The dog whined and draped himself over my lap.
“One way to warm you up,” Dutch said.
I laughed. “I can’t believe he was abandoned. He’s such a good boy. I’ll call the clinic this week and make sure he’s not chipped.”
“He’s your dog at this point.”
“He’s your dog—you’re just in denial.” I kissed the top of his head. “But I don’t mind being the surrogate mama.”
The trip back to the lake was slow going as snow coated the streets, bringing visibility to near zero.
“Do you want me to drive, California boy?”
“Don’t think you’d reach the pedals without blocks.”
“Rude.”
He just smirked and kept white knuckling his way down Destiny toward home. Surprisingly, he handled the snow well. Then again, it seemed like he handled most things well except for his temper tantrums.
By the time we turned onto Providence Road, the windshield wipers were struggling against the fat flakes.I was glad for his beast of a truck to get up my winding lane.
“Go on get inside. I’ll get your bags.”
“I can help.”
“Get inside. You’re shivering. Take the dog.”
“So bossy.”
“Go.”
I ran over to the portico to unlock the door to my mudroom. Mouse took off around the back of my place probably to do his business.
“Do you want your sweatshirt back?” I asked after he deposited my Bailey’s inside my door along with a bottle of wine I definitely hadn’t picked out.
“No. Stay warm.”
I went on my toes and kissed his bearded cheek. “Thanks.”
He fisted his hands at his sides, then nodded and disappeared into the snow. Mouse came back around the house toward the studio and barked at Dutch. He shooed him away to me.
“Mouse. C’mere.”
He looked at me, then to Dutch with a forlorn bow to his head.
“C’mon, buddy. Let’s get some dinner.”
It was generally his magic word. Dejected, he followed me inside. “It’s okay.” I ruffled his ears. “We’ll eat and cuddle on the couch with a book.”
That’s what you did on a snowy night.I hauled the bag full of perishables inside.
Even if part of me wished for a different kind of extracurricular activity.
“Put it out of your head, girl. He’s not interested.”
FOURTEEN
Dutch
