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But Grady seemed really into them.
It had been two days since he’d laid down the rules, and it felt like something had changed between the three of them.
She just wasn’t quite sure what that something was.
Which made her nervous.
“How do you feel about a dog?” he asked.
“A dog?” she repeated. “Are you getting a dog? I love dogs. If you want to bring him into work, I can help look after him. We could get him a bed for in the corner of the room. Oh, this is so exciting. What sort of dog are you getting?”
“Not me, sweetheart. You.”
“Oh, I’m not getting a dog.” Why would he think that?
“No, we should get you a dog. It’s added security. People would be less likely to mess with you if they heard a dog barking. Something like a Rottweiler would work well.”
She gaped at him. “Um, I can’t have a dog.”
“Why not? You clearly want one. If it’s the landlord, I’ll talk to him. Or better yet, we find a better place for you to live.”
What was happening right now? Something weird was going on.
“Um, I don’t want to move, and I’m not sure the landlord would like me having a dog. But the main reason I can’t have a dog is because I can’t look after one. Between Brooks and I, we’re out of the house too much. It wouldn’t be fair to the little guy.”
“He could come here.”
Great. He had an answer for everything, didn’t he?
And he was going to force her to lay it all out.
“Grady, there have been times I’ve barely been able to keep myself and Brooks fed. I can’t take on a dog. It’s not just feeding them, it’s vet bills, trainer bills. What if they get sick or hurt? I won’t be able to afford to get them fixed, and that would break my heart.”
Grady eyed her for a long moment. “I could pay for the dog.”
Um, she so didn’t think so.
“No,” she said firmly.
Another thing she’d learned with these guys. That being firm was important.
Not that it seemed to get her far.
“You don’t feel safe, Effie.”
She puzzled those words out, not sure why he cared. And why he felt the need to do anything about her fear.
“I feel safe. Really,” she insisted. “Sure, it’s scary to think that some poor woman was murdered. But that sort of thing happens all the time. It just freaked me out because it was close to where April lives. That’s all. Trent, her husband, would never let anything happen to her.”
And as much as she might want that sort of relationship, she knew that wasn’t in the cards for her.
She was too busy just trying to survive. Although that had become a lot easier with the money that went into her account each week.
She was getting close to splurging and buying herself a pair of shoes that lit up.
“You’ll tell me if you feel different.”
Wow. That was kind and really unexpected.
