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He flashed me a dimply smile. “That’s my hope. But other trainers have failed, so I’m not optimistic—and I mean no disrespect to Harri. He’s just a nut.”
“He really is,” agreed Caelan, taking a cold glass of lemonade from Alicia. “And he’ll eatanything.”
Maverick nodded, his eyes gleaming with both humor and frustration. “He tried chewing the wheel of my bike. And my phone. And my oil rag.”
Drey sighed, carving his fingers through his short dark hair. “I’m starting to think he has no sense of taste.”
“Who?” asked Jag as he strolled into the hallway having exited the half-bath.
“Sabre,” replied Dax.
Jag grunted. “Yeah, any creature that will willingly try to eat a bottle of antibacterial gel either can’t taste shit or ain’t right in the head.”
“Could be both,” said Dax. “It’s lucky for him that Drey swiped the bottle from him before his teeth could pierce it.”
Drey’s eyes, their color a dark midnight blue that was exceptionally striking, settled on me again. “Don’t get us wrong, Sabre’s a great dog. He just also happens to be a pain in the ass to train.”
“If anyone can help, it’s Harri,” declared Alicia.
“Definitely,” I agreed. “She’s magic with dogs.”
Once their break was over, the guys began shifting the last of my things to the van. Meanwhile, I—after a long and arduous struggle—managed to get Gypsy into her pet carrier while Alicia bagged the few kitty things I’d left lying around, such as the bed and food bowls.
Eventually, all was done. I said goodbye to my sister, whispered a mental farewell to the house—telling myself I wasnotfeeling teary—and went back to Dax’s villa.
Since I needed to keep Gypsy indoors for a few weeks so she’d accept this was her new home, I didn’t let her out of the carrier until the guys were done bringing everything inside. She all but flew out of it with a yowl of complaint and then disappeared into the kitchen.
Leaving her to explore, I went straight to the master bedroom, where many of my boxes waited. Others were in what would be my office, where the men were setting up my bookcase—they’d had to take some of it apart just to get it out the house and into the van.
I played some music on my phone as I unpacked. Dax had already cleared out a dresser for me, along with half the closet. There were also now free drawers for me in the bathroom. As such, I didn’t struggle finding places for everything.
When I was finally done, I searched the house for some sign of Gypsy. She was nowhere to be seen, so I put out some food for her and then joined Dax and our helpers on the patio. They were sitting around, talking and drinking beer.
Dax looked up at me. “I’m going to order dinner for us all. What do you feel like having?”
I didn’t even have to think about it. “Pizza. I don’t care what toppings you—” I stopped talking as a knock came at the front door. When I opened it to find Sabrina stood waiting, dozens of gift bags at her feet, I remembered she’d promised to drop off the wedding presents on behalf of our team.
Her mouth thinned. “You forgot I was coming, didn’t you?”
“No. Sort of. Here, let me help.” I grabbed some of the bags and, together, we carted them all inside and plopped them in the hallway.
Spotting the guys through the living room doorway, she waved. “Hello, pretty boys.” After they’d called out their own greetings, she took a long look around. “Hello, pretty house.”
“I told you it was the shit.”
She rubbed her hands. “So, what’s it like being a wife?”
“Not much different, if it makes you feel any better about Tamara’s distaste for marriage.”
Her upper lip curled. “It doesn’t.”
“Be honest, what is it that you actually want most—to be married, or to have a wedding?”
“The latter,” she admitted.
Unreal. “Well, how about I throw you a birthday party next year that is wedding-themed and you’re basically a bride for the day?”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh my God, I wouldlovethat.”
