“I was going for a call-back from earlier but flubbed it I guess.” The confidence she’d shown at Cocks and Strippers all the way up to standing on Elias’ porch faded a little more.
Shit.
Elias stopped trying to herd the dogs and looked straight up at the ceiling. He jumped like he was trying to catch a football.
“What exactly are you doing?”
“Oh, that’s just me trying to catch the perfectly good call-back you lobbed at my head instead of totally missing it.” He looked behind him. “Nope, there it goes. They sometimes do that, just bounce right off my thick skull and go on their way.”
When he turned back around, there was that smile and sparkle in her eyes. He just stared for what felt like a full minute, feeling a little lost in her gaze.
“Gonna just get these two squared away,” he finally said.
“Wait. What are their names?”
“Oh, yeah, I didn’t tell you. The big guy is Chucklehead—Chuck for short—and the evil genius is Penny.”
Wren grinned. “Good night, Chuck and Penny.” She waved her fingers at them and they wagged their tails. Penny threw a look over her shoulder at Elias and started trotting back to Wren.
“Oops.” Wren giggled and stooped as the little dog picked up speed, tail going a hundred miles an hour. “I made a tactical error.”
“Naw. Penny’s been looking for another loyal minion to hire. She’s going to try and lowball you, but keep in mind she’s worth billions in kibble stock and crypto.” He kept a straight face.
“Oh really?” Wren’s gaze flashed to his, and now he recognized the smile she’d given him back when she was dressed in nothing more than a sheet.Ah, the good old days. “How much is she paying you so I can ask for a fair wage?”
“You’re better off talking to the Chucklehead about that. Don’t let his name fool you. The Chuckster’s a much better negotiator than me. I have to pay for Penny’s food and toys as part of my deal, but he talked her into stock options, a 401K,anddental.”
Wren’s lips twitched as she quickly looked away, fighting her laughter. She gave Penny a good scratch behind the ears and stood up.
“Go on, evil genius,” she told Penny. The little dog tilted her head, unable to comprehend how Wren could defy her every wish, before she turned and trotted back to Elias and Chuck.
“I’ll just be a minute.”
“Sure,” Wren said, sounding a little distracted as she looked around his place.
“Come on, guys.” At least they were smart enough to know they were done getting away with anything tonight and headed straight for their room. The dogs had the run of the house when Elias was home. When he had to leave for work or went out with Waylon, they stayed in a spare bedroom kitted out with doggie beds, toys, a water station, a TV, and a doggie door in a regular door that opened to a fenced-in kennel run.
Elias followed the dogs outside, contemplating the woman who waited in his living room. This was not how he’d expected or wanted the night to go. His dates never made him stop and think. They were all about fun—a short chase, then a quick, good time for both of them and back on their way. They didn’t meet and fall in love with his dogs. They didn’t make him laugh either, or think about them nonstop for days.
Once he got Penny and Chuck back inside and settled, he went back to the living room.
Wren was gone.
She faked liking my dogs, just like Shayla. A weird mixture of anger, hurt, and disappointment washed over Elias, far worse than what he’d felt when Shayla ghosted him. He shook his head.How could I be so stupid? I thought she was different. I thought she might be someone special. I thought she?—
“Sorry, I needed the restroom,” she said from somewhere behind him. He whipped around until he faced her, standingin the opposite hallway leading to his bedroom and the guest bathroom.
Wren took one look at the expression on his face and stepped backward as her smile turned to alarm. “I promise I wasn’t snooping.”
Elias quickly smiled, putting all the reassurance he could into it. “No, sorry, you’re fine. You just startled me. My fault. I should have told you where the bathroom was.” He blew out a breath. How did she manage to keep him so off-balance and flustered?
Her gaze flicked to the front door. “Maybe I should go. I have work early tomorrow.”
“Please, I didn’t mean to look upset. I just thought…”
“That I’d sneaked out without saying goodbye?” Wren’s shoulders relaxed. A smile played at her lips again.
“Yes. Exactly.”
