Favorite color – yellow.
Dream job – author.
Dream date – a picnic and a walk in the woods.
Birthday – September 5.
Birthmark – right hip, shaped almost like lips.
Tattoos – none.
Piercings – clitoral hood.
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nbsp; Rue choked on his own tongue as he read that. Lena had returned and sat across from him in a worn leather chair. He couldn’t stop his gaze from drifting to where the piercing was hidden. God, how I want to see it, suck it.
Rue adjusted his pants; his thoughts were making him hard as a rock.
“Have you finished reading? Any questions? I tried to be as thorough as possible. I think it would be a good idea if you told me as much about you.”
Rue wished Lena asked because she wanted to know, but he would take what he could get. He was positive he could win her over before her father left. He intended to get lines eighteen, twenty-one, and thirty-nine revoked. Not to mention, he most assuredly wanted to see both her birthmark and piercing.
Rue realized this whole pretend fiancé thing was better than dating for months. Just reading her packet told him so much about her already. And if what he had observed of her personality so far was any indication, she was an amazing woman, one he could see himself with long term. Rue decided he could easily fall for her so the only thing to do was to ensure she could fall for him too.
“Okay.” Rue set the papers down on the couch next to him and leaned back, drinking her in like a thirsty man. Lena sat with her legs curled under her, sipping her water daintily, with Rose at the foot of the chair. Her dress had ridden up her thigh, but not high enough to see her birthmark. Pity.
“Well, my favorite movie is also Tombstone. I’ve seen it about a hundred times. You ain’t no Daisy at all.” Rue did his best Doc Holliday impression. Lena laughed.
“My favorite color is black. I don’t have a favorite flower. My favorite music is Norwegian death metal. My dream job is a forest ranger. No birthmarks but I do have a tattoo of—and don’t laugh, I cannot stress that enough—Elmer Fudd on my right ass cheek. And no piercings but I am not opposed to them.”
Water shot from Lena’s nose and her laughter invaded his entire being. That moment he knew there was something he wanted to do more than breathe, and that was make this woman laugh. He wanted to be a source of humor in her life and if Elmer Fudd on his ass did that, then the drunken night when he’d accepted that dare was worth it.
“Oh my god, tell me you’re not joking, please. For the love of all things Warner Brothers, tell me it’s real.”
“Sadly, yes, it is, but what happened to not laughing? Do you want to see it?”
“Um, partially blind here, so I’ll take your word for it.” Rue could tell by the way she looked at him that she could see some things, especially up close, but he didn’t push her. She needed a retreat and that was it. That didn’t mean he didn’t imagine the look on her beautiful face if he walked up to her, dropped trou, and bent over so she could see Mr. Fudd in all his glory.
They continued to share details most couples wouldn’t learn about each other for months of dating. The more he learned about Lena, the closer to the edge he got. He may have only known her for a handful of hours, but he knew his fall was inevitable. He could easily be in love with her before her father left town.
His gaze drifted to Rose as Lena spoke about her first pet. She’d untucked one foot and it drifted back and forth along Rose’s body, they both seemed perfectly content with the arrangement.
Rue decided even if he couldn’t make her his girlfriend for real, he could never separate her and Rose. He knew he would eventually lose his heart to Lena if things didn’t work out, like he’d already lost his dog.
Walking to his bags, he removed his football and placed it on the mantle next to a picture of Lena and a man he assumed was her father and a tiara. He loved the way their stuff juxtaposed when placed side by side.
Rue placed the pictures he’d grabbed from his place around the living room, intermingling them with hers. One white-framed photo blew him away. It was a younger Lena standing in front of a weather map with a blinding smile on her face. Her lavender colored eyes sparkled with joy. A sticker proclaimed it her First Day at Channel 5. He made a mental note to take some pictures together to add to the collection.
“Cartoon hunters aside, I would like to negotiate a few of the smaller points in your proposal.” Rue watched her closely, reading her body language for clues if he went too far. She shifted her weight and placed her cup down on the table next to her. Lena patted her thigh and Rose snapped to attention then gently leapt up on her lap before resuming her nap.
Rose is her shield. It hit him like a ton of bricks, she needed Rose more than he realized. Glad I’m already resigned to losing my dog. In a matter of hours, Rose became so much more than the puppy who knocked her down, Lena needed her.
Rue wasn’t one to believe in fate and all that crap, but he was quickly converting. Rose was destined for Lena not him, but he was meant to bring them together and he had. It felt as if he’d served a higher purpose.
Lena was so independent she wouldn’t accept help from people, but she allowed a dog through her walls at first sight, accepting help and comfort from Rose. Rue was determined—now more than before—to follow Rose inside those walls. He wasn’t crazy enough to think he was deeply in love with Lena at first sight, but he wanted more than a pretend relationship with her.
And I know just the way to find that entrance.