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

“As in, not my business?” Irritated at being shut out yet again, Piper’s jaw clenched. What was he keeping from her? Did Marilyn already know what it was? “I guess I have no right to know what’s happening to the center?”

Aiden groaned like the last thing he wanted was an argument. “I know I sound like a broken record, but I was serious when I said that I don’t like mixing business with pleasure.”

She remembered his motto all too well. “And I’m what? Doing all this”—she waved a hand at the general destruction—“for pleasure?”

“I don’t know,” he said testily. “I guess that’s your business.”

“Fine. Then excuse me while I go help feed the dogs. Unless that’s none of my business, either.” Whistling for Colin, she turned to head for the back.

Aiden grabbed her arm. “This is exactly why I don’t like mixing the two.”

She pulled her arm away, but he gripped both her shoulders and turned her to face him.

“If it were something that you needed to know, I would tell you. But this is between Marilyn and me.” He sighed. “I don’t want business to come between us. I don’t want you to be business at all.” He reached up and cupped her face in both hands. “I want you to be one-hundred-percent pleasure. Let me deal with this.”

“I don’t enjoy being kept in the dark. Marilyn left the center in my care.” And look what’s already happened, she added in her head. She pushed away the thought. “I want to make sure everything turns out okay. I’m not used to people taking care of my responsibilities for me.”

“It’s not for you. It’s with you. You have your part to play, so does Marilyn, and so do I. We’ll all work together. You’re not alone in this. We’re a team.”

She sighed, realizing she was turning into a control freak like Zoe. The issue wasn’t so much of control as it was of accepting help, of admitting she needed it—which she totally didn’t, by the way. It tasted of bitter failure.

Piper closed her eyes for a moment, regaining a bit of perspective. She attempted a smile. “Is that the spirited speech you give your office every Monday?”

Aiden’s expression softened. “Something like that. Did it work?”

“Strangely enough, I suddenly feel like stapling things and sending interoffice memos.”

His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight to him. He dipped his head for a kiss, something neither of them could get enough of that day. Not after the fire the night before.

“Mr. Caldwell!” a shrill voice called behind them.

Aiden whipped around to find Holly charging down the sidewalk, the cameraman in her Chanel wake. Hey You fiddled with his equipment, and Holly snapped her fingers at him impatiently.

With a God-give-me-the-strength sigh, Aiden stepped away from Piper.

Holly slowed as she approached, straightening her blazer. “A little strange to be viewing your investment properties on a weekend, isn’t it? Or was it something else you were hoping to view?” Her eyes widened and darted meaningfully to Piper.

“Holly, so nice to see you again.” But Aiden’s expression didn’t relay that happy feeling.

With a flick of her manicured finger, Holly ordered the cameraman to get in close. She held the microphone dramatically in front of her.

“Holly Hart here on location at the San Francisco Dachshund Rescue Center to report on more bowwow woes. After last night’s devastating fire, the volunteers are hard at work trying to make the best of their dog day. Tell us, Mr. Caldwell, where do you fit into all of this?” Holly shoved the microphone into his face.

“I’m here to help Miss Summers deal with the aftermath of last night’s fire.”

Holly leapt into Piper’s bubble, leaning aggressively toward her, on the trail of a hot story. “Rumor has it, you were inside the building when the fire started.”

“Ah, yes …” Piper eyed the mic uncertainly. “I came by to check on the dogs and caught the arsonist setting fire to the place.”

“That must have been terrifying. What did you do?”

“I tried to stop him, but it was too late, and he got away.”

“Those could have been some hot dogs. But you bravely put your life on the line and fought the fire to protect the dogs you so love.” Holly’s voice oozed drama.

Piper thought she must have been good at her job at The Gate.

“Er … Well, I guess.” She fidgeted. “I mean, I started to, but I never would have been able to do that and get the dogs to safety if Aiden hadn’t shown up.”

Holly spun to face Aiden. She grabbed his upper arm, and Piper could have sworn she squeezed his biceps.

