Three Things I'd Never Do

by Remi Carrington

  “Considering I’d never been on a horse, I opted for something different.”

  “So you became a fireman.”

  “Right.”

  “Which is almost like Batman, but with less black.”

  His smile widened. “If that’s you calling me a superhero, thanks.”

  “It was.” Careful not to hit my toes, I lifted one end of the dresser. “Any siblings?”

  “Two. They’re both married, which makes me Mom’s project.”

  “Anything else I should know about you before . . .” Why did I say before? There was no way to finish that sentence that wouldn’t end in embarrassment.

  His lips curled into a smile. “Before what?”

  Maybe I could salvage the situation. “Before I roll my cedar chest down the hall.”

  “Do I get to look inside?”

  Shaking my head, I stayed a few paces ahead of him. “Not tonight.”

  “To me that sounds like an invitation to come back again.” He lifted his eyebrows.

  “It is.” My toe connected with the end of the dresser. “Yowch.”

  “You okay?”

  “It was an extra toe. I’ll be okay.”

  He helped me get everything into place. “What else can I do?”

  “You’ve been a huge help. I’ll take care of the rest. Have time for a cup of coffee?”

  “I sure do.” He stood extra close as I added water to the coffee pot. “You asked about other things you should know.”

  An icy chill scratched at my scalp and skittered down my arms. Rather than opening my mouth, I nodded.

  “There is one thing.” His drawn-out introduction was making my bones hurt.

  “What? Just tell me already.” My outburst surprised me. I sounded more like Haley.

  He laughed. “I was hoping if I built it up enough the actual thing wouldn’t seem like a big deal. Are you free tomorrow?”

  “That one-hundred percent depends on what it is you need to say.”

  “I was hoping we could go to a park. I’d bring my dogs along, and we could walk the trails.”

  “Dogs plural, as in more than one?”

  “Two. Butch and Sundance. I didn’t mention them before because from our conversation on the day we never bring up, I got the strong impression you weren’t a dog person.”

  Disappointment and fear rattled around inside me. If he’d mentioned dogs on our first date, would I have left? Again. That didn’t much matter. Now, I was in the spot Haley warned me about. Maybe I wasn’t exactly head over heels, but I was leaning that direction.

  Feeling guilty that I couldn’t just smile and act like the dogs were no big deal, I fought irritation that he hadn’t told me before I’d become so charmed.

  Ignoring the fact that I’d been quiet way too long, I met his gaze as I poured him a cup of steaming liquid. I rummaged through the jumble of words in my head, trying to choose the right ones to say.

  He took a sip out of his mug and laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” I needed to get over myself, but his laughter didn’t help. And I really didn’t want to listen to Haley going on and on about being right.

  He set his mug on the counter. “I’m laughing because there is no coffee in the coffee. You only ran water through the pot. And I probably should have mentioned my dogs sooner, but I was hoping that you’d like me enough that you’d give my dogs a chance.”

  “Are you always so . . . so honest?”

  “Are we talking about when I didn’t tell you or now?” He shoved a hand in his pocket.

  Part of me wanted to be mad, but the other half of me wanted to kiss him. Staring at him, I tried to decide which urge to follow.

  He ran his fingers through his hair. “I should probably go.”

  “But we haven’t had coffee.” I trailed a finger down his arm. “And, yes, I’m free tomorrow.”

  His eyes lit up, and that amazing smile cut across his face. “I’m really happy to hear that.”

  Chapter 8

  The next day, as Adam’s truck pulled into the lot, I sucked in a deep breath. “He’s here.”

  Haley laughed. “When are you coming over to do my dishes?”

  “Let them pile up for a week, then I’ll come do them all at once.”

  When I ended the call, Haley was still laughing.

  I climbed out of my car, not at all ready to meet his dogs. How had it come to this? Then Adam jumped out of the truck and smiled. I quickly remembered the reason. It wasn’t just that he was good looking. He was, but there was also something magnetic about him.

