“I’m sorry, because this is a big one. You asked if I missed you. It’s easier to tell you what I didn’t miss. I didn’t miss worrying about disappointing you, or stressing over how mad my work made you—”

“You…didn’t miss me,” she said, shocked, making him wince. “Wow.” She seemed bowled over by this, and backed away to think. “I pictured you so miserable. I even waited an extra few days to dig that misery deep.” She sank back to his desk. “I can’t believe it. You didn’t miss me. Me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” She stood up again. “But that’s my problem, right? I mean I took the risk of leaving you. I actually thought I’d get a diamond ring out of it.”

He felt himself pale, and she let out a mirthless laugh. “Don’t worry, Joe. I think I get it now.” She looked him over from head to toe, put her hand to her heart and gave one little fluttering sigh. “If only you weren’t so damn gorgeous.” She sighed. “But so am I. I’ll recover.”

“Yeah, you will.” He hugged her when she leaned in, then watched her go, thinking he must be insane, because being with her had been a piece of cake compared to being with Summer.

Too bad he’d never taken the easy route in his life.

He blinked, then backed to his chair and fell into it, because he’d just realized where this thought process had taken him. He’d told Summer they were going to be just friends, that that’s all he wanted, and he’d lied through his teeth. He wanted more. He wanted it all. If that didn’t make him the biggest fool alive, he had no idea what did.

Kenny poked his head in. “Cindy cut you loose again?”

Still stunned by the revelation, Joe stared at him. “Huh?”

“Did Cindy—”

“Woof.”

At the unmistakable sound of a puppy’s bark, Joe nearly had a coronary. He rushed past Kenny and looked inside the box. Inside was a downy soft blanket and a dark muddy-colored spot.

A muddy-colored spot that wriggled, whimpered, and then barked again. “A puppy? What’s a puppy doing here?” It looked like a chocolate lab, complete with melting eyes and a pink tongue lolling out of its mouth as it sleepily contemplated Joe.

“She’s our new arson partner,” Kenny said. “Do you like her?”

“If she’s yours, I like her a lot.”

“Yeah, about that.” Kenny pasted an apologetic look on his face. “She was going to be mine, but then my landlord said no dogs.”

“You live in your own house.”

“I’m awfully strict.”