Rich Bitch: Everything's Going to the Dogs Read Online Free PDF Page B

rescuer.”
    “Thank God. Who was it? Another dog walker? A cop?”
    She shook her head. “Another dog. A big black Doberman. He was so very fierce and bit the mugger
 and chased him away until the man jumped in a car and sped away.”
    His relief that his nanny and his dog were safe was such that he didn’t care if the would-be thieves had flown away on magic carpets. They were gone, and no one was badly hurt. At least he hoped not.
    “How bad’s the knee?”
    “Not bad. I cleaned it and put some of your antiseptic on it, and a bandage.”
    “Good.”
    “So, if you don’t trust me anymore with Mimi, I will understand.”
    “Sophie, I’m going to take you myself to get a new collar and lead. I’m the one who should apologize.” What had he been thinking? “I should have got a new collar and a leash she could wear.” He’d been thinking more of his image than his new dog’s comfort.
    “We already got one.” She looked down at Mimi. “
Allez, va montrer ton nouveau collier a ton maitre
.”
    Mimi pranced to the corner, and Sophie followed, pulling out a slim red leather lead and matching collar. A gold heart hung from the collar. He tried to imagine what he’d say if he bumped into anyone he knew. His imagination failed. “At least there are no rhinestones,” he said, trying to look on the bright side.
    She laughed softly. “Mimi really preferred the pink. I had to put my foot down.”
    He laughed back at her, watching her with the lead that appeared so elegant in her hand. Her gaze rose to his, and a sizzle went through him that should have scorched the floor.
    She turned and made a production of putting the lead away. “Well, Mimi’s fed. Your dinner is ready whenever you are. The salad is in the fridge. I’ll see you tomorrow if you’re not firing me.”
    “Stay and eat with me,” he said. He didn’t want her to leave, not after he’d spent so much of the day thinking of her here, looking forward to seeing her at the end of his workday.
    “Oh, but…”
    “I’ve got some wine in the fridge. It’s crazy for me to eat here alone and you to go home and eat alone … that is, if you live alone,” he said, mentally crossing his fingers that her answer would be affirmative.
    She put her head to one side. “I do.”
    “Well, then.”
    “Well, then.” But she didn’t move.
    “I’m thinking of Mimi,” he said, grasping at straws, anything to make her stay.
    “Mimi?” Those wonderful, plump, cherry-colored lips curved in a smile.
    “Yes. While we eat, you can teach me French so I’ll be able to communicate with my dog.”
    “
Bien sur
.”
    He grinned at her, feeling a lot better about the upcoming evening in his own home. “I’m hoping that means ‘yes-’ ”
    Her eyes tilted up at the corners when she smiled. 
”It means ‘very well.’ Now you say it.” She removed the tea towel she’d worn aroundher hips like a very sexy chef and walked toward him, so he did his best to repeat the phrase, which made Mimi bark and Sophie laugh.
    Oh, well. It was a start.
    He retrieved wine from the fridge and a couple of glasses, and she dished up. “Mmm. That smells incredible. What is it?”
    “Escalopes de Veau Chasseur.” She grinned impishly. “I made a version for Mimi from her special book. This is the human equivalent.”
    He glanced up. “You’re feeding me dog food?” It wasn’t Audrey Hepburn she reminded him of, he realized. It was that chick from Amelie. Sophie had the same mischievous twinkle in her eyes and a sexy way with her in the kitchen. He didn’t care if she did feed him dog food. He’d eat from her hand.
    “Don’t worry, Mimi’s menu would rival Taillevent in Paris.”

Chapter 5
    “So, tell me about yourself,” Vince said to Sophie, once he’d determined that her food tasted as good as it smelled, which he did by cleaning his plate in about two minutes.
    “Would you like some more?” she asked in a bemused tone, looking at his naked plate.
    “Oh,