  “Hey there. I’m happy you showed up.” He opened the back door and let the dogs jump down.

  When he’d mentioned what breed of dogs they were, I’d researched. After searching and looking at pictures, I knew what kind of dogs they were. Big. That’s what they were. And big dogs were the kind I disliked most.

  As he attached the leash to the Husky, the other one—a Weimaraner, Adam had called it—bolted toward me, and in a split second, that dog had his paws on my shoulders and was licking my face.

  Squeezing my mouth and eyes closed, I froze. Asking for help required opening my mouth, and I had no desire to get to know his dog that well.

  “Whoa! Butch, get down. Stop kissing her. Down!” Adam grabbed the dog’s collar. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

  I wasn’t going to be a wimp. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  He pointed at the dogs, and they both sat obediently. “I’ll have to make sure he knows that I’m the only one that gets to do that.”

  “It’s a good thing you’re so charming.” I yanked the scrunchie off my wrist and pulled my hair into a ponytail.

  He attached a leash to the kissing culprit. “This is Butch. And that’s Sundance.”

  At the mention of their names, both dogs looked at Adam expectantly.

  “They look eager to go.” I smiled at them but kept my distance.

  “Always.” He held out his hand. “You ready?”

  “Don’t you need both hands for the leashes?” I reluctantly stepped close enough to grab his hand.

  He clicked his tongue, and the dogs headed down the trail. “Despite Butch’s earlier display, they’re good dogs. I can hold both leashes in one hand.”

  “How long have you had these guys? Where did you get them?”

  “I’ve had them two years. I got them both the same day from a local shelter.” He gave my hand a quick squeeze. “I really am sorry.”

  “I don’t hate dogs. I just don’t like to be licked.” This probably wasn’t the best time to drop that tidbit.

  “Fabulous.” Concern echoed in his sarcasm.

  “I guess that makes us even. Actually, you are still up one or two. My cat scratched you twice and stole your food.”

  “Such a sweet little creature.”

  “If you are willing to keep coming around and risk starvation and pain, I can deal with being licked.”

  “And you can tell him to stop. He does listen.”

  “Unlike Pookie.”

  “I wasn’t going to bring that up.” Adam chuckled. “Sleep well last night? I bet it was nice to be back in your own house again.”

  “Blissful, and I made sure to enjoy it because it isn’t going to last. I’m going to invite my parents to stay while their house gets repaired. And that kind of affects you because . . .” I shrugged. “Do I really need to explain why?”

  “Nope. Unless you start sneaking out of your own house and not telling your parents where you’re headed, everyone will know when we see each other. I need to remember to never let my mom set me up again.”

  “I swore I’d never let my mom set me up. But after she begged me, I finally gave in.” So far, I didn’t regret it.

  “And?”

  “And I’m curious if you plan to go on another blind date anytime soon.”

  His brown eyes twinkled. “Not as long as you keep saying yes to going out with me.”

  “Gosh, if we stop dating, i
t might throw book club into chaos.” I was quite sure both moms would blame me.

  “We don’t want to be responsible for that.” He lurched forward as Sundance decided squirrels shouldn’t be allowed on the trails. “Let it alone, boy. Don’t tug my arm off.”

  “Who keeps them when you’re working?”

  “My housemate. Javi works from home, so these guys get plenty of attention.” Adam stopped and faced me. “He’s out of town visiting his girlfriend and won’t be back until tomorrow. Would you maybe want to come over after this?”

  We were up to seeing each other four times in one week. Five if you counted the rescue. Slowing down was probably wise. But my mouth had other ideas. “Sure. I can pick up lunch on the way.” Caution, meet wind.

  We turned around and headed back toward the parking lot.

  Footsteps and jingling collars were the only sound for a little while. Adam still had his hand wrapped around mine, and I was glad I’d scratched one more never off my list.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  “Not a chance.” I grinned. “When are we going to go on a date that our mothers know about?”

  “That makes us sound like teenagers who are sneaking around.”

  “I didn’t sneak around when I was a teen. I was a model child.”

