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He grinned.“Okay, what’s your point?”

“I’m being serious.”

His smile dropped.“Okay, I apologize—I read the room wrong.I do that sometimes.Thank you for clarifying.I need that sometimes.”

“No.”I closed my eyes.“Now I’m overreacting.”

“There’s a balance.We’re still figuring it out.”He tucked his index finger under my chin.“Open your eyes, sweetheart.”

I obeyed.

“Now, what were you going to say?”

“Just…” I wrinkled my nose.“Everyone thinks I rescued him, right?”

Jeremy nodded.

“But I think he rescued me.I mean, obviously his little matchmaking heart made sure we wound up together.”

“Yeah, okay.”He glanced down.“Did we ever figure out how he got between our yards?”

I shook my head.

“Well, we need to either figure it out quickly or reinforce the whole fence.Colin said a demolition crew starts next door on Monday.”

“Yeah, okay.”

He rolled his eyes.“I derailed you.Apologies.You were saying how he rescued you.”

“Well, yeah.Through him I met you.Then Marcie, the nibblets, and half the kids in the neighborhood.Brooklyn, of course, who said he’ll be happy to watch Wally at his daycare whenever we need help.”

“Right.”

“And then Jordan the trainer.Plus, I might not have met Colin if I hadn’t needed someone to watch Wally.I might’ve tried to get up to LA myself.”

“I’m glad you had Colin for that trip.I’m sorry I couldn’t be there myself.And maybe one day you can tell me what all happened.Colin…he thinks highly of you.”

I cocked my head.

“Wally and Widget met on the boardwalk.Colin and I were truly superfluous.”

“They’re going to be in therapy-dog training together.That’s a super intense program.Jordan’s going to get them ready for the test.”I frowned.“What if Wally doesn’t pass?”

“Then we take the test again or, if he’s not enjoying himself, we figure out something else.He’s going to be pretty busy with the nibblets.Who have friends.And friends with dogs and…” He rolled his hand.“I don’t think Wally will ever be lonely.”

“I…” I squinted.“I’m hoping to never be lonely again either.”

He grinned.“Oh, I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you occupied.”He cupped my cheeks and drew me close.

I went willingly, allowing him to kiss me.

We hadn’t done much kissing before we’d wound up giving hand and blow jobs.He worried we were taking things too quickly.

Naturally, I assured him I hadn’t minded.We’d woken up together in a bed.I certainly hadn’t planned on being frisky—not after the previous few days.Yet, when presented with the opportunity to deliver my first hand job, I hadn’t bothered to point out we hadn’t spent enough time properly kissing.Like with tongues and stuff.

Well, we’d made up for that over the past couple of days.

I pulled back.“I was serious when I said I wanted more.One should, like, test the merchandise.Right?”I tried to bat my eyelashes.