“I can do that now that the wall is gone. The living room was already oversize anyway, so taking some space from there and adding it to the kitchen is no big deal.”

  She nodded. “And you already have a dining area over there, so you’ll have this amazing open concept for entertaining. I like it.”

  “Thanks. Since you like to cook, anything you’d change, layout-wise?”

  She gazed at the blueprints, imagining herself prepping food and cooking in this new and improved kitchen.

  “You could add a spice cabinet, maybe . . . here.” She pointed to the drawers under where the cooktop would be. “If you take a little space there and put in a pull-out spice cabinet, the new owners will love you.”

  “Show me what that would look like.”

  She went and grabbed her phone, typed in the search, and showed him her dream spice cabinet. She handed the phone to him. “It doesn’t take up a lot of space, but it holds so many spices. Being right there by the stove, it saves so much time rather than fumbling through larger cabinets searching for spices. And instead of two cabinets here under the stove top, I’d suggest two deep pot drawers.”

  “I like these suggestions. I’ll make the changes.” He tilted his head and smiled at her. “Thanks.”

  Her heart did a little leap at the way he looked at her. “Hey, no problem. I have all kinds of ideas and would be happy to spend your money. All you have to do is ask.”

  He laughed. “Good to know.”

  She stood. “I should start dinner. I thought tonight we’d have pan-seared sea bass, along with colorful carrots and rice.”

  “Sounds amazing.”

  She started to walk away, then realized that Penelope was still hanging out next to Linc.

  Huh. That was unusual.

  “Come on, Penelope. Time to go.”

  The dog reluctantly followed, but she caught the knowing smile on Linc’s face.

  When they got inside the guesthouse, she closed the door. She leaned over and brushed her hand over Penelope’s head. “You like him, don’t you?”

  Her only answer was that beautiful golden retriever smile.

  Her dogs had always been a good judge of character. They had always helped her find the best homes for them. Dogs had an inner sense about who were good people and who weren’t, and Penelope was one of the best at it.

  It was heartening to know that Linc was one of the good ones.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Linc had spent two days pulling up the flooring, which had been a giant pain in his ass. But now that project was done, and he could move forward.

  If only he could find his hammer, which had suddenly gone missing. He looked through his tool bag but didn’t find it there, and thought maybe he had left it outside. He was mostly storing his tools in the garage, but the only table he had was on the patio, and since he occasionally checked the blueprints there, maybe that’s where he’d laid the hammer.

  Certain that’s where it was, he stepped out back to look. Huh. Not there. He scanned the yard and saw the dogs out there, hiding out in the shade under the trees.

  He squinted to see Penelope happily chewing on . . . something. He didn’t see Hazel out there anywhere, but the dogs were used to him wandering near them, and Penny—as he’d taken to calling her—was the friendliest, so he approached her. She was tucked beneath one of the palm trees.

  “Hey, Penny,” he said as he got closer. “Whatcha got there?”

  It didn’t take long for him to figure out she was gnawing on his hammer.

  He got down on his hands and knees and crawled toward her, which then made Lilith come to investigate. He heard her warning growl—not the first time the Chihuahua had let him know she wasn’t happy about his presence. Since she only weighed about six pounds, it wasn’t like she was a threat, but he still liked to praise her.

  “I hear you, Lilith. I promise not to hurt Penny.” He came closer, and Penny seemed nonplussed about him being there, now more interested in him paying attention to her than she was the hammer. So he took the hammer, then sat next to Penny and rubbed his hand over her head and ears.

  “Penny. Hammers aren’t good for you. Got that?”

  Penny just looked up at him with adoring eyes.

  “What’s going on?”

  Hazel had come out and now leaned over with a concerned expression on her face.

  “Penny borrowed my hammer for a little chew time.”

  “Oh.” Hazel pulled up a spot on the grass. “I might have failed to mention that she has a tendency to steal things.”

  Linc looked down at Penny. “A bit of a klepto, are you?”

  “She doesn’t mean any harm. She just likes to collect items and hide them.”

  “Hey, it’s no big deal. Other than I need my hammer.”

  Just then Gordon the pug came over and crawled into his lap, made himself comfortable, and went to sleep. Linc felt a rush of warmth and emotion that he wasn’t expecting. He’d grown up with dogs but hadn’t had one since he’d left home for college. He put his hand over Gordon’s back and just let the peace of it wash over him.

  “Gordon never lets any opportunity for a cuddle nap pass him by. Laps are his favorite thing. You’ve been warned.”

  Hazel’s lips curved into a wry smile. Maybe part apology, part “you’ve been suckered, pal—deal with it.” Either way, he’d been due for a break, and it wasn’t too bad sitting under the shade of the enormous palm tree surrounded by dogs and a beautiful woman.

  “You’re good at getting to know their personalities,” he said.

  Hazel looked over the pack, who had surrounded them both. Gordon was in his lap, Penny next to him. Lilith had crawled onto Hazel’s lap while Freddie the dachshund and Boo the pittie flanked her. “They make it easy since they’re all so different. And they crave attention since they didn’t come from ideal situations. Once you start giving them some love and affection, they’ll show you who they are—quirks and all.”

