Page 50 of Puppy Love

“It’s not our decision to make though, is it?” Lila stood in the doorway to the kitchen, an apron over her clothes and a dishrag in her hands. Her sister must have been in there the entire time, listening in. “Soph, I’m assuming you already cleared it with the client?”

Sophie, who had done no such thing, nodded a solemn lie. She was too surprised by Lila’s championship to do more. In personal and familial situations, there was nothing her sister wouldn’t have done to support her. Professional situations, however, were another story. Lila was a stickler for doing things by the book. She loved rules the way most people loved cupcakes—or, you know, puppies.

“If it’s in the best interest of the placement, then it’s the right call.” Lila took one look at their mother’s face and laughed. “Relax, Mom. She’s twenty-six years old. She’ll be fine.”

“Yes, but her health. If something should happen—”

“The client has been diabetic nearly his entire life. I’m pretty sure he knows how to call an ambulance.”

Sophie had never felt so lifted up—or so close to being crushed. Lila and Dawn providing their support without once questioning her professional judgment was everything she’d ever wanted out of Puppy Promise. No one was reprimanding her for her handling of the case; no one was doubting her ability to make it work. It would have been her idea of heaven, if not for the fact that shedidn’tneed to live out at Harrison’s house.

Nor, she suspected, would she be particularly welcome.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Dawn added. “You can still stay here with me and Lila, and we’ll do all the spa days you want. Look at her face—have you ever seen anyone who needs it more? There were three new wrinkles around her eyes this morning. I counted.”

Lila, who had the smooth, unruffled beauty of a woman ten years her junior, gave a grimace. She also tossed the dish towel at Dawn’s head. “Just for that, I’m not finishing the dishes. You can eat off dirty plates for the rest of the day.”

But Dawn tossed the towel to their mother, passing it on like a game of Hot Potato. “What good is having Mom come to stay unless we make her earn her keep? Don’t worry, Sophie—we’ll have her regretting her decision before the weekend’s up.”

Alice laughed obligingly, but there was no mistaking her worried expression. She’d come all this way to rescue her beloved daughter, and she rarely backed down from a mission until she’d seen it all the way through.

“You didn’t really kiss that man, did you, Sophie?” she asked. “That was just a joke?”

Sophie paused, unsure how to tackle this rocky territory. She wanted to spare her mother’s feelings, of course, but not at the cost of her freedom. It was too powerful, too alluring, toonew.

In the end, she decided to trample forward. After all, it was exactly what she would have done to Harrison in this situation.

“Oh, I kissed him, all right,” she said. “And if I have my way, I fully intend to do it again.”

Chapter 12

“Sit. Stay. Blink. Breathe.”

Bubbles followed each of Harrison’s commands in succession, though he doubted he had much to do with those last two.

“Good girl,” he said and gave his finger a twirl. “Nowyou may show me your outfit.”

It was the moment Bubbles had been waiting for. The woman who’d been teaching him how to knit had gifted him a minuscule yellow sweater that the puppy had been dying to try on. Personally, he thought the sweater made her look like a piece of dryer lint, but Bubbles had never been so happy. He could almost swear she knew the difference between wearing a sock and sauntering about in doggy couture.

She spun three times in succession before stopping with a wag of her tail. Lifting her head, she waited for the inevitable praise—and treat.

He bestowed both with a lavish hand.

“Yes, yes. I know. You’re beautiful and charming, and you won over every woman in that knitting circle with one friendly smile.” He sighed and tried to discreetly tug the box of supplies closer to them. “You and Sophie have that in common.”

The trust Bubbles had in him was so absolute that she didn’t question the cardboard box sneaking closer to his side. He almost wanted to warn the poor creature—I’m not to be trusted; I’m going to betray everything—but he kept his lips sealed.

“Now, I know it’s cruel to give a gift with strings attached, but I’m going to do it anyway,” he warned the puppy.

Bubbles cocked her head.

“And you’re not going to like these strings, but there’s nothing I can do about that. Life is hard sometimes. It’s just a thing we have to get used to.”

A loud snort sounded behind them. “I see you’re imparting all your life wisdom to your offspring now,” his dad said. He stood in the doorway to the living room, leaning a littletoocasually on the frame for it to be a natural pose. “Don’t be surprised if she chucks it all in your face. That’s what children do.”

“Noted, Dad. Thanks.”

“What are you doing, anyway? It looks like you’re going to light a fire in the grate.”