AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Liam chuckled as he watched.
“She did that with the one in the laundry room, too. I don’t blame her—that thing looks cozy.”
“Aw, she’s trying to claim it as hers by leaving her scent all over it. I think she’s already comfortable here.”
He grumbled something Utah couldn’t understand as he washed and dried Phoebe’s new bowls, but she got the feeling it was more for show than anything—like he didn’t want to appear too soft by admitting he liked the pup.
“Where are your plates and silverware?” she asked him as he read the feeding instructions for Phoebe’s food.
He opened a drawer containing the utensils, then pointed to a cupboard, all while continuing to study the package. “What the hell does ‘human grade’ mean? Am I supposed to be able to eat this stuff?”
Utah pulled the glazed lapis-colored stoneware from the cupboard, surprised by their weight, and set them on the kitchenette table in his breakfast nook.
“Hypothetically, yes. It’s made using the same quality standards as the FDA and USDA’s regulations for human food.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, does she really need that? I’m pretty sure I saw her eat bird poop earlier.”
She tried to hide her smirk as she took the cutlery from the drawer.
“No, she’d be just fine with kibble. That’s probably what she’s had all her life—if she was even that lucky.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, I saw her file. She was brought into animal control as a stray, and it was presumed she had been on the street for a while. Her fur was so matted that her skin was infected, and she was grossly underweight. If ARF hadn’t agreed to take her, she would have been euthanized because she needed so much care.”
He looked over to where Phoebe was lying on her new bougie bed, chewing her toy, and living her best life while she waited for her dinner to be served in her new pink YETI stainless-steel dishes.
“Aw, you can’t tell me that. Now I’m going to have to keep her… goddammit.”
Utah set the silverware down on the table in a pile and came up behind him to wrap her arms around his middle and kiss his shoulder.
“You were never going to let her go, and you know it.”
His voice went up an octave, like he was mimicking Utah as he forked the food into the dog bowl.
“It can just be temporary, until we find her permanent home. She just needs a warm place to lay her head at night where she’ll be safe.”
That was pretty much verbatim what she’d told him on the phone, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“How was I supposed to know you’d be such a softie?”
“Pffft, softie? I’ll show you how hard I can be, honey.”
Every fiber in her being told her to move her hands seven inches south and find out for herself how hard he could be.
But she’d already been more forward than a lady should be, so she just giggled, squeezed his middle before releasing him, and returned to setting the table.
She heard him grumble, “It’s a good thing you’ve got perfect tits.”
Fighting a smile as she situated the forks, knives, and spoons, she thought, I do have great tits. Thanks for noticing.
Liam walked toward Phoebe, holding her bowl. “Come on, girl. Come eat.”
Phoebe abandoned her new toy and wandered to where he set the dish down. After a quick sniff inspection, she eagerly began to eat. He filled her water dish and put it down next to her food, observing, “Wow, she really likes it.”
“See? Aren’t you glad you bought it for her?”
“I guess,” he admitted begrudgingly as he came to stand by her at the large island.
