Dying for Love

“What the…” came a male voice from below.

Grace groaned and leaned over the balcony railing. Mr. Duncan straightened, a few of the discarded flowers in hand. Flower petals decorated his dark hair and the breadth of his shoulders. He glanced up.

Perfect. Could this day get any better? She smiled weakly.

He waved the flowers. “Friends of yours?”

“Not exactly. Sorry.”

He grinned. Even three flights away, it decimated her. Sweet heaven, his smile should be illegal.

“No problem.” He waved and walked away.

She was rooted to the spot. His athletic stride carried him around the side of the building. She groaned and dropped her head into her hands.

Perfect. Just…perfect. In the space of twenty-four hours, her life had gone from pleasantly simple to anxiety- and lust-ridden. She massaged her temples. Boring was so underappreciated.

• Freaked out by stranger invading her home………CHECK

• Ticked about stranger moving her precious car………CHECK

• Mysterious flowers messing with her head………CHECK

• Flirting & considering having a wild fling w/boss………CHECK

• Men in white coats arriving soon to cart her off………CHECK

Sweet baby cherubs, her life was ricocheting out of control. Grace dialed the police with a soft groan. World’s Biggest Idiot should be stamped across her forehead.

An hour later, she ushered the uniformed police officer out and pressed cool palms to her hot cheeks as she stood in the doorway. Calmly dealing with the sanctimonious, condescending prick had taken every iota of self-control she possessed.

“Probably just a prank, miss. We’ll send a cruiser through the area on a regular basis, if it’ll make you more comfortable.”

The only thing missing was a pat on the head.

Lisie’s door cracked open and her friend’s head popped out, her eyes big as saucers and swimming with worry when they met hers. Despite the circumstances, Grace couldn’t help smiling and rolling her eyes at Her Royal Nosiness.

“You want some company, cher?”

“No, thanks. I think I’m going to turn in early.”

“Alright.” Lisie frowned. “Give me a call when you’re ready to tackle that mess and I’ll come help, you hear?”

“Bossy.”

“Is that a yes?”

Grace brought her heels together and snapped a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am.”

Lisie snorted a soft laugh and pointed a long-tipped finger at her. “I’m holdin’ you to it.”

Smiling, Grace closed her door and leaned back against it. A glance at her kitchen and her smile slipped away on a sigh and a shiver. There be creepers out there.

CHAPTER FOUR (#uefeb9126-c91e-593a-8c3a-2a24a9c125f0)

Matt steered the heavy bike into Julia Davis Park. Bright sunshine, blue skies, warm temperatures, and a cool breeze felt more like May than March. He idled to a stop at the side of the narrow road, near a large fountain in the center of the park.

People rode bicycles, children swarmed over the playground, old couples fed ducks and teenagers played with their dogs. Fresh-cut grass scented the air. His gaze swung back to one of the teenagers with a dog and he stiffened, blindly reaching to turn off the rumbling engine.

A big dog had a female teenager down on the grass and it looked like…He shot off the bike and was running before he’d completed the thought.

The closer he got, the bigger the dog became. It loomed, massive and fierce, over the girl on the ground. The dog raised its massive head, locked gazes with him and shifted to stand over the girl. The animal’s protective stance slowed Matt. He stopped several yards away.

The girl lying on the grass tilted her head back. He didn’t dare look away from the huge dog, but an inkling of suspicion trickled through him. From the corner of his eye, pink infused her cheeks and her eyes shone bright with laughter. He might have misjudged the situation.

“Apollo, down.” The dog obeyed her firm command with the docility of a pussycat. Apollo’s gaze didn’t waver. The message came through loud and clear: watch his step or he’d be dog chow.

The girl rolled into a sitting position with fluid grace and tilted her head to the side as she contemplated him.

Daring to look away from the big dog, he met her eyes and rocked back on his heels. Hard. “Grace?”

She laughed and hugged her knees to her chest. Her cheeks were rosy from wrestling with the dog, she had grass in her dark hair and there was dog slobber on her pants. He couldn’t remember a more appealing sight.

“Hello, Mr. Duncan.”

She’d called him Matt at her apartment a few days ago.

He cleared his throat and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“You mean your extensive background check missed something?” Her light, teasing tone stirred something in him. “I don’t have a dog. Apollo belongs to my neighbor. I enjoy playing with him and take him out for walks whenever I can. There weren’t any dogs in the foster homes I grew up in, and I always wanted one.”

“Really?” Apollo lay panting on the grass, watching him. Must be a male neighbor. He couldn’t imagine anyone else owning a dog like that. Jealousy sucker-punched him and he crossed his arms. “He doesn’t give you any problems? He’s awfully big.”

She chuckled and stood, brushing grass off her jeans. “Now there’s an understatement. He’s an absolute teddy bear, though. Wouldn’t hurt a flea. We were just wrestling when you came flying to the rescue.” She gave a cheeky grin.

Unbelievably, heat washed over Matt’s face. He didn’t usually get embarrassed. Ever.

Grace’s grin widened, displaying a playful side he hadn’t seen in the office. “You’re very sweet. It probably looked like he was mauling me, instead of playing. I don’t know why, but his muzzle tickles and when I start laughing, it eggs him on.”

He glanced at her jeans, enjoying the way they molded to her curves, and up to her fitted T-shirt. She filled out casual clothes very well. Very well. He’d like to find her ticklish spots.

His gaze returned to her face. Deep rose painted her cheekbones. The deepening shade of her green eyes reminded him of standing in her apartment, the soft curves of her body between the glass door and him. Their almost-kiss had fueled his fantasies all week.

Unfortunately, he still didn’t know how to handle the situation. Pursuing an employee seemed unethical. Not to mention putting him at risk of a major sexual-harassment lawsuit. Plus, he wasn’t great with personal relationships. Matt’s gaze shifted to Apollo again, jealous heat burning his belly. “The dog’s owner doesn’t mind you borrowing him?”

“No. She’s pushing eighty and is glad to have someone with a bit more energy to play with him.”

“What’s an old woman doing with a Great Dane?”