Free The Lives Between Us by Theresa Rizzo

over the whimpering pups. “You like dogs?”
    He held up one little fluffy thing that faintly resembled a multi-colored guinea pig. Border collie or Aussie would be her guess, if it wasn’t a mutt. The pup lay in his palm docilely and blinked.
    “Not particularly. Do you always bring your pets to work? I would have thought you’d want to keep things a bit more sterile.”
    Mark wedged the small animal next to the other sleeping pups then scooped up a little finger of moist food and held it out to a noisy puppy. It immediately licked the food, and then began chewing on Mark’s index finger. Mark positioned him in front of the bowl of puppy food.
    “No, this is a first. My sister needed someone to keep them while she’s on vacation.”
    “They’re pretty tiny.” Skye scanned the floor for a larger dog. “Where’s the mom?”
    “Died.”
    Dead. Figured. “Well, I...” Skye smiled and handed him the envelope. “I just want to thank you for what you did the other night and repay you for my meal.”
    Mark ignored her outstretched hand. “Not necessary.”
    “It is to me.”
    “Keep it. Please.”
    “I can’t.” She placed the envelope on his desk and smiled. “It was sweet of you to run interference for me, but I can take care of myself.”
    “I’m sure you can.” Full lips curved into a slight smile under his steady gaze.
    “I can.” Skye couldn’t tell if he was teasing her, but she was definitely picking up on some sexual undercurrents that had her internal alarms humming.
    Mark held up his hands as if to ward her off. “I believe you.”
    “Look, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I just wanted to thank you and give you back your money.” Skye swung around and headed for the door.
    “Whoa, hold up.” He pushed off the credenza and came closer. “No need to get offended.”
    “I’m not offended.”
    Mark raised a doubtful eyebrow. “I’m not sure what you’re used to, but all I did was run off a guy who looked like he didn’t understand the word no and buy you a meal. No big deal.”
    “If it’s ‘no big deal’ then why not let me pay you back?”
    “Where I come from, men take care of ladies, and the ladies don’t pay.”
    “Where do you come from?” The middle ages? Mars?
    A mischievous looked crossed Mark’s face. He poked his tongue in his cheek, then his eyes crinkled in amusement. “Are you hitting on me?”
    Her mouth flopped open. “What?”
    “Cause it’d be okay if you were. I was just wondering.”
    Skye felt the heat of embarrassment and astonishment flush her face. What an arrogant ass. Or maybe he was teasing her? “ No , I’m not hitting on you. I was just... We were having a conversation. It’s a dialogue, where people exchange words. Back and forth. Speaking. You. And me.”
    “Would you like to continue this conversation over dinner?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “I asked you out to dinner.” Mark glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late and I’m hungry.”
    She looked at the box of puppies. “What about your little pals?”
    “I just fed them. They’ll be fine ’til I come back.”
    He expected her to turn him down. Well, she could be unpredictable, too.
    “Sure.” Skye lifted her chin. Swiping the envelope from his desk, she held it out to Mark. “But only if you accept this.”
    “All right.”
    That’s it? No argument? Skye dropped the money into his open palm.
    Mark folded the envelope and put it in his back pant pocket. His tight jean pocket that curved beautifully to his tight butt. Skye ripped her gaze away to look at the box of sleeping puppies. “Okay, so where should we meet?”
    “The Grille okay with you?”
    “I don’t know it.”
    “The Village Grille. It’s on Kercheval down in the village. It’s in—you can follow me.”
    “Okay.” Skye consciously kept her gaze from dropping to his butt. Following him would be no great hardship.

 
     
     
Chapter 7
     
     
    Mark glanced in the rearview mirror to