Page 27 of The Billionaire's Pawfect Match

“Sorry,” he says as our knees bump.

“Same,” I whisper back, the word barely escaping.

This crush, this foolish, impossible thing, it swells in the dark. Grows teeth and claws. Wants more than I should give. He’s a client. Just a client.

But, oh, how the shadows make us bold. What would happen if I were to reach out and touch him? How would he respond? Would he push me away or draw me close — press his lips to mine and…

“Got them,” Isaac announces, a small triumph as matches strike and candles flicker to life, pushing away the gloom.

Baxter’s eyes glow in the candlelight, watching us. He seems cautious, like he doesn’t know what to make of this weird change.

The light from the candles casts Isaac’s face in a soft glow. Shadows play on his jaw, a dance of warm and dark. “I guess we should call it a night for training.”

“Yeah… kind of hard to get much done in the dark.”

“Maybe we can just… order some takeout?” His question hangs between us, an invitation I hadn’t expected.

I blink, unsure if I heard him right. I had been about to pack up my things and pet Baxter goodbye, and now he’s asking me to stay. Even though we’ve been texting here and there, we haven’t hung out together. Any time spent in person has revolved around training Baxter.

“Takeout?” I repeat, my voice betraying my surprise.

“Yeah.” He smiles, and it’s disarmingly genuine. “Why not? Assuming anyone is open. I can call around and see.”

My heart stutters. Takeout could mean nothing; it could just be an invitation to share a meal, to keep me a little longer so I don’t need to drive home without working streetlights. But the flicker in his eyes, the way he doesn’t look away, suggest it might be something more.

“Is this a date?” The question slips out before I can catch it. It’s a stupid thing to ask, so inappropriate, but it’s too late to take back, and now it’s floating in the candlelit space.

“Only if you want it to be,” he answers, his tone a gentle tease that doesn’t match the intensity in his gaze. “I would like that very much.”

A date. With Isaac. It’s a thought that sends a thrill through me. Maybe our time together doesn’t need to come to an end when the dog training does.

It feels unreal, though. Isaac… wanting to have a date withme? We’re from two different worlds.

And yet that doesn’t matter. Job titles, money, who we know, where we come from. None of that is really important. I know it, and I think he feels the same way, because if he didn’t, we wouldn’t be here right now.

“Okay,” I say at last, giving in to the moment, to the possibility. “Takeout sounds nice.”

His smile widens, and I realize that endings aren’t always bad, because when one thing closes, it leaves space in the world for something else to start.

CHAPTER 15

ISAAC

It turns out that the whole city isn’t blacked out. Just some areas are out of power, which is good news for us. It takes a little calling around, but I eventually find an Indian restaurant that will deliver to my building.

“Is there anything I can do?” Emily asks as I hang up the phone.

“No. Make yourself comfortable. You’re my guest.”

She’s more than that. She’s my date.

I did it; I finally said what I wanted. I made my move, and she didn’t leave the apartment or tell me I was being unprofessional. I’m still worried that this new territory will get us into trouble somehow, but I’m doing my best to be positive.

And, since my father died, it’s surprisingly easy.

“I’m sorry I used the worddate,” I say, before I can decide whether it’s a good idea to bring it up or not. “There’s no pressure, really. I’m interested in you. I am. And I understand if the feeling isn’t mutual, and there’s no pressure. I don’t want toruin our working relationship, so even if you feel differently, we can still go about things as usual. You’re the best trainer?—”

“I feel the same.”

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