Page 28 of Daddy's Rules

The vet tech gives me a supportive smile. “Mr. Holloway, we have a groomer here and can have this little cutie bathed and given all the appropriate flea and parasite medications while you have lunch. Also, in case you’re interested, it’s not a mutt. This sweetie is a Yorkshire terrier. A purebred like this likely has a home, and if not, it’ll be easy to find one. Yorkies are the second most popular breed in the world.”

“What’s the first, pit bulls?” he mumbles, just loud enough for me to hear.

Owen eyes the dog and presses his lips tighter before looking at me. I fold my hands together in a prayer-like motion. “Please! It’ll give me something besides myself to be responsible for and I promise it won’t be for long. Please!” I plead and Owen sighs, running his hand through his hair.

“Fine.” He points a long finger at the dog. “You had better be house trained, Beast!” The dog’s tongue shoots out and laps at Owen’s finger. I catch a slight curl to the corner of his lips. I lean down and snuggle the dog.

“I’ll be back, Beast, you enjoy your bath.” Owen clears his throat and I let the vet tech take the sweet tan and brown pooch away. He whines and watches us as he’s taken away.

“Thank you, Owen. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

I hook my arm into his and we head to the restaurant. He harrumphs and I giggle. “Two strays in one week, Daddy. You’re looking at an award or something.”

“I’d prefer a reward.” He smirks as his hand wanders down to slip into my back pocket. I lean into him and bite my lip as I wrap an arm around his waist.

“You’re a softy and we both know it.” He looks down at me.

“You won’t be saying that when I get you home.” His crooked brow tells me he’s talking about our ‘talk.’ “I told you not to go near that dog and what did you do?”

“I disobeyed you.”

“Uh huh,” he says and then rolls his eyes and sighs. “But what you did was sweet and I’m glad you fight for animals. It’s more than just some charitable thing to do with you, isn’t it?”

I nod.

“I love that you care, sweetheart.” He kisses the top of my head.

“See, softy,” I say with a snicker.

“The last thing I am is soft right now.” He groans and I throw my head back and laugh. “You’re just lucky you’re damn cute, I’m patient and trying to do the right thing.”

“I’ve always had a thing for bad boys.” A gust of wind suddenly blows and sand and debris fly all around us. Owen pushes me against the wall of a shop and shelters me with his body. When the gust dies, he plucks some debris out of my hair before he removes the cap and smooths my unruly waves into a ponytail with his hand before feeding it through the hole in the cap and placing it back on my head. His eyes don’t leave mine and my heart starts to pound so fast my limbs feel weak. And before I can convince myself not to, I’m on my toes kissing his mouth.

I love the way he kisses and soon I’m as pliable as dough in his arms. “Owen,” I whisper against his mouth. “I’ve never wanted anyone so badly in my life.”

“Baby, the feeling’s mutual.” He kisses my head and pulls it against his chest. His heart is pounding just as hard as mine.

“Why are we fighting it?”

“You know why. Now let’s get some food, pick up the beast, and go home. It’s high time we set those ground rules.”

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