  “What happened?” That teasing grin creased his cheeks. “I’m on duty Friday and Saturday. We can do Thursday night or Sunday night, whichever works better for you.”

  “Thursday, with maybe an option for Sunday too. Is that asking too much?”

  He stopped and snaked his arm around my waist. “Not in the least.”

  I tilted my head back, and as he leaned closer, my eyes slipped closed. His lips danced against mine, and dog fur brushed the back of my legs.

  Laughing, he broke the kiss. “Looks like we’re stuck like this.”

  His dogs had circled us, wrapping us in the leashes.

  “What a shame.” I grabbed his shirt as the dogs shifted and I tipped backward.

  “I’ll save you.” Adam winked and smiled down at me. “Again.”

  After knocking, I waited, listening to Adam corral his dogs. They seemed excited about company.

  “Lie down. I’m not opening the door until you do.” Adam’s voice was stern, but gentle. “I know you want to see her again. I do too. Please behave.”

  The knob turned, and I held the pizza box out in front of me. If one lunged my direction, perhaps the food would distract them.

  He opened the door. “Hi. You probably heard all that.”

  “I did. It’s cute the way you talk to your dogs.”

  His brow pinched. “I’m glad you think so. I guess. Can’t say I’ve ever strived for cute.”

  “Well, you are.”

  He took the pizza. “Have a seat. I’ll grab plates.”

  The furniture was nice. It wasn’t the bachelor pad I’d expected. There was probably a strategy to choosing the right seat on the sofa, but I was pretty sure that no matter where I sat, Adam would sit next to me. I dropped onto the center cushion.

  Maybe I used a little bit of strategy.

  While Adam hummed in the kitchen, Butch, my kissing buddy, inched toward me, but his belly never left the ground. Sundance clearly felt left out, because after a whine, he did the same.

  When Butch reached the couch, he looked up at me with those big brown eyes. Even I could admit he was cute. And I wanted this to work. Determined to give it my best shot, I reached down and patted Butch’s head, hoping he wouldn’t lick me as a thank you. Looking as happy as a cat with a mouse, that dog jumped up next to me. He rested his head on my leg and closed his eyes.

  Sundance nestled against my feet.

  Pookie would love me for coming home smelling like dogs.

  “I grabbed us Cokes. Oh!” Adam set the plates and drinks down. “Butch, I don’t think she wants you there, buddy.”

  “He’s okay.”

  “Eve, you don’t have to have them all over you. I appreciate that you even showed up today.”

  “I promise to speak up if they bother me.”

  “All right.” He opened the pizza box, and his eyes lit up. “Did my mom tell your mom that I liked black olives on my pepperoni pizza?”

  “If she did, Mom didn’t tell me. I just ordered it the way I like it. Haley won’t let me order it that way. She says it’s weird.”

  “Pineapple is weird. Who’s Haley?”

  “My friend and temporary roommate. Did you meet her the day the tree fell? She’s the one who came and drove me to get my leg looked at.”

  “Red curly hair?”

  “That’s Haley.” I finished my slice and contemplated a second. “I’m impressed. Butch hasn’t tried to steal my food.”

  “They’re good dogs.”

  “Why’d you get two?” I set my plate aside.

  He added another slice to his plate. “I’m gone so much. I didn’t want a lonely dog.”

  I decided not to stop at one slice. While we finished off the pizza, we chatted. Conversation with Adam flowed easily.

  I glanced down at the dog still using my leg as a pillow. Would I get used to this? Could I?

  “Do y’all rent this place?” I stroked Butch’s head.

  Adam downed the rest of his Coke. “It belongs to Javi. We’ve talked about me plenty today. Tell me something about you. Did you always want to work with computers? Were you always a cat person?”

  “No and yes. Working with computers pays the bills. I don’t hate it, but it’s just a job. And I was the girl in middle school with kittens on her folders.”

  “I’m fighting an uphill battle, huh?”

  “But you’re fighting. And that counts for something.”

