Page 24 of Glitz & Goals

“Cockblocker,” Grady mumbles.

“It’s okay, Blade.” I get up and move my chair so that it’s right beside Grady’s. I make a big show of intentionally touching Grady’s arm before sitting down again. Blade whines, but he seems to accept that I don’t need protection right now. He drops his head back to the floor with a mighty thud.

“I can’t believe how much he likes you,” Grady says.

“Really? Because it kind of seems like you’re obsessed with me, too.” I take a bite of my chicken. It’s good, despite my ribbing, although I swear Grady must use the exact same recipeas Vik, right down to the abundance of capers and the lemon pepper.

“Intrigued,” Grady corrects. “Not obsessed.”

I wink at him. “Not yet.” Before he can think of a response, I flip my palm up and start scrolling through the pictures in my Biscuit folder. Most of the images are older, so they aren’t 3D, but Grady seems riveted nonetheless.

“Okay,” he says when I pull up an image of me and Biscuit in matching Elsa and Anna costumes, “that’s fucking adorable. You were a cute kid.”

“Past tense?” I tease.

Grady turns his head. He eyes me up and down, letting his gaze travel slowly over me. “Cute isn’t the word I’d go with now.” There’s a low note in his voice that I’m not familiar with, but damn, I like it.

“Whatwouldyou pick?” Beneath the table, my free hand brushes his thigh, tracing the muscle beneath. Despite the slight hitch in his step, Grady is seriously fit. I wonder what he does for a living. I should probably ask, but I don’t want to break the spell. Just because I first saw him at the arena means nothing. Hundreds of men come and go from that place weekly. He could be a delivery man for all I know.

My breathing becomes shallower, and I clench around empty air. I don’t usually go for older guys—the vibes I get from interested older men are usually kind of gross and predatory. Still, I get the feeling Grady can give me something I’ve craved for a while, and that I can trust him to respect my boundaries.

Plus, he gives off this air of authority that issofucking hot. I bet he’d be willing to take charge if I asked him to. A little hand necklace. A little pinch if I get bratty. I little spanking when I need correction.

“Stunning,” Grady suggests. He leans closer, and his eyes fall to my lips. “Gorgeous. Sexy…oh, Blade, what the fuck!” Hetumbles sideways and practically falls out of his chair. Blade’s nose pokes up from beneath the edge of the table, and the big dog blinks innocently up at me.

“What happened?” I ask. “Did he bite you?”

Grady angles his body away from me, but I can tell that he’s cupping his groin with one hand. “No, heheadbuttedme. He loves smacking his headrightinto my groin, no matter how many times I scold him. That thick skull of his is unforgiving.”

“Aww, he just wanted to say hi.” I lower my face toward Blade’s and scratch either side of his face, squishing all that extra skin as I smother him with affection. “Were you feeling left out, buddy?”

Blade’s tongue lolls in a doggy grin.

“I get the feeling he’s going to stick to me like a burr,” I tell Grady. “Is there someplace you can put him where he’ll be safe but less, uh…” I shoot a pointed glance at Grady’s crotch. “Less of a personal problem?”

Grady lets out a short burst of laughter. “He’s got a crate in the spare bedroom. Come on, Blade, go to bed.”

Blade takes a few reluctant steps away from me. With some further encouragement from Grady and the promise of treats, he finally allows himself to be led off to the back room. I can hear Grady cooing over him, followed by whining when Blade realizes he’s going to be left on his own.

Grady emerges a few minutes later looking guilty as hell. “This is new for me. Usually, I can just crate him and put on his audiobook, and he’s happy. I’m pretty sure I’m the asshole here.”

I grin and take another bite of chicken. “Does he have audiobooks he likes?”

“Eh, you know. A Song of Ice and Fire, that sort of thing.” Grady shrugs.

“I had no idea your dog was so well-read.”

“He likes long books,” Grady jokes. “The kind that last all night.”

I waggle my eyebrows at him. “I know the feeling. I, too, like it long and rough.”

He pauses with the wine glass lifted halfway to his lips. “What?”

“Audiobooks,” I clarify. “I listen to them while I’m working. If they’re too boring, I tend to lose track of the story, but with Martin, my favorite characters are always in danger.”

“Ah.” Grady nods and sips his wine. “So, you’re a sadist.”

“Actually, I’m more of a masochist.”

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