Page 57 of Under Pressure

“Bodi! Get down! Come over here, boy.”

The new, very feminine voice gives me my second near-heart attack in the last five minutes. The dog—Bodi, I guess—drops his legs and wiggles his butt harder in front of me. I expect him to trot off, but he stays in place, watching me instead.

“Bodi,” the woman repeats, and this time, I search for her in the dim condo.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it sure as fuck wasn’tsome sort of blonde bombshell to be standing in the living room with a manicured hand on a thin, popped hip. My hackles go straight up as my expression turns to stone.

“Who are you?” she asks, focusing on me now.

It’s a generally nonchalant inspection. Her crystal blue eyes wander up and down my body twice as she sizes me up and then stares at my hair, or rather the messy bun I forced it into. I’m dressed much more casually than she is, and I can’t help but wonder why she’s currently standing in Beck’s living room alone in a short sundress with a cut-out in the chest that exposes her generous cleavage. I didn’t think to pack anything besides clothes that I knew would be comfortable to work in before leaving my place last night. My leggings and slightly baggy T-shirt must have her as confused as I am.

I clear my throat and try to relax. “Uh, I’m Beck’s . . . guest.”

His guest?Fuck’s sake, Quinn.

“His guest?” she echoes, having a similar reaction.

Feeling awkward, I blurt out, “There wasn’t a dog here last night.”

“Because Beck asked me to pick him up at three in the morning.”

“He did?”

“Yeah. It was the first time he’s done that, but I assume it was for a good reason.”

There’s something in her tone that rubs me the wrong way, but I let it go and try to offer her a smile. “It was. He helped me out last night. I didn’t know it was going to affect so many other people. I’m sorry for that.”

“Beck’s a great guy. I don’t mind helping him out when he needs it.”

“Do you watch Bodi for him, then?”

She pulls her shoulders back a bit. Her next words have too much bite to them for my liking. It comes off bitchy, and I don’t enjoy using that word when referring to a woman. “Yep. Everyday. If I’d known he’d be having company, I’d have taken him out for a walk to burn some energy.”

“I don’t mind him being here. This is his home, and I’m only staying for a couple of days. I don’t want to put him out.”

Dropping my gaze, I focus on the dog now sitting at my feet. As if sensing my attention, he turns his head and pushes against my legs again.

“What did you say your name was?” she asks, and I bristle.

“I didn’t give it to you.”

“We should fix that, shouldn’t we?”

I could laugh at how obvious it is now that she’s interested in Beck. And honestly, I can’t say I blame her. She’s probably seen him a million times and spoken to him more than that. If he has her watching his dog—one that he’s never mentioned to me before—then he must trust her.

“I’m Quinn,” I say with as much fake kindness as I can muster up on the spot.

She throws it right back at me. “Logan.”

“Great.”

“Mm.”

The irritation buzzing beneath my skin has everything to do with the fact that he didn’t give me a heads-up that there was going to be another woman here today and nothing to do with the fact that she intimidates me with her long legs and golden skin. Yeah, that’s it. It has to be.

I have no reason to be intimidated or,fuck, jealous. That would mean there’s something between us, which there isn’t.

But if I really don’t care about him . . . then why does this random woman have me feeling this possessive? And why am I contemplating siccing Bodi on her?