“That makes you quite the hero, Mr. Caldwell. Not only are you the most eligible bachelor in town, but a local champion now too.”

“I believe Miss Summers is—”

Holly pulled the microphone away before he could finish. “What will happen to the residents of the dachshund rescue center now? Where will they go?” She turned the mic back on Aiden.

“The building will need extensive repairs, which will be reviewed later today. In the meantime, Miss Summers has sorted out temporary arrangements for the dogs until the renovations are complete.” He nodded to Piper.

Holly seemed reluctant to shift the focus away from her target. “Mr. Caldwell, with your affiliation with the rescue center”—her eyes flicked to Piper—“does Caldwell and Son Investments have any plans to offer the center aid?”

“The company plans to do whatever it can to assist the center. Discussions have already begun for future planning.”

Piper’s gaze shot to him, but he studiously ignored her. Discussions? Future planning? Piper’s brain scrambled. Maybe that was what he e-mailed Marilyn about. Or was it a vague business term to avoid giving a real answer? Piper sure wanted some real answers.

“There you have it,” Holly said. “The hound hater has struck again, but they haven’t shut this doghouse down yet. Is this dogfight over, or is it just beginning? This is Holly Hart for Channel Five News.”

Her smile shone on her face like a plastic Barbie until Hey You gave a thumbs-up.

Holly spun on her heel to face Piper. “Thanks for the interview. Bad luck for the center, but these stories have really boosted my ratings. The whole “man’s best friend,” heart-wrenching angle has warmed the viewers up to me. Can you believe people rate me as insincere?”

Piper tried to keep a straight face. “Shocking.”

“I know, right?” Holly rolled her eyes. “Well, let me know if there are any big breaks in the case. I’d like to finish with a good, heartwarming piece. Something uplifting.”

“You and me both.”

“I’m thinking something along the lines of cute puppies and old people or, better yet, babies. You know, happily ever after kind of stuff.”

“I’ll be sure to work on that,” Piper said.

Holly snapped her fingers at the cameraman and strutted back to the news van. Rolling his eyes, he muttered something under his breath before following her.

Piper turned back to Aiden, not quite ready to give up on their earlier conversation. Holly’s interview had raised a whole new set of questions. But as she opened her mouth to confront him, a BMW pulled up in front of the building. Aiden’s BMW. That explained why he drove the Jaguar that day.

The driver’s door opened, and Tamara climbed out. Piper groaned inwardly. When Aiden gave her a funny look, she realized her brain-mouth filter had malfunctioned again, and her inward groan had been an outward one.

Piper thought it was time she addressed the Tamara issue. She sidled closer to Aiden while Tamara grabbed some documents from the back of the car.

“Why is she driving your BMW?”

“Her car needs to go in for service.” He shrugged like he did that kind of thing all the time.

Piper crossed her arms. “I don’t trust her.”

“With the center?”

“No. With me. With anything. She’s different around me than she is around you. That day at your house, she really did attack me.”

He laughed like Piper was being ridiculous but kept his voice low. “This is Tamara we’re talking about? She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Not a fly. Me,” Piper said. “Aiden, I think she’s jealous.”

His forehead creased. “Jealous of what?”

“What do you think? Of our relationship. I think she might have feelings for you.”

“I’ve worked with Tamara for three years. It’s nothing more than business.”

“But—”

“You know what I think?” He reached out for Piper and pulled her back in. “I think that Tamara’s not the jealous one.”

“What?” Piper’s mouth dropped open.

Was he not hearing her? Could he not see what Tamara was really like? But then again, the first time they’d met, she’d never suspected Tamara was anything but sincere. Maybe the PA had never shown Aiden that other side of her. And he’d known her a lot longer than he’d known Piper. How could she make him see?

“Look,” he said. “Tamara’s here to help. It’s just business. I have some things to deal with at the office.”

“On the weekend?”

“Unfortunately, one of my deadlines unexpectedly moved up on me.” He chuckled but waved a dismissive hand. “I won’t bore you with the details.”

“Business?” She felt her mouth twist with annoyance.