Page 44 of Wag More Bark Less

There.

“This is my mom. It’s my favorite picture of us. She came to visit me when I was stationed in Alaska.”

Forever Dad, don’t be sad.

I’ll cuddle you.

Let. Me. Just. Get⁠—

“Ellie, what are you doing?”

In. Your. Lap.

There.

Lick.

“You really are sweet, aren’t you?”

Ellie Belly’s the sweetest girl.

“I miss her.”

Forever Dad needs a hug.

“I didn’t mean to be so rude to your mom earlier. I just . . .”

Oof! That’s a tight hug.

Lick.

Don’t worry.

I’ll stay with you, Forever Dad.

SEVENTEEN

MAGGIE

“Need a caramel for the road?” Walter asked, offering a soft chew from his jacket pocket.

“Thanks, Walter. You’re the best.” I unwrapped the candy as we headed leisurely down the path from his front porch toward the main sidewalk that ran through the neighborhood.

I’d offered him a ride to the monthly Legion meeting, but he insisted he always walked as long as the weather held, and with winter not too far off, he wanted to take advantage as long as he could.

“My daughter drops me off afterward,” he assured me. But there was no reason to let him walk alone when I was hoping to drop in on the meeting myself. Might be easier to do if I had a chaperone to vouch for my attendance.

I glanced across the street as I waited for Walter, meaning only to see if Ellie was peeking through the curtain, but of course my traitorous gaze landed on Luke’s unit.

We hadn’t spoken since he dropped me off yesterday. An hour after I was home and fully dry from the yoga incident, I went over to return his flannel jacket, but he was already gone. I heard a door close sometime in the middle of the night, but I’d not seen nor heard any sign of him since.

The man was so damn confusing. Hot one minute, and colder than an iceberg the next. If I knew mentioning his late mother was off-limits, I obviously would’ve kept my mouth shut. Or maybe I’d have licked my lips instead, because I swore he was about to lean into the truck cab and kiss me.

And for some stupid reason that seemed to supersede simple lust, I wanted him to kiss me.

“I’m going a little slower today than usual,” Walter said, as though in apology.

“I don’t mind.”