Page 52 of Hope and Country

We both stood tall with tears in our eyes when we sent the two other puppies back, breaking their sibling bond.

“Ohmygod, this is so sad.” I hiccupped. “Will they ever forgive us?”

Riley draped an arm around me. “They will. Once they meet their new families.”

I bobbed my head. “I hope.”

“Hey, what about hope?”

I raised my gaze to his. “What about it?”

“What if we name her Hope? I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It kinda fits.”

“Don’t you want a name that says guard dog, beware like Ripper or Roxie?”

Riley stepped back and eyed me with a scowl. “You think Roxie is a tough female dog name? You’re kidding, right?”

He laughed and I followed suit. “A girl in high school was named Roxie. Big and mean and scary.”

Riley moved a fist over his mouth, stifling the sound of his laughter. “It’s official, Devon. You’re the most soft-hearted person I know. Now I can’t choose between Roxie and Hope. So, what will it be?” He grew serious again, waiting for me to say something.

I huffed. “Laugh all you want. Even teen boys were scared of her. I like Hope. As you said, it kinda fits.” I brought my attention back to the furball still resting in the crook of my elbow. “What do you think, little pooch? You like Hope?”

She made a cute barking sound, as if to agree.

“It’s settled then. Can I leave you two girls alone so I can run some errands and get everything we need for her?”

Hope licked the side of my face.

“Yes. We’ll be fine. Won’t we, girl? You and I have some cuddling to do.”

Riley watched us with something resembling affection and a hint of lust and dropped a kiss on my forehead. “You girls behave,” he said with a wink.

And I watched him, in his red sports car as he pulled out of the driveway, afraid my heart would get too attached to him—big time—if I weren’t careful.

Hope glanced at him, then at me from the comfort and safety of my arms.

“I’m screwed, girl. I think it’s already too late.”

* * *

In the semi-darkness, we lay on our backs on Riley’s bed, Hope sleeping between us. “What did you wanna be growing up when you were a child?” I asked him.

“A singer. Like my father.”

“Your father?”

Riley sighed. “Yeah. He’s Curtis Burns.”

My eyes traveled to him. “The Curtis Burns?”

He shrugged. “Yep. The one. You’re a fan?”

I cringed. “Not really. Sorry…”

Riley flipped on his side to watch me. “Don’t be.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “What did you wanna be when you were just a girl?”

“A princess. It was my ultimate dream. Thought they were like those invincible women able to change the world with a snap of their fingers. And that they made the world better. And that it mattered.”