Neighbors with Benefits (Anderson Brothers, #2)(14)

“What’s the matter?” He set his drink on the coffee table.

“Look. I appreciate what you did here. It was really cool of you.”

“But?”

“But why did you say you were going to the wedding? More than that, why did you say we were engaged? Now it’ll be twice as bad because I’ll show up alone after Jason tells everyone I’m bringing the almighty Michael Anderson, businessman extraordinaire, and have landed the undisputed greatest catch of all time. It’s going to be the ultimate jilt story. I’ll never live it down. This plays right into everyone’s expectations.”

“Greatest catch of all time?”

She slumped down on to the sofa, tears burning the back of her eyelids. “Oh, stop it. You know what I mean.”

“I did it because he was being an ass to you and treating you like nobody would want you. Well, I proved him wrong.”

The real problem was that Jason was right. Nobody would want her. She was way too scatterbrained and unpredictable. Jason had been the longest-term boyfriend she’d ever had, and that hadn’t even lasted a year.

Michael walked over to the bar and poured another drink. “Would you like more wine?”

“No. I hate wine. I drank it to play along.” And she’d enjoyed playing along, which troubled her. What troubled her the most, though, was her reaction to his kiss. He was like a potent drug of some kind. She had to avoid kissing him again for fear she’d get hooked. Men like Michael Anderson were not for her. In fact, no man was for her. “Why did you even start this charade?”

“As an apology.”

“For what?”

“For being rude last night. My leash comment was out of line.”

“It was. But after this, consider yourself forgiven.”

“I’m sorry that I took it too far. I should have stopped at dinner date.”

“No biggy. I’ll figure out a story to cover for the wedding. Maybe you’ll have a business meeting abroad or something the day of the wedding.”

She started for the door and he stepped in her way. “Wait. I promised you dinner. That part was real.”

Only real in that it was part of his apology. It would make him feel better, but after that kiss, Mia knew she needed to stay far away from this man. “And I appreciate it. I’m just not hungry. You’re off the hook, Michael Anderson.”

Clancy nosed her palm from the sofa and whined. She ruffled his long, soft hair. “He’s adorable. I was surprised you had pink on him before.”

“I didn’t. I told you when we met, he’s not my dog.”

Of course he wasn’t. It was obvious this guy didn’t even like dogs. She waited to see if he would explain, but he didn’t.

“Okay, I’ll bite. Whose dog is it?”

He gestured for her to sit, and she did, Clancy immediately curling up in her lap. “I’ll come clean. It’s the least I can do after creating an absentee fiancé you’ll have to cover for. He’s a foster dog assigned to me by my psychiatrist. She thinks the dog will help me loosen up and become more flexible.”

Well, that explained a lot of things. “And what do you think about that plan?”

“I think it’s bullshit, but I can’t give it back because she’s out of the country. I just need to take care of it for a few weeks, and I’m done.” He picked up his drink and took a swallow. She looked down at Clancy because the movement of his Adam’s apple was too distracting. “The thing is, I promised to take care of it myself and not board it.”

Sifting her fingers through the dog’s hair, she kept her eyes down. “I’m surprised you are going through with this.”

“I gave my word, and I always follow through when I give my word.”

“Yeah, but it’s obvious you’re not a dog type.” She looked up because that may have crossed a line.

If it bothered him, she couldn’t tell. “You can’t possibly know that.”

“Yes, I can. I mean, look around here. Your place is perfect. Spotless.”

He stared at her for a moment before speaking. “Thank you.”

Letting the conversation end there was the right thing to do and she knew it. Somehow, though, like always, she couldn’t let it drop. “It’s not really a compliment. I mean, it’s perfect visually. Striking even, like you.” His only reaction was to arch an eyebrow. “But your apartment has no heart, you know what I mean? No surprise or emotion to it. I kind of see where your shrink was going. A dog might add some life to the place. To you.”

His face and voice registered no reaction. He set his glass on a square marble coaster and adjusted the coaster so that it was lined up with the corner of the coffee table. “I appreciate your input. I have a great deal of life and emotion.”

“I’m sure you do. You just don’t show it. Dogs put it all out there. Maybe you should take a lesson from Clancy.”

“You put it all out there, too, don’t you, Mia?”

She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, which was maddening. She’d actually have felt better if he’d acted pissed off. Anything other than this odd calm. “Yes. That’s my biggest fault, actually. I tend to speak my mind before thinking. I also forget things. I guess we’re opposites.”