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“Your name is Wren?” Dale asked, and I realized his camera must’ve been on the name tag I hadn’t thought about until thatmoment.

Rule:Never date a guy who makes you feel out of control.

I thought it was over. That after seeing my name tag, learning my actual name, Asher would finally put two and two together and figure out I wasn’t the girl he’d been talking to.

But before I could say a word, he’d said, “Of course you wouldn’t go by your real name online. With a name like Wren, you probably figured I’d be able to look you up.” He had given me the same excuse I’d used for not telling him where I worked.

I’d half-heartedly agreed as Dale listened, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

After that, I’d sent Asher and Dale off to see Rodrigo, the volunteer coordinator, and I hadn’t seen them since.

That was an hour ago.

In that time, Chad and I had both avoided talking about anything beyond the dogs in the pen. I was too scared to let him finish rejecting me. It was better to pretend it hadn’t happened.

“We need to introduce another dog,” I said to Chad, glancing around. “These dogs obviously came together. We need to see how they’ll do with an unfamiliar friend.”

“Tomorrow,” Chad said. “They’ve had enough activity for theday.”

He was right. We didn’t want to introduce them already worn out from playing. I nodded and gathered the leads by the gate.

“Who were those guys earlier?” Chad asked, taking the leashes I offered.

I guess we weren’t going to pretend. I swallowed. “Um…just a guy…I’m…” My brain flashed to the look of disgust Chad had earlier when he thought I was asking him out. “Dating.”

“You’re dating a guy who didn’t know your real name?” He squatted and hooked a leash to the nearest collar.

I joined him, clipping one as well. “We met online. I don’t give my real name online.”

He nodded like that made perfect sense. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

“Yeah…”I didn’t know either.“I mean, just barely.” As in, an hour ago.

“Earlier, I thought you were…” He trailed off.

“You thought I was what?” I asked innocently.

He stood and wiped his hands on the back of his jeans. “I thought we were…”

Was he going to finish a sentence? Had I read the situation wrong? Did he actually like me? Had I screwed everything up? It was too late to take back my fake dating situation now.

“What about you?” I asked when he didn’t finish. I tugged on the leash I held, moving toward the gate. “Are you seeing anyone?”

He followed me. “No. And I don’t usually date girls I workwith.”

Was that what he was going to say before? I held back a groan.

“It’s one of my rules,” he continued.

“You have rules?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“If there were no rules, how could we break them?” I joked, and opened the gate.

He stepped through with his dogs. “I don’t break my rules.”

“No. Me neither.” It was a joke. Good thing I hadn’t added that rule about thinking I was funny.