Busting Loose by Kat Murray Page B

just showing your roots.” He tugged on a lock of bright blond hair, which was held back today with a simple headband. He’d noticed when she came in to work, it seemed to be more back than forward. No more sexy sweeping bangs for work time. The gesture, whether it was intentional or not, pleased him.
    â€œMy roots are in LA,” she said testily, slapping at his hand. “Now what’s wrong?”
    He opened the door to his office halfway, which was all he could do before it hit something and stuck. “This would be the problem.”
    â€œOh!” Her face lit up, and he swore the hallway brightened with the force of her smile. “I totally forgot. The flyers came yesterday after you left for that emergency call. I didn’t want to take up an exam room, so I just stuck them back in your office.”
    â€œFlyers?” He nudged the door a little harder with his shoulder, pushing at the box he’d hit with his shin earlier. “Flyers for what?”
    â€œThe adoption fair we’re having.” Bea’s tone said he was an idiot if he hadn’t put those two together. Like a student in the back of the classroom still asking how to do long division in the tenth grade.
    â€œOh, for the . . . the what?” He paused and looked at her. “Did you say ‘adoption fair’?”
    She smiled, a slow, sly smile that did interesting things to his libido again. Which was crazy, given it was likely a smile that indicated she was up to no good. He should be running like hell, and instead his dick was ready to offer him up as a sacrifice. “You did say I should take out advertising for the shelter and run with it. Were those not your words?”
    They were, but it seemed foolish to admit to anything just yet. “You might have wanted to clear it with me first. I could have appointments that day.”
    â€œYou don’t.”
    He thought fast. “We don’t have enough time to set up.”
    â€œWe do.”
    â€œThere might be permits and—”
    â€œTaken care of.” She grinned, as if realizing she had him completely trapped in a corner. “I spoke with the town council, and they agreed to waive the normal fee and application this time, since it’s our first trial run. But in the future, we’ll need to be more prepared.”
    Town council. He mentally flipped through his calendar. “There hasn’t been a council meeting since we talked last. The next one isn’t for almost three weeks. How did you manage that?”
    Bea grinned, then tried to look serious. “I just located all of them individually and fixed it right up.” She batted her lashes. “They just couldn’t say no, after I explained how sad all the sweet puppies and kitties were in their cages, all alone.”
    Uh-huh. He’d just bet that was what they were thinking when they agreed. Bea could wield those baby blues with more accuracy than a Marine Corps sniper. With resignation, he asked, “So when is our adoption fair anyway?”
    â€œNext Saturday.” She clapped her hands once, then picked up Milton and held him to her shoulder. “Milton and I are going to be making the rounds later on, telling everyone about it. He’s so charming and handsome, I’m sure he’ll just inspire everyone to get a dog of their very own.”
    The charming, handsome dog looked at Morgan for a moment, then farted audibly.
    Morgan waved his hand and pushed farther into the office with all his might. Talk about motivation. “Just . . . just figure out where these can go in the meantime, because I need my office.”
    With her blue eyes watering from the smell, Bea nodded and coughed delicately. Then she put Milton down and blinked rapidly. “Will do,” she squeaked, then hustled around the corner. The stink bomb on four legs followed her.
    Morgan took five healthy steps away and breathed in deep. Jesus, were his glasses