Heather Horrocks - Who-Dun-Him Inn 02 - Inn the Doghouse by Heather Horrocks Read Free Book Online

appreciatively. “It does smell awfully good.”
    “ Awfully good . That’s one of those interesting oxymoron word combinations. Like pretty awful , a little pregnant, and Army intelligence .”
    I thought of my pale sister downstairs. “ Amicable divorce. ”
    “Good one.” He nodded. “How about low-fat ice cream? ”
    “ Truth in advertising. ”
    “ Middle East peace. ”
    “Oh, wait. I have one.” I leaned back against the counter. “ Double solitaire. ”
    “My favorite game.” He took a step in my direction, hanging the dishtowel on a hook very close to me.
    “I bet.” I forced my mind away from David to the game at hand. “ Kosher ham. ”
    He let his gaze scan my body briefly and smiled at me. “ Luxury compact. ”
    I managed to get out, “ Mild-mannered reporter. ”
    He laughed. “I keep my Superman suit hidden under my apron.”
    “Nice apron, by the way.”
    “Thanks.” He looked down to see what was written there. When he saw Kiss the Cook , he grinned. “And this is truth in advertising. I accept all kisses.”
    “Grandma will be happy to hear that.”
    The air between us heated up like a mirage, shimmering between us. After a long pause, during which his eyes darkened, I said, almost in a whisper, “ White chocolate. ”
    He leaned toward me and his voice lowered, as well. “One size fits all. ”
    Not wanting to step away and show how wary I was of the attraction growing between us, I tried to make him laugh again. “ Journalistic integrity. ”
    He didn’t laugh. Instead, he chuckled, a low, husky sound that came deep from his chest. He leaned a little, so that his lips were only inches from mine. “ Definite maybe .”
    I swallowed hard, and for that instant, couldn’t think of anything to say. I found myself leaning in, too. Close enough to catch the nice, manly scent of him mixed with the clean smell of soap. My hands began to tremble and my heart pushed on the accelerator. It was a good thing I had my talk with Robert today instead of waiting, because things were moving a lot faster than I ever anticipated.
    When the saloon-type doors slammed the wall behind us, I nearly had another heart attack. David must have, too, as he joined me in jumping back. I sucked in a deep breath, trying to recapture my fleeting composure.
    Zach raced in. “Hey, Mom! Germy said their puppies are old enough to leave home now.”
    I exchanged a glance with David, whose cheeks showed more color than normal. So I wasn’t the only one affected by our near kiss. Returning my attention to my son, I said, “No puppies, squirt. That was our deal. Remember?”
    He sighed deeply and rather melodramatically.
    “That’s okay, chief,” said David, and I noticed how husky his voice still sounded. “Big dogs are cool, too.”
    “But not too big,” I said.
    “ Grown dogs,” David clarified, winking at me.
    I felt my face heating up, too.
    “And,” he said in a sexy, low voice, “I think right now is the perfect time for me to drive you and Zach into town to look at dogs at the pet store.”
    Reluctantly, I scrutinized both of them.
    I didn’t want to go. But if I was to begin seizing the day and opening myself to possibilities, I may as well start now. I promised my son a dog—and he already had a water dish for the stupid canine. A water dish that would be left in the kitchen, but well away from the flow of traffic.
    I looked at my son’s eager face. How could I say no?
    With a sigh, I nodded. “Okay, but I have to stop at the Moose Muffin Café first and drop off some pans we borrowed for the anniversary party. While I’m there, could you drop off Zach’s library books? And then I’ll meet you at the pet store.”

 
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    IT TOOK US A GOOD HOUR to mosey into town. The roads were dry, which is always preferable when coming down Porter Mountain. I may have had all-wheel drive, but I’d witnessed too many four-by-four pickups stuck on the bottom curve after the