Page 108 of Men or Paws

“Rocco . . .”

“Beth . . .”

What she didn’t know was I’d just come up with the perfect plan to get her to kiss me. Not at the farmers’ market, but later when we were back at the house. It was a brilliant plan, if I did say so myself. I was sure that one kiss would be all it took to get us to toss the contract and addendum out the window.

Beth furrowed her eyebrows. “Why are you grinning like that?”

I shrugged. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Rocco . . .”

“Beth . . .”

Yup, tonight’s the night.

And I had no doubt the fireworks were going to be spectacular.

ChapterTwenty-Two

Beth

Three hours after getting home from the farmers’ market, I still couldn’t stop thinking about Rocco, the car incident, the paella, but most of all, the almost-kisses. I had finally gotten a taste of what it would be like to go out with him and there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted more. A lot more.

I don’t know what I was thinking when I suggested we wait to explore what we had going on between us. I had never wanted to kiss a man so badly in all my life. Never wanted to be so close to someone. Was I technically a masochist for suggesting we wait?

Rocco did shoot down my idea quickly, but that devious look on his face at the farmers’ market had me wondering if he was planning something. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he tried to get me in the pool again. The question is whether I would have the willpower to say no.

Houdini walked over to the guesthouse door, then looked back at me and barked.

“Do you need to go pee?” I asked.

He barked again.

I smiled. “Well then, let’s take you to your favorite place.”

Once outside, I followed Houdini past the pool to his favorite palm tree, where he promptly lifted his leg and did his business.

Surprisingly, Douglas didn’t pop his head over the wall to say hello.

Rocco’s voice, however, did catch me off guard, especially the tone.

“Focus!” he yelled from inside the house.

Startled, I turned and glanced toward his open office window.

It was impossible to see him well from my vantage point over by the palm trees, but I could see his silhouette pacing back and forth inside. I wondered what was going on. Ever since I had met him, I had never heard him raise his voice like that. It must’ve been something bad.

Had one of our photos at the farmers’ market gone viral?

“I’m not giving up without a fight!” Rocco said.

Okay, that sounded much worse, and sort of scared me.

Rocco was angry.

What or who did he want to fight?

My heartstrings tugged, I wanted to hold him in my arms, to tell him everything was going to be okay, whatever the problem was. I was there for him and would do anything at all to help. It was what friends did, they helped comfort the ones they loved during difficult times. At that moment, I decided that was exactly what I was going to do.