Page 27 of Dangerous Obsession

“Positive.” He picked up the folder. “We’ll bring her back in a just a few minutes.”

“I can’t believe you did that.” Thirty minutes later, Marigold held Nicky, who was fast asleep. Poor thing was wiped out after her visit to the vet.

“What?” Viking walked next to her, pushing a cart through the pet store. “That I told that vet tech we were dating?”

He picked out another toy and tossed it in the cart.

“We already have one of those.” She snagged it from the pile and hung it back on the display stand. “Yes. Why in the world did you tell her that?”

“Wishful thinking?” He grabbed a different toy and tossed it in the cart.

“Will you stop!” She held the newest toy up to his face. “This thing is bigger than she is.”

After the vet visit and before heading in to work, they decided to dash into the pet store across from her boutique to purchase some supplies for Nicky.

“And stop saying stuff like that.” She kissed the top of Nicky’s head.

“Why? Tempted?” One brow lifted in question.

“Maybe. I don’t know. Possibly.” She sighed. “But it can’t happen.”

“I’d love to hear why.” He stopped the cart.

She gave him such a long look, he thought she might dodge the question. But she didn’t.

“Because my last relationship almost got me killed.” She gave a negligent shrug. “I need to get to the store.”

She turned and walked away, like she hadn’t just dropped a verbal hand grenade between them.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Ibroughtinsomemore fun stuff.” Shayna rounded the corner into Marigold’s office, arms loaded, and came to an abrupt halt. Her chin rose and rose until her gaze stopped on Viking’s face.

“W-o-ow.” Her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open.

Wowwas right. Marigold had pretty much the exact same reaction when she got her first look at him this morning when he’d walked into the kitchen. Though she’d hidden it much better than her teenage employee currently was. And certainly, better thanTiffany, the horny vet tech.

Viking looked extra handsome today in his black suit jacket and matching slacks over a starched white shirt with its top two buttons undone. The jacket had been specially constructed to fit his incredible height and his wide shoulders and to hide the fact he was carrying a gun at his right hip.

The weapon was part of his job—part of him, actually—but it had taken some getting used to the first time he’d been assigned to watch over her.

Watch over her.Ugh. She despised how pathetic that made her sound.

“Shayna, this is Viking.” Marigold made the introductions. “Viking, Shayna.” She took a sip of tea.

“Nice to meet you, Shayna.” Viking held out his hand.

She continued to stare up at him.

Marigold nudged her with her elbow.

“What? Oh.” She blinked a couple of times and awkwardly tried to thrust her small hand out but couldn’t without dropping the totes. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“How about I take those for you.” He dipped his chin toward the bins.

“Sure, thanks.” She handed them off to him. “Are you Marigold’s boyfriend?”

Marigold choke-coughed on her tea and gave him a sideways glance. “He’s just a friend.”

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