“That have felt like three weeks.”
“I’m in conversations with two different families about Agatha. They’re filling out paperwork so that we can confirm them to be reliable pet owners.”
“Reliable?” he asked, outraged. “You didn’t care about proving my reliability when you gave her to me.”
“I know you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.” She adjusted the sling. “I have to be diligent about vetting the people I don’t know who apply to adopt our animals.”
He’d been working here for two-and-a-half weeks. Long enough to know that the animals received outstanding care. The workers and volunteers kept the place extremely clean. They ensured the dogs had food, rest, exercise, playtime, health screenings, and baths.
He’d known plenty of people who were dedicated to their jobs. But he’d never met anyone as dedicated to their job as Finley was. She workedhard.
“You might want to be less diligent,” he said. “Then you could find homes for more dogs.”
Her eyes flashed as she lifted her chin. “I’m not trying to get rid of them. I’m determined to find every one of them a loving, committed home. There’s a world of difference.”
“Find a loving, committed home for Agatha soon because I’m not doing this for more than a week. I’m tired and irritated—”
“Yes, I see that,” she said wryly.
“If she’s not adopted by next Tuesday, I’m quitting this job and moving to Montana.”
She rolled her lips in, as if trying to keep herself from smiling.
“This is not funny,” he growled.
“It is just a very tiny bit funny.”
“Aren’t you the one who’s famous for being so full of empathy?”
“I am! It’s just that I’m a complex individual. I can experience humor and feel a sense of empathy toward you simultaneously.”
“What am I supposed to do with Agatha all weekend?”
“Tomorrow and Sunday, you can drop her off here in the morning and pick her up around dinnertime. Both Kat and Trish haveFridays off. But Trish and several volunteers are here every Saturday, and Kat and several volunteers are here every Sunday.”
“When were you going to tell me that I could drop her off here on the weekend?”
She shrugged. “All you had to do was ask.”
He slid his boot out from under the puppy’s chin, causing her to wake with a start. She whined. He slipped his palm under her belly and thrust her at Finley. “I think she needs to go to the bathroom. Again. Which isn’t my problem during my work hours.”
Finley accepted the puppy and stroked her back. “I’d be glad to take her outside.” She moved toward the door, then paused to look back. “I meant to tell you that I’m going to see my uncle Robbie today. He has a doctor’s appointment near here and called to ask if he could take me to lunch.”
“Where are you eating?”
“The Green Eatery downtown.”
“Can I come by? I want to get a read on him.”
“Why?”
“Because of the things you’ve told me about him and your dad.”
“If I say you can come by, are you going to be nice to him?”
