The day had finally come.
Brumous’ bath day.
Long, long,longoverdue.
We had planned to do it yesterday, but things got out of hand in more ways than one. We went to our room early last night, although sleep didn’t happen until after midnight, thanks to our voracious little wife’s needy self.
Not that I’m complaining, I thought with a smirk, cupping my chafed balls gently in fond memory of their noble sacrifice just hours ago.
And then there was Koa’s bullshit bomb, and Cas and I had to straighten him this morning.
But we couldn’t put D-day off any longer, to go by the smell and the bits of food and flora that kept dropping out of the Brumster’s fur and paws.
Or, as Cas pointed out at lunch, “Pup’s filthier than your browser history.”
Plus,I told myself,it will take Seri’s mind off of her stepmonster and stepskanks.
Knowing we needed lots of room for potential chaos, or what Casimir called strategic containment, I opened the back door to the patio, breathing in the warm spring air. The pergola overhead was tangled with wisteria vines, their buds just starting to unfurl. It was a nice spot, secluded and private, with the wrought-iron furniture adding a touch of elegance.
Or, itwaselegant until I started hauling chairs and tables to the side, clearing space forOperation Bathtime: Dire Edition. I glanced up at the wisteria.
“You’ll be fine,” I told the vines, as if they cared. “Probably.”
Seri appeared in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, worry pinching her brows together.
“Zane, the hose water’s going to be freezing. He’ll hate it.”
“Buckets of warm water, blossom.” I smirked, tapping my temple like I’d just solved world peace. “We’ll carry them out. Besides, do we evenhavea hose?”
Addison shuffled into view behind her, clutching a bucket in one hand. The kid looked like he’d rather be anywhere else, his enormous dark eyes darting around like he was searching for an escape route.
Seri lit up when she saw him.
“Addison! Perfect timing.” She stepped aside to let him pass, her voice softening like she was talking to a skittish deer. “Brummy, this is Addison. Addison, this is Brumous.”
The wolf pup tilted his head, his eyes curious, but Addison froze. His knuckles whitened around the bucket handle, and he slowly extended his free fist in Brumous’ direction, like he was offering a handshake to a landmine. Brum sniffed at it, his tail giving a cautious wag, but Addison didn’t move an inch.
I watched the interaction, drumming my fingers on my thigh. Seri was trying so hard with the kid, her energy all warmth and patience, but Addison was like a fortress, all locked down and guarded. Whatever he’d been through, it had left scars deeper than the ones under Brumster’s fur.
“All right,” I said, snapping everyone back to the task at hand. “Let’s get this show on the road before the fur ball decides it’s zoomie time again. Addison, you’re on bucket duty, so keep ’em coming. Seri, stand back and look pretty. And Brum-Brum? Buddy, you’re about to experience the miracle of soap.”
He barked once, like he was challenging me, and I grinned. This was going to be awesome. Or a disaster. Or both.
Cas set down a bucket with a slosh that matched the unease rippling off Seri. Her fingers twisted in Brumous’ matted scruff, knuckles whitening as she opened her mouth.
“Before you ask,” he cut her off, “the answer remains no.”
Her chin lifted exactly two inches, a spark of stubbornness cutting through the lingering fog of please-don’t-hit-me hesitance.
“But if I just hold the shampoo bottle—”
“Forty-two teeth.” Casimir began ticking points on his long fingers. “Canines measuring eight centimeters. Sixteen claws. Comparative length? A steak knife. One tail. Potential incalculable.”
The wolf’s rear twitched on cue, sending a patio chair skittering into the wisteria. Green leaves rained down like botanical confetti.
“Unpredictability factor?” Ko asked as he appeared with an armload of towels.
“Off the moon-damned charts.” Cas folded his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at Seri. “You weigh ninety-seven pounds. He headbutted the refrigerator this morning when it didn’t dispense ice cubes fast enough. Stand down, little wife.”
