Page 121 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“David,” I managed.

I handed off the puppy to the closest staff member, Tracy, who took him with barely a blink. Immediately, I looked around for Berry, who’d abandoned her door post to help Dex scoop out a litter box. My shoulders relaxed as I ascertained Bob still sat patiently at my side, despite all the pet melee that surrounded us. Yay for calming chews. Maybe I should’ve snagged one too.

“Surprised to see you here,” I added to my ex.

Anything dirty or not strictly sanctioned indicated an environment that David would never want to voluntarily spend time in.

“Doing my duty. Why are you here?” He gave me a thin, barely pleasant smile.

“Volunteering with—” I started to saymy boyfriendbut then I realized that made me sound about sixteen. Not that I had a better term for our situation.

How fucking awkward. Not that the uncomfortable pause on my end was any better.

“Her fiancé. We’re going to get married.” Dex slid his arm around my shoulders and he drew me into his chest in a way I appreciated despite the fact my ears were currently ringing.

We are?I didn’t say it out loud, but damn, it was a very close thing.

“Dexter,” David said with clear surprise contorting his patrician features as he extended a hand to Dex as if I didn’t even exist.

David had a hawk-like nose, cold colorless eyes, and a granite jaw. How had I not seen all of that the first time we’d met?

And he wore just a boring pinstriped shirt under his suit. Definitely no Spiderman.

Nothing at all unique.

Dexter’s grip on me tightened. “David.” He made no move to accept the hand my ex held out.

David dropped his hand and again clasped his hands behind his back, seeming to spot something or someone beyond us that made him step away. “I’ll just let you get back to—”

“Mama, I found a puppy for us!”

Oh, of course. The asshole was retreating from his smart, adorable, sweet-as-hell daughter, currently nuzzling a pug—because of course—puppy.

Dex let me go and immediately embraced Berry and her puppy, acting as if he hadn’t seen her in months. “Oh, he’s perfect, isn’t he?” He bent his head to kiss the puppy even as a nearby worker admonished him not to until the puppy was adopted. He simply ignored her. “Or she. What name do you like?”

And then this wonderful man who I’d somehow lucked into having in my life turned Berry away before she could see her cowardly asshole of a father melting into the crowd.

I didn’t care that Dex had just announced we were getting married before, oh, even broaching the idea with me. Even as a someday maybe. I just did not care. He could never ask me and just expect me to show up at a church on time one day, and I didn’t think I’d be mad at that either.

Because he loved my daughter and he showed it through actions that made a rock form in my throat as I futilely tried not to blubber over all the puppies and kittens and wild children swarming in our midst.

Belatedly, a tug on the leash still looped around my wrist reminded me Bob was waiting for direction. Thank God. Calming dog chews were the absolute best.

I managed to urge Bob with me to the side exit, where I stumbled outside into the surprisingly brisk afternoon for early June. Or maybe that was my inner state reflecting on my environment.

Suddenly, I wished I’d brought a cardigan against the chill.

I leaned back against the brick building to catch my breath while Bob decided to pee right where he was, because why the hell not?

Not five minutes later, Dex hauled ass out of the side exit, whipping his head right then left before he realized I was standing behind the door. The fact that he was carrying the pug puppy I didn’t think he’d adopted yet just increased his cute factor—and my concerns he was going to get in trouble for dognapping.

“I’m not marrying a criminal,” I announced primly as Bob continued to pee enough for three dogs. What had he had to drink anyway?

Dex turned toward me and let out an audible sigh. “There you are. With my dog.”

“Did you think I ran away?”

“It crossed my mind.” He frowned down at Bob, who was still peeing. “Still not done yet, buddy?”

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