Page 96 of Men or Paws
It was my addendum!
That had to be it.
Rocco wanted me to kiss him first. He wanted me to be the one who broke the rules, not him, because that would give him complete control.
That sly man was trying to beat me at my own game.
Well, I had news for him; there was no way I would let that happen.
Game on!
ChapterTwenty
Beth
I was about to lick my lips and give Rocco a taste of his own medicine when my stomach growled. “You didn’t hear that.”
He laughed. “Someone’s hungry.”
“Okay, maybe I am. What do you have planned? A food truck?”
“Nice try,” Rocco said. “I told you, it’s a surprise, but I will let you know that it’s not a food truck. Anyway, let’s get out of here and get you some food. Do you want me to drive?”
I snorted. “A little near-death experience isn’t going to keep me from driving this baby. Just go easy on the yelling if you see another rabbit.”
“You got it.” Rocco gave me a salute. “What about a coyote?
“I think you know the answer to that question. I’ll be more careful anyway.” I smiled and stuck the car in reverse, backing out onto the street and taking off. “We should stop by my new place first since the owner won’t be there all day.”
Rocco nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
Thankfully, there weren’t any more incidents on the road.
I pulled into the parking spot directly in front of the building and gestured to it. “This is it. There’s a commercial kitchen on the ground level.” I pointed to the second floor. “I would live in the apartment upstairs. It’s an ideal scenario because it’s like I’m leasing the kitchen and getting the apartment for free.”
Rocco nodded as we got out of the car. “That’s really cool. How’s everything going with the new business?”
“Great,” I said. I opened the front door and stepped inside the place. “I’ve still got a lot to do, working on branding, packaging, stocking supplies. The brochures are done, they just need to be printed.” I looked around. “Hello? Jacob?”
Jacob Rasmussen owned the building and several others just like it on the block. He seemed truly excited to have me as a tenant, which was a relief considering some of the nightmare landlord stories I’d heard.
Jacob came out of the kitchen, smiling. “Beth! Glad you could make it.” He glanced at Rocco and did a double-take before losing his smile. “Captain Clapton.”
Rocco grinned. “In the flesh.” He held out his hand. “You can call me Rocco, though.”
“Of course, of course,” Jacob said, shaking Rocco’s hand so enthusiastically he practically removed his arm from the socket. “What an honor to have you here. I’m a big, big fan.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that.”
Jacob gestured to me. “Are you two business partners?”
Rocco shook his head. “No—we’re friends.”
Not what I wanted to hear, although I didn’t expect him to tell Jacob I was the apple of his eye.
“Good friends,” Rocco added, winking at me.
Much better.
