Page 58 of Puppy Kisses

“Well, that’s probably for the best because there’s no running now,” Dawn said as tires screeched in the distance. They were followed by a waft of burned rubber and the rattle of an engine thatdefinitelywasn’t running at its peak. “He’s here.”

Adam pushed himself off the trunk and did his best to look like a man who was accustomed to confronting bullies. Since he wasn’t, the best he could do was cross his arms and wait.

Dawn touched his shoulder. “It’s him all right, and he doesn’t look pleased to see me. I can’t see a gun, but that doesn’t mean he’s not packing.”

He nodded his thanks. “Noted.”

He waited only until he could smell the man drawing close. Unlike Dawn, this man’s scent was adefinitepresence, pungent and festering in damp bodily crevasses. “Hello, there,” he said in as pleasant a voice as he could muster. “Do I have the pleasure of addressing the previous owner of a certain golden retriever puppy?”

The polite address must have taken the man off guard because he offered a bewildered grunt before directing his attention toward Dawn. “I knew it was you. I been waiting for you. You’re that bitch who stole my—”

“Bitch?” Dawn suggested.

Adam had to choke back a laugh. This wasn’t supposed to be a comical confrontation, but Dawn never did anything according to script.

“Yes, this is Dawn,” Adam said before she could manage to derail him further. “She stole the animal at my request.”

A spit bubble of a whistle sounded from between the man’s lips. “Your what?”

“My request.” Adam untucked one of his hands and held it out. He wasn’t excited about making contact with a man who obviously hadn’t seen the soapy side of a shower in some time, but he was hoping to make this as painless as possible. “When she told me about the puppy’s condition, I had her bring the animal directly to me.”

The man didn’t take his hand, which Adam could only attribute to his bad manners. This theory bore out when the man said in a tone dripping with belligerence, “What the hell are you talking about? All I know is this bit…I mean,chickbroke into my property and stole what’s mine.”

“Stole?” Adam echoed blankly.

“Yes. Stole. It’s trespassing, that’s what it is. Trespassing and robbery. I know my rights. I want my goddamned animal back.”

“Of course, of course. I was wondering why we hadn’t heard from you yet.” He turned in Dawn’s general direction. “Dawn, please tell me you informed this gentleman where he could collect the puppy.”

“Oh. Um.” Dawn paused only slightly before picking up on his intention—or at least the important parts of it. “I forgot?”

“Forgot!” Adam threw up his hands and sighed. “Forgot.I am so sorry, sir. She always seems to be forgetting something. She’s new. In fact, we only hired her on a trial basis. I’m afraid things aren’t looking good for her now.”

“Oh, please don’t fire me,” Dawn protested. The waver in her voice could have been taken as a piece of supreme acting, but Adam knew for a certainty that she was only quelling her laughter. “Not when I was finally starting to get the hang of things. I’ll do better next time. Honestly, I will. Right, Mr…? Um, well… You see, I think I forgot…”

Adam sighed and shook his head. “You don’t even remember his name, do you?”

“No.” Her voice took on a hangdog innocence. “But I’m sure it’s something nice.”

“My name is Murphy Jones, dammit, but I don’t see what that has to do with—”

“Oh, thatisnice.”

There was such feminine sweetness to the way she spoke that Murphy cleared his throat and waited to see what else she might have to throw his way. Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t Dawn pitching this bullshit. That privilege belonged to Adam.

“Well then, Mr. Jones. You have my sincerest apologies for the lack of communication, and you can trust that Dawn will be severely reprimanded for her error.”

“All I want is my goddamned—”

“Puppy back. Yes, I know. You’re more than welcome to come collect her at Dearborn Ranch, where she’s been receiving her rehabilitation.”

Dawn drew in a breath at Adam’s use of his actual home and business, but she didn’t say anything to ruin the game. If he ever took to a life of crime, she was the exact person he wanted at his side. Bold, brilliant, beautiful…

With a start, he forced himself to focus on the task at hand. This wasn’t the time to extol Dawn’s less-than-moral virtues.

“Of course, given the misunderstanding, we’ll reduce our usual fees by ten percent,” he said smoothly. “That should represent a savings of… Ah, Dawn? I don’t suppose you have the total figure handy, do you?”

“Four thousand five hundred and sixty-four dollars,” she said with admirable promptness. “And fifty-six cents, but we can just drop that.”