Paws off the Boss - Casey Griffin (best books under 200 pages .TXT) 📗

say, she let it go. If he wanted to tell her, he would. “It’s too nice to stay cooped up inside.”

“I come here some mornings to run, but I’m rarely free in the afternoons.”

She wondered why he was free so often as of late. It certainly gave her a strong “impression.” Her traitorous fingers twitched again, reaching for his.

Aiden turned his back to the bridge to face Sea Cliff, the cluster of houses clinging to the imposing cliffs that vied for the best view in town. Shielding his eyes, he searched as if he could spot his home from there.

“Must be nice to live close to a beach,” Piper said.

“It has its advantages.”

“Like a convenient nudist beach?” She nodded toward the bridge.

She’d gone there before, hoping to glimpse a school of dolphins, something not unheard of from Baker Beach. She had found out the hard way that if you wandered too far north, you’d see more than just dorsal fins poking out of the water.

A grin spread over her lips. “It’s like a free striptease.”

“But unlike yours, you don’t get a thoughtful song at the end.”

“Hey!” She threw him a sour look, but the smile ruined the effect.

“Why is it that the only people you see on nude beaches are never the ones you want to see naked?” he asked.

“So you have taken a peek, have you?”

He shrugged. “I might have jogged a little too far one time.”

“If not them, then who do you want to see naked?” She bit her lip.

Again, it was something she’d normally blurt out, but when the skin beneath his close shave turned too pink to be from the sun, her own cheeks heated in response. However, the idea made her wonder, not for the first or second or the tenth time that day, what he might look like if they wandered farther north to join the nudists.

Date or not, they were at a beach. Was it so unreasonable to hope he’d go shirtless that day? Even though he was her boss? Even though he kept saying he didn’t mix business with pleasure? Even though he might be having some kind of tryst with his personal assistant? Even though … Nope. She didn’t care.

“Take it off!” she wanted to scream.

It seemed only fair since he’d seen her in next to nothing on several occasions after her telegram jobs. But so far, she’d already coaxed him out of his suit and tie and into another pair of khaki shorts and a light blue shirt. At this point, she would have settled for a button or two. Just a hint to add a little detail to her daydreams. Chest hair? No chest hair? A couple of fine pecs to match that pair of toned biceps peeking out from beneath his sleeves?

Piper didn’t realize she was staring at the collar of his shirt until Aiden reached out and grabbed her arm. He steered her to the side, saving her from stomping on a sandcastle under construction by two little kids. She stumbled against him—and if she “accidentally” copped a feel of those firm pecs, it totally wasn’t her fault.

“Whoa, Godzilla,” he said. “Leave the city alone.”

Skirting around the kids, she shook off the fog in her brain. There were far too many people around for her to continue riding that train of thought. Keep it breezy, she told herself. Totally blasé. Big on the aloof, less on the doof.

She wandered closer to the water’s edge, letting the cool waves wash over her feet as she followed the dogs exploring the shore. Aiden removed his sandals and waded in next to her.

“So, why did you decide to become a veterinarian?” he asked her. “When your calling is so obviously professional telegram girl?”

She gave him a withering look but answered seriously. “Because I love animals. All animals. We just have a connection, you know. Sometimes I think I can understand what they’re saying. Like they’re talking to me.”

“See, this would have been important to mention on the day I interviewed you. This was the weird I was looking for.”

She laughed. “I know I can’t actually hear them. But it’s like if you pay enough attention, they all have their own little personalities. Like miniature people.”

“Why dachshunds?” he asked. “What drew you to them and the center?”

“We had a dachshund while I was growing up. We had to give him up when my mom and I moved to San Francisco. I started volunteering at the rescue center because it reminded me of home. And then came Colin.”

“And you just couldn’t say no.”

“I did at first. It’s against my tenant agreement to have pets in my apartment.” They’d caught up to the dogs, and she bent down to smoosh Colin’s adorable face. “But how could I say no to this pretty face?” she used Aiden’s words.

