Paws off the Boss by Casey Griffin (best summer reads of all time TXT) đ
- Author: Casey Griffin
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Piper and Aiden were on the perfect date. It was another beautiful late spring dayâor, dare she hope, early summer. The Golden Gate Bridge stretched in the distance, the view of it clear and picturesque from Baker Beach.
Free of their leashes, Colin and Sophie pranced ahead. They patrolled the shoreline, chasing the foaming waves as they slurped back into the bay. A moment later, the doxies would skitter to safety when the water returned to lick at their paws.
Piper strolled next to Aiden, sand squidging between her toes. They tried to keep up with the dogs, but they had to avoid the crowd that came to enjoy the beautiful weather. The doxies, on the other hand, had a tendency to plow through picnics and Frisbee games.
While the dogs maneuvered skillfully through the soft sand, the humans had a somewhat harder time. Sometimes it would throw Aiden or Piper off-balance, and every once in a while, their knuckles would graze each otherâs. The next time it happened, Piperâs hand twitched. Despite her better judgment, she was tempted to reach out and grab Aidenâs hand, to interlace their fingers and just see what happened.
Thatâs the kind of thing sheâd normally do in that situation. Piper was bold. She took chances. Sometimes they worked out, and sometimes they ended up requiring payday loans or laser tattoo removal to fixânever date an impulsive tattoo artist. But this situation was a little different. Aiden was a little different.
Yup, it was the perfect date. Only, it wasnât a date. It was another pseudo-date.
Heâd joined her for a walk every day the previous week. And here he was again Monday afternoon. She wasnât sure what he was paying her for if he could make time to come home, but she wasnât about to complain. About the money or the company.
But now that she thought about it, why the heck was he paying her? Or overpaying her, more like it. It wasnât like he didnât trust her with Sophie, and he certainly didnât need the exercise, judging by his physiqueâwhich Piper was trying hard not to. Addison insisted it was because he liked her, but that would defy his golden rule: donât mix business with pleasure. So, what was the deal?
She thought back to the check he gave her at the rescue center, which sheâd never ended up cashing. Heâd intervened on her behalf a few times, tried to bail her out like he thought money could fix practically anything. Just because he had extra cash to throw around didnât make it okay to do so. It was insulting. Anger flashed through her, and her mouth opened before her brain could stop her.
âWhy are you here?â She flinched as she heard the acidity in her tone.
Aidenâs eyebrows shot up, and his mouth opened soundlessly, either in surprise or because he couldnât find an answer.
âI mean,â she amended. âItâs just, I thought you were the boss and everything. Arenât you more effective when youâre at work?â
âBut as the boss, I get to create my own schedule. Donât get me wrong; I make up for the lost hours. I stay late in the evenings.â
âOh?â Did that mean he rearranged his schedule, stayed behind, so he could be with her? She suddenly regretted her hasty conclusion. She seemed to do that a lot with Aiden. Every time she thought she had him pegged, heâd surprise her. She wondered how many other wrong conclusions sheâd drawn about him.
âI just meant that if you can come home from work to walk Sophie, do you really need me?â
âOh, yes.â His eyes crinkled. âI really need you.â
He needed her? Piper stared at him, trying to decipher that look, but he turned away before she could even begin. She cursed her tactlessness. Sheâd have to work on that brain-to-mouth filter of hers.
Sophie paused up ahead and gave them a look that said, Hurry. Youâre holding us up.
Colin found a stick floating back and forth near the shore. Dropping the chew toy heâd brought with him from the house, he battled Sophie for the stick. The dogs had clearly forgotten they were afraid of the waves.
âYou never told me,â Piper said to Aiden. âWhy did you decide to get a dog?â
He shoved his hands in his pockets, like he didnât know what to do with them when he didnât have a tie to straighten. âI suppose Iâve been lonely ever since my father died. Itâs a big house to live in all by yourself. Itâs nice to have female companionship.â He chuckled. âEven if it is another species.â
âAiden Caldwell, lonely? Iâm sure you have no problem finding female companionship,â she teased, trying to sound casual about it. And it would have been convincing too, if not for the way her voice went kind of pitchy. She tried to laugh it off, but it sounded more like a flamingo call to her ears.
