He blew out a hard exhale and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Shit. I know. I wasn’t thinking. It’s just you were asleep, and those damn tags were jingling like Santa was coming to town.” He threw his strong arm around my shoulders and curled me and Sugar against his chest. “I’m sorry.”
Casually dressed for the day the only way Bowen Michaels knew how, he was wearing jeans and a pale-blue button-down with the sleeves rolled up. I closed my eyes for a beat, willing my heart to return to a non-marathon pace, and just breathed him in. Bowen always smelled good. That particular day, he was wearing the new Versace cologne I’d bought him during a late-night online shopping spree. It was a gamble, buying it sight unsniffed. It had more than paid off though. He smelled divine.
Though, as much as I would have liked to, I couldn’t lose my head when there was a very serious dog escape to discuss.
“How did he even get out?” I asked.
He groaned. “Yeah, so that was me too.” He released me, draping his arm around my hips as he led me down the street to his house. “I accidentally left the gate open.”
“Bowen!” I scolded. “You can’t do that. He’s not like Clyde, who comes back at the first mention of food. You could offer that pony a carrot and he’d plow me over trying to get back to you.”
He laughed. “That’s because he’s not a spoiled little monster like a certain puppy we both know.”
Gasping, I covered Sugar’s ear. “He’s not a monster.”
He arched a teasing eyebrow and shot me an entirely gorgeous grin. “You’re not going to argue about the spoiled part, I guess.”
I clamped my mouth shut, which only made him chuckle again. I would have been annoyed if the sound of his laughter wasn’t the chorus to my favorite song.
Going for a subject change versus defending myself and Sugarbear Thadius Michaels from any more defamation of character, I said, “Anywho…what were you doing with the gate open? I thought you were cleaning up the back patio?”
We moseyed up his driveway together, our bodies swaying in sync with every step.
“I was, but then I decided to move some stuff around and didn’t want to drag all the chairs through the house to the garage. It was a whole unfortunate chain of events. I dropped the cushions in the dirt and then Clyde thought I’d given him a new bed, and while I was trying to get the pony off his pallet, Sugar bolted out behind me.”
I pursed my lips. “Why’d you move the chairs? I thought we were watching the game out there tonight?”
“Well, yeah. But where else am I going to hang that swinging bed I saw on your Pinterest board?”
I stopped abruptly and tilted my head to peer up at him. “What?”
He grinned, clearly quite proud of himself. “You left it open on the computer the other day. I know you like to stay at your place and I’m a hundred percent good with that if it makes you comfortable. But I think it would be a nice addition to the patio. And, quite honestly, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to woo you over here more often.” He pointedly toyed with my engagement ring. “Besides, one day it’s going to be your home too. I do realize I went a little heavy on the M-A-N while decorating out there, so this will bring a little of the R-E-M-I that it’s missing.”
A warmth curled around me as I stared up at him in awe. This man. This wonderful, gorgeous, thoughtful man. Most men didn’t even know what Pinterest was, much less how to navigate a board.
“Bowen,” I whispered.
His lips thinned. “Too much?” He dropped his arm from my hip and thrust a hand into the top of his hair. “I was thinking maybe we could get out of the house, grab an early lunch and then hit Home Depot. It’s a really nice day. You can chill in the sun while I hang it up. I was looking at the beams out there earlier and I honestly don’t think it will take more than a few hours.” He smiled almost nervously. Which made absolutely no sense for the ever-confident man of mine. “Come on,” he pressed. “I’ll spring for the hydrangeas too. I know you’ve been aching to get your hands on the flowerbeds out there.”
Pressing up onto my toes, I placed a peck on the corner of his mouth. “Flowers too? You know how I love a good bribe.”
“Well, that’s perfect, then. Because I just love you.” With Sugar still cradled to my chest, he kissed me. Deep and languid.
And I kissed him back with a quiet desperation I could never quite shake with him.