“You’re not one for rules, are you?”

“What can I say?” She shrugged unapologetically. “I march to the beat of my own kazoo. At least I’m not afraid to do what I want to do and say what I want to say.” But apparently not when it comes to Aiden, she added to herself. “Life is short. I could get into a car accident tomorrow and die.”

“In your car?” he asked. “Yes.”

She gave him a playful punch on the arm. “Don’t you ever do anything against the rules, Mr. Caldwell? Something rebellious or unexpected?”

“Are you kidding? Me?” He held a hand to his chest. “Look at me. I’m completely outside the box. I’m a cargo-pants-and-plaid-shirt kind of guy.” He waved a Vanna White hand at his ensemble.

Piper ogled him freely, top to bottom. “I’m sorry to tell you, but it’s not so outside-the-box when it’s exactly what I told you to wear on the first day.”

“Yeah, well, last week I wore stripes. And who knows what will happen next week? It could be Hawaiian flowers.”

“Hawaiian flowers?” Her eyes widened. “You rebel, you.”

“Are you making fun of me?” he asked in mock seriousness.

“Me? Never.”

“Don’t you know who I am?”

She pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. “A cargo pants kind of guy?”

His head swiveled to her. The look on his face was like the moment before a cat pounces on a mouse. Her muscles tensed, and she held her breath. The corners of his mouth curled. And then he leapt.

Piper was ready. With a shriek, she dodged his reach, but he stood between her and dry land. All she could do was run through the shallows, the water and waves slowing her down. She could hear him splashing close on her heels, gaining on her.

Laughing, she twisted away, trying to double back, but now she was in too deep. The cool bay water splashed up her shorts and soaked through the fabric. Aiden’s arms surrounded her, lifting her up and out of the water like a marlin plucked from the ocean.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” he said, cradling her in both arms. “You need to be punished for that insubordination.”

She giggled. “I would prefer suspension with pay.”

He waded out a few paces, deeper into the cool water. While the sun shone hot, only the bravest of beachcombers had dared to take a dip.

Piper struggled in his arms. The water lapped at her shorts. She squealed, but he strode in until he was waist deep. She felt him shudder at the temperature.

He had her completely at his mercy. And despite the threat of a dunking, that turned her on a little.

“You wouldn’t,” she said.

“Wouldn’t I?”

“You know, they say a sign of a good boss is a merciful boss.”

“You can’t show weakness in front of your employees. Sometimes, you have to make an example out of them.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Unless you have anything to say for yourself.”

Piper tightened her grip around his neck, determined that if she were going down, he would go down with her. She noticed his hold tighten too, hands hot against her skin. Her breasts squished up against his firm chest.

“You’ll get your doggy treats wet,” she tried to reason with him. “What will your dry cleaner say?”

That was obviously not the answer he wanted. There was just enough time to gulp a breath of air before they both went under.

A second later, they shot up, grunting and gasping at the chill. Goose bumps rising on her skin, Piper darted for the shore, Aiden following in her wake.

By the time they reached shallow waters, their shrieks had dissolved into laughter. Colin and Sophie joined in, unsure of what game they were all playing but still enthusiastic about it.

Piper expected the involuntary dip to be like a cold shower that would jolt her out of her increasing lust for her boss, but it only made it worse. Every sensation in her body was amplified. The waves tickled the insides of her thighs, her skin tingled, and her cold muscles clenched.

Aiden tugged her playfully toward his body. She could feel desire in his touch, a greedy craving for more of her. His fingertips brushed her skin, his body leaned toward her, connecting at every chance. And when his hips pushed against her, it certainly gave her a whole new “impression,” one that pressed against the small of her back—and it wasn’t the dog toy in his pocket.

His green gaze drifted down to her lips. “Are you ready to go back to my place?” His voice, though shaking with the chill, was