“What dog?” Cary hid Rory under his jacket.
A tickle ran up Tyler’s nose and she sneezed into her elbow. “Excuse me,” she said.
“Bless you,” Cary replied, and Kim winked at her with a knowing smile.
Tyler extended her arms to grab him. “May I have him back, please?”
“Sorry, finders keepers.”
Cary gave her a cheeky grin and followed Kim down the hall.
A short while later Cary knocked on Tyler’s half-open door as Rory came barreling around the corner.
“All done?” she asked.
“Kim knows what she’s doing. Thanks for suggesting her.”
“No problem. Hey, how’s Vegas? He said he was fine, but I don’t believe him.”
“He’s not good.” Cary snapped his fingers. “I almost forgot. I brought Mutt Muffs for Rory.”
“Mutt Muffs?” She repeated in confusion.
Cary retrieved the Mutt Muffs from his bag and placed them over Rory’s ears. “Hold still.” He lined up the shot with his phone and took the dog’s picture. Of course, Rory liked all forms of attention and posed willingly. “They’re for the show,” he added.
“Thanks, but Rory . . . I mean, I’m not going to your show.” His eyes opened as if surprised, so she elaborated, “I promised Bob Shaw I’d help him with his templates.” Bob had earned his accounting degree in the eighties, so she was his in-house tech support.
“Not going?” Cary dropped his head. “Let’s go talk to Bob Shaw.”
As soon as they left her office Rory followed them down the hall. Bob kept cookies in the bottom drawer of his desk, and the dog knew exactly where they were.
“Bob Shaw!” Cary opened his arms. “You’re not going to the show? What the hell?”
Bob didn’t trust himself around alcohol—or Tommy—and no one could blame him. Tommy was a bad influence.
“Sorry, Cary.” Bob grimaced. “These numbers don’t add themselves.”
“I’m helping you, remember,” Tyler said.
Kim entered Bob’s office and gave her friendthe look. Tyler shrugged one shoulder and smirked as if to say,I’m still not going.
“Dude, I could use your help at the venue. It sounds like Vegas’s leg is really fucked up.”
Tyler gestured in Bob’s direction. “I promised him.”
“You don’t mind, do you, Bob Shaw?” Kim asked. “She can help you later.”
Bob pushed his glasses along the bridge of his nose. “No.” He shook his head. “Not at all. You kids go have fun.”
TheJeopardymusic looped in Tyler’s head as she weighed her options. Cary wanted her to go, but he’d also said that about his Winnipeg show, practically ignoring her. Then again, he had shown up at the benefit concert. And her hair looked especially good today, so at least there was something positive.
“Fine,” she relented. “But I’m not bringing Rory. He’s staying at home.”
“Poor Rory.” Cary’s bottom lip turned into a cute frown.
“Yes.” Tyler held back a smile. “Poor Rory.”
“Who wants a cookie?” Bob asked, and the dog performed his obligatory dance.
