It was the plastic carton of her cupcakes! She'd left them in Erin's car.

She noticed half of the cupcakes were already gone.

Bentley looked guilty. "I, uh, I might've had a few already. But your friend Erin gave one to Trevor last night, too. I didn't eat ALL of them."

Sara forced her eyes to remain on Bentley's beautiful face and not accidentally slip down to take in his enticing, muscular chest. Where would the cupcakes actually go on him anyway? She decided they went to his hair and eyelashes. Those were the main things on him that appeared overly fluffy and soft and--

She snapped back into focus. And paled.

Bentley had caught her staring at him. He seemed to be fighting a smile as he watched her shift uncomfortably under his gaze.

She hastily looked away from him at anything else.

Erna stood motionless beside the four dogs. "It is almost time," Erna suddenly said.

Bentley raised his eyebrows. He glanced down at a peculiar black watch on his wrist. It looked like a Rolex but there was something odd about it. The face was encrusted with diamonds and appeared to have flashing lights blinking on it.

Sara tried to get a better look at the strange watch, but he pulled his arm off the table.

"Well, uh, thanks for the cupcakes. They made my morning a little sweeter." He winked at her again. She made sure to mentally pocket that wink in her mind, too.

"By the way, nice outfit. You should keep it." He smiled those dazzling white teeth.

Sara felt herself sighing away into her chair.

One of the dogs barked.

"Oh, what is it almost time for?" she asked. Her brain still felt somewhat dreamy.

Erna cleared away their cups and plates.

Bentley raised his arms above his head to stretch. He squinched up his face and let out that unbelievably embarrassing, satisfied groan.

Sara automatically tensed. If he knew what effect his sounds had on her, he would never stretch out like that. Especially half-naked. Or...maybe he would????

Bentley jumped up from the table. "I gotta run. Have an event to get to. And my pups have to go meet your friend, Pam, at the dog park."

Sara slapped her forehead. "Oh, right. Of course. The dog park." She lowered her hand slowly to look at Erna. "Are you the 'assistant' who called Pam to walk those dogs?"

Erna bobbed her head. She did her funny bow. "I am, Sara. But Pam will not see me. I will call her and give her the instructions she needs."

"Oh," Sara said. She gave Bentley a questioning look.

He brushed his hair back from his face. Then he reached for a white, long-sleeved shirt on the counter and pulled it on over his head. "I'd appreciate it very much if you don't mention to anyone that I have androids," he said. He gave her a cold, hard stare.

Sara swallowed, wishing she felt braver. "Um, sure. But why? They're so--"

"--Because I don't want people to ask questions, that's all," Bentley shot back. He was suddenly angry.

Jeez, Sara thought. He can sure go from heartthrob to viper in the blink of an eye.

Still, she felt much better now that he at least had put a real shirt on.

Bentley whistled. The four dogs, including Sleepy, sprang to attention. They raised their snouts in the air, awaiting the command. "Go to the Rolls," Bentley told them.

The dogs scampered away, down the opposite hall.

Bentley turned away from Sara. He strode from the room. Before he disappeared, he called back over his shoulder. "Erna will show you the way out."

Then he was gone. Without even the hint of a polite goodbye.

Sara followed Erna to the front door. She chewed hard on the inside of her cheek. She hated how disappointed she felt that she had to leave.

She walked as slowly as possible behind Erna, trying to hold onto as much of this moment as she could.

As the front doors opened -- it seemed all the doors in the house could apparently open by themselves -- she was just in time to see the four huskies jump into a silver Rolls Royce. The car wheeled away as quickly as it had appeared.

A second car pulled up in front of the house. This car wasn't really a car. It was a massive black Hummer.

"It was nice to meet you, Sara. I hope you have enjoyed your stay." Erna bowed.

Sara peered at the driver inside the Hummer. "Um, who's driving this car?" she asked worriedly when she saw the seat was empty.

Erna looked at her blankly. "It's self-driving. It has your home address programmed into its database. You will be safe."

Sara tried to stall. And she tried hard not to cry. "D-do you know where Bentley is going later today?" she asked hopefully.

Erna spun around and made her way back towards the house. "Mr. Prince has private matters to attend to. Good day, Sara."

With a horrible sigh of despair, Sara climbed onto the cold, leather seats of the Hummer.

As the car pulled hastily away, back up the winding driveway, Sara stared up at the redbrick house.

She wondered if she would ever see the inside of that house again.