Page 34 of Love in Mission City

Only I didn’t quite get what I was expecting.

Byron wasn’t spiffy like he was yesterday. He wore striped sleep pants, a distressed gray T-shirt, a bathrobe, and had a hangdog expression. He held up his hand, sneezed into a tissue—while pointing himself back into his condo—and turned to me with red-rimmed eyes. “Stay away. I’m sorry if I might have infected you last night. I attended a meeting with a client earlier this week. Damn woman was sneezing and coughing all over the place. But when she pays you several million dollars a year, you just try to stay out of the line of fire.”

I held my tongue. Just barely. I couldn’t see any amount of money being worth getting sick over. But I didn’t live his life. “A cold?”

He nodded, appearing truly miserable.

“Look, walking the dogs must just be horrendous.”

He closed his eyes briefly and swayed. “I’ve done it while worse.”

Of that, I had no doubt. “Still, why don’t I take them for the day? They had breakfast?”

He nodded.

“What time’s dinner?”

“Five.”

“Great, I’ll bring them back then. That’ll give you some uninterrupted sleep time. Or at least rest. Do you have a decongestant? I can run to the pharmacy—”

“I’ll be fine.” He eyed me. “You don’t mind?”

I shook my head.

“That would give me time to finish the report.”

“Right, and—” I scowled. “Tell me that you didn’t just say you’re going todoa report instead of reporting back to bed.”

He blinked. Clearly I’d confused him.

I narrowed my eyes. “Do I have to come in and steal your laptop?”

“I do most of my work on the desktop. I only use the laptop for when I’m in bed.”

“And precisely how many nights a week is that?” I knew the answer, but I wanted to see him squirm.

He gazed upward…as if to evade my glare.

“Five.”

I snickered.

“All right…closer to six or…” He met my gaze. “Fine. Most nights.” He looked like he was going to sneeze again.

Suddenly, Rosebud pushed through his legs and launched herself at me.

“Hey, girl.” I scooped her up. She barely weighed anything. I pivoted back to Byron. “Two leashes, two dogs, you to bed.”

“You’re a bossy thing, aren’t you?” He rolled his eyes.

“You have no idea.” I put a hand on my hip. “You should see me in bossy-brother mode.”

“I’d rather not.” Dripping in sarcasm.

“Hey.”

The door closed in my face. The doors closed automatically, so I wasn’t really offended. I still had Rosebud. The suffering, although still handsome, man was coming back.