AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ashley was making funny faces at Esme when the infant spotted Dex and reached out a chubby fist.
“Aw,” Tara said. “Uncle Dex has entered stage left.”
Which was his cue to let her curl a hand around his little finger and hold on for dear life.
“Hey, little vampire, did you miss me?”
“Dax!”
“Did she just say my name? Is that her first word?”
Tara grinned. “No, she’s very advanced. She’s been chatting up a storm in the last couple of weeks.”
“But she knows my name!”
“Pretty sure she was calling for her daddy.” Fitz shot him a dirty look, which Dex accepted cheerfully. He knew what he’d heard.
He leaned in, his head close to Ashley, and spoke in a low voice to Esme. “You did miss me, didn’t you? Well, I missed you, too.” It wasn’t completely untrue.
His gaze slid to Ashley who was considering him in what he hoped was a new light. See? I’m more than a party-loving playboy.
“What can I say? All the girls love me.”
“Now, that does not surprise me.” But she was surprised, if that soft expression was anything to go by.
Sophie cut in. “I’d take a lovely photo of this tableau if I didn’t think our general manager wouldn’t be on board.”
“Yeah, no using my daughter in Rebels promo.” Fitz gifted another look that would kill at Dex. The man clearly did not want to be here, but probably didn’t like the idea of Tara and his kid in Dex’s orbit without his gloomy presence. “Let’s do the necessary so we can let everyone get back to business.”
Tara smirked and took Esme back.
The next hour was spent posing with the animals in a combo of video and photo montages: Dex with kittens, Dex with more kittens, Dex cleaning out the litter boxes in the cattery (Fitz insisted on that one), and some shots of Dex playing fetch with the smaller, more friendly dogs.
While Fitz entertained his daughter, Tara would consult with Sophie and Ashley on shot setups. About an hour in, Ashley brought Bandit out from his cage, attached to a leash.
“We gave him a bath this morning and he looks so handsome in his Rebels collar.”
“What a prince!” Dex hunkered down to pet his buddy. “You’re going to be good today, right, Bandit?”
Sophie frowned. “Wait, is that the dog that bit you?”
“All has been forgiven.”
Sophie shook her head. “We can’t have a dangerous dog in this campaign. Besides, he’s a bit rough around the edges.”
Dex opened his mouth to speak but Ashley got there first.
“He might be rough around the edges, but this dog is a champion.”
Sophie looked taken aback. “I merely mean that we can’t have an ugly dog in the shoot. We need one that’s cuter. Like that one over there.” She pointed at one of the cages where an admittedly handsome cocker spaniel was mugging, angling for his fifteen minutes.
Ashley wasn’t having it. “Why is cute more deserving? Bandit might not be the prettiest dog, but he’s come along in leaps and bounds and deserves a little love.”
Sophie held up her hands. “Okay, okay! Sheesh, I’m just trying to do what’s best here.” She exchanged a look with Tara who merely shrugged. “But if he exhibits any threatening behavior, we cannot use him.”
“Not a problem,” Dex said with a grin at Ashley. She still looked a tad miffed on Bandit’s behalf, and it was adorable.
“Got him?” She handed off the leash to Dex.
