Page 53 of Tamed to Be Messy

CHAPTER 19

Hannah

Between sessions with Nick and working with Bandit, who’s now cleared to do hydrotherapy on the treadmill, and helping Ben and Sparky, who are both recovering well from their hip surgeries, the last three weeks have flown by. All that, along with my growing client list, has had me running from dawn to dusk.

The upside to this? Business is booming faster than expected. At this rate, I may have to bring on someone to handle scheduling, especially for my home visits, before the end of the month. Getting Sally Albright’s invitation to form a women’s small business owners group couldn’t have come at a better time. She’s turned her boutique, The Pink Hibiscus, into a mainstay in Sarabella, so I’m sure she’ll have some great advice for me.

The downside? There’s been little opportunity for anything new to happen between Nick and me because I haven’t had as much free time to stop by in the evenings. During his and Bandit’s sessions, we’ve settled into this friendly—and sometimes flirtatious—routine that’s easy.

No pressure. No expectations. No more touching my hair and definitely no more almost kisses, which kind of bums me out, to be honest. I know it’s probably for the best, but still…

Just a growing friendship. We’re friends…just friends.

But as I mentioned to Madi, I can’t stop wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Sometimes, I let my imagination have a little fun there, but then I smack myself back to reality.

Best not to play with a player…although I’m struggling to see Nick in that light. In all these weeks of stopping by in the evening, he never once mentioned having a date or seeing anyone. Although…I haven’t had time to stop by as often lately, so who knows?

Maybe he’s not serial dating like Graham seems to think he does. Maybe Nick’s changed. Or maybe I’m letting my attraction to him take too much space in my head. It’s kind of hard not to, especially when my best friend messages me at least once a day, asking for any updates or shifts in our relationship—as if there is a relationship. I’ve started ignoring her texts. Madi should get out of her inn more and stop trying to live vicariously through mine.

My office door opens and in walks the star of my errant thoughts. Nick carries Bandit in, holding him against his left hip. I’m glad to see he’s being careful of his shoulder. The last thing he needs is a setback because he’s doing so well. My concern over him being ready to recertify is finally settling into a confidence that he’ll do great. He’s more than proven his commitment to do the work. If anything, I’m constantly reminding him not to push too hard.

But today is a milestone because Bandit gets his wheels. I texted Nick to see if he could bring Bandit by instead of waiting until tomorrow.

I stroke the silky fur on Bandit’s head. “Today’s the day, buddy. You get to start walking again.”

He replies with a vigorous lick of his tongue all over my hand, which evokes a soft laugh from Nick, too. Our eyes connect like a married couple ogling their firstborn.

Then something drops with a soft thud. I lean sideways to check out the floor. A golf ball-sized poop is sitting on Nick’s shoe.

“What was that?” He sounds borderline panicked.

I really don’t know how to tell him that his shoe is acting as a temporary poop bag. “What was what?”

He leans to the side. “That. What is that?”

“Reciprocity?” And on his nice dress shoes. Did he dress up for me?

He groans. “More like bad timing.”

“Why? Do you have a date or something?”

“Something.” After he lowers Bandit to the floor, he heads into the bathroom.

Great. Now I’m annoyed at him for going out with someone who’s not me.

While I work on strapping Bandit into his wheels, Nick walks out, drying his hands in a wad of paper towels as big as his head.

“Not good with bodily fluids, are you?”

He slips into an ironic grin that makes me want to kiss and slap him all at once. How can someone be so sexy and irritating all at once?

“Is anyone?”

“I suppose not. But if you plan to have kids down the road, you better get used to the idea.”

He replies with a slight scowl.

Okay, maybe he’s not so keen about having children. I know I want a big family—I happen to love mine and would like to replicate that closeness. However, I put another check mark on the cons side of my mental list about dating Nick—right under‘player,’ which I’ve now crossed out and changed to serial dater. Somehow, that seems less…roguish.

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