The Millionaire's Secret Wish by Leanne Banks

I just don’t want you taking any chances.”
    Her eyes softened. She reached for his hand and hesitated. Despite all his good intentions, Dylan hatedthe hesitation. He knew the reason for it. She hesitated because he hadn’t made love to her when she had asked him to in every way.
    He took her hand and her gaze widened slightly.
    “Life is full of chances,” she said. “If you don’t take some chances, you might as well be dead.” She bit her lip as if slightly worried. “I took a few today,” she said under her breath.
    “A few,” he echoed, wondering what was going on in her pretty head.
    She smiled a shade too brightly. “When I visited Granger today, I remembered some more things.”
    Uneasy, Dylan waited. “Such as?”
    “My cat,” she told him.
    He nodded. “Tiger.”
    “Yes, you complained about her, but you always rubbed her.”
    “She was so ugly I felt sorry for her.”
    “I’m not going to ask if that’s why you put up with me as a child,” she said.
    He chuckled. “Okay.”
    She glared at him. “I’m just going to believe I was so adorable you couldn’t resist me,” she said. “Or my mother’s cookies,” she added. “Or the opportunity to see The Lone Ranger reruns. But that’s another issue. I decided I wanted to get you a thank-you gift for all you’ve done for—”
    Dylan stiffened and he dropped her hand. “Not necessary. You don’t owe me anything.”
    She wiggled her hand as if she didn’t know whatto do with it for a moment, then firmly clasped her hands together. “Well, I’ve already gotten it. I, uh, I really hope you’ll accept it graciously and grow to like it.” She paused a half beat and waited expectantly. “Will you?”
    “Will I what?”
    “Will you accept it graciously?”
    He shrugged, uncomfortable, but unwilling to diminish the eager hopefulness he saw in her eyes. “Sure,” he said with a shrug. “What is it?”
    “Good,” she said, infusing the single word with ten pounds worth of relief. Her gaze flickered nervously away. “It’s in the car. Close your eyes.”
    “Why?” he asked, wondering if he’d voiced his acceptance too soon.
    “Because I want you to,” she insisted. “It’s an easy thing to do. Won’t cost you a dime. Just close your eyes,” she said, lifting his hand to cover his eyes. “Promise you won’t peek.”
    Silence followed. “Promise,” she demanded.
    Dylan stifled a groan. “Promise.”
    He heard the click of her heels on the stone walkway and steps, then the driveway. Her car door creaked open. “Don’t peek!” she yelled.
    “I’m not,” he muttered, but he was tempted as hell. What had she gotten him?
    She slammed the car door and quickly climbed the steps to stand in front of him. “Keep your eyes closed, but open your arms.”
    Confused, he frowned. “What—”
    “Keep your eyes closed, but open your arms,” she repeated.
    “Okay,” he said, his patience stretched. He immediately felt something furry and wiggly in his arms. Dylan looked down into the face of a fuzzy golden retriever puppy. His childhood flashed back to him and he remembered a time when he’d wanted a dog so badly he could taste it. That had been close to twenty years ago. The puppy looked at him with soulful caramel eyes and promptly peed on his Italian loafers.
    Swearing under his breath, he looked at Alisa as if she’d lost her mind.
    She winced at the puppy’s “mistake.” “Oops. I guess we’ll have to work on that.” She gave a smile and lifted her shoulders. “Meet Tonto, the dog of your dreams.”
    Dylan opened his mouth to tell her this wasn’t a good idea. He no longer considered himself a pet person. He’d grown beyond that. He didn’t want that kind of attachment. He didn’t want any attachment. The dog wiggled in his arms. Dylan looked into Alisa’s eyes and couldn’t find it in him to snuff out the eager light of hope he saw there. Damn. A thousand refusals stuck on the edge of his