Surely Ursula hadn’t ventured into the water. The puppy didn’t like to get more than just her paws wet. She never left the beach.
Then again, she usually never left Molly’s side, either.
“Puppies will be puppies, Molly.” Dotty tut-tutted again. “She can’t possibly be as perfect as you’re making her out to be.”
“No, really. Ursula is…”
“Ursula is getting on my last nerve,” someone behind Molly said.
She whipped around to see who it was.
Max Miller.Of course.
He was walking straight toward her, barefoot, with his dress pants rolled up. Ursula’s little pink tongue lolled gleefully out of the side of her mouth and she pawed at the air while Max held her at arm’s length.
“Molly?” Dotty’s voice drifted from the phone. “Is something wrong?”
“Your puppy is an ecological menace.” Max thrust Ursula toward Molly. Up close, she spied a fine layer of sand coating Max’s features—from his stern eyebrows all the way down to his broody, kissable mouth.
Molly’s breath caught in her throat. How had she failed to notice that her nemesis had pillowy, Tom Hardy lips? It seemed like a detail worthy of attention.
“Molly! What is going on over there?” her mother said, dragging her back to the very problematic present.
“Everything’s fine. Just peachy. See you on Saturday,” Molly chirped, and then ended the call without waiting for a goodbye.
Max pulled Ursula back toward him. He arched a single inquisitive eyebrow. “Who was that?”
Molly jammed her hands on her hips. “We might be neighbors, but we’renotfriends. You don’t get to ask me questions about my personal life, Wilson.”
Max’s noteworthy lips quirked into a reluctant grin.
Molly averted her gaze. “Stop it. What could you possibly be smiling about right now?”
“You called me Wilson.”
Molly’s face went hot. “So?”
Max flashed her a wink. “So, you only call me that when you’re not mad at me.”
No, Molly only called him that when she realized she was attracted to him. Even then, it was an accident. Obviously.
“Your theory is flawed. I’m furious with you. Can I have my puppy back, please?” Molly reached for Ursula, but Max pulled the puppy closer to his chest.
Ursula snuggled shamelessly against him in an absurd display of misplaced affection. Molly was embarrassed on the dog’s behalf. (And not one bit jealous, thank you very much.)
“Not so fast.” Max’s gaze flitted to the iPhone in Molly’s hand. “Who are you going to see on Saturday? A date?”
Laughter bubbled up Molly’s throat.As if.
Max’s jaw clenched. “Molly.”
Wait a minute. Why was he going all alpha male on her all of a sudden?
“Max,” she said simply, biting back a smile. A shiver ran up her spine and she was suddenly acutely aware of her own heartbeat. It boomed in her ears, drowning out everything else—the wind, the waves…even Ursula’s needy little whine.
“I—” Max started to say something, but then just frowned and shook his head. “You’re quite impossible, you know?”
Her?Shewas the impossible one?