Free Inevitable (Key West #2) by C. A. Harms Page B

still leery of the dog that could stand on his hind legs and be taller than me. She led me toward the couch and directed me to have a seat.
    “I just need five minutes.” She rushed off before I could say another word.
    I was scared to move as Brutus watched me from the left end of the couch. I continued to stare straight ahead, thinking if I avoided eye contact, maybe he would walk away.
    My actions had the opposite effect. I felt his head nudge my knee, and I stiffened. This shit was messed up. Dogs were supposed to be small and cute. They should never be larger than their owners…never.
    Another strong nudge against my leg made me sweat a little. Then Brutus went one step further and placed his paw on my thigh and laid his head next to it, letting out a loud humph .
    “H-hey there, big guy.” My voice vibrated with tension. What the fuck? Harper was right, I was acting like a damn pussy.
    I lifted my hand and began petting the top of Brutus’s head. “You’re not that scary, are ya?” It was definitely more of a question than a reassuring statement. I still wasn’t completely convinced that he wasn’t going to eat me before Harper finished getting ready.
    “Okay, this isn’t so bad, is it?” I let out a breath I felt like I’d been holding since Harper left me alone with the grizzly. His big puppy-dog eyes looked up at me and sagged in awe. Apparently he liked being scratched behind his ears.
    So for the next…what felt like ten minutes, I continued to pet him in the place he enjoyed the most. Yes, I still silently prayed that I’d make it out of here with all my limbs intact, but I may have been able to relax, just a little.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seventeen
     
     
    Harper
     
    I stood in the doorway of the living room, watching Easton pet Brutus. I could tell he was tense; his back was stiff and his shoulders squared. I fought against laughing at him.
    Most people freaked out at the sight of Brutus, but he truly was an amazing, loving dog. The only person I think I have ever witnessed him not warm up to was Ian. That should have been the first sign that Ian was a mistake.
    After watching Easton interact with Brutus for about five minutes, I decided to rescue him, so to speak. “So are you ready?” I asked as I stepped into the living room.
    He twisted around just enough to take in my appearance, and a grin curved the corner of his delectable mouth. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
    He led me to his car, opened the passenger door, and helped me inside.
    “What is it that you have planned for tonight?” I asked when he was in the driver’s seat. Please say making out , I thought as I let my eyes roam over his jaw and mouth.
    “I actually have dinner waiting for us at my place. I didn’t want the distraction of others tonight.” He reached across the center console, took my hand, and brought it to rest on his thigh. “I hope that’s okay.”
    Oh yes, that was more than okay. “Fine with me,” I replied. Inside, I was being such a girl; my heart was racing, and I was mentally fist-pumping the air. A night alone with Easton. No interruptions, nothing holding us back. Oh the possibilities.
    We pulled up to his condo on a cul-de-sac, and my eyes grew wide. It was double the size of mine and secluded and distant from the rest of the neighbors. The city lights in the distance highlighted its beauty.
    “I’ve never been this far down his road. I always just stopped at Jett’s without going any farther. I hadn’t even realized there were views like this. Your place is amazing.” I looked on in awe as I crawled out of his Jaguar.
    He placed his hand on the small of my back and led me toward the front door. “The view is what sold me on the place. And the fact that the neighbors weren’t right on top of me. I like my privacy.”
    Once the front door was open, the aroma of a mouthwatering dish hit me. “Something smells great.”
    “That would be dinner.” He stepped up behind me and