Page 97 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

Clint took back the dog and slipped what looked like a piece of candy near the dog’s mouth then discreetly palmed it and slipped it between his own lips. “All done. Bobbie will be on the mend soon.”

“Thank you so much.” Berry covered Bobbie’s furry face with about a dozen kisses. “Dex, you gotta pay him!”

The two men exchanged amused glances. “Oh, I will. I brought my biggest credit card so I can afford him.”

“I can take some from my piggy bank.” Berry glanced at me seriously. “Had to be for something special, right?”

“Yeah, but Dex has it covered.” After a quick hair ruffle, I tugged her and her pup in for a tight hug. “I love you so much, munchkin. And Bobbie too,” I added when my daughter nudged the dog between us.

“Dex bought me this dog before I get a real one. Or when Bob gets to be mine when Dex marries my mommy,” Berry announced, while I hoped I disappeared into the floor beneath me.

Maybe I should get her that dog she wants.

It would be much easier than getting her Dex as her father.

“Bob can be yours anyway.” Dex clapped Clint on the shoulder. “Thanks, man. As always, I can’t thank you enough.”

“No problem. It was great to meet Berry. Have a feeling I’ll be seeing her around more often,” he added in an undertone, lifting his brows.

“Your feeling is spot on.” Dex clapped him some more as he got to his feet. “Now that I’ve had that wedding practice by being your best man…”

The two of them kept laughing, as men did, apparently not realizing I was a minute or two from hyperventilation.

He’s just kidding. That’s what people do.

“Shelby, it was nice seeing you again.” Clint turned to smile at me. “Thanks for letting me practice.” He gave me a quick wink before bending to talk to Berry in a hushed voice. When he finished, Berry leaned up on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck.

“What kind of practice?”

“He’s having a baby,” Dex said in a low voice. “Well, his wife is. Closer to the end of the year.”

“So, he gives you wedding practice and you give him child access?”

Dex grinned. “Something like that.” He shifted to wave at Clint. “Dinner next week, don’t forget. Jimmy will have my ass if I don’t bring you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Later, brother.” The door closed with a soft thud behind him.

“Is he your brother?” Berry demanded.

“No. My brother’s name is Preston.”

“Would I like him?”

Dex shrugged. “I don’t always like him myself so I’m not sure.”

Seemingly satisfied with that, Berry tucked Bobbie under her arm and gave Dex a big hug. “Thank you for fixing up my dog.” Then she ran off to have some pizza rolls made by my dad before we left for Dex’s.

“I’ve already got a new one on order,” he said softly as he sat on the sofa and patted his lap. “For when she’s ‘healed’.” He made finger quotes.

I frowned at his lap. “I can’t sit there with my parents just down the hall.”

“Sure you can.” He put his finger up to his lips. “Just be quiet.”

Shaking my head, I perched on his lap and gave in to a smile as I toyed with his hair. “You make my daughter very happy, you know that? Calling a vet to patch up her stuffed animal is just so sweet.”

He brushed my hair back from my face. “Now how can I makeyouvery happy? Any hints?”

“You seemed to do just fine the night of our date.” I leaned in to kiss his jaw. “Just don’t get too many ideas.”

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