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“He’s in a crate downstairs.” Knox grinned eagerly as he shot off the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. “You’re not mad that I got one without talking to you?”
I pulled on a T-shirt and sweats. “This is your house. You don’t have to clear anything with me.”
Knox stood in front of me, cradling my face with his hands. His voice gentle and soft, he said, “Have you been listening to anything I’ve said this morning? I want a life with you. A future. Whatever we do from here on out, we do together. But I really hope you love the puppy because I can’t give him back.”
“Can’t or won’t?” I asked as he grabbed my hand and tugged me down the stairs.
He gave me a look. “Won’t. I’m already in love with him.”
“You have such a big heart.”
Knox placed a hand on his chest. “I already took a million pictures. Just wait till you see him. He’s adorable.”
I didn’t say it, but Knox was the one who was adorable. When he was honest with his feelings, and he was true to himself, there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish, and he never failed to make me happy.
I heard the whining when we entered the kitchen. The crate was set up by the table, and a yellow lab puppy was staring at us with pleading eyes. “Poor guy. Who locked you in this crate?”
“Mean Daddy, that’s who. I had some things to take care of this morning. You understand, right, buddy?” He unlocked the crate and scooped the dog into his arms.
I stepped close and petted his head.
“You’re in love, too, right?” Knox asked over his head.
“So in love,” I said, not sure whether I was talking about him or the puppy, but probably both.
“So, we can keep him?” He gave me the same pleading eyes that Addy did.
“Of course, you can. Addy’s going to love him.”
He grinned. “I’m counting on it.”
“Wait a minute. Did you get the puppy so Addy would want to move in?”
“Do you think it will work?” Knox grinned but then said, “But seriously, we need some Monroe dogs around here. They can be our brand. When people visit, they’ll expect to see our dogs. They’ll love them.”
“How could they not?” I asked as he handed me the squirming puppy.
Just like Knox, I hadn’t expected or even wanted a puppy, but he’d burrowed his way into my heart.
When Addy arrived, she wanted to open her birthday presents. She was thrilled with everything I got her: a drum set, an art kit, and a cozy chair for her room.
“Can we get the barn ready for the party?” Addy asked when she was done.
“Not yet. We have one more surprise,” Knox said with a grin.
The puppy was in the crate, but we’d moved it to Knox’s bedroom so she wouldn’t hear him whining. But at that moment, he let out a sharp bark, as if reminding us he was still here.
Addy’s eyes widened. “What’s that?” Then she took off, following the barking. “You got a puppy!” she cried as she raced up the stairs, down the hall, and into the bedroom.
She dropped to her knees in front of the crate. “Aw. He’s adorable.”
Knox unlatched the door, and the puppy raced toward Addy as if he’d been talking to her the entire time. He crawled into her lap, and she wrapped her arms around him. “I love him.”
Knox met my gaze over her head. “I knew you would.”
Addy looked up at me with tears shining in her eyes. “Can we keep him?”
“Of course. But he’s going to live with Knox for now.”
