Page 7 of Always My Love

“The hard part is naming the little guy,” Aaron joked.

When the puppy settled down in his arms, he glanced up and saw that Harper was holding one of the boy’s siblings.

“Looks like I’m not the only one falling in love over here,” he joked.

Harper’s eyes jerked up to his. For a split second, he saw shock and a little wariness in her eyes. Then the puppy she was holding licked her chin and she smiled.

“I’ve never owned a dog. I wouldn’t know what to do with one.” She buried her face into the little dog’s fur. “How is it that they smell so good?”

For the next half hour, they enjoyed playing with the puppies. He played with all of the puppies, but he’d already decided to get the first one that had tripped over his feet to rush and love him. It was easy to tell him apart from all his brothers and sisters thanks to the colored collars they had on. This one’s collar was blue. He decided that would be a perfect name for the little guy.

When Nick started calling him that as he played with him, Harper laughed and started calling each one by their collar colors.

By the time he’d worked out the details of taking Blue home, Harper was trying to talk herself out of taking Yellow home.

“I haven’t talked to Hailey about getting a dog,” she kept saying, but then she’d hug the little dog again. “What would I do with a dog? I’d have to repair the fence in the yard.” She frowned and then hugged the dog again. Then she turned to him and sighed. “I hate you for this.”

He chuckled. “You don’t have to make the decision today. I’m sure Aaron and Lacey will hold Yellow for a few days.”

“Sure.” Aaron nodded. “So far only Pink and Green have been promised away.”

“Ugh!” Harper groaned and then hugged the puppy again. “Screw it. I’ll take her,” she said firmly. “I’ve always wanted a dog.”

Nick smiled. “I think it goes without saying that Blue is coming home with me.”

Aaron laughed and then slapped him on the shoulder. “There was never any doubt of that.”