Luke didn’t want to remember the things he’d been doing at Blair’s age. “Can you get me the name and number of a high school kid who can tell me what’s going on with her?”
Ben thought for a second. “Sebastian’s girlfriend is named Leah. She’s a friend of mine and a teacher at the school, too. Her younger brother, Dylan, is a senior. He and Blair aren’t in the same friend group, but I’m positive he knows who she is. No doubt they’ve hung out at some of the same parties.”
“Do you think Dylan would help me?”
“Probably. He’s a good kid, and he might be willing to fill you in because of your connection to Sebastian. Not to mention, his sister is all about keeping kids safe. I’ll talk to Leah about it. If she’s cool with this plan, I’ll pass Dylan’s number along to you.”
Is Agatha’s family arriving today, or am I going to have to take her to a freeway?” Luke asked Finley the following morning in her office. The little dog lay on his forearm like a woman on a spa massage table.
“Good morning.” Finley looked genuinely happy to see him.
She’d piled her black hair on top of her head. The style highlighted the back of her long graceful neck and the hinge of her jaw. It made him want to pull on a strand so he could watch the heavy mass fall.
“I’m very pleased to inform you,” she said, “that the Gomez family will arrive to collect her in an hour and a half.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s too good to be true.”
Iinsist that you come out and meet them,” Finley said to him once Agatha’s owners arrived.
“You don’t need me there. You can give them instructions. You’re the expert.”
“And you’re the one who fostered her. The employees here who foster a puppy are always a part of Gotcha Day.”
He sat at his desk, staring at his monitor. He hadn’t looked directly at her, but he knew she’d placed her hands on her hips.
“Gotcha Day?” he asked.
“That’s what we call it around here. It’s the day when the new owner says, ‘Gotcha!’ to their fabulous little fur baby.”
“I hate the termGotcha Day. And I hate the termfur baby.”
“You’re coming out to meet them. It’s a rule.”
He swiveled his chair to frown up at her. “I’d like to see where it’s written that the schmuck who fosters a puppy has to be there to hand the puppy over.”
“It’s a rule if I say it’s a rule! You don’t want me to tell the family to go away and come back another time, do you? They’re in the foyer waiting.” She reached down and grabbed his hand, which sent a shock of heat up to his shoulder. “Come on. You are so stubborn. Come on!”
Grumbling, he stood.
Kat was positioned at the central worktable, sorting the papers she’d just printed. “Luke is throwing all of my excellent qualities as an employee into focus. I feel that I deserve an Employee of the Year plaque.”
Quick as a flash, Finley dashed behind him. Placing her palms on the middle of his back, she pushed him toward the hallway. As if she could physically force him to go anywhere.
“That’s not necessary,” he told her. “I’m going.” How was he supposed to maintain control around her if she kept putting her hands on him?
When they reached the yard, Agatha raced over, her stupid earsflapping. He lifted her leash from the hook and clipped it to her collar. Together, he and Finley walked toward the foyer.
“You’re going to give the family her supplies, right?” he asked.
“Oh yes. We provide every adoptive family with a bag full of the dog’s familiar items, plus food, treats, and toys.”
“Did you include her stuffed lamb? She likes her lamb.”
“I included her lamb.”
