Della chewed on her inner lip, worried for a beat or two that Tucker would be annoyed she had company. But he just grinned and greeted the older woman. “Hey, Mrs. Forbes. No, I got her for Della. As a housewarming gift.”

“Well aren’t you sweet.” She scratched the dog under the chin for a beat or two before turning a beady eye on Tucker. “Don’t just stand on the doorstep. Come and say hi to everyone.” And she shuffled off.

Tucker cocked an eyebrow at Della. “Everyone?” he mouthed.

“Surprise,” she said with faux excitement. He chuckled, and she mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head, his fingers brushing down her cheek just as they’d done last night, and every cell in her body underwent a wild Pavlovian response. She was back against this very door again, being drugged into submission by his mouth. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to start drooling all over her dog’s head.

Forcing herself to stand aside as Tucker strode in, Della took in the varying degrees of surprise and male appreciation flitting across her friends’ faces.

“Hey, Tucker.” Winona looked from him to Della and back to him again, a knowing kind of smile playing on her mouth. “You here for book club?”

God, there was no way Della could sit through an erotic book club read with Tucker present and not want to instantly break rules one through three. “Tucker bought me a dog,” Della said, completely unnecessarily.

“Oh my God, what a cutie.” Molly leapt up from her chair, Marley following close behind. “Is that a Cavalier King Charles?”

He nodded. “It is.”

“How old?” Molly continued.

“She’s five.”

“And does she have a name?” These were all excellent questions. None of which Della had even thought to ask.

“Betty.”

Della blinked. “Betty?”

“What kind of a name is Betty for a dog?” Rosemary asked.

Tucker shrugged as he placed the round basket on the floor near the couch. “I didn’t name her. The shelter said her first owners were Betty White fans.”

“Oh.” Rosemary’s frown disappeared. “How wonderful. Betty kinda suits her, actually.”

He chuckled at Rosemary’s swift change of mind. “I agree.”

“Why was she in a shelter?” Ruth asked.

“Her owners were moving into an apartment that didn’t allow animals.”

“Oh…poor Betty.” Molly petted the dog soothingly.

“Why don’t you join us,” Rosemary said. “We still have some wine left. Or Molly’s just made a pot of coffee.”

“Oh no, that’s fine.” He glanced at Della, and she swore she could see regret swirling in his whiskey gaze as he petted Betty’s head. “I’ll leave you to your meeting.”

The thought of Tucker departing set off a mild panic in Della’s chest, and she lifted her foot to take a step toward him but halted abruptly, hyperaware they had an audience.