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He smiled. “Come on.”
She went first, not wasting a single moment. In his living room, he’d pushed aside furniture and set up a wire enclosure. Inside, a slender, tiny puppy with dark brown hair and black patches stood up on all fours with its ears straight up.
“A Malinois?”
Liam winced. “That might’ve been a bad choice. They’re not for the average dog owner.”
“I’ve worked with a few.” She sniffed. He’d bought her a dog.
“Mitchell said she should have a calmer temperament, but that also might be a misnomer. Sheisa Malinois.”
Roxie had a feeling that might become a common phrase between them. “What is her name?”
Liam opened the enclosure, so the dog raced to him and put two front paws on his shins. He told her to sit, then petted her head as a reward.
Roxie sank onto the couch. The dog ran to her and repeated the front paws move. She said, “I want to pick her up.”
“Don’t let her rule the roost.”
“Right.”Of course not.She leaned forward far enough to pet the dog, who sniffed at her hands, smelling the taskforce dog, Neema, on her. “Hi, precious.”
“You want to call her that?”
“What?” Roxie stared. “A dog like this doesn’t get a cute name. She’s fierce.”
“Figure it out while I go to work, okay? Call me if you need help with her. Or if you need to take her out. Or if you need anything. Or—”
“I love you. Don’t worry.” She scratched the dog’s face. “We’ll be just fine, right?” This dog needed a name, pronto. “That’s it.” She grinned at Liam. “Her name is Pronto.”
“Uh.” He chuckled. “Okay.”
She watched him switch out some gear for work, adding his badge and gun. He’d been given a job offer, effectively a chance to stretch his wings in a new role. It had altered his demeanor in a visible way—and maybe she also had something to do with that.
He came over, set a hand on the back of his couch, and leaned down to kiss her. “I love you, too.”
“I know.” He’d told her every day since she’d woken up from surgery.
“Anytime you want to marry me, I’m there.”
He’d also told her that every day. “I know.” She held his shirt collar. “Be safe tonight.”
A familiar tang filled the air, then the sound of a trickle of liquid hitting his boot.
“Can you take the dog outside? Maybe try and get her to pee there instead of on my shoe?”
Roxie held her laughter in, amazed that didn’t make him angry. Not that Liam never got mad. It was that he never took it out on her.
She said, “I’ll clean the carpet as well. No worries. I’ve got this.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded.
“I know you do.” He straightened. “I didn’t doubt you for a second.”
