Home Is Where the Bark Is by Kandy Shepherd Read Free Book Online Page B

mega-dollar products were doing so well she needed to find more space for the display. And the new line of organic dog treats supplied by her friend Jenna was walking off the shelves. The doughnut shapes with carob frosting were runaway bestsellers.
    She tried to concentrate on calculating her profit for the month, told herself she could not check her watch again. Then she heard the “Who Let the Dogs Out?” door chime as the door to the street opened.
    She didn’t have to turn around to know it was Nick Whalen. She recognized the sound of his footfall, seemed somehow aware of the amount of air his tall, powerful body displaced in the small room. Despite all efforts to act cool, her heartbeat tripped into double time and a flush burned high on her cheeks.
    All afternoon she’d been practicing what she’d say to him. With a friendly yet not-too-friendly greeting on her lips, she turned. But the carefully memorized words dissipated like a puff of vapor.
    He knew.
    She could see it in the way Nick forced himself to keep his gaze above her neck. That was what the nice guys did. Tried not to think about her chocolate-coated breasts. Even when it was all they could think about.
    The more righteous men couldn’t hide their outright disapproval.
    Dave the Valentine’s Day dumper hadn’t seen it that way. “Every man you meet imagines you naked and covered in chocolate,” he’d stormed. “They can’t help fantasizing about what they want to do to you.”
    She’d protested and protested and protested that not every man who saw her posters wanted to undress her. But Dave could not, would not, believe her. And it had proved true: she had attracted unwanted attention. Scary attention.
    But not from men like Nick Whalen.
    It was obvious her new client was determined to act the gentleman. He looked above her head with inordinate attention at the beagle clock.
    She cleared her throat. “Bessie had a good day.”
    He cleared his throat. “That’s great.”
    “Made lots of friends.”
    “Glad to hear it.” He picked up a bottle from the counter and put it down again without seeming to register that it was labeled Sexy Beast, fragrance for dogs.
    Sexy Beast. She could think of someone else worthy of that label.
    She cleared her throat again. “Do you . . . uh . . . still want to finish your tour of the facilities?”
    He nodded.
    Talk about an elephant-sized bathtub of chocolate in the room.
    “Well, uh, follow me out back,” she said, stepping toward the door to the playroom.
    Would he still treat her the same way now he had recognized her? Or follow the track of so many other guys she’d encountered? Even a hint of innuendo from him and his tour would be terminated.
    As she approached the door, Kylie came whirling through it.
    Serena halted. She could sense Nick pull up to stop himself from colliding with her back. She braced herself, aware that his chest must be mere fractions of an inch from her spine. If she stood still enough, she would feel his breath on her hair. If she took just half a step back, she would rest against the hard strength of his body.
    Just half a step.
    She took a deep breath to steady herself. And keep her Birkenstock-clad feet planted firmly on the paw-printed floor.
    Kylie greeted Nick. “Hi, Bessie’s dad. She’s all tuckered out and waiting for you.”
    Serena swore she felt Nick cringe at the words “Bessie’s dad.” She frowned a warning at Kylie—she had briefed her about the new client’s aversion to the use of everyday dog-world words. But Kylie gave her the slightest and slyest of grins and a discreet thumbs-up. Serena felt the flush on her cheeks intensify. Was her interest in the new client so obvious to everyone?
     
     
    Nick found himself kissing distance away from the nape of Serena’s slender neck. Her thick plait was coming unraveled and wisps of dark hair waved away from its constraint. Her head was bowed. In what? Guilt? Shame? Or just a feminine flurry at his