Aiden bent down to grab the chew toy Colin had dropped and stuffed it into his pocket. âMy business keeps me busy. Too busy to meet people sometimes. Most of my interactions are for business rather than pleasure. Iâm a little rusty with females who require more enticement than the phrase âDo you want a treat?ââ
Sophieâs sensitive ears tuned in to the magic words and she barked in response. Forgetting about the stick, she splashed over to him and stared up with round, expectant eyes.
Aiden fished around inside his pocket. A moment later, he produced a treat for both dogs and made them sit before he handed them over. Sophie thanked him by choosing that moment to shake off her long hair like some canine Baywatch babe, flicking salt water and wet sand all over him.
âIâve kept treats with me ever since you taught me that trick,â he said. âMy housekeeper says she always has to check my pockets before taking my suits to the dry cleaners.â
âBe careful,â she warned. âYouâll spoil her.â
âHow can I say no to a pretty face like that?â
She thought about what Aiden had said about female companionship. It was hard to believe that someone as successful and droolworthy as him could have such a lackluster dating life. Not for the first time, she wondered about Tamara, his personal assistant. If he didnât mix business with pleasure, then what was their deal? Suddenly, she remembered the reason they met.
âWait a minute. But you had a date with Nicole.â
âNicole?â His forehead creased for a second before a look of understanding lit his face. âAh, yes. Nicole.â He said her name like it was an annoying hairball that plugged his shower drain. After the telegram fiasco, Piper couldnât blame him.
âThat was a blind date a friend set me up on. A terrible one. My fault, really. Iâm a little out of practice. The evening sort of died a horrible death.â
âWell, it seemed to haunt you, so it couldnât have been that bad.â
âYeah.â He rubbed the back of his neck, which was growing pink from the midday sun. âI suppose I gave her the wrong impression.â
âThe wrong impression?â
âI guess she thought I was more interested than I was.â
Piper nodded, wondering what âwrong impressionsâ sheâd gotten from him so far. And, more importantly, which one was right.
âWhat gives a girl the wrong impression?â she asked, way too innocently. âCould it be when you conveniently find yourself at home every time your amazing, attractive, and humble dog walker turns up? Would that count as wrong impression material?â
Aiden chuckled, low and throaty. His pleasant laugh made him seem youngerâor rather, his actual age of thirtyâas opposed to the serious businessman heâd been forced to become so early on.
âThat would certainly give an impression,â he said carefully.
An âimpression,â she noted. But not a wrong âimpression.â Feeling braver, she shook her head teasingly. âWhatever will you do, Mr. Caldwell?â
âIâm kind of hoping something will justââhe bit his bottom lip as his mouth fought a grinââfall into my lap.â
She couldnât help but smile as she remembered their first meeting. Now that wasnât just a hint. That was like shouting into a megaphone.
Pretending to watch a group of giggling coeds take selfies on the beach, she examined Aiden. He was more relaxed today than sheâd ever seen him. The invisible pole that usually held his tight posture in place had disappeared, and she hadnât seen him subconsciously reach for where his tie should be even once that day. She felt as though she was really getting to know him, the off-the-record him. The Tonight Show Aiden, as opposed to CNN.
He was still as polite and reserved as ever, though, with his constant professional barrier erected between them. It was as if he werenât even conscious of the barrier, always operating like some optimized administrative robot programmed in HR dos and donâts. But his smiles were easy; his eyes had a flirtatious glint.
âHow have the donations for the center been coming along?â Aiden asked.
âReally well. Iâve already made an appointment to have the security system installed.â
âHave you gotten ahold of Marilyn on the cruise ship?â
Piper frowned. âNo. Iâve left messages on her cell phone, but Iâm not sure sheâs getting them. Have you?â
âIâve tried calling the cruise line, but Iâm not having any luck.â He took a breath like he wanted to say something more.
Piper hoped it was something along the lines of âI need you. Right here, right now.â Or, âYour eyes are like two pieces of amber burning in the morning sunrise.â Or something to that effect.
In the end, he looked away and said, âItâs busy here today.â
Whatever he wanted to
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