Page 18 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘Like you’re gorgeous?’
‘I don’t know, Ser. What is this?’
‘I don’t objectify you, do I?’
He chuckled wryly. ‘Not that I’ve ever noticed.’
She nodded. ‘Good.’
‘Mm,’ he grumbled.
‘I’m going to have to be careful not to ogle Ethan,’ she said, almost to herself. ‘Even if I want to.’
He frowned, shook his head, and shoved his curls from his eyes. ‘Anyway. What do you say we go out for something to eat for a change? We could Uber it. Have a few beers.’
She gaped at him. ‘Like,outout?’
‘We can go to the RSL for a roast, or down to Dee Why beachfront and check out that new Thai place? Jess says it’s good.’
She looked down at herself. ‘I’m not dressed.’
‘Go home and get dressed. I’ll swing by and get you.’
‘Aren’t you exhausted?’
He shrugged. ‘No more than usual. I just thought it might be nice, rather than sitting on my couch eating junk food again. Unless Mr Hollywood wore you out?’
‘More like Kevin.’
‘He is a handful,’ he said as he unbuttoned his shirt.
His lean torso peeked through the gap that opened in the pale blue material, giving Sera a glimpse of his well-defined chest and rather nice set of abs. She never could figure out where his abs came from, seeing as she rarely saw him exercise or eat a vegetable, unless it was tomato on top of a pizza. Same with his biceps. And those muscles in his back. It must be all the lifting dogs onto the examination table.
Her gaze drifted up and down his tall form. It was easy to see why his clients swooned – he was stunning. Lean and taut, with that delicious muscle that hugged his hip bone, soft curls which always hung in his eyes, and lips that were full and pink and totally kissable.
A tingle slid down her spine and she blinked.What the hell was that?Was she having sexy thoughts about her bestie? Was she objectifying him?
And was he smirking at her?
‘What are you doing?’ she asked, suddenly awkward.
‘What?’ He flexed his pecs. ‘I’m going for a shower. You should do the same. I’ll grab you in forty-five minutes.’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘Okay. I don’t suppose you ask me out very often. I’d better take advantage of it. Just… stop stripping until after I’m gone.’
‘Sorry. Wasn’t thinking. Can’t have you objectifying me or anything.’ One of his brows arched.
She frowned and headed to the door.
They sat outside under a heater to take the edge off the cool spring night. The surf crashed rhythmically onto the beach across the road, and lorikeets screeched from the branches of the towering Norfolk Island pines.
‘Is this place all right?’ Toby asked as he handed her a menu. ‘If you’d rather—’
‘This is great.’
‘Okay. Good. Be nice to me and I might even shout you.’
‘Bribing me with food? Herriot, you sure know the way to my heart.’ She laughed and pulled the rug the restaurant had left on the back of her chair across her lap. ‘Do you want to share something or hog your meal to yourself?’
