“So…hear you and that pretty new detective are getting serious.”
“Jesus, Buck.You’re like an old busybody.You should start a gossip column.”
He snorts, as my insults slide off like water down his back.
“Hey, it pays to have the dirt on people,” he counters.“Makes for a nice bit of leverage when I need it.Which reminds me, I found the perfect dog for you.”
“Don’t try to pawn one of your rescues off on me,” I warn him.
“She’s perfect for you, looks like one of those fire department dogs.”
“You mean a Dalmatian?”I ask.
“Yeah.White with black spots, I’m pretty sure she has Dalmatian in her.She was brought to me a few days ago, rescued from a kill shelter.I saw her and thought of you right away.”
“Don’t know why you would, I’ve told you plenty of times, I’m too busy to take on one of your charity cases.”
It’s a thing with Buck; he can’t stop taking in rescues and matching them up with new owners.Brant is a prime example.Hell, Buck was able to unload a damn goat and a couple of horses on him.
So far, I’ve been able to hold him off.My excuse always was that I was rarely home, spending most of my time at the shop, but that won’t fly anymore now that both my home and my shop are the firehouse.
“She wasn’t treated right, but is still sweet as punch,” he continues undeterred.“They used the poor gal to breed and kept her in a cage most of her life.She doesn’t need much: just a good human to look after her, a safe place to live, a decent meal, and an occasional belly rub, that’s all.You’ve got the room, and work isn’t an excuse because you live right there.This girl was slotted to be put down first thing tomorrow morning.”
Oh, man, he’s really putting on the guilt now.
“Not a good idea, Buck.I’ve got people coming in and out of the shop all day, and most of the time the bay doors are open.She’d probably bolt at the first chance,” I offer my excuse, adding as a last-ditch effort, “Plus, like you said, I’m starting something with Tessa, and I don’t even know if she likes dogs.There’s a lot going on right now.”
He grins wide, like I just told him yes, when I’m pretty sure I explained why it has to be no.
“Good thing I bumped into that pretty girl of yours when I was at the station earlier, and she says she loves dogs.She said she had one when her boys were little but didn’t have the heart to replace him after he died.I hear you took the youngest of her boys under your wing too, got himself hurt right behind your shop.Sounds to me you could use a good dog for protection.Maybe then you wouldn’t have gotten broken in to either.”
Relentless.
Has no qualms about laying on the guilt if it gets him the desired result.And—like he’s done to so many before me—he’s starting to get to me.
Luckily, Stella picks that moment to come out of the kitchen, carrying a tray with two individual oven dishes with, what I presume is, our dinner.
“Watch it, those are hot,” she warns, sliding the dishes in front of us with her bare hands.
When I touch my dish to straighten it, I yank my hand back, hissing at the sharp pain.
“Honey, I warned ya.”She wiggles her fingers in front of me.“My hands are ovenproof after burning them so many times, my nerve ends are numb.”
They’d have to be.
Despite the lingering discomfort in my fingertips, the shepherd’s pie is excellent and goes down quick.Stella isn’t necessarily a gourmet chef, but she puts the kind of food on the table reminding you of your mother’s or grandmother’s kitchen.Warm, wholesome, and stick-to-your-bones tasty.
Thankfully, once Buck starts eating, all talk of dogs and adoption ends.But I should’ve known better, because the moment Len takes our empty dishes, he’s back at it again.
“At least come have a look at her.I’m telling ya, she’s just right for you, and you could make all the difference in her life,” he adds, not afraid to lay it on thick.
I catch Len trying to hide a grin.He knows the pressure I’m under, since, as of the past month or two, he’s the proud new owner of two semi-feral cats Buck foisted on him.From what I understand it took our vet two weeks of relentless pushing, bargaining, and guilting before the man finally caved.
As much as I like Buck, I don’t want him in my face at every turn.Maybe if I concede to looking, I can get him to back off.
“Fine, I’ll come have a look, but I’m telling you, I’m not in the market for a pet.”
I should’ve known better.
