Page 23 of Sticking Out

He laughs and I try not to let jealousy invade my body. I’m used to women throwing themselves at this man, and why wouldn’t they. It’s probably all the hormones making me feel more protective. Or maybe it’s because he was inside me last night and this morning. Oh boy. Once again, I question if we should be doing this or not.

“Yes. Dani and I are here to pick up Buster.”

“Right, of course.” She stands so fast her chair spins backward and a few files on the desk fall to the floor. She runs to the back office, and a giggle spills from her throat. I note the way Conner frowns.

I put my hand on his arm and he flinches. Whoa. I tug it away fast. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” He takes my hand and gives it an apologetic squeeze. Clearly, he wasn’t himself there for a moment. “Sorry, I was uh, a million miles away for a second there.”

I take in the deep lines on his forehead, the way he’s avoiding my gaze. “Do you know her?”

“No, I don’t.” He scratches his head like he’s remembering something. “Forgot to wear my ballcap.”

He always wears his ballcap when he doesn’t want to be recognized. There seems to be something else going on with him at the moment though, something he has no intention of telling me, and I’m not about to ask if he doesn’t want to share. Here I thought we didn’t have secrets. Maybe that’s not true at all.

I’m snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of Buster barking. He comes from the back room, his tail wagging madly. “Buster,” I call out and drop to my knees. He comes barreling toward me, drool spilling the whole way. “How are you feeling, boy?”

The vet comes out behind him. “He’s great now. He had some swelling in his jaw and under his eyes. The tooth was pretty infected. No toys or dental chews for a couple of days and soft foods only.”

“Ice cream?” Conner asks and I turn and smile at him.

“For the dog or you?” the vet asks, and then her eyes go wide. “You’re Conner Birch.”

He grins and nods. “That’s me, and I was thinking for both of us.”

Her demeanor changes, her professionalism morphing into flirtation. “I’m a fan.”

“Kat, this is Conner. Conner, this is Kat. Kat takes great care of my dogs. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Kat’s eyes narrow, her gaze going from Conner, to me, back to Conner. There’s confusion in her eyes, and I get it. What would a guy like Conner be doing with a dog caregiver, plain Jane like me?

“Are you two…I didn’t know.”

“No, no,” I correct quickly as the receptionist giggles nervously again, and Conner’s gaze strays her way. “We’re friends. We go way back. I was actually married to Conner’s brother.”

“Oh yes, that explains it,” Kat responds, a new kind of interest in her eyes. What the hell? That explains it? I get it that guys like Conner don’t date girls like me, but that’s just rude. But more importantly, can the man go nowhere without being hit on? Maybe I should have told her we’re more than friends. But one, I’m not that brazen, and two I don’t want to make things uncomfortable for Conner.

“In that case.” She takes off her gloves and holds a hand out. Conner takes it in his palm. “I’m off at three if you want to get that ice cream.”

My head rears back, and I push to my feet as she aims a come-hither smile Conner’s way. Wow, brazen. Which is fine. I’m not jealous. Much. Seriously though, I wish I had her confidence. Maybe if I looked like her. Tall, blonde, completely put together, I’d be bold too.

It was you who was in Conner’s bed last night, not Kat.

Yeah, but only because he’s trying to put a baby in me.

Conner gives an easy laugh. “Actually,” he begins and puts an arm around me. “We’re more than friends. Dani’s just so used to telling people she used to be married to my brother, it seems to slip out easily now.” He kisses the side of my head. “When the truth is, we’re more than friends.” When Kat’s eyes go wide, he pulls me in tighter. “In fact, we’re friends with benefits.” He wags his brows. “How lucky am I, huh?”

Oh. My. God.

My gaze flies to Conner’s and I take in the mischievous grin on his face. Damned if he doesn’t look proud of himself. I gulp, and nearly swallow my tongue as his words once again race around inside my brain. What the hell is he doing? I wanted to keep this thing between us a secret and then he goes and says we’re friends with benefits.

“Anyway, we should get Buster to the park for ice cream,” he says and Kat hands me a pamphlet.

“All his instructions are in here,” she explains, returning to professional mode.

“Thanks,” I manage to get out. We walk outside, and I turn to Conner. “What the hell was that, Conner?” I glare at him, but there’s a little bubble of happiness inside of me. I love the protective way he acted.

“What, I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true?”

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