  Chapter 9

  “Did you manage to use every dish in this kitchen?” I couldn’t even see the bottom of Haley’s sink.

  She laughed. “I had to make it count. He has two dogs. I was more than right.”

  I turned on the faucet and set to work.

  “I’m dying to know what it is about the guy. You swore no dogs. Why is he the exception? And don’t talk about his looks. I’ve seen him, but you care about more than looks.” Haley leaned back in her chair and kicked her feet up onto the table.

  “He exceeded superhero status before we ever went out. And every time we’re together, he’s sweet and funny.” As I loaded the dishwasher, my mind played through the last week. “Usually the guys I meet are only mildly engaging. After an hour, I find myself glancing at the time. But with Adam, time zips by. I like being around him. I forget about filtering what I say, and he doesn’t even seem to mind.”

  “No filter?”

  “It’s not gone completely, but because of how we met—the day we don’t talk about—there is just more of an understanding. He’s heard me ramble, and he still asked me out. I really like him.”

  “Even if it means being around dogs?”

  “For now.”

  “What did your parents say about moving in?” Haley grabbed a dish towel and dried the pots and pans.

  Admitting my delay pricked me with guilt. “I haven’t asked yet. I plan to. I just didn’t want to talk to Mom earlier because I didn’t want her to ask about Adam.”

  Haley’s jaw dropped open. “You haven’t told your mom that you’re dating Adam?”

  “Nope. But he’s going to let it drop to his mother that we’re going out this Thursday.”

  “Why the secret?”

  “We just didn’t want our moms asking questions.” I rinsed out the sink. “There. All clean.”

  “But if your parents move in . . .” Haley wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know. The questions will be endless.”

  Later that afternoon, when I made it back to the house, Pookie hissed when she sniffed my hand.

  “Be nice. Adam puts up with you.” I tossed her a treat. Maybe she’d associate that smell with good things. Not that it mattered. I couldn’t imagine a scenario where Pookie
would meet Butch and Sundance. Well, there was one scenario, but that was so far away from the way things were now.

  Before I lost my nerve, I picked up the phone. “Mom, hey.”

  “I was hoping you’d call. I talked to Mrs. Cardona just a bit ago.”

  “Oh?”

  “Come on, Evelyn. Don’t play dumb. She said you were going out with Adam again.”

  He hadn’t waited long after I left to start that game of telephone.

  “Yes. We are going out again. He’s a real gentleman.”

  “There is something you should know. I’m only telling you because I don’t want you to break that poor man’s heart.” Mom sounded so serious.

  “What, Mom?”

  “He has dogs.”

  My whole family knew about my determination not to date a guy with a dog.

  “I’m sure they’re nice dogs.” I sounded lame.

  Mom sighed. “If you really don’t want to date a guy with dogs, call him back and cancel. It’s not fair to lead him on.” She went from all excited about the date to accusing me of leading Adam on.

  Was I?

  I closed my eyes and pictured Butch snuggled against me. And then I remembered him licking my face. I didn’t know what I wanted.

  “I’ll take it one date at a time, Mom.”

  “All right. I won’t keep you. Just wanted to let you know.”

  “Okay, well. Oh! I called you to see if you and Dad wanted to stay at my house while the tree damage was being repaired.”

  “That’s sweet of you, dear, but we couldn’t invade your space. If things go well with Adam, we wouldn’t want to be in the way.”

  “You wouldn’t be in the way.”

  “I’ll mention it to your dad. He’ll probably just want to find a short-term rental.”

  “Mom, I have two extra bedrooms. I don’t mind.”

  “Well, if you insist. We’ll do that.” She hollered at Dad about the new plan. “When should we move in?”

  “Whenever is fine.” I padded down the hall and flopped on the bed. “I’ll loan y’all my extra key.”

  “We’ll be over in about forty-five minutes. Love you. Bye!”

  Forty-five minutes? The hotel was at least twenty minutes away. Had Mom packed in anticipation of me asking? There was no point in worrying about that.