I liked dogs. I had always liked dogs. And children. At somewhat of a distance. I knew I wanted both of them someday, but I’d never been in a situation to be up close and personal with either, so I wasn’t quite sure how to act with them.

I had a small circle of friends, only three who I spent a lot of time with: Tina, Tiffany and Fiona. None of them had dogs or children.

I didn’t have any contact with my family, apart from Ansel, and he did not have a child or a dog. And unfortunately, he lived thousands of miles away.

“You’re very cute,” I informed the dog, gingerly holding out my hand for it to smell. The dog sniffed it for a moment then rubbed its cheek against my palm, communicating what it would like me to do. I obliged, scratching its head and behind the ears. Its tail thumped harder.

I’d been so preoccupied with the dog and with petting it that I had not noticed its owner striding down my hall.

Not until two sock-clad feet stopped beside the paws of the dog.

“Maggie,” the voice said, warm and hoarse at the same time.

I held my breath, concentrating on the socks for a moment more before wondering why he didn’t have shoes on before I found the courage to look up at him.

Yep, it was Rowan standing in front of me. Not wearing any shoes. With his dog. He was still wearing worn jeans, a tight tee that accentuated his large, muscular biceps. His hat was on backward, his sexiness driving me insane.

“Her name.” He motioned down to the dog I was petting. “Maggie.”

I tried to figure out how this rugged, hulking alpha came to own an adorable and sweet chocolate lab called Maggie.

“She’s cute,” I said, my voice frustratingly thin and high.

“She likes you,” he replied, eyes warm yet intense.

My shoulders felt strained, carrying the weight of that gaze. My heart thrashed in my chest then moved up into my throat.

Fiona was still here somewhere. I swear, her presence still lingered. But I had blinders on. All I could see was Rowan. And Maggie.

We didn’t talk for a long moment. Or maybe it wasn’t that long. Maybe it was only a handful of seconds. Time seemed to lose its meaning when I was in Rowan’s presence.

“What are you doing here?” I finally asked.

“I’m stayin’ here,” he declared in a gruff tone.

My eyes would’ve popped out of my head if I were a cartoon character. Since I wasn’t one, they just bulged in disbelief.

“What?” I stuttered, clutching my wine glass for dear life. It seemed as if the world had turned upside down in the space of one day. About thirty hours ago, I’d been making a ‘dick of myself’—as Fiona would say, and aptly, might I add—in front of this man. Sure, he’d been friendly and almost flirty, but he was quite obviously being polite because I was the woman who made the croissants and had the fancy coffee machine. He enjoyed his croissants and fancy coffee.