“They were dumped at the animal shelter,” Luca explained, trying to maintain his serious tone, though a big part of him continued to enjoy her reaction to the puppies.“Someone tried to breed them but got overwhelmed by the costs.Apparently, they just dropped them off at the shelter yesterday morning in a box.”He paused, mentally shaking his head at the inhumanity of some people.“I thought you’d prefer a choice for your puppy so…,” he gestured to the two fluffy darlings.“Pick one.”
Ava’s eyes widened in horror as she pulled both puppies into her arms, cradling them close as if she could protect them.“You can’t send one back!”she gasped in disbelief as her protective instincts kicked in.
Luca couldn’t help but roll his eyes, though the smallest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.“You wanted a dog,” he reminded her, his voice still gruff but with a touch of amusement.“I’m giving you an option.Choose one, and I’ll have my assistant take the other one back to the shelter.The other will be adopted quickly.”
Ava looked down at the two wiggling puppies, both squirming happily, tails wagging furiously and their wide, black eyes gazing up at her with adoration.“But they’re… so sweet,” she said softly, looking between them with obvious affection.“You can’t just… pick one like that!”She tried to snap her fingers for effect but her arms were full.
Luca scowled at the furballs.He was starting to understand the allure of puppies even as he tried to resist.“They’re…wiggly,” he said with disdain, his tone dropping as he frowned at the puppies.“And you’ll end up with a mess of fur and chaos.”
That word, ‘wiggly,’ came out almost like a curse, as though the very act of wiggling was something to be avoided at all costs.He was trying to maintain control of the situation, but Ava’s reaction—her clear, unfiltered affection for the puppies—was starting to unravel him.
Ava glanced up at him, her brow furrowed as if she was struggling with the decision.“They need a home, Luca,” she pointed out softly, her tone carrying an underlying current of determination.
Luca watched her, his jaw tightening.He didn’t have the energy to argue, nor did he want to.“Choose one,” he repeated, more resigned now.He’d given her the choice, and if she wanted to give both puppies a chance, he’d let her have them—though he didn’t quite know what to make of his own willingness to bend for her.
Luca watched, his body aching for… what?Sex?Hell yes.But it was more than that.Significantly more complicated than just raw desire.Seeing Ava affectionately play with the two puppies, Luca suddenly realized that he was… jealous.Damn, he was jealous that she was touching and petting those mutts instead of him.Inferno, she hadn’t even greeted him properly.She’d walked in, noticed the puppies, and had become completely distracted.
That’s when his gaze found the box that had fallen out of her leather bag.A sharp jolt ran through him.Curiosity tightened his chest.His thoughts turned away from the unwelcome jealousy, something he could barely process, and focused instead on the box.It was the safer option.
“What’s that?”he asked, more tightly than he intended.
Ava glanced at the box, then returned her focus to the puppies.
“It came to me via courier this morning.”She didn’t even attempt to stand up, instead pulling the box closer to her bag, her fingers scratching at one of the puppies’ ears as it snuggled against her side.
Luca’s gaze hardened.He took the box from her and flipped it over.“Who delivered it?”
Ava giggled when one of the puppies tugged on her hair.She carefully freed her hair, then met Luca’s eyes.“I don’t know.And after everything that’s been happening lately, I didn’t want to take chances.”She pulled both puppies close, pressing them against her side as they gazed up at her in adoration.“You didn’t send it?”
Luca shook his head, his focus still on the box.“No.I sent you the contract.”His frown deepened as he flipped the box over again.The urge to call someone, to get answers, gripped him.“I’ll call Jim.”
“Who’s Jim?”Ava asked, her tone still light, unaware of his rising tension.
Luca exhaled sharply, irritation bubbling up, but he forced his voice to stay even.“He’s my head of security.”He put the box on a low table beside him and pulled out his phone, dialing a number with quick, practiced efficiency.He spoke in low, urgent tones, keeping his eyes fixed on Ava as she continued to play with the puppies.She was a sight, her smile bright and genuine, her laughter joyful.For a moment, a wave of something tender washed through him.The puppies were adorable with her, but Luca’s thoughts quickly veered back to the situation at hand.Could the canines be trained as protectors?
As she scratched behind the puppies’ ears, her focus so complete, he couldn’t help but wonder if they could ever become fierce and protective.
With a sigh of resignation and something like relief, Luca hung up, still working through the tangled emotions.Moments later, the office opened.
“Where is it?”Jim demanded immediately, hurrying into the room and looking around.
Luca didn’t look at him right away.He was still watching Ava, who was giggling again as one of the puppies jumped onto her lap.It was a small moment, but Luca was transfixed by the way the dogs demanded her attention, their little paws pushing at her until she gave in.She was so…carefree.He had never seen her like this before.
“Over there,” Luca replied, gesturing to the box on the low table.The reminder that someone might be trying to send her a message was enough to pull his attention away from the puppies, suddenly making his blood boil.
Jim picked up the box and slid it carefully into a plastic bag.He paused for a moment, glancing at Ava, who was still on the floor and completely engrossed in the puppies.They were supposed to be protectors, fierce and loyal, but right now they were nothing more than two wiggling fluffballs showering her with affection.
Luca’s breath caught for a moment, the danger once again forgotten.He hadn’t really thought about it, but the sight of Ava laughing, her attention completely absorbed by the puppies, hit him with unexpected force.His woman, he thought possessively.
Jim must have read his thoughts because the big, surly head of security grunted.
“I know,” Luca muttered with a sigh.“I know.”
Jim's expression darkened, but he said nothing as he returned to the door.“I’ll have this examined and will get back to you shortly.”
The door swung shut behind him, and Luca was left with the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him.He could feel the tension creeping in—his thoughts no longer on the box but on Ava.He needed to get her attention back, away from the puppies and back to business.He couldn’t let himself feel distracted by the way she had melted with the dogs or the way his jealousy had flared.He needed to ground himself.
“Did you bring the contract with you?”he asked gruffly.“We can discuss the details over lunch.”
