Page 41 of Love on the Line

Chapter 14

Anne hesitatedin front of Wyatt’s apartment door. For the last week, she’d been in a funk after seeing all the online pictures. She’d played the “busy” card and kept their conversations short, trying to buy some time to sort out her feelings.

Her birthday was Monday, but Wyatt’s lacrosse team had away games then and tomorrow, so he’d insisted on making her dinner tonight at his place. Homemade he’d said. And her heart swelled at that because the guy admitted he couldn’t cook for his life. His stack of carryout menus rivaled the size of War and Peace.

Avoiding Wyatt wasn’t the answer to her insecurities. Besides, she missed him. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Goober barked, and the sound of scampering paws was followed by a thud. A giggle escaped. Adorable mutt. Always so excited.

“Hold on,” Wyatt called through the door. “Sit.”

“No,” Anne yelled, stifling a laugh.

“Smart ass.” He opened the door and stood back, one hand held up in front of Goober, a treat in the other hand. “Stay.”

While his attention was on the dog, Anne indulged in a full head-to-toe gawk. His white polo shirt rode up on his huge biceps and stretched across his ripped chest. A belt cinched the jeans at his tapered waist. A surge of pure lust shot from the souls of her feet to the roots of her hair.

She entered and glanced at Goober, who whined. His legs shook from suppressed excitement, and his tongue hung out of his mouth as he panted.

“Good boy.” Wyatt gave him the treat. Goober inhaled the kibble and ran over to Anne.

She bent and hugged him, rubbing under his belly as he licked her cheeks. Pure love. Dogs had no agendas. “He’s doing better than the last time I was here.”

“I’m working on it. My mother spoiled him, so he needs to learn some manners. The dog walker is training him as well.”

“I forgot about him. Probably because we’ve never met.” The guy came on weekdays since Wyatt coached after school. She’d never run into him, which made her wonder who else she might have never run into. Another supermodel on any given night? Her gut churned.

She scratched under Goober’s ears, and his eyes rolled back in his head. “Who’s the best boy?”

“I’m hoping I am.” Wyatt reached down, placed a hand under Anne’s elbow, and eased her up.

Oh. Face to face, and so close.

He brushed his lips against hers. “I’ve missed you.”

Her stomach did that flutter-in-a-good-way thing. But then the images of him with all those women popped into her mind.

Goober wedged himself between their legs and whined again.

Wyatt shook his head. “Okay, enough, boy.”

Anne forced a smile, and Wyatt’s eyebrows raised. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She had no clue how to talk to him about it. Besides, they were supposed to be “casual.” But they’d spent six weeks together, and it sure felt like anything but casual. To her, anyway.

Wyatt frowned. Before he could ask any more questions, she stepped down the hall and picked up Goober’s chew toy. He raced to her, grabbed it from her hands, and ran to the corner of the living room, plopping down on his bed.

“Let me take your coat.” Wyatt came up behind her.

When she slipped out of it, his gaze traveled down her body. She’d chosen to wear black leggings and a pastel-blue V-neck sweater.

He laid her coat over the back of a chair and turned to her. Resting one hand on her shoulder, he slid the other around her waist to bring her closer. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks.” Her voice sounded strained to her own ears. She glanced down to avoid eye contact.

He loosened his hold on her. “I guess I better get to cooking.”

She followed him to the kitchen and tried to keep the whole casual thing going. “Whatcha making?”

“Spaghetti marinara.”

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