Take Your Time (Boston Love #4)(54)

“Might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” He grins. “Besides the part about it being annoying that people find me likable.”

“I stand by that statement.”

“But you don’t find me likable.”

I flush. “Nope.”

“Uh huh.” He cuts a glance at me. “Except, here’s the thing… I think you do like me. In fact, after our moment this afternoon in your bedroom, I’m damn near positive you like me.”

“I’m positive you’re wrong.”

“Uh huh.”

“It was just a kiss.”

“Like hell,” he growls. “You kissed me back.”

I keep my eyes dead ahead. “It was a lapse in judgment.”

“Uh huh.”

“It won’t happen again.”

“Uh huh.”

“Say uh huh one more time, see what happens.”

He chuckles. “Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

“My panties are just fine, thank you.”

“I can vouch for that,” he reminds me lowly. “Saw them up close and personal.”

I scowl. “Can we not talk about my undergarments, please?”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Literally anything else.”

Because talking about that moment in my bedroom is giving me hot flashes.

“You think up a name for this guy yet?” Luca strokes the dog. “Or whether you’re going to keep him?”

I blow out a relieved breath at the topic change. “I have no idea. I guess I should probably stop calling him mongrel and monster and hellbeast, huh?”

“Probably.”

I pivot to face the puppy and stare at his slack-jawed muzzle. His doggie snores are leaving a dark puddle of drool on Luca’s jeans.

“Maybe I should call him Peanut. Or Pipsqueak.”

“Ironically?”

My brows lift. “What’s ironic about that? He’s a dachshund, right? He’ll only be what, like, ten pounds, fully grown?”

Luca stares at me with an indecipherable expression.

“What?” I ask, palms starting to get clammy. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Not to be the bearer of bad news, but this little guy isn’t a dachshund.” He smirks. “He’s a setter.”

“A what?”

“A setter.”

“Like, a trend setter? You are talking to a girl with zero canine knowledge. But sure, by all means, use pithy insider jargon I will not understand. That’s super helpful.” I roll my eyes.

He laughs. “This is an Irish Setter — smart, high energy, bred as a hunting dog.” His voice gets lower. “They usually top out around seventy pounds.”

“SEVENTY POUNDS?!” I scream so loud the kids look over at us from the jungle gym, where they’re taking turns on the slide.

“Sometimes more.”

“MORE?!”

“Delilah.” Luca smiles, head shaking. “Did you not notice how big his paws are?” He holds up one padded foot for me to examine. “They’re like hockey pucks. He’s gonna be big, I can already tell.”

“Shit!” I curse. “It was bad enough when I thought I had a purse-sized pooch to haul around with me. Now, I’m totally screwed.”

“No you’re not. I’ll help you with him.” Luca’s eyes get warm again. “I’m good with dogs.”

“That’s…” I swallow. “As nice as it is of you to offer, I really can’t take you up on it. You’ve done so much for me already, and I know you’re in the middle of training for your big fight next week. I’ve been enough of a distraction and—”

Speaking of distractions, Luca is no longer paying attention to my attempts to brush him off. He’s completely preoccupied by something in the street. I follow his gaze and see he’s watching a nondescript tan sedan drive slowly past the park with hawklike focus.

“Luca?”

“Shh.”

“No, I will not shh—”

“Delilah.” His voice is sharper than his eyes. He’s not messing around.

I fall silent.

Anxiety overtakes me as he shoves the puppy into my arms and rises to his feet. With one hand, he reaches down to help me up; the other is busy pulling his iPhone from his back pocket. I’m too baffled to fight with him as he drags me vertical and starts snapping pictures of the sedan just before it turns a corner.

He curses as it vanishes from view.

“Luca, what is it?” I’m really beginning to freak out, now. “What’s going on?”

“Damn. Didn’t get a clear shot. There’s a partial plate, at least… it’s a start… should be enough for Nate to track it…”

“Luca!” I yell, starting to freak out. “Tell me what’s going on. Please.”

“Get the kids. We’re leaving. Now.” He looks more serious than I’ve ever seen him. “That’s the third time that car’s driven by while we’ve been here. Thought it was a coincidence the second time they did a sweep, but after getting a better look at them just now, I’m positive it was intentional.”