Nope. No ifs, no buts, no candy or nuts. “Enough said. That you’re even thinking about it says those walls are tumbling down. I can’t wait to see you free and open.”

Zoey goes to protest, but before the doubt can be given words, I pull her to me, kissing her deeply. She kisses me back, her hands going around my neck and drawing me in deep too. The world disappears, and I only faintly hear Brianna come by, chuckling. “Just friends . . . Hmph.”

I smile against her lips and pull back, looking into Zoey’s eyes. She goes to open her mouth to say something, but before she can, one of the other dog parents calls across the park to someone. “Hey Sea-bass!” We both freeze, eyes going wide with hope.

I turn my head to see Sebastian, looking more like a fitness model than a dog trainer in his tight T-shirt and low-slung gray sweat pants. He waves to whoever greeted him and opens the gate.

“Our guy?” Zoey asks, going to look, but I cup her face, looking into her eyes.

“Don’t look.”

“Then how am I going to know where he is?”

I smile, cutting my eyes to the side. “He’s by the gate, petting the pair of Great Pyrs.”

“Great what?” Zoey asks.

I laugh softly. “Think the canine version of a marshmallow . . . huge, fluffy, white.”

“What are we waiting for then?” Zoey asks. “He could be starting a lesson. Let’s go over there.”

“Not yet, too direct,” I reply, stroking a thumb over Zoey’s face and relishing the softness there while still keeping an eye on Sebastian. “Trust the salesman. Some people, you have to ease up on them so you don’t scare them off.”

Zoey snorts. “You’re not clever. I know you’re talking about me.”

I focus everything on her, not smiling this time. “Wasn’t trying to hide it.”

Zoey takes a big, shuddering breath but nods. She hears me. She understands. “So, what’s the plan?”

I let her change the course of conversation, knowing I’m getting dangerously closer to her core and that she needs time to adjust to that. “Watch him.”

Zoey takes a half step back, still looking at me. “And then?”

I put an arm around her shoulders, leading Zoey away from Sebastian and toward Chunky, who’s now lying on the grass with his legs splayed into the air. Chunky’s lucky that Boopie isn’t still around. He might end up gettin’ more than a friendly sniff like that. “I don’t know yet.”

Zoey stiffens but keeps walking with me. “What? What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I mean I don’t know. I’m playing this by ear. You have a plan?” I ask as we reach Chunky, who promptly flops over. Kneeling, I pet his head, rubbing his ears until he licks my hand and runs off.