Playing for Keeps Read online

  “Um . . . you outgrew it?” she asked.

  “Bullshit.” He turned to Sienne.

  Sienne shook her head at Hannah and then moved to Caleb. She squatted low to pet Lollipop, who surprised everyone by affecting a protective stance in front of Caleb and growling low in her throat.

  Sienne didn’t take it personally. She smiled and rose. “She doesn’t want another woman touching her man.”

  “I’ve known her all of two days,” Caleb said. “It’s not that—” Before he could finish the sentence, Lollipop sat on his feet.

  “Cute,” Hannah said. “She’s claimed you.”

  Out of patience, he shook his head. “One of you has a business MBA and the other was third in her law class. I want answers.”

  “Okay, fine,” Sienne said. “You were allergic to everything back then. You eventually outgrew most of your allergies. It was more that a dog didn’t fit our lifestyle.”

  He stared at her as the truth hit him with the force of a two-by-four. Back when he’d been a kid, they couldn’t have handled even one more mouth to feed. His mom and sisters had had their hands full just keeping a roof over their heads and him healthy and alive. And like always when he remembered what it’d been like, he felt a gratitude fill him that those days were long over. Letting out a breath, he nodded. “Well, she fits my lifestyle now.”

  “You’re really going to keep her?” Sienne asked.

  “Yes. Well, half of her,” he corrected. “I’m sharing custody.”

  Sienne’s eyes sharpened. “With who?”

  “Whom,” Hannah corrected.

  “Whom isn’t relevant,” Caleb said.

  “So it’s a woman,” Sienne said. “Just tell us.”

  He laughed. “Are you kidding me? Last time I was interested in someone, you put her through all your search programs and cyberstalked her.” No way was he subjecting Sadie to that.

  “Which turned out to be a good thing, since she was also cyberstalking you,” Hannah said. “She was looking to get herself an MRS degree and become Mrs. Parker so she could spend your money.”

  “Maybe,” he allowed. “But I was still just having a good time, until you went all Sherlock on me and delivered the report about her every indiscretion, including the time she’d cheated on a spelling test in the third grade.”

  “Well, I thought you should know,” Sienne said in her best fuck-off-and-die voice.

  “Sienne.” He squeezed her hand. “Just the other day, you told me it was my turn to get a life. Did you mean it?”

  “Of course I did.”

  “So then, maybe that’s what I’m doing.”

  “Maybe?”

  “Definitely, so back off.”

  “Caleb—” Sienne started and he shot her a look that told her he was done talking about this. He had no problem defending his feelings for Sadie, but they were too new right now and not for public consumption. His phone was vibrating in his pocket, but he waited for Sienne to acknowledge that he was serious. She stared back and then let out a sigh.

  “Fine,” she said. “It’s your life.”

  “Try to remember that.” He took Lollipop to his office. The dog made herself at home.

  With a nod, she left. Hannah followed. Lollipop had made herself at home and was sprawled out on the floor beside his desk, her Hello Kitty leash flashing in the light as he answered Spence’s phone call. “Sorry,” he said. “I was in a meeting.”

  “With The Coven?” Spence asked.

  “Half of them. Introduced Sienne and Hannah to the new woman in my life.”

  “Sadie?”

  “Lollipop. Jesus.”

  Spence laughed and said something that Caleb missed because Lollipop started barking at something beneath his desk. He got down and looked.

  “Problem?” Spence asked.

  “There’s a Skittle under my desk. She’s apparently convinced it’s the enemy, but she isn’t sure, so you can imagine the stress she’s under.”

  Lollipop headed to the door, in a sudden hurry.

  “Oh shit,” Caleb said, rising. “Gotta go—”

  Too late. Lollipop was hunching into position on his rug.

  “Oh shit?” Spence asked.

  Caleb sighed. “Literally.”

  Just before lunch, Sadie checked her phone, wondering how Lollipop was managing. Actually, that was a big fat lie. She was wondering how Caleb was managing. He’d left her a text.

  Do Not Even Think About Falling For This Guy: Poops A Lot is living up to her name.

  Sadie: I’m trying to imagine you in those fancy suits, scooping poop.

  Do Not Even Think About Falling For This Guy: Attractive, right?

  Do Not Even Think About Falling For This Guy: And she just farted so loud she scared herself. She got upset when I laughed. My attorney and director of operations are demanding hazard pay because the stench is so bad.

  Sadie: Are you making your attorney and your director of operations dog sit while you rule the world?

  Do Not Even Think About Falling For This Guy: I only rule the world on the odd days of the month. And my attorney and director of operations are two of my four sisters. They’re older than me, so I’m not sure they really get the hierarchy here. One just told me she’s going to tell our mom I was rude to her.

  Sadie laughed and a couple of her coworkers stared at her in shock. She rarely laughed here at the day spa. Honestly, she rarely laughed in general. But Caleb brought it out in her. He was nice to dogs. He employed his sisters, and not just as office staff, but in high-powered positions. He’d fed Sadie. He’d paid for her dog’s vet bills.

  Their dog’s vet bills, she reminded herself.

  It was a struggle to remember he was practically still a stranger. Everyone had their armor. Hers was obvious, it was her bad attitude, and she’d been unapologetic about that.

  Your bad attitude isn’t your only armor, a part of her brain whispered. And that was certainly true. She hid behind the colorful streaks she liked in her hair, behind the shiny sparkly jewelry she favored, behind the clothes that said back the eff up . . . Even her tats hid something—her old cutting scars, for example. And the not so old ones.

  Do Not Even Think About Falling For This Guy: Just took Lollipop on a quick walk at a pet park on our way to you. She chased someone’s cat. I don’t think she meant to, she just lost her mind for a second. She nosed the cat in the ass and got bitch-slapped. She’s not hurt, not that you could tell by her sobbing. She’s having a rough day, currently sitting in my lap holding my hand. Be there in a few.

  He’d taken Lollipop to a pet park. He held her hand whenever she got scared. Damn. The man was dangerous to her heart and soul.

  Which made him the very opposite of perfect . . .

  Chapter 9

  #DogKissesSolveEverything

  A few days went by, during which Sadie had too many hours on the job and not enough hours sleeping. Tired didn’t come close to describing how she felt. She’d just spent about ten hours on her feet, leaning over clients, more than a little uptight about getting everything just right. Being an artist was one thing. So was selling your art. It was subjective, and that was okay.

  But being an artist and selling the art that you literally inked onto a person’s skin couldn’t be subjective.

  It had to be perfect.

  She’d texted Caleb asking if she could have Lollipop tonight even though it wasn’t her night. The truth was, she felt lonely and needed the company. It was unlike her to admit she needed anything, but somehow texting Caleb didn’t make her feel as vulnerable as she might have with anyone else.

  Which made no sense.

  He’d let her know he would meet her at eight p.m. near the pub.

  At ten minutes till, she walked the length of the courtyard, slowing to wave at Old Man Eddie, who lived in the alley. Spence, his grandson, had tried unsuccessfully to relocate Eddie to an apartment in the building, but Eddie preferred the alley. He waved back. “How’s it going, c