The sadness in his eyes cleared, and he arched a brow. “You mean, I can have one now?” His amused look was back.
“If it means we can go our separate ways sooner? Yes," Wren said, refusing to crack a smile.
He still smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Lee held her gaze. Seconds passed, and her heartbeat quickened.
“Please don’t be mad at me.” His voice dropped to a near whisper that pulled at her, but it was the regret in his eyes that made her knees go weak. “That’s the last thing I want… I’m sorry I—”
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about,” she said, primly, pushing down the urge to reach up and touch his cheek. She ripped her gaze away and walked to the puppy pen.
“I think I do.” He followed right behind her.
Wren ignored him. “Did you want a male or a female?”
They had reached the pig wire, and all the puppies ran to them. Millie leapt back in with her litter, and some of the puppies gamboled to her. But not Victor. He jumped up and placed his curly paws on the fencing.
“Male, I think." Lee bent down, scooped up Victor, and brought him to his chest, smiling down at the adorable dog. “Hey, little guy. What about you? Would you like to come home with me?”
Yes,Wren thought with a pang.
“You can’t have him.” Her words were for herself as much as they were for him.
Lee glanced back at her, still nuzzling the puppy. “Why not?” he asked, frowning.
He looked so unbelievably cute cuddling with Victor, Wren couldn’t stand it.
“Because he’s my favorite,” she blurted.
“Oh, are you going to take him?” Lee started to offer the dog to her, clearly ready to give him up.
“No. I can’t take him. Agnes would never allow it.”
“Oh.” He brought Victor back to his chest, and the puppy licked his chin. “Has someone else already claimed him?”
“No.”
Lee frowned again. “Well, then why can’t I have him?”
Wren was merciless. “Because you don’t deserve him.”
Lee’s eyes bugged. “Why not?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Victor needs someone who will be loyal to him.”
“Iamloyal,” he said, frowning.
It was Wren’s turn to arch her brow.
“What? You think I’m not loyal because I took you home? Because I talked to you in the grocery store?" For the first time, he sounded angry. He wasn’t alone.
“Talkedto me? Youflirtedwith me,” she threw back. “Does your girlfriend know that?”
Lee narrowed his eyes and stepped into her personal space again. Victor looked at her and wagged.
“I didn’t plan to flirt with you. I don’t do that. I just—” Lee clamped his mouth shut, and Wren could see the tendons and muscles around his jaw flexing as he grit his teeth.
“You just what?” Even as she accused, she watched Victor turn back into Lee’s chest and press his nose inside his shirt collar, sniffing wildly. It looked like fun.
“I just wanted to keep talking to you.” Lee blinked twice, and his voice lowered. “I still do.”
