The Boss Project(72)

“We could see each other tomorrow night after work?”

“That’s not an option.”

I smiled and finished getting dressed in a hurry. “I’ll text you when I know my plans. You should take the elevator down first since you have a call.”

“They won’t start without me. You go. I need a minute after what just went down here.”

I kissed his cheek. “Hope the rest of your afternoon is as pleasant as this has been.”

? ? ?

“Do you have anything available on an upper floor?” Merrick asked Nick, the real estate agent he’d introduced me to.

“Not in this neighborhood.”

We’d just looked at our third apartment. This one was a brownstone that wasn’t too far from my sister. It was already empty and ready to move in, and had so much sunlight. I loved it. “I love that it’s on the ground floor, especially since it’s a walk-up.”

Merrick frowned and pointed to the big windows. “You can see right in from the street. Not to mention, it’s easy to break right in, too.”

I shrugged. “I can get blinds, and I want to get a dog anyway.” I turned to the real estate agent. “They allow pets, right?”

He nodded. “Under thirty pounds with an extra security deposit for damages.”

I smiled at Merrick. “Problem solved.”

“How does that solve your problem? What’s a dog under thirty pounds going to do if someone tries to break in?”

I put my hands on my hips. “Are you insinuating size makes a difference in toughness?”

“No, but it makes a difference in the sound of a bark. And a tiny dog yapping isn’t going to scare off an intruder. Plus, how are you going to have a dog when you work all day?”

My face scrunched up. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“What’s it going to do, sit around all day?”

“What do your fish do all day?”

“The same thing they do when I’m there, swim. Because that’s all fish can do. Dogs are a lot of work.”

“So are relationships…”

Nick watched our bickering like a tennis match. When my last comment stumped Merrick, he looked at me. “So…you’re taking it? This place has my vote. I love it, too.”

“Thanks for being on my side, buddy,” Merrick grumbled.

I bit my bottom lip. “How soon can I move in?”

After I signed all the paperwork, we stood outside. Merrick looked up at the window, shaking his head again. “How about an alarm?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“It’ll make me feel better.”

I bumped my shoulder to his. “I thought I’d already made you feel better today. Greedy boy.”

He smiled. “I’ll take being greedy if it makes you safe at night.”

“Alright. I’ll think about an alarm.”

“Good. I’ll have my security company come over once you get the keys.”

I shook my head. “You’re bossy.”

“I’ll tell you what, you can pick where we eat to show you how amicable I can be.”

I raised a brow. “Anywhere I want to eat?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in Gray’s Papaya. Merrick had let me order for him, so we both had hot dogs with the works.

He picked his up. “I can’t tell you the last time I had one of these.”

“You’re too busy at fancy restaurants because you’re all…” I waved my hand around. “Fancy…”

He smiled and sipped his soda. “So what kind of dog do you want to get?”

“Any kind. As long as he likes to snuggle. As soon as I move in, I’m going to go to the shelter to pick the ugliest one that no one wants.”

“I figured you had a certain type of breed in mind.”

I bit into my delicious hot dog and spoke with my mouth full. “Nope. Just one who needs a home.”

“Did you ever have a dog?”

I nodded. “Once. For a week. Arnold was the best dog ever.”

“Why’d you only have him for a week?”

“He bit my dad when he…you know.” I grinned. “That’s why he was the best dog ever.”

Merrick frowned. “I guess that’s why he only lasted a week?”

“Yeah.” I wiped the corner of my mouth. “What about you? Ever have a dog?”

“Once. Growing up we had a black lab. It got sick when it was maybe five or six and died young.”

“I’m sorry. Is that why you have fish now?”

He shook his head. “I inherited them. They were Amelia’s.”

“Oh.”

“She always had pet fish. She had a lot of trouble sleeping, so she would keep them on her nightstand and watch them swim when she went to bed at night. The funny thing is, they never lasted more than a year until they became my problem. It’s been years now.”

I was quiet for a minute. Then Merrick caught my eyes. “What? Does it bother you that I still have them?”

“No, of course not. It would bother me if you flushed them.”

“Then why does it look like something’s bothering you?”