“I found the perfect home for Archie,” I say with forced optimism.
“This again?”
“Ryder. You leave to go back to LA in a week. And you said you want to approve my choice. You can’t do that if you aren’t here. You assigned me the task of finding Archie a good home. And then you’ve blocked me ever since. That’s not okay. I’ve been distracted over the last week. With sewing and sexual shenanigans. But this is important.”
“Archie can’t just go to anyone,” Ryder says with a frown.
“The family is perfect. Even you couldn’t say no. You told me you didn’t want a dog. That you tour too much for that responsibility. You want your freedom, don’t you? Or have you changed your mind? Because if you want to keep him, then that’s great.” I hold my breath, waiting for his response.
“No, I haven’t changed my mind,” he says, but his expression looks confused. “There’s still time, though. I have to go back to LA to deal with tour rehearsals and the Music Awards. But I can return. I’m sure I can figure out my schedule. I can come back for interviews if I have to.” He’s looking more cheerful now. “We can’t rush this. We have to find the right family.”
I hate the shot of joy I feel at the idea. We agreed on two weeks. And now he’s talking about the possibility of returning,prolonging this. But Ryder, whether or not he meant to, has kept me on the hook for ten long years. This whole dating and sex thing was supposed to help me lose my obsession. And the two weeks expiration date was supposed to be the clincher. It gives a clean end date. If he continues to pop in and out of the house, I’m a goner. He loves freedom and hates to be tied down. And I want forever. So I need to move on with my life and not let my heart be hijacked. At this rate, I’ll be eighty and following him.Like a puppy.
But we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about Archie, now. And he, too, deserves his forever home. And someone who wants him for good.
I wave my hand, feeling desperate. “It’s not fair to Archie. If you don’t want him, let him be with someone who does. You’re only dragging this out. It’s almost the end of summer. I did what you asked and found him the right family. They’ll make him happy,” I say softly.
“Who?” He doesn’t look convinced.
“You remember Chase and Sebastian’s costar, Ronan. His fiancée, Poppy, and his daughter, Belle, want another pet to keep their dog company. They meet every criterion. They’re the happy family you want. They have an adorable girl to lavish love and attention on Archie. They have a big house and a yard in upstate New York. And he would have another dog friend to pal around with.”
“Ronan is gone for months when he films,” Ryder scoffs.
“Poppy is an art teacher, and Belle goes to the local school. So they only travel in the summer. And they always take their dog with them or he stays with Poppy’s parents, who spoil him rotten.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Poppy told me. She’s the best. I met her and Ronan through Chase, and I’ve kept in touch with her. Did you know that Poppyand Ronan met when they were trapped in an elevator? Can you imagine being trapped with that giant of a man? All those muscles.”
“He’s too big.” Ryder rolls his eyes. “It’s not normal.”
“Regardless, if you want to find a family to adopt Archie, you couldn’t find a better one than this.”
Ryder scrubs a hand over his face. “I just want what’s best for him.”
He looks so aggrieved. Even Archie senses something is wrong and jumps up to lean against his legs.
I look down at the little guy. “Do you think it’s possible that you don’t want to find a family to adopt him because you want to keep him for yourself? That you’re wrong, and you could be what’s best for him?”
I say it. And then I remember. I swore I wouldn’t try to convince him to keep Archie ever again. That Archie deserved a person who didn’t need convincing. So I hold up a hand. “Never mind. Forget I said that. You need to decide, Ryder. If you want him to go to a good family, then you need to actually make that decision. Prolonging this, if you don’t plan on being his forever home, is not what’s best for Archie. And he needs to come first.”
“She’s right, bro. Plus, you won’t have this house for him to romp around in any longer.”
I turn to find Brendan striding toward us from the garden path. He’s looking mighty fine in his—wait for it—white linen shirt with rolled-up sleeves and casual slacks. I wonder if he bought the shirt from Closet Dreams.
“Bren,” Ryder says. “I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“I’m here to light a fire under your ass.” Brendan turns to me. “You’re looking particularly gorgeous, Daisy. Blue suits you. It brings out your eyes, which, if I haven’t told you before, are the most stunning shade. You sure you don’t want to change yourmind and switch brothers?” he asks smoothly, leaning down to me and brushing my cheek with his lips.
A muscle in Ryder’s jaw tenses, and he shifts his chair so he’s close enough to put his arm around me.
I stifle a laugh. It’s nice when Brendan visits. “I’m good for now. I’ll update you should anything change.”
“You didn’t drive all the way up here just for the view. What’s going on?” Ryder asks.
“I know you wanted to take your time on selling this place. But Shelby made an official offer last night. It’s a good one. And you know she would honor Grandmother’s legacy. She wants the house, but she won’t wait around. There’s another mansion in Rockhaven she’s interested in. She doesn’t love it as much, but it’s a great property, available, and it will go fast. So if we don’t accept her offer, we’re going to lose her as a buyer.”
“Fuck.” Ryder’s expression darkens.
