She hated paperwork—again, no surprise there.
She was good at tests and quizzes, as long as she put in the time studying.
She was a big pushover when it came to being a dog mommy. She sucked at being stern with Loki but was training to change that.
And the most interesting revelation of all…
She was inlustwith Sinjin.
This was a big thing. Isla had never felt this way about anyone before. Not even with famous boy band groups while growing up. Lyndsey and Emily would often drool over some of those members, but Isla couldn’t understand the big deal. Sure, some of the dudes were cute, but they had never gotten any kind of rise out of her.
Heck, she’d never even felt any body-tingling awareness toward her ex-boyfriend, and they’d dated all through high school and became lovers her first year of college. He had been cute, and sex had been good…as far as she knew, since he’d been her only lover.
Still, heat had never rushed through her from just looking at him, and no wave of awareness had hiccupped her pulse or sent goosebumps down her body when he stood close by.
But she felt all of those things with Sinjin, and more.
Two days ago, they’d taken Loki on a hike to see how she handled him away from familiar settings. The dog listened to her pretty well now at home and during their daily walks. This was a test in a foreign environment.
Everything was going well until they rounded a trail that led to a small creek, and a squirrel darted down the path. Loki took off running, and no verbal commands would deter the dog. Sinjin raced after him and before she could catch up, he had the dog heeled at his side.
“Wish I knew your secret,” she’d said, dropping down onto a large rock near the edge of the creek while she caught her breath.
He’d chuckled and sat down next to her, still holding onto Loki’s collar. “Not sure anyone could stop a young pup from reacting to his nature.”
That was his sweet way of saying she hadn’t screwed up. Much.
In the next instant, Loki had jumped at something splashing in the water behind them. Sinjin reached for her dog, but gravity helped the nearly eighty-pound Shepard clear the other side of the rock. So Loki ended up pulling Sinjin with him into the water.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Isla had scrambled to her feet, checking him over.
“Yes. Just wet.”
Loki then returned to the shore and shook the excess water from his coat before sitting down by her feet.
“Are you kidding me?” Sinjin had grumbled, water dripping down his hair, off his nose, and onto his soaked shirt.
Isla bit her lip but had been unable to stop the laughter that bubbled up her throat. “Sorry,” she’d muttered between breaths, noting his lips quirking into a smile.
“Think it’s funny?”
She’d nodded enthusiastically. “Only a lot.”
But all laughter had died in her throat when he’d yanked off his wet shirt and proceeded to wring it out. Muscles and ridges had flexed, and water droplets ran down his well-defined chest, glinting in the sunshine.
Apparently, he’d been curious as to what had shut her up, because he glanced at her and stilled. Heat had entered his eyes, and she’d trembled.
Time had seemed to stop, but not her pulse. No, that sucker had raced and raced until her chest was practically heaving.
“Isla,” he’d ground out, taking a step toward her.
Loki must’ve thought Sinjin had called him, because the dog raced over and began to run in and out of the water, barking.
That had led to laughter and a much-needed bath—for her dog. But her need and craving for her hot neighbor had remained.
The more she was near Sinjin, the more things she wanted to do to him…and with him…
“Earth to Isla?” Lyndsey’s voice brought her back to reality and the fact they were standing in the middle of her kitchen. “You still thinking about that last test? An A minus isn’t bad.”
