Ready For You (11 page)

After another minute or two, she commented, “Your date seemed nice. She was very pretty.”
 

“Oh, that was Kara. Yeah, she’s nice, but she wasn’t my date. She’s a coworker.”

“Oh,” was all she said.

Then, I announced our arrival at the animal shelter.

The employee had just flipped the sign, officially opening for business, when we walked through. With two stories, this very modern-looking animal shelter was large and well-funded. They housed many of Richmond’s abandoned cats and dogs.
 

We were greeted immediately by the sounds of barking, lots of barking. It filled my ears and left them ringing. We checked in at the front desk. Mia filled out some paperwork and answered some questions on what type of animal she was hoping to adopt. We were told to wait for someone who would be with us shortly.
 

About three minutes later, a man approached us and stuck out his hand in a friendly greeting. “Hi, I’m Leo. I’m one of the managers here. I hear someone is looking to adopt today,” he said with a grin that was all for Mia.
 

Leo was about our age, maybe a few years older. He was tall and lean and had that save-the-world attitude to him. I would bet he was a vegan and ran fifty miles a day.
 

“Yes, I live alone, and I wanted a little company,” she replied.
 

Leo looked over at me and back at Mia, obviously making up his mind that she was fair game. Then, he made his move. “Well, let’s see what we can do.” He glanced down at her paperwork. “Amelia, what a beautiful name,” he said.
 

I wanted to punch him. As he led us around and showed us several dogs, all I could think about was how close his hand was getting to her side or how much I wanted to dropkick him when he made her laugh.
 

“Oh my gosh, Garrett! Look at him!” she said, kneeling down to pet a golden retriever mix.
 

The dog instantly wagged his tail and nuzzled up to Mia.
 

“Sam is new to our facility. He’s young, probably only a year or two. It’s rare for us to keep retrievers in here for long even if they aren’t purebred. They’re a popular breed and very loyal,” Mr. Know-It-All said.

Mia looked up at me and smiled. The dog gave her a big lick, and she laughed. I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.
 

“I think he likes you, Mia,” I said.
 

“Mia, that’s a lovely nickname,” Leo said.

“It’s my nickname,” I replied coldly.

Mia must have sensed the tension because she shot up from her crouch. “I think Sam is the one! Can you grab the rest of the adoption paperwork, Leo?” she asked as Leo and I continued to have a staring match.
 

“Sure. Be right back, Mia.” He grinned and turned to leave.
 

My hands fisted, and I fought back a growl.

“What the hell was that?” she asked.

“I don’t like him.”

“Well, that’s obvious. The question is, why?”

“He was flirting with you. He’s working, and he’s flirting with you. It’s very unprofessional.”
 

Her lip quivered as she tried to maintain a straight face. “You’re jealous,” she said.
 

It wasn’t a question.

“Am not,” I answered.

“Are to.”
 

“Am not. So, what if I am?”

Her grin widened, knowing she’d won the argument.
 

“I’m pretty sure the only male I’ll be cozying up to in the near future is the one right here.”
 

It was too bad she was pointing at the dog.
 

Lucky bastard.
 

Chapter Eight

~Mia~

“Do you want to help me unpack some of these boxes?” I asked, looking up from the enormous mess spread out in front of me on the floor.
 

Sam’s dopey brown eyes just stared at me blankly as he lifted an ear and cocked his head to the side. He did this a lot. I figured it was the doggie equivalent of,
huh?

“You know, if you’re going to live here, you need to start pulling your weight.”

Sam wagged his tail and licked my fingers. He really was a sweet dog. When I’d asked what had brought him into the shelter, Leo had told me his owner was moving overseas and couldn’t take him. So, at least it sounded like he’d come from a good home before we found each other.
 

“Okay, but if you don’t help, there will be no treats later.”

I paused. I was carrying on a conversation with a dog.
Had my life really come to this?
 

I gave Sam a long stare and eventually shrugged. “Eh. Oh, well.” I could do worse.

