Corsets and Quartets by DeSimone Mercy

Author:DeSimone, Mercy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Mind Your Manners

For whatever reason, I'm overly amused by the thought of the curious people still hanging out in the waiting room for 'Ernesto' to reappear. Instead, Heath spoils my fun by sending us out the back employee entrance, muttering about avoiding a female frenzy out front.

Brutus takes the lead, eager to be away from the examining rooms and smells of other animals. Usually, dogs like to sniff and explore, but not Brutus—he wants to run. Luckily, Simon is there to grab his leash as I'm jolted forward, not expecting Brutus to take off with me as an unsuspecting accomplice.

Making a beeline for the car, he stops long enough to sniff at both tires on the passenger side, thoroughly watering them and claiming them as his own. I think we'll avoid mentioning that to Mark.

I open the back door, and Brutus whines, unwilling to climb into the back seat. Instead, he tries to put his paws on my shoulders and lick my face.

"I love you, too, Brute, but you've got to get in now." Forcing him back to the ground, I try to push his hindquarters into the back seat as Simon lounges against the side of the car, his amusement clear. "Now would be a good time to control your dog, Simon." My exasperation is evident as I brush a few more stray hairs from my brow, where they've fallen during my struggle with Brutus.

"You've done it now." Simon laughs. "You're going to have to get in back, luv. He wants you to ride with him."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"No, my big boy is actually a big baby. It's your fault really. Once you started with all the whispers and kisses and stroking, he was hooked. He takes after me." The wicked smile sends tingles to my palms, just itching to stroke a path across his shoulders and down his chest.

Ignoring the impulse, I bend toward Brutus and grab his snout, staring him directly in the eyes as he wiggles. "Get in the car. I'm coming."

The swipe of his tongue across my nose almost makes me miss Simon's reply as he mutters, "I wish," before rounding the car to the driver's side.

Brutus shivers and paces the back seat as I get settled before finally flopping down next to me, head nestling in my lap with a huff of relief that quickly settles into a loud snore. My hands stroke his ears, and I meet Simon's eyes in the rearview mirror.

"You need to teach your boy some boundaries."

"Oh, it's a lost cause. We don't believe in boundaries. We're all about spreading the love," he teases.

Avoiding his smile, I stare out the window, watching the crowded skyline get taller as we come closer to the city.

"So you and Cliff…and Mark." Glancing at Simon's face in the rearview mirror again, I huff out a sigh, similar to Brutus, before replying.

"It's complicated." Catching a flash of his crooked smile, I finally give him leave to ask what I can tell he's dying to know.

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