Page 14 of Sawyer
We didn’t have any morning appointments. Plenty of time for one of us to run across the street for something a little nicer than these tiny sandwiches.
The familiar ring of the doorbell snapped me out of my thoughts.
I looked up just in time to see Sawyer walking in, with Benny trotting at his heel, both covered in mud and dried leaves, as if they’d just rolled out of a kindergarten autumn art project.
As soon as they were inside, Benny gave a vigorous shake, spraying mud everywhere. Then, he plopped down on the floor, looking up at Sawyer with a proud expression, as if he had just completed a job well done.
Chris stared dumbfounded at the mess on the floor, which was a good distraction since it meant he wouldn't notice me staring at Sawyer.
Now that I could see him in daylight—even splattered in mud from head to toe—it was impossible not to notice how his chiseled features stood out.
His strong jawline and intense blue eyes shone through the dirt, almost as if the mud was highlighting them instead of hiding them.
"Sorry about the mess, but can you squeeze us in right now?" Sawyer asked.
"Yeah, of course. Come on in," I replied, quickly standing from my chair and leading them further into the shop.
As I walked ahead, I could’ve sworn I heard Sawyer whisper, "Good job," to Benny as he scooped him up.
Sawyer handed Benny over to me, and I immediately started prepping him for a much-needed grooming session. As I worked, Sawyer lingered nearby, watching us closely.
"You don’t have to stay," I offered, glancing up. "This might take a while."
"If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay," Sawyer replied.
"Well, you’re not staying here looking like that. There’s a shower in the back," I said, pointing toward a small room behind us.
It was technically the office, but the shower inside had become essential—emergencies happened more often than one might think in a pet grooming shop.
"I’ll grab you a towel and some clothes,” I said.
Sawyer nodded and headed toward the back. I secured Benny on the grooming table, making sure he was comfortable before rummaging through a nearby cabinet for spare uniforms.
I pulled out a clean T-shirt and some sweatpants. Both were labeled ‘One Size’, so I wasn’t sure how well they’d fit Sawyer's broad frame.
"Sorry, we only have these," I called out, placing them, along with a towel, on a chair beside the bathroom door.
"It’s fine," Sawyer’s voice came from inside the bathroom.
The door was slightly ajar, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of him through the crack.
I turned just in time to see him pulling off his shirt, the fabric peeling away to reveal the powerful muscles of his arms and back.
His broad shoulders tapered down to a sculpted back, and every movement sent ripples through the lean muscle beneath his skin.
As he reached to tug the shirt over his head, I couldn’t help but notice the sharp V-cut that disappeared below the waistband of his jeans.
My mind wandered, wondering how far that line went, and before I realized it, I had licked my lips.
Get it together, Casey.
Shaking off the thoughts, I turned back to find Benny staring up at me, his big brown eyes wide and innocent—but there was a hint of judgment in that look, like he knew exactly what had just crossed my mind.
Great. Now I had a dachshund silently calling me out.
I took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand, pushing all distracting thoughts aside.
As I concentrated on Benny, I heard the door creak open behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Sawyer stepping out.