that in the notes? I—”

“Oh! No, no.” I shake my head, watching as the tensed muscles in her face slowly relax. “No, Martha forgot to put it in.”

Cam holds out her hand like she’s gripping an invisible purse. “Then why should I owe you?”

“What?”

“If it wasn’t my fuck-up, and I did what I was told I was supposed to do, why do I owe you?”

Cam is confusing because, when she’s not completely unsure of herself and the entire world around her, she is extremely fucking direct.

“Well, I…um—”

“Mhm?”

“You know, because she could have—”

“Could have?”

Cam’s eyebrow arches, waiting patiently for an answer she knows is never coming. I, however, am not yet ready to accept defeat.

“Well, she could have refused to pay,” I finally get out. Not the strongest argument, but at least it’s something. Cam shakes her head.

“I can’t really see you letting that happen,” she says, walking over to me with the leash stretched toward my hands.

“I would,” I lie. “In the right circumstances. Like, if she had a gun or something.”

That dimple returns to Cam’s cheek as she smiles and holy fuck. How does something so innocent drive me so wild? Her shimmering dark eyes give my own eyes no choice but to look.

“A robbery,” she says, her hand grazing mine as she hands the leash to me. “For a haircut?”

My cheeks flush but I pretend it’s from the heat of the room, rather than the heat of the moment. Cam’s right. Without ventilation in this room, the water hangs in the air like dew on a humid morning.

“Wow, we really need to put those vents in here, huh?” I shake the front of my shirt, as if I’m trying to ventilate it just to seal the deal.

“Get on it, boss,” she says, turning around. Her hips sway in a completely natural and totally sexy manner. Not forced, like Mallory. Cam isn’t putting on a show. She’s just naturally the star of the film. “I’ve been waiting.”

My throat bobs as I swallow, hard. I was wrong the other night, when I said we were starting from the beginning. We’re past it, I think. The uncomfortable avoidance.

Who knew all it would take was finishing the job I started?

“I’ll call the electrician now.”

When closing time rolls around, I do my regular walk-through, then go to the lobby to turn off the “open” sign.

“Bye Vi!” Adrian waves, and Avery nods, stepping out the door behind them.

“Night guys!” I say back. “Careful out there, it’s supposed to freeze.”

Avery shoots me a thumbs up, the door closing behind him. I turn the lock and watch them walk through the dimly lit parking lot. A gold shimmer catches my eye, my gaze drawing over to Cam’s car. I think about that night in the rain, how her car wouldn’t start, and secretly wish it’d happen again so I have an excuse to drive her home.

But I don’t have an excuse, and unfortunately, I’m above popping hoods and cutting wires to force the idea. I am above that, right?

“Staying late again?”

I turn around, and my eyes land on that pretty round face of Cam’s as she leans against the desk. Dawson sits next to her, his tail swatting the laminate flooring. I shake my head.

“No,” I answer, walking up to her. Then, I lean down and scratch behind Dawson’s lopsided ears. His head tilts into the touch, his mouth stretching wide to show his satisfaction. “I was actually getting ready to leave. You?”

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