  “And what are their quirks? I might as well know since I’m going to be around them.”

  “Okay. You’ve already discovered Penelope’s thievery issues and the fact that if you sit at Gordon’s level, he’s going to use you as a nap bed. Boo likes to cuddle in bed with me every night with his favorite toy, despite my best efforts to crate train him. He has some separation anxiety issues. We’re still working through that, but he was abandoned in an alley by his humans, so he has a fear of being alone.”

  “What assholes do that?”

  “The assholiest of assholes, that’s who.” She smoothed her hand over the stormy gray dog with the smooth coat, who had the friendliest and cutest smile Linc had ever seen.

  “Okay, and what about Freddie?”

  She turned her focus to the dachshund. “He’s a chewer. He’s especially fond of wood products. Guard your lumber.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. What about the leader of the pack?” He motioned to Lilith, who was staring at him as if she’d attack at any moment.

  “Loud noises. Fears them terribly.”

  “No wonder she hates me.”

  She smiled. “She doesn’t hate you. She’s just slow to warm up to people, especially men.”

  “Wow. She’s so tiny. How could someone hurt her?”

  “People can be cruel, Linc. And it’s not just men, either. Some people think animals don’t have feelings or emotions, that they can’t be hurt, that they’re only for entertainment. I don’t know. I can’t begin to presume what goes on in the minds of people who don’t love these beautiful creatures, who don’t take care of them.”

  He could tell that it hurt her to talk about the abuses her babies had suffered. “I’m glad they have someone like you to look after them.”

  She glanced down at Lilith, then back up at him. “Thanks. I do what I can. I wish I could do more.”

  “You can only do what you can do. And that’s more than a lot of people do.”

  He saw the blush stain her cheeks and wondered if she was unused to compliments. Someone who looked like her should be accustomed to being showered with them.

  Obviously, someone had hurt her, too.

  People really could be assholes. There was a sweetness and a vulnerability to Hazel that was unlike any woman he’d ever met before. It made him want to know everything about her.

  But, he wasn’t in the market for another girlfriend. That was just asking for trouble after what he’d been through. So he’d just be distant and friendly enough and treat her like an employee.

  He gently placed Gordon on the grass, then stood and brushed off his jeans. “Okay, I should get back to work.”

  “Me, too.”

  He held out his hand for her, and when she slipped her hand in his, he hauled her upright. He felt a zap of something electric when they touched. From the look in her eyes, she had felt it, too.

  He ignored it, pulling his hand from hers.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’ll see you for dinner, then.”

  “Sure.” He turned and walked away, realizing he was already looking forward to it.

  For the food, of course; not because he’d get to spend time with Hazel again.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Well, sonofabitch.”

  Hazel grimaced, hating having been the bearer of bad news.

  “I had noticed the guesthouse getting warmer throughout the afternoon, and I hadn’t been baking at all so I knew it wasn’t that.”

  She tried not to peer over Linc’s shoulder as he checked out all the components of the guesthouse’s air-conditioning system. Not that she knew anything at all about air-conditioning units, but she could tell from the irritated look on his face as he made his way from the electrical box to the main unit that he wasn’t happy.

  “Electrical is fine, but you’re right that it’s not cooling. Thermostat is climbing in here. You should grab your stuff and move over to the main house where it’s cooler.”

  “Oh, we’ll be fine in here.”

  “It’s eighty-six outside with ninety-five percent humidity, Hazel. You’re not fine in here. We’ll move you to one of the guest rooms in the house until I can get this fixed.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip, hating to be a burden. “Okay. I can set up my air mattress—”

  “Absolutely not. I’ll move your bed.”

  She shook her head. “No. That’s way too heavy, plus the mattress and all.”

  “The bed comes apart. And, fine. You can help me move the mattress if it’ll make you feel better.”

  Not entirely better, but it was at least something she could do to help. “Okay. Thank you.”

  She had roughed it in hot weather before. She actually enjoyed camping and didn’t mind sweating a little. But it was hot and humid, and being inside the guesthouse with temperatures climbing was going to be pretty uncomfortable. She figured she and the dogs would just sleep outside tonight by the pool. The pool area was covered, so she wouldn’t have to worry about bugs, and there were nice, comfy lounges.

  But if Linc insisted she and the dogs move inside to one of the bedrooms, who was she to argue?

  She packed up their things, which included the dogs’ beds and crates and all her stuff—which wasn’t much—and carted it over to the main house. Except he hadn’t told her which room to occupy. There were four bedrooms in the house including the master, and she figured he’d taken that room, so she chose one of the bedrooms down the hall that had an attached bathroom.

  She’d left the dogs out back so she could start bringing linens and bed things into the house. She’d brought up the towels and blankets and sheets and had straightened everything up in the bathroom and was about to go check on the dogs when Linc appeared in the bedroom carrying part of the bed frame, those impressive muscles of his bulging with the effort and sweat pouring down the sides of his face.

