It took him a while, since his dick was in play and his response was purely physical. He opened his mouth to tell her he’d do anything for her, as long as she kept that pleading siren expression on her face that promised him the moon, the stars, and nirvana on her knees.
Then it hit him.
He was being played.
Stone hadn’t graduated from the academy and worked in law enforcement by being stupid. His brain clicked back on, and he realized this whole scenario was to get him to take in Pinky.
No. Fucking. Way.
“You saw me, huh?” he muttered. “You think now I’m a big pussy and I’ll take a damn dog into my house because we’re into each other?”
The sexy look was wiped off her face. Besides the cute sulk on her lips, her green eyes spat fire and smoke. He fought back a grin. Damn, he liked her spunk. “Why do you have to be so crude?” she hissed. “Why do you have to do something nice and then wipe it away with a smart remark?”
“Oh, you’re good. Trying to turn this one around on me so I look like the asshole. I helped cover your crime, and my role is done. It’s up to you to find the rat fink a proper home.”
“Don’t call her that! I’m asking you to take her for just two weeks. Two lousy weeks to give her a chance at survival. Why can’t you be reasonable?”
“Me? Reasonable? Woman, you didn’t even ask me. Just tried to do your female mind tricks on me so I offered to help.”
She huffed out a breath, shuffled her feet, and gave him the words. “Will you watch Pinky for two weeks?”
“No.” She clenched her fists and squeaked. “Don’t forget to breathe.”
“Forget it; I was an idiot to think this could work. I’m outta here.”
She turned, but he jumped in front of her, lowering his voice so no one could eavesdrop. “This works just fine. Me and you. Not me and Pinky cozied up night after night. I don’t like dogs. I don’t do dogs.”
Her brows snapped together. “Oh, I know what you don’t do, Officer. You don’t do commitments. You don’t do future or long-term. You don’t do anything that’s not easy. Forget this.”
Her words stung like pebbles hitting his naked body. Is that how she saw him? Was she right? And if so, was it so wrong? He was only trying to be honest and protect them both. “Listen, I’ll help you find someone. I’ll ask around at the station. There are plenty of wives and girlfriends who may want to help. I just can’t be the one to take her in.”
“I only have two days left.”
Ah, shit. Her voice did that wobbly thing that left him vulnerable. He cursed under his breath. “I’ll find someone. I promise.” He regretted the words the moment they left his lips, but relief flickered in her eyes, and Stone realized she trusted him. Somehow, someway, she believed him. Most didn’t. Only Devine. There was no one else, and wasn’t that kind of sad and pathetic? He wasn’t about to let down that trust. He’d done harder stuff before. How difficult could it be to find a nice, quiet home for a small dog for two weeks?
“Thank you.”
“Will you not be pissed off at me now?”
She smiled. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“Yeah, you may want to put that on a recording for the future. Just hit Play time and time again.”
She did that half-giggle thing and completely charmed him. “I have something else to ask you.”
Uh-oh. “What?”
She must have sensed his wariness, because she shifted her weight, looked at the floor, and began to babble. “Actually, it’s not a big deal, and you’re probably working anyway, and my friends kinda pressured me, so you can just say no.”
He grinned. “Might want to tell me what it is first I’m saying no to.”
“Oh! Umm . . . so . . . remember the bachelorette party? Kate’s getting married this Saturday at Bear Mountain, and everyone has dates, so I figured maybe you’d want to go with me. But you don’t have to.”
“You want me to go to a wedding with you?” He couldn’t help the surprise from leaking out. Weddings were a big deal, meeting friends and family. Getting dressed up. Putting on your best behavior for strangers. Hell, he couldn’t remember the last time he attended a formal function. He had one good suit, and it would need to be dry-cleaned.
But the idea that he wasn’t her dirty little secret was kind of nice.
“Only if you wanted to go,” she volleyed back.
“Do you just need a date? Or do you want me to go?” He only pushed her to clarify because she looked so adorable, hating having to ask him and looking nervous about his answer. Like she gave a crap. Warmth settled in his gut, and a pleasant feeling flowed in his veins.
She gave a frustrated humph. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want you to go. But I don’t want you to go unless you want to go.”
“You want me to want to go?”
“Yes!”
He couldn’t help it. A hearty laugh escaped his lips. “I’d love to go to the wedding with you, little one. Thanks for asking.”
She peered at him with suspicion. “You really want to go?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“I can take the day off. What time is the wedding?”
“Two p.m.”
“One of the guys will cover for me.”
“Oh, okay. Great.” She chewed on her lip. “Are you sure you want to go?”
He shook his head. “I knew from the beginning you were high maintenance.”
“I’m not! I flow!”
He reached out to tug at her ponytail. “Sure you do.”
She growled and stomped around him. “I’m going to the horse farm. Class dismissed.”
His laughter echoed in the fall air, drifting down the path after her.
Stone couldn’t remember a time in his life he’d had more fun with a woman.
fourteen
DEVINE, YOU GOTTA take the dog.”
His partner snorted and refused to break his stride. He poured some disgusting dregs of what they called coffee into a stained mug, tossed in some sugar, and moved toward his desk. “No fucking way, man. I’m allergic.”
Stone rolled his eyes at the outright lie. Propping a hip on the battered metal desk, he blocked the stacks of paperwork they were both battling through. “Bullshit. It’s only for two weeks. She’s so small, you won’t even know she’s there.”
“Good, so you take her. I don’t like foo-foo dogs, anyway.”
“Besides her ridiculous name, she’s cool. Been abused. Fighting her way back. Isn’t that a story you want to star in as the hero?”
“No. Now get off my desk so I can finish this by midnight and not turn into a pumpkin. I hate paperwork. Can you get me a donut and an iced latte?”
“If you take Pinky.”
“Forget it. Hey, Dunn! Get me a pumpkin donut and an iced latte, and I’ll owe you!”
“You gotta do my police report, too,” Tim called back from his own desk of hell.
“Fuck you! I don’t know the details.”
“Then fuck your pumpkin donut, Devine!”
“Fine. Give it to me. But you gotta buy, too.”
Tim smirked, knowing he got the better deal. Dropping more papers on Devine’s desk, he headed out the station door.
Rookie Patterson came in from his shift. Features tight with annoyance, he walked stiffly to his desk. Stone took a whiff of the air and recoiled. “What the hell is that smell?”