Manaconda(55)

When he got down on his knees in the grass and played the horse, and Keys played Rapunzel, they officially had hero status of the day.

I must have dozed off somewhere in between the puppy bowl and ice cream because when I woke up Sammy was happily munching on a puppy popsicle and Hunter was standing over me.

I used my hand as a visor and peered up at him. “I don’t like that look.”

“You got a nap, and I did not.”

I laughed. “You were too busy playing with the kids.”

“I like kids.”

“Now that’s something I don’t hear from any of the rockstars I know.”

“I guess it’s something you should know.”

My belly flipped. “I’m not sure what to say to that one.”

“Just some information for that super brain of yours.” He held out a hand. “Up we go,” he said when I took it.

“Where are we going?”

“Time for the doggie promenade.”

“Do I want to know what that is?”

He held my hand tighter. “That’s when we take all the dogs that haven’t been taken out to be played with for a walk.”

“Good thing I’m wearing sneakers.”

“Good thing you took a nap.” He jogged ahead, dragging me after him. Sammy barked after him trying to take him out at the ankles.

Somehow we ended up with nine dogs between us and three of them were pit bulls. Seriously, I prayed for a little divine helping hand as we set out a few yards after the first dog walker.

We managed to walk the first quarter mile with all the dogs trotting along side pretty well.

Then there was the squirrel.

A baby dalmatian with bicolored eyes laced herself between every one of the leashes to get a hold of it. Then she crashed into Sammy who yipped and trampled a Yorkie.

I scooped up the miniature pincher that somehow ended up in our pack—one that we had not started with mind you—and stuffed her in my jacket pocket.

Hunter and I crashed into each other on the grass at the end of the path and fell into a pile of panting dogs. Hunter was face down with the dalmatian puppy sitting on his butt, a three legged German Shepherd gnawed on his laces, and a senior chocolate lab using him as a pillow.

I laughed and took a picture, sending it to Keys and Indie before cuddling with the three pit bulls. The other three dogs in our care were panting happily on the grass.

We returned the dogs, got cleaned up and collapsed in the hotel. We raided the gift shops on the wharf for fresh clothes before we left. Grass stains and things I didn’t even want to name had rendered our clothing unfit for a second day’s wear. Hunter and I didn’t even bother pretending we were going to get separate rooms.

Watching him with the kids and animals had left me riled up in a way that defied even our first night together. I planned on seducing the hell out of him after my shower, but we both ended up falling asleep waiting for a bottle of wine to be delivered by room service.





23





Hunter





I groaned, rolling onto my belly. “Go away,” I yelled at the door.

Who in the sweet fuck was banging away at the damn door?

Kennedy poked me. “Go get it. She’s probably dropping Sammy off for her concert.”

I grunted. “You get it.”

She opened one eye. “Is this how you’re going to be about kids?”

I stared at her. “Maybe.”

“Good to know,” she said and rolled off the bed. She stretched her arms above her head as she padded to the door. She was wearing a Love & Paws shirt and a pair of boxers with paw prints on her very perky ass.

“Look, guys!” Keys swept into the room.

Kenny melted to the floor with Sammy and gave her an affectionate rub down. I was suddenly very jealous of her dog. In fact, I’d been jealous of many dogs that day.

We’d been so busy all day we hadn’t gotten a chance to just be with each other. Then I finally got her in a bed and we both passed out like old people.

It was pathetic.

Keys leapt onto the bed and shoved her iPad at me. “They replaced the adoption logo with a picture of your guys on the Facebook banner.”

“Finally, some good publicity,” I muttered.

Keys took it back and bounded over to Kenny. “See?”

“Great, I look like I’ve been living in kennel for a week.”

“No. You’re totally rockin’ that maxi skirt. And you look mad cute next to Hunter. Perfect shot.” She folded herself into a club chair in the living space of our room. “Of course people are going to think you’re going out again.”

“Good.”

Kenny’s lips quirked. “So, this week it’s okay?”

“It’s always going to be okay,” I said and rolled onto my side.