Page 78 of The Problem with Dating

“Stop it.”

“I can’t because youneedme.”

I grimaced and turned to walk away. “You know what? Forget I asked for your help.”

“No, no, wait.” She reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me in toward her. That odd sensation rose again from her touch.

Stop touching me, Goldie.

“What? I asked for your help, and you’re mocking me. I’m not going to waste my time here.”

“I’m just teasing you a little, Alex. Do you have to be so serious?”

“It’s my M.O.”

“Trust me, I know.” She smiled again, and I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her lips. She wore some kind of gloss, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it tasted like.

“I’m enjoying this,” she expressed. “You needing me.”

“I don’t need anyone,” I snipped.

“That’s not what I’m witnessing now,” she replied. “Would it be too much for me to ask you to beg a little, too?”

“What do you want from me, Goldie? You want me to get down on my knees and whimper?”

“With a leash around your neck, maybe, yes. Then maybe I could dog walk you around for a bit,” she teased. “It wouldn’t hurt if you barked, too.”

I softly chuckled at her ridiculousness.

Her eyes twinkled. “Those dang allergies are getting to you again, huh?”

“It’s the dog dander,” I joked.

“Whatever you say, Alex. Whatever you say. So how can I help you?”

“There’s a situation in my apartment with the dog.”

“A situation?”

I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose. “The dog shat all over himself in his crate last night, and now it’s a mess, and I don’t know how to get him cleaned up because if I get half a step too close to him, he’ll bark and try to bite me.”

She laughed.

Yes.

She laughed at me!

“It’s not funny!” I barked, feeling my chest tightening. There I was. Barking. Wonderful. She threw her head back in a giggling fit. I hated that I loved how she laughed.

“It’s a little funny because…” She kept shaking her head in laughter. “It’s like dog poop is following you around. First my Cocoa and now Feliz.”

“I’m glad you’re getting a chuckle out of this.”

“What can I say? I’m easily amused.”

“Are you going to help or not?”

“Of course. I’ll help clean him up.”

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