“Hey.” Luke rose, and they exchanged a fist bump.
“Where are your two sidekicks?”
“By sidekicks you can’t mean Kat and Trish.”
Ben chuckled. “I do, though. You three are a trip together.”
“We’re oil and water together. The only time I can think straight is when they’re outside the building, like now, doing home visits.”
“Any word on Agatha?”
“No.”
“Do you miss her?”
“No.” That wasn’t exactly true, but there was no way he’d admit that he did think about the puppy. Sometimes. Hardly ever. “I’m just glad Agatha’s family hasn’t returned her and filed a suit for emotional damage.”
“She was a cute little thing.”
Luke slanted his head to the side a fraction. “Ben, is it tiring to view everything in its best possible light all the time?”
“Less tiring than viewing everything in its worst possible light,” Ben said cheerfully.
He had a point.
“Listen,” Ben said, “Sebastian, Natasha, Genevieve, and I are getting together for lunch on Sunday. Can you join us?”
“I might already have plans Sunday. I’m not sure.”
“Is that true,” Ben asked with a humorous expression, “or are you just blowing me off again?”
“Both.” He didn’t yet know if he and Finley were going to the gold mine that day. But even if they weren’t, he’d probably rather blow Ben off.
Finley exited her office, and his idiot heart lifted at the sight of her.
“You should go to lunch with the others,” she said to Luke.
“Were you eavesdropping?”
“Yes. Sure was.” She beckoned for them to follow. “C’mon. Luke’s family is here for a tour.”
“Huh?” Luke said.
“I told you they’d jump at the chance to come.”
Sure enough, when they reached the foyer, Luke’s family waited inside.
“Hello! I’m Finley, and I’m so delighted you’re here. Thank you for coming.” Her face lit up as she shook hands with his parents and siblings.
Ben greeted them with familiarity and affection.
Finley asked his parents a few questions, and in no time, Ben helped her find common ground with them through mutual friends and activities.
Finley and Ben were exactly as comfortable with his family as he was uncomfortable.
“Your son is unbelievably talented with computers,” Finley was saying. “He completed the website redesign for Furry Tails, and now he’s creating a system that will match prospective families with available pets. He’s also teaching the other employees how to upload each of the currently adoptable animals onto the site and how to manage the system.”
“That’s fabulous,” Mom said.
