“Does tomorrow afternoon work for you?” Taking out the roster, I show him my notes. “I’ve got Maverick set for this afternoon, and Gavin is tomorrow morning.”
“Of course.” He grins, and my chest tightens. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just be at the house.” I scrub my fingers over my forehead, focusing my thoughts on the job. “It’ll be easier for Ladybird if she’s in a familiar place.”
“Sounds good. What should I wear?”
“Oh, um… Haddy didn’t tell you?” Looking around, I spy my cousin making notes with the other players. “Just, ah, your skating shorts… no pants.”
His brow arches, and a naughty gleam flickers in his eyes. “No shirt?”
To my horror, my cheeks burn red. I quickly blink away, fanning myself with the roster I’m holding. When I realize what I’m doing, I stop immediately and shove the papers under my arm.
“It’s all part of the ‘hunks’ theme of the calendar, you know.” I wave my hand, adding under my breath, “It was Haddy’s idea.”
“Don’t worry, Cherry, I’m not offended.” He’s still teasing me, and it’s almost worse. “I get it. Ladies like topless men. It’s the same with guys.”
Straightening my shoulders, I force myself to stop actinglike an embarrassed amateur. This is not my first rodeo, and I was recruited for my professionalism and dog expertise.
Lifting my chin, I decide two can play at this game. “You’re sayingmenlike topless men as well?”
His lips part with a full, pearly white smile. “I guess some do.”
He says it with that same swagger he had while naked, only this time, he couples it with a wink. I’m pretty sure I burst into flames on the spot.
“Well, I’d better get going. Have to get Spanky ready for Mav.”
With that, I turn and walk straight into the round, metal trash can sitting beside the door. It bangs loudly then starts to spin, rolling around and nearly falling before Owen and I both jump forward to catch it.
I want to die.
“I didn’t see that there.” I point at the metal canister, putting my hand on the door as I push through it.
So much for professionalism.
Owen’s lips press, and I can tell he’s fighting a laugh. Turning on my heel, I walk with purpose to the exit.
“That Ryan guy’s pretty cool.”Maverick flops onto the couch after treating us all to a habanero mac and cheese dinner with Cajun cornbread.
The kitchen is clean, and we’re trying to decide what “family movie” to watch tonight, since we’re closing in on our final weeks of being together every week.
In the past, when hockey season started, Maverick would be gone all the time, Haddy would be in graduateschool, and I’d be completely absorbed in the world of dog show judging, dog training, dog grooming…
A few things have changed since last year: Haddy graduated and had a baby, and I’ve backed off on judging dog shows after the last time our house was toilet-papered.
The rest has remained the same. Gav and Mav are gearing up to play nonstop, which seriously shifts our social calendar.
“I didn’t think I could fit Spanky on my shoulder,” Mav continues. “But the way he did the thing with the prop… it was pretty cool! Wait til you see it.”
“You had Spanky on your shoulder?” My eyebrows rise.
Ryan Grantham is the premiere dog photographer in the city. I’d had to leave my cousins with him this afternoon so I could head back and file the paperwork for the Greater Los Angeles dog show, which is the last one that might put Spanky in the running for the best in show competition.
It’s probably too late, but I know Ryan so well, I knew they were in good hands.
He started out briefly as my assistant dog handler, which is why I was able to get him to work with us on this calendar on such short notice. Otherwise, he would be completely out of reach.
Ryan works all the “Meet the Breed” events, and he photographs the winners of all the state competitions. He’s also a rising star in Hollywood, making a name for himself taking pictures of celebrities and their dogs for local media as well as national campaigns.
