AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sammy.”
“Aw. Boy or a girl?” she asks while still typing.
“Girl. My mom gifted her to me last week. She thought I could use the company while I’m healing.” I open the door for Chloe to exit the building before me. She brushes my sling, and I inadvertently hiss in a breath.
“Sorry!”
“Don’t be.” The last thing I want is her walking on pins and needles around me. “I’m fine.”
She pauses to look at me like she’s thinking about whether or not to pursue the topic of my injury, then says, “Have you posted any pictures of Sammy yet?”
“No.”
“Great.” She resumes walking. “We’ll start there.”
“I’m parked this way.” I wait for her to turn. “Why don’t you follow me to my house and we’ll go together from there?”
“Um…maybe I should just meet you at the vet.”
“Worried I’m about to lure you to my lair and you won’t want to leave?” The truth is I don’t invite anyone outside my family and close friends over, but I imagine she’ll want to see my home eventually for work purposes.
She points at me with a quick flick of her wrist. “You should be so lucky.” As if she’s said something wrong, she drops her chin to stare at the ground. “What’s your address?” she asks a moment later, her phone at the ready. “In case we get separated.”
I watch her type in my response. We part ways and an hour later she’s following me through the gate of my Malibu property. If she’s impressed by what she sees, she doesn’t say anything, only lifts her face to the overcast sky and breathes in the ocean air.
A beach girl.I mentally add another item to the list of things I like about her.
I open the front door and we’re immediately met by Sammy. She runs toward us but her big white paws slip on the hardwood so she skids in our direction like she’s sliding into home plate.
“Safe!” Chloe says, kneeling down to pet my dog. Sammy’s entire body shakes with excitement. She licks Chloe’s face. “Oh my God, you’re the cutest thing ever. Your fans are going to go crazy over her, Finn.”
I’m going a little crazy over my social media manager.Safe?It’s like she’s in my head.
Chloe picks up Sammy and follows me into the living area. The large open floor plan includes the kitchen, family room, dining area and two fireplaces.
“Hey, Sylvie,” I say to my housekeeper. She’s cleaning off the kitchen counter having recently made her famous meat loaf by the smell of it. “This is Chloe Conrad, the social media manager the team hired for me.”
“Hi.” Chloe tries to extend her hand but her arms are full of squirming, happy puppy. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Sylvie wipes her hands down her apron. “It looks like you’ve made a new friend.”
“I have.” Chloe rubs noses with Sammy. “Haven’t I?” She puts Sammy down on the floor, picks up the plush toy near her foot and tosses it across the room. Sammy gives chase. “I love dogs. I never had one growing up.”
Sammy fetches the toy and brings it back to Chloe. Chloe throws it again.
Sylvie laughs. I frown.
“What?” Chloe asks.
“Sammy never just drops her toys for me. It’s always a tug-of-war.”
Chloe shrugs. “She obviously likes me better.”
“You think?” Never one to be outdone, I get down on my knees and pat my thigh with my good hand. “C’mere, Sammy.”
Sammy runs right into my chest, her skill at putting on the brakes obviously in need of work. Sharp pain lances through my shoulder blade, but it ebbs once Sammy rights herself and licks my chin. I rub the soft, thick fur behind her ears. “Hey, girl. How about we show Chloe how you fetch balls outside?” I may have gone a little crazy at the pet store over the weekend and bought a few dozen soft baseball toys to throw around. Sammy’s yet to catch one midair, but I’m confident we’ll get there.
Since my dog is a genius, she already understands the word “outside” and runs over to the French door. When I get to my feet, Sylvie’s left the room and Chloe turns her phone in my direction. A picture of me and Sammy fills the screen. “What do you think?”
