Page 6

“Yes, my cat, Dickens, who is in this carrier right here!” She patted the side of the carrier, the stupid grin stuck on her face.

Heat rose, and she wondered what shade of red her cheeks sported at this moment.

He glanced at her again, the half smile still on his lips, and narrowed his eyes before he flicked his eyebrows up. “Well, enjoy the show.”

He grinned at her again before he stalked away and mounted the stairs to climb to the floor above.

Paige smiled at him as he disappeared.

“Thanks!” she called after him before she shoved her key into her lock, jiggled it, and swung the door open.

She stepped into the darkened apartment, tugging the bags sprawled in the hall into her entryway before she shoved the door shut and slid her chain lock across it.

She let the carrier slip from her shoulder and set it on the floor before zipping it open. Dewey buzzed out, staring at her as he shook his head.

“What?” she questioned.

“I wouldn’t talk to that guy anymore. He’s dangerous.”

CHAPTER 2

Devon? Dangerous? What was he getting at?

Surely he was joking.

Paige crinkled her brow at his comment and chuckled. “What?”

“You heard me,” Dewey said, poking a chubby finger in her direction.

He couldn’t be serious, but she had to be sure, so she questioned, “Devon? Devon LeBlanc is dangerous?”

“Yeah, Devon,” Dewey said, his eyes narrowed as he placed fists on his hips.

Paige rolled her eyes as she lugged a few bags to the counter. “How is Devon dangerous?”

Dewey perched on the edge of the breakfast bar, letting his back legs dangle in the air. “I didn’t like him.”

“You don’t like anyone,” Paige claimed as she dumped the remaining bags on the counter and shuttled the drinks into the refrigerator.

“Not true. I like Ronnie, and I like you most of the time.”

Paige crinkled her nose at him as she swung the fridge door shut. “You don’t know anyone else.”

“What I know is that guy’s got a creepy vibe. What with his ruggedly handsome looks, smoldering stare, and killer smile.”

Paige raised her eyebrows at Dewey’s description. “Are you serious? You don’t like him because he’s hot?”

“So you think he’s hot?” Dewey questioned as she grabbed her laptop from the coffee table and set it up on the breakfast bar.

“I didn’t say that,” she answered, keeping her eyes trained on the screen.

“Yes, you did.”

Paige clicked around on the Cheesy Does It website to place an order. “No, I didn’t. I said you think he’s hot. You said he has smoldering good looks.”

“I didn’t,” Dewey argued. “I said he has smoldering stares and ruggedly handsome good looks. And those types are always dangerous.”

Paige gave him a sideways glance, her head cocked and her eyebrows scrunched. “You’re not serious.”