At least she’d let me make her breakfast and let Pucks love up on her before I’d driven her home so she could get ready for her meeting with Meredith. We’d even texted that night for a bit so she could tell me how everything went. I knew Meredith would totally be on board with getting us over to Dani’s center. It was a great cause. And she’d acted like a supportive and happy girlfriend last night when we’d kicked Florida’s ass with a sweet four to one win. But she’d skipped going to Tipsy to celebrate, saying she’d had a long day.
Tomorrow, we headed out on our first road trip. Seven days away, so I was taking Dani hiking today and bringing Pucks along. I hated the inkling of uncertainty about where Dani and I stood settling in my veins, but I didn’t want to rattle her and then bail for a week, so I decided to act like everything was fine and perfectly normal and try to get a better read on her. I wanted to be so much more than just her fake boyfriend. Hell, part of me wanted to incite Roger to some drama just so Dani would want to be extra convincing and love up on me.
Fucking hell, that was pathetic. Also, creepy as hell.
Pucks whined at my feet and I glanced down.
“I know. I need serious help with Dani. She’s so stubborn. Doesn’t she understand that we’re perfect for her?”
He perked up at Dani’s name. He was just as smitten with my prickly, perfect, fake girlfriend as I was.
“We’ll convince her, okay? You’ll be on your best behavior, looking all cute and sweet, won’t you?”
He sat up straight and barked.
“Glad we’re in agreement. We can accomplish anything, right, buddy?” I ruffled the top of his head and he squirmed around, obviously needing a specific spot scratched.
“Ready to go get our girl?” I asked.
He barked again.
I grabbed our gear and the backpack with water and extra snacks for all of us, and we were on our way to Dani’s. I hadn’t told her where we are going, so hopefully she would like the surprise. The weather was still decent for hiking, but it wouldn’t be long before Denver got the first snow of the season. At least today was warm. I loaded Pucks into my SUV and we made the short drive to Dani’s house.
“Stay here and we’ll be right back,” I told him once I parked the car.
He gave me a bark of agreement and I scratched his jaw, getting rewarded with a lick and doggy smile.
“Save that cuteness for Dani.”
I headed up the walkway and knocked on her door.
“One second,” she called out, then she was opening the door.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I said, leaning in to kiss her.
She hesitated for a second, but then her lips met mine for a way too-brief kiss. I wanted to walk her backward into the house and slam the door behind us, show her just how much I missed waking up in bed with her this morning.
Her fingers curled into my shirt as my tongue swiped against her lips, and she parted her lips, her tongue tangling with mine. Fuck, I loved kissing this woman. I fitted my body against hers and tilted my head, deepening the kiss. And she went right along with me, her soft moan sending sparks of heat through my body and straight to my cock.
Then Pucks barked, and Dani broke the kiss with a laugh.
“Cockblocking dog. I swear he’s no longer my favorite family member,” I grumbled, which only made her laugh harder.
“Harsh words for your best friend,” she said.
“Looks like I have an opening for a new bestie.”
She snorted softly. I loved seeing this lighter side of her, a side I strove to bring out in her any chance I got. Her smile was breathtaking.
“Yeah, right. Even if he has terrible timing, he’s still your bestie.”
I shrugged. “I guess. Those puppy-dog eyes get me every time.”
She chuckled. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“Yup. So, you ready to go on an adventure with us?” Pucks was only going to give us so much more time before he started barking again, and as much as I joked, I would never leave him alone in my car.
“Are you planning to tell me where we’re headed? There’s lots of hiking spots around.”
