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“So… you live here?”
Miller opened one eye and saw Liza observing his room. He felt like the question was rhetorical so he closed his eyes again and didn’t respond.
“Did I do something or say something wrong?" Liza asked. "Are you upset that I called my sister? Because I can tell her not to come. I just wanted to help.”
The thought of interacting with two Ecklands made his already tense forehead pound. Double the talking. Double the sunny dispositions. It did not sound like double the fun.
“No… it’s not that. Well… it’s kind of that but it’s fine. I just don’t want to let the dogs down.”
Liza’s eyes fell to the floor as she nodded. “You really care about them, huh?”
Miller ran a hand over his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose.
“How’d you end up running the rescue?”
“We should get back to feeding the dogs.” Miller stood.
“Okay.” Liza put her hands on her thighs and looked up at him. “But I hope you can talk and work because you said I get one personal question a day.”
“I just said that to get you to stop talking yesterday. Didn’t think you’d actually remember.”
“Oh I have a great memory.”
Miller scrunched up his eyebrows and Liza seemed to read his mind.
“When it comes to things I care about,” she clarified. “Chemistry was not on that list.”
The slightest grin tugged at Miller’s mouth as he held open the door and ushered Liza out of his personal space.
Chapter 11
Liza
LizahandedMilleradog bowl. He filled each one and handed it back to her.
“So… Miller Brooks says ‘screw you’ to all humankind and starts a dog rescue. Am I right? Is that why you started UnderDogs?”
Miller let out a chuckle that gave way to a full on smile—with teeth and all. “Never thought of it like that, but kind of.”
That sneak peek at a joyful Miller gave Liza a rush like she had just scored a designer purse at a consignment shop. But as fast as it appeared, with a shake of his head it vanished.
His down-to-business demeanor returned as he said, “Adopting Snowdrop made me want to help other dogs.”
Liza waited for him to continue, but instead he stacked the bowls, put them in her arms, and started walking away. She quickly followed. “And then?”
“And then my mom and I started the rescue.”
“Oh your mom started it with you? That’s so sweet. When do I get to meet her?”
Miller carefully set down a bowl in Snowdrop’s kennel. Liza felt like he stiffened momentarily but it was so subtle she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it.
He kept walking and Liza followed behind him to Murphy’s kennel. “You don’t. She lives in Florida now.” He unlatched the gate and bent down to gently pet the dog’s square head.
The question “Why?” was on Liza’s lips, but she bit down—stopping herself. Questions, she was learning, put Miller on edge. Maybe if she stayed silent, he’d fill the space.
Twenty seconds went by and Liza was about to give in, when Miller continued. “My dad left when I was eight, so it was always just the two of us. Then last year, she metMark.” He enunciated the “k” in Mark’s name with sharpness.
Sighing he continued. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad she’s happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” Then softly, almost as if he were whispering in Murphy’s ear, he said, “I just thought I’d be a part of it.”