  Never once had she found a sweaty guy attractive—until now. She followed him outside and into the guesthouse and helped him carry the rest of the bed frame into the main house. Then they went back for the mattress. Penelope decided to follow them this time, and Lilith came, too. The rest of the dogs were in late-afternoon snooze mode and couldn’t be bothered.

  “It’s okay,” he said as he started to put the frame together. “You don’t need to stay for this.”

  She gave him a look that told him she was anything but useless. He shrugged and they put the bed together, then laid the mattress on top. She grabbed the sheets and blanket, figuring he’d go back to work, but instead, he stayed and helped her make the bed, something that felt decidedly intimate, especially when he ran his hand over the flat sheet to smooth out any wrinkles. It made her shiver, imagining his hand sliding over her body like that. What would it feel like to have him touch her? Would his hand be calloused when he rubbed his palm across her nipple?

  “Is that good?”

  She looked up. “Is what good?”

  “The bed.”

  She realized she’d been all in her fantasies and hadn’t noticed they’d put the blanket on. “Oh, right. Yes, it’s fine. Perfect, in fact.”

  “Uh-huh. I’m going to go do something about that AC.”

  “Yes, you do that. I’ll rearrange dinner plans and prepare something on the grill.”

  Mentally rolling her eyes at herself, she followed him down the stairs, Penelope and Lilith on her heels. He headed toward the back of the guesthouse, while she went into the guesthouse and grabbed her notebook and pen, then opened the fridge, took a few seconds to glance at the contents, and headed outside.

  She slid her bare legs into the shaded part of the pool and started to redo tonight’s menu, hoping for some focus now that she wasn’t in the same vicinity as Linc.

  What had that been all about? That weird fantasy about Linc putting his hands on her? Because she so did not have any desire for him in the least.

  Except she so did, and lying to herself about it wasn’t going to make it go away. She already knew nothing was going to happen between them, so what was the harm in indulging in a little fantasy foreplay?

  She paused as she made her menu, realizing again how ridiculous she was. She wasn’t the only one making decisions here, and as far as she knew, Linc wasn’t the least bit interested in her. So her fantasy about being stretched out on the bed and fondled by Linc was going to remain just that—a fantasy.

  He was here to work on the house, not play with her. And that’s how things were going to stay.

  Besides, technically, she was his employee, and the two of them sleeping with each other would be a terrible idea. What if he immediately regretted it and fired her? Then she’d end up out on the streets, and she needed to focus on the pups and their welfare. Right now she had a great thing going on, and she needed to remember that.

  Despite this being all in her head, it was important to keep it that way, and extinguish the fantasies while she was at it.

  The paycheck was way more important to her future.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Linc was engrossed in plumbing fixtures when he heard the tapping on the concrete. Figuring it might be one of the dogs coming downstairs, he ignored it. Until he caught sight of Freddie grabbing hold of his ruler and taking off toward the steps.

  “Dammit, Freddie.” He straightened and headed up the stairs. He peeked in the open door to Hazel’s room. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, typing on her laptop.

  “Hey,” he said. “Sorry to bother you, but did Freddie run in here with my ruler?”

  Her head snapped up. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I was engrossed in something and I didn’t see him. Let me take a peek under the bed.”

  She laid the laptop down and then got on all fours, which positioned her very fine ass right at him. He tried not to look, but how could he help it?

  She rested back on her heels to look up at him. “No, he’s not under here.”

  “Huh. Okay.”

  Today she was dressed in cotton shorts and a tank top, and he couldn’t help but notice her long, tan legs and smooth shoulders. Her hair was wound up on top of her head, wispy little tendrils escaping that bun.

  Why was she so damned beautiful? He didn’t need that kind of distraction. He was trying very hard not to think of her as a desirable woman. Kind of difficult when her very amazing ass was right there. He decided to look out the window instead, waiting for her to get up, which, fortunately, she did. Because his attraction to her was his problem, not hers.

  “Let me help you look for him. Freddie? Come here, Freddie.” She left the room, so he followed.

  “He usually comes right when I call him,” she explained as they made their way down the hall. “Unless he’s harboring a treasure—like your ruler—then he hides. Sorry about that.”

  Linc rolled his eyes and wandered into the two empty bedrooms. Closet doors were closed, so no dog hiding in there.

  Which left his room. The dachshund had short little legs, so he knew he wouldn’t find him on top of the bed. He bent down to check under the bed. And there was Freddie, happily chewing on his ruler.

  “Dude. Seriously?”

  Hazel joined him. “Oh, Freddie. This is not okay.”

  Hazel wriggled under the bed frame and gently grasped the dog, pulling him out and onto her lap. She extricated the now-mangled ruler and handed it to Linc, an apologetic look on her face. “I’ll replace it.”

  “No need. I have others.” He shook the ruler at Freddie. “Not a toy, Freddie.”

  Freddie barked happily at him, his tongue wagging in anticipation of Linc handing the ruler back to him.

  “Ha. Not a chance, buddy. This thing is trash.” He stood, then held his hand out for Hazel, who grasped it. He hauled her up.

  “I’m really sorry,” she said. “I thought all the dogs were in the room with me. I guess I lost track. Freddie’s the sneaky one.”