I snagged a yellow and green bean off the tray, popping one in my mouth and tossing one to Mouse.
He snatched it out of the air, chomping happily on it.
“Like it better that way?”
He wagged his tail and started to come into the kitchen. Then looked down and backed up, sitting prettily on the edge of the room.
“Learning. Imagine?” I threw a carrot his way and he caught it neatly. “Only passes muster with a little seasoning. I don’t blame you.” I nibbled on one of the beans. “Not bad, actually.”
I put some into his bowl and set it down. He fell on it like I hadn’t fed him an hour ago.
A knock on the door had me glancing at the clock. Nearly ten on the dot. I opened to door to find her wearing a butter yellow cropped sweater with a pair of well-worn jeans torn in all the right places that made my mouth water.
“Did you keep my dog alive?”
“Where is your coat?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “In my truck, Dad.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not your dad.” I nudged the door wider with my foot.
She breezed in. “Don’t want me to call you Daddy? Got it.”
My hands fisted under my arms.
“Lighten up.” She smacked my arm.
Mouse gave a happy bark and trotted over to see her. She crouched to greet him and gave a delighted laugh when he licked her face.
“Did you have a bath?” She dug her fingers into his dense fur.
“He needed it.”
Mouse tucked his head over her shoulder. She laughed and fell into a heap on the floor with him as he wiggled into her lap. She tried to push him back, but he was too excited to see her and she ended up on her back, her giggles filling the house.
I dragged him off her and she grinned up at me, her blond hair fanned out on the floor. The fact that I could picture the same thing on my bed made me frown down at her.
She sat up and attacked her boots. Mouse tried to help with the laces and they ended up playing tug, but instead of damaging her boots, he gently deposited them near the bench.
She glanced up at me. “Maybe he really did belong to someone. I was talking to my friend Jenna about how Mouse seemed like a stray, but now I’m not so sure. I’d feel terrible if he belonged to someone and they were missing him.”
Mouse licked her face. She pushed him away with a laugh. “Okay, okay. I missed you too.”
“Do you have a vet around here?”
She nodded and held a hand up to me. “Help.”
I reached down for her and she squeaked when I hauled her up.
Mouse, still in play mode, shoved her into my arms.
She landed against my chest and I automatically banded my arm around her back. “Sorry.” She turned those dark green eyesup at me, her fingers digging into my thermal shirt. I could see the fatigue under the laughter. “I overdid it a bit today.”
“Your appointment?”
She nodded. “I was finishing an installation.” She closed her eyes and dragged in a deep breath. “It smells amazing.”
It certainly did.
