Page 96 of Nanny for the Athletes

“Like I said: we’ll see!”

Christian grabbed my wrists and pinned me to the couch, which caused the last crumbs of cheese to fall to the floor. He covered me with his body and smiled down at me.

“Yes, you’re much stronger than me,” I said. “But physical intimidation won’t convince me that you’re better than Braden.”

“Oh? So you need convincing?”

“Perhaps.”

Hank was sniffing around the cheese crumbs, but I stopped caring about that as Christian dove into me with renewed passion. Soon I forgot all about the paperwork waiting for me in the kitchen, and all the other items on my to-do list.

And the name I moaned several minutes later was Christian’s, loud and emphatic and with all of my heart.

39

Beth

“When I grow up,” Claire told me, “I’m going to have my own doggy business.”

We were giving all the dogs baths inside the kennel. Right now we had Princess up on the table. She was attached to a harness, but Claire was standing next to her and giving words of encouragement just in case.

“A doggy business?” I asked while digging my fingers into the Yorkie’s shampoo-filled hair. “You mean a kennel?”

“That’s what I said. A doggy business.” She didn’t addduhonto the end, but I could tell it was implied.

“That might be a problem. You and I will be competitors.”

“No we won’t.”

“We won’t?” I asked.

“No,” Claire insisted. “Because my doggy business will put yoursoutof business.”

“Oh, okay,” I said with a laugh.

“What’s funny?” she demanded.

“You are. You are, sweet girl.”

She scrunched her face up in thought, then shrugged it off. I smiled to myself. In the month since Claire first came here, she had filled a strange role in my life. Sometimes it felt like she was an employee of the kennel, especially when she arrived and immediately went out to scoop poop. Other times she felt like a niece. Sometimes she was like a tiny, demanding friend.

In any case, I was grateful to have her in my life. And not just as “baggage” that came along with Logan—I appreciated her for her own sake.

“Have I told you how much I like you?” I suddenly said.

“Of course you like me.”

“Why do you say that?”

She answered while continuing to scratch Princess on the head. “Because I am averylikable person. All the dogs like me.”

“That’s true.”

“Dogs are good judges of character,” Claire explained. “That’s what Logan always says.”

“Does he, now?”

Claire nodded. “He told me that’s when he decided he liked you. When he saw that his dogs like you. Especially Loki.”

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