It was Monday night, and I’d just come home from a long shift at the hospital. Leah and I had shared the same work hours today, so we’d spent some time catching up after the weekend.

“So, did you have a good time on Saturday?” she asked.

“Um…well, it was interesting.”

“Interesting?” she repeated, obviously wanting me to delve deeper.

“I, uh…hadn’t expected Garrett to be there,” I answered honestly.

“Oh. Well, I hadn’t either. I hope you don’t think I was conspiring behind your back.”
 

“No, I don’t think you would do that.” She gave me a wry grin.
 

I amended my answer, “Okay, at least, I didn’t think that was your intention on Saturday.”

“Better. Never underestimate my evil powers, Mia, especially when it concerns two people I care about,” she said.
 

It made me feel special but also a little uneasy that she cared about me. I’d seen the way she looked at Garrett and me in that bar. She might not have put us together that night, but I had no doubt that she wouldn’t try in the near future.

I wished she would give up on that hope. I really liked Leah. She was fun, fearless, and loyal. I could see the devotion she had for her family and friends, and I was honored to be included in that small group, but I wasn’t the one for Garrett, not anymore.
 

I couldn’t be, not after everything I’d done.
 

He deserved so much better.

The default ringtone on my phone startled me out of my scattered thoughts, and I reached into my pocket to retrieve it. It was a phone number I didn’t recognize. Normally, I wouldn’t answer, but the area code was from Atlanta. I’d left friends behind with little explanation for my quick exit. I didn’t want them to worry, so I took a chance and answered it.

“Hello?” I said.

“Amelia,” the male voice said in relief.

I was momentarily stunned.
How did he get this number?
I’d changed my number, and I’d only given it out to a handful of people before I left. A chosen few had known where I was headed, and I purposely hadn’t included him.

“Aiden?”

“It’s so good to finally hear your voice. I was starting to think I might forget the sound.”

“How did you get this number?” I asked.
 

But I hadn’t meant to sound rude. He didn’t deserve that.
 

I immediately reworded my question. “I mean, how did you find me?”

“Maggie gave me your number. It wasn’t easy. She was very persistent for a long time, but she finally caved. You have a loyal friend. I’m a wreck, Amelia, an absolute wreck.”
 

“I’m sorry, Aiden. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll come back.”

Visions of our last night together came crashing back—candles, flowers, and tears. That was what I remembered the most, except for the part where I’d run and never looked back.
 

“I…I’m sorry, Aiden. I’ve got to go.”

I ended the call before he could say another word. He tried calling back once and then twice before he gave up. I couldn’t give him what he wanted. He didn’t see that now, but he would eventually. He just needed time and space.
 

Another hour or so passed, and I continued to empty out the boxes that had been gathering dust in my office. I wasn’t sure what I was going to use an office for—considering I worked in a hospital, filing patient records and avoiding pregnant women—but it was an extra room, and I didn’t know what else to use it for. I took a quick look at the computer stacked up in the corner and thought about setting it up, but I decided to put it off for another day.
 

My stomach started to grumble right around the time Sam’s ears perked up. He jumped up and started barking seconds before the doorbell went off. I guessed Garrett was right about one thing. No one would be able to get past Sam.
 

I glanced down at my watch and realized dinnertime had long since passed, and it was now eight o’clock. A quick sweep around the room proved I hadn’t done nearly enough. There were still several boxes to go through, and the ones I had opened up just made more of a mess. I had hoped to find places for some of this, so when the floors went down, I’d have less to move around. I was starting to think that was a really stupid idea.
 

I brushed my hands back and forth on my black yoga pants, trying to get rid of some of the dust that had accumulated there, and I went to join Sam at the door. He was jumping up and down and wagging his tail like it was Christmas. Dogs had the best enthusiasm. Humans could learn a thing or two from our four-legged companions. There was very little left on this earth that brought such excitement to our faces.
 

I opened the door, and I really shouldn’t have been surprised by what I found. Garrett was standing in his work clothes, holding a bag of takeout and a duffel bag.
 

“Are we having a sleepover?” I asked, pointing to the large bag slung over his shoulder.

His lip twitched. “No, I brought clothes to change into. Can’t lay down floors in a suit.”

“Who said anything about laying down floors tonight? It’s late.”

He let himself in, which was quickly becoming a habit of his, and breezed past me. He dropped the bags of food and his duffel on the kitchen counter and turned. “It’s late? How old are you?”

I folded my arms over my chest and gave an exasperated sigh. “I have to get up early for work tomorrow,” I said.

“So do I. In fact, I bet I have to wake up earlier.”

“Do not,” I challenged.

“Mmm…do so.” He leaned against the counter and mimicked my stance, folding his arms over his broad chest.
 

On me, it was pouting. On him, it was anything but, and it was super sexy.
 

“Ugh, you are infuriating! What time do you have to be up, smartass?”

“About four.”

“In the morning?” I squeaked.

“Yep.” He shrugged.

“Why so damn early? Don’t you have an office job?”

He adjusted his stance and shrugged off his jacket. He started loosening his tie, and I watched with fascination.

“Well, smartass, I like to go to the gym in the morning. No one else really does, so it’s quiet that early. And yes, I have an office job. I like to get into the office before everyone else, so I usually show up around six.”

He pulled off his tie and undid the first two buttons of his shirt.
 

The whole process, watching him slowly take off his tie had been mesmerizing. I didn’t want him to stop.
Why did he stop?

He looked at me expectantly.
 

He’d said something, hadn’t he?
 

I realized I’d been staring at those open two buttons longer than socially acceptable, and he’d noticed. His lips curled into a grin, and he’d been waiting to see how long it would take for me to come back from whatever fantasy I’d just inserted myself into.

“You sound kind of like a loner,” I finally said. I was very proud of my little rebuttal.
 

“I’m just picky about who I spend my time with, I guess.”

“Sounds like a loner.”

“Coming from the girl who’s spending her evenings with her dog,” he shot back before picking up his duffel and taking off toward the bathroom.

“At least it’s someone!” I yelled.
 

Lame comeback. Good job, Mia.

“Well,
friend
, I guess it’s a good thing I have you now, isn’t it?” he said with a wicked grin over his shoulder.
 

He disappeared behind the door, but he didn’t lock it. That hadn’t gone unnoticed to my very attuned ears.

I stared at the closed bathroom door and shook my head.
Oh, Garrett Finnegan, what are you up to?
 

~Garrett~

I had no idea what I was doing.
 

I leaned my hands against the tiled sink and stared into the bathroom mirror, shaking my head in disgust.
 

I’d strutted in here like I had a plan. I had no plan beyond wanting to spend every second with her. As I’d been lying in bed last night, I’d replayed every moment of the weekend, and then I’d come to terms with my new obsession.

I was completely infatuated with Mia Emerson.
 

The beautiful ghost with the mesmerizing blue eyes who had haunted my dreams for so long had come to life, and I couldn’t stop myself from returning to her doorstep each and every day.
 

I had no plan, but I knew I couldn’t walk away.
 

I was a fool to think we could be friends, but I needed to try. I wanted to be everything and anything but friends with Mia, and the fact that she still sent me into a tailspin after all these years pissed me off. Even through all the agony and hurt, I still wanted her. Despite the fact that I blamed her for the hell of my existence, I still craved her like no other.
 

I was at war with my own emotions, and I had no idea which side would eventually win.
 

I’d spent so long curled up with anger and betrayal as my only bedmates that I didn’t know if I knew any other way.

Tossing my work clothes into the duffel, I zipped it up and threw the bag over my shoulder. Now dressed in worn jeans and a white T-shirt, I was ready for manual labor. I hated wearing ties and dress shirts. I was the type of man who liked to get his hands dirty.
Give me jeans and a T-shirt any day.