So she'd watched him go? Great.

Cash continued to bound around him, so Reese walked the dog out to the grass and let him do as he pleased. After sprinkling a half dozen areas to claim them, Cash chased a bee, barked at a squirrel and ran after the stick Reese threw for him.

After a good five minutes of playing, Reese dropped down next to a tree so Cash could get in his lap.

It was odd, but he accepted the truth- he'd missed the dog, too. Smiling at that silly idea, he hugged Cash and even kissed the top of his furry head.

The dog went bananas again, making him laugh.

"You really did miss me, didn't you?

Was she cruel, is that it? Did she feed you birdseed or smack you off the couch?"

"Of course I didn't."

Reese looked up-and there Alice stood. She'd quickly dressed in casual slacks and now wore slip-on shoes, but she hadn't yet combed her hair.

"I was teasing." Reese patted the ground beside him. "Care to sit with us?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

So why had she joined them? Just to keep him from getting near her apartment again? Interesting. "Did he behave for you?"

"That depends on your idea of behaving." But she smiled at the dog.

"He ate a throw pillow while I was...

that is..." The words fell away, and she ducked her head.

Interest spiked, Reese said, "While you were what?"

She cleared her throat. "Away from the couch."

Away from the couch doing what?

"Cooking?" Thinking of the occasions when Cash had done the most damage to his place, Reese offered, "Changing? On the phone? The computer?"

"Showering, actually."

He'd have paid good money to see that. "So...you were in there long?"

"Ten minutes, tops." She turned brisk.

"But after scratching at my bathroom door, he quieted. I assumed all was well. Until I found the stuffing everywhere."

Great. "Sorry about that. I'll pay for the damage."

"No need. I made the pillow, and I have fabric left, so I'll just make another."

Somehow it fit that she could sew. But what else? "You're sure?"

"Don't give it another thought."

Cash finally plopped down, his chin on Reese's thigh. His tail thumped hard on the ground as Reese stroked him.

"He obviously adores you."

Was that surprise in Alice's tone?

"I'm an adorable guy."

The slightest of smiles quirked her mouth. "Did you need me to watch him today?"

"I wanted to talk to you about that."

He checked his watch again. "Come on.

Sit for a minute."

Unsettled, she searched the ground and again shook her head. "I'm fine."

"Actually you're skittish. Why is that?"

"I'm not!"

Whoa. Slowly, keeping his gaze on her, Reese got to his feet. Cash went on the alert, unsure what they were doing.

Hell, Reese was unsure, too. "Could we sit on the steps then?"

She looked back at the apartment, drew a breath and nodded as if she'd just agreed to enter a burning building.

With grave seriousness, he said, "Thank you."

One way or another, Reese knew he'd figure out the problem. But not now, not with such a limited time frame, not in the lot of his apartment building with his dog craving attention.

But soon. Probably a whole lot sooner than Alice whatever-her-last-name- might-be would like.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

BY SILENT AGREEMENT, they headed back toward the steps. "Where do you work?"

Reese asked.

"Here." She waited for him to sit on a step, then put herself as far from him as she could get without actually sitting on the blacktop. "I'm self-employed."

"Really?" Interesting. "Doing what?"

"I'm a virtual assistant."

Never heard of it. When he continued to stare at her in confusion, she launched into a rehearsed explanation.

"Other people who work from home often need help with databases, phone calls, filing and other general forms of organization. That sort of thing."

Enjoying how she'd opened up-in a miniscule way-Reese kept her talking.

"How's that work?"

"It's easy enough with the internet and email. Different clients send their information to me and I keep their business lives running smoothly."

"So you're here...pretty much all the time?" That was so convenient, it almost felt like fate. Not that he believed in fate.

If he did, he knew he was screwed big time, given that fate so far seemed to have a sick sense of humor.

"I... Yes." She frowned. "I'm not sure I understand why you're asking."

Reese put his hands on his thighs in sudden decision. "Here we go. I found Cash in a box in the middle of a street.

The box was taped shut, so I know someone put him there on purpose."

"Dear God!"

He liked that reaction because it mirrored his own. "It was sheer luck that he hadn't already been hit by the traffic.

I saw the box move, got suspicious and stopped. The second I lifted it, I knew there was a dog inside, so I put him in my car, cut the tape-and out popped Cash."

Hand covering her mouth, Alice looked at Cash with a wealth of emotion.

She moved in closer to hug Cash tight.

Sensing her deep sympathy, the dog looked at Reese with worry. Expressive dog.

"I didn't really think it through,"

Reese explained. "I just took him to the vet, then spent a small fortune getting him a flea dip, his ears cleaned, his blood checked...the whole shebang.

Thus his name, Cash."

"That was so kind of you."

Great. Melodrama. Just what he didn't need. "That was human of me. Whoever put him in that box is lacking humanity."

And should be beaten, at the very least.

"But the point is, now I have a dog, and I'm fond of him and he of me, but unfortunately I sometimes have to work weird times of the day so-"

"You'd like me to be the dog sitter?"

In case she thought to refuse, Reese went about convincing her. "He's smart, so I know he can learn about tearing up stuff and waiting to go outside. Of course I'll supply all his food and anything else you'd need. And-"

"I'd love to."

"I'll pay you," he said at almost the same time.

They stared at each other.

Reese moved down a step to be closer to the dog-and to Alice. "I'm sure we could come up with an agreeable wage, and I could even pay overtime whenever my hours get too screwy." Like they were bound to be again today.

"I like Cash." She held the dog protectively to her chest. Cash's eyebrows went up and down as he looked at Reese with uncertainty. "I don't mind watching him."

"But I'll still insist on paying you."

He patted his thigh. "Come here, Cash."

The dog bolted over to him, crawled into his lap but then stretched out to lick at Alice's hand.

A diplomat or an affection hog- Reese wasn't sure which.

Alice looked ready to melt. "Okay."

On to the next hurdle. "You can't watch Cash and ban me from your apartment."

Her gaze shot up to his. "I wasn't banning, exactly..."

Before she could get too worked up, he said fast, "It's okay. I'm not going to pry." Yet. "But I'm a cop, you know. I'm trustworthy. And I need to know Cash is safe."

Umbrage put her shoulders back and stiffened her neck. "If you're suggesting -"

"Not suggesting a thing." More like setting up the rules. "I'm only saying that ours will be a friendly business arrangement, and there's no reason for you to worry about me overstepping, in any way." Just because he suddenly wanted to kiss her silly...no reason at all. "I want everything clear up front."

"Everything?"

"The details of our arrangement."

She continued to regard him in stiff wariness.

Better to save that discussion for later. He checked his watch to drive home his lack of free time. "But right now, I have to go shower and shave and get to work. Are you okay for now?"

"Yes."

Still stiff. Great. So far he batted a big fat zero. "Today will probably be another lousy day. But I might-" as in definitely would "-come by during my lunch so that Cash doesn't think I've handed him over."

"Fine."