Page 32 of The Payback Plan

He would have laughed out loud normally but the shirt was V-necked and he was distracted by the dusting of freckles across her décolletage.

‘It’ll just be until someone claims him. There have been notices put up on all the local Facebook groups and church halls in the district.’

She stopped as she drew level with him, her zesty lime fragrance surrounding her like a reverse forcefield – attracting not repelling.

‘I couldn’t leave him out in the cold. Not when he looked at me with those eyes.’

Oliver glanced at the dog who gave himthe eyesand sighed. ‘Fine.’ Lifting his gaze to Paige, he said, ‘But this isonlytemporary.’

She nodded quickly. ‘One hundred per cent. Just until his owner comes forward.’

‘And that ball.’ He pointed to it. ‘Is not coming in the house.’

As if he absolutely knew which side his bread was buttered on, Casper dropped the ball in an instant and it fell to the floor with a flat, wet thunk.Gross.Oliver shook his head as he turned his attention back to Paige.

‘He’s not allowed on any of the furniture.’

‘Of course.’

‘He’s only allowed on this level and in the media room. Not upstairs on the beds.’

‘No beds. Check.’

Oliver chugged out a breath as he looked from the woman to the dog and back to the woman again. They were both patiently awaiting his next edict. Like he was some damn dictator, but he needed to claw back some control here or there’d be worse things than loo rolls the wrong way around.

Although whatthatcould possibly be he couldn’t imagine. The zombie apocalypse?

‘He needs a wash before he goes any further.’ He pointed at the bathroom door beside him. ‘Use the shower.’

God knew the kind of ring Casper’s degree of filthiness would leave in a bathtub. Ninth circle of hell ring, for sure.

She smiled and gave him a little salute. ‘Aye, aye, sir.’

Oliver ignored how her eyes glowed and the way her mouth curved upwards. And just how much that little salute echoed through the sudden heat in his blood.

‘Come on then Casper, you heard Daddy, it’s shower time.’

Moving aside, his back to the wall to allow them passage, Oliver gritted his teeth. Do not put Paige –Bella’s friend– and Daddy in the same sentence.

The dog moved unhurriedly, his toenails clicking on the floorboards as she opened the bathroom door and he ambled in. She followed but drew to a halt when he said, ‘Paige?’

Her fingers wrapped around the door frame as she looked over her shoulder at him, all big hazel eyes and freckles and his blood heated a little more.

‘Uh huh?’

‘Stay away from the damn pear tree down the end of the road.’

Her brows scrunched together, confusion clouding her eyes. ‘Um… okay?’

‘Just in case there happens to be a bloody orphaned partridge in need of a home.’

It took a beat but then her frown smoothed out and her mouth kicked up at the sides and she laughed. And then he was laughing because this woman was turning his house into a bloody zoo and he should be mad as hell. Hewasmad as hell, damn it. But there was something so delightfullyunhingedabout it, he couldn’t help but laugh.

‘No partridges, I promise,’ she murmured and then disappeared into the bathroom.

Right.Like he was going to take that to the bank.

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