“Okay. Here, tell me your number and I’ll send you a text, that way we’ll both have each other’s contact info.”

That’s what I should have said! Man, this chick’s got me off of my game for real.

“I’ll see you tonight, Amelia,” I said, taking her hand. For some reason it didn’t feel like the right time for a kiss. That could come later and I was in no hurry. Tigers can spend days stalking their prey… “I’m going to be thinking about you the whole time.”

“See you.” She watched me leave, and I was almost all the way across the parking lot before I heard her door slam. I grinned and went to pick up Flash.

I found my dog curled up on a well-gnawed teddy bear provided by the dog sitting service. He looked up at me and his tail swatted the floor a few times, but he didn't move.

“C’mon Flash, time to go home.”

He groaned and lowered his head back onto the teddy bear leg he’d been using as a pillow.

“Flash, come on, boy… it’s time to go.”

He chewed on what was left of Teddy's face.

“Are you kidding me? You’ve got so many toys at home.”

“Woof!” Flash stared at me expectantly. “Woof!”

“Come on, I bet you’re hungry. Who’s a hungry boy?”

Flash made an annoyed grunt. He went to war with himself, his stubbornness clashing with his belly. In the end, his belly won. He stood up, shook himself violently, and trotted over to me, toenails clicking on the pavement.

I clipped on his leash and gave him a few good pets before heading to my Mercedes. Once Flash was settled in the back, I climbed into the front seat and called my personal assistant.

“What is it, Jonathon?”

“Darwin, I have a date tonight. Can you send Enrique over to my penthouse, please? I’ve been on a power cycle at the gym and I’m afraid I’ve bulked up a little too much for my favorite suit to fit.”

“I’ll take care of it immediately. What time shall I send him?”

I checked the time. I only had a few hours before I was to pick up Amelia. “As soon as possible.”

“I see. You sound excited about this, if I may be so bold.”

“I am excited. She’s a special lady.” I burst into laughter. ‘She’s also my competition for the corner lot.”

“Hmmm.” His tone was carefully neutral, but I had known Darwin for a long time.

“I know that ‘hmmm.’ You think I’m making a mistake, don’t you?”

“Jonathon, I can hardly be the judge of who you do or don’t date. I’ve been out of the game for far too long. I just want to make sure you’re being careful.”

“Careful?”

“If you let the wrong thing slip to this woman, she might use it against you to get the corner lot.”

I had to laugh at that. “You don’t get it, Darwin. She’s about as sweet as the donuts at her bakery, if not sweeter. And talk about a great sense of humor. I was laughing so much my cheeks hurt.”

“Oh dear.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? What do you mean, oh dear?”

“It sounds as if you’re already smitten with her.”

“Like I’m what?”