Page 44 of Men or Paws

“Why can’t you just accept the compliment and say thank you?” Rocco said.

“And why can’t you stop handing out compliments like they’re Halloween candy?” I replied right back.

“Fine, have it your way.” Rocco huffed. “I take it back. You’re not breathtaking at all. Happy?”

I smirked. “Peachy.”

Douglas chuckled. “I’m telling you, Lizzy and I were just like you two. We bickered and bantered until the cows came home, but she turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. The love of my life, in fact.” Douglas grinned at both of us.

Rocco had a blank look on his face.

He was probably wondering, like me, why Douglas was pushing his love agenda on us.

Rocco sighed, looking like he’d had enough of the conversation. “Okay, back to reality. Beth is watching Houdini for the next three weeks while I focus on an important project, so don’t make it more than it is. And don’t call the cops on her. And I will say it one more time for the record, she’s just working for me. Nothing less, nothing more.”

Douglas studied Rocco, then his gaze popped back and forth between the two of us, a grin forming on his face. “Whatever you say, neighbor.” He tipped his hat toward me and winked. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around, Beth!”

Before I could say goodbye, Douglas disappeared below the wall.

We walked in awkward silence back to the guesthouse, stepping inside with Houdini.

Then Rocco did the unimaginable.

Even worse, it was like I was watching it in slow motion.

He leaned down and kissed Houdini on the head.

It was so endearing, so sweet, so not what I wanted to see.

I was a sucker for a man who showed affection to animals, especially dogs.

“You be a good boy,” Rocco said, following up the kiss with a scratch behind Houdini’s ears before turning to me. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah . . .” I closed the door before Houdini tried to follow Rocco outside, then pointed to the couch. “Lay down.”

Houdini jumped up on the couch and plopped his head down next to his toy squirrel, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Good boy,” I said, smiling.

I walked to the bathroom, relieved I wouldn’t have to interact with Rocco for the next eight hours or so. That gave me plenty of time to figure out who I needed to call to have my head examined.

I was just about to sit on the toilet when there was a loud knock on the guesthouse door. Confused, I pulled my jeans back up and headed out of the bathroom, wondering if Rocco had forgotten to tell me something.

“Beth,” Rocco called out, knocking on the door again.

“Hang on,” I said, wondering what could be so urgent.

I slowed my pace toward the front door, confused that it was ajar.

Pulling the door open, I was surprised to see Rocco standing there, tapping his foot on the doormat.

Houdini was by his side.

I glanced back at the empty couch where I had left the dog just a minute earlier, then got my eyes back on Rocco.

“Did you lose something?” he asked.

Meteor, meteor, meteor.