Reid pleads with his eyes.“Just let her.I’ll pay for it.”
“No.You don’t understand what it means to take care of a cat.”
“I can totally look after a cat,” Milly argues.“I can take it to school in one of those bubble backpacks.It will be cool.”
“No, Milly.It’s not that simple.What if it gets out?It will never return.And trust me, cats are the most selfish little shits ever.”
She pouts.“You had a cat at your old house.”
“Not by choice.That cat tried to kill me in my sleep, Mill.In my sleep.Do you need that kind of negativity in your life?No.You don’t.Hell, a dog would have been better.”
A massive smile falls over her face and dread hits my stomach when I realise I’ve just fallen into a trap.“It’s funny you should say that.A dog was my first choice.”
I glare at Reid, who has the audacity to look confused.“Mill, it’s not up to me.It’s not my house.”
“Malia will say yes,” she starts, and her lower lip trembles.“I really want a dog like Rex.He saved me.”
Holy fuck.I can’t say no.I can’t.I draw out a sigh.“When Malia finds out, you’re on your own, kid.I had nothing to do with this.”
She squeals, jumping up and down.“This is the best present ever.Can we go see?Can we?”
Reid sighs, opening the door behind him.She races through, her excitement clear when she can barely get out a sentence.
I jab Reid in the ribs and he groans, bending over.“What was that for?”
“Why on earth would you promise her a dog, Reid?A fucking dog.”
He grins, flashing his teeth.“You’re so hot when you’re angry.”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I,” he states and briefly glances over his shoulder before stepping closer.He takes my hand, and before I can snatch it back, he presses it against his groin.Despite being angry at him, I can’t hide the pleasure tingling between my legs when I feel just how turned on he is.
I snatch my hand back when Milly barrels back over.“Come on!Come on!I think I know which one.”
I let her take my hand and lead me into the room.I expected it to be cold, depressing, and dark.Maybe even a little clinical.It’s none of those.Both sides of the room are lined with decent-sized kennels.The right side of wall is half brick, half window.To the left, the lower half has little mini doors in each kennel that must lead outside.
“How do the dogs on that side of the room go out?”
Reid grins down at me.“I asked the same thing.Apparently, they are trained and can handle walking in a pack.”
“I want this one,” Milly announces, her hand on the lock.
“Milly, no,” Faith calls out.Fear races up my spine when she pushes past us.It’s too late, the door is open.But instead of going for Milly, the dog stands in front of her, growling at Faith approaching.She comes to a sudden stop.“Bear, sit!”
The dog growls louder.“Milly, slowly step back,” I warn.
“No, this is my dog.He’s the one I want.”
“Jesus Christ,” Reid hisses.“She’ll fall down a fucking well next if we don’t put a lead on the kid.”
I’m not listening to him.The massive, apricot-coloured Bullmastiff swings at the sound of Milly’s voice, and a lump forms in my throat.His mouth is huge.If push comes to shove, he could probably bite her head off—unlikely, but the fear is still there.He steps toward her, the muscles in his back legs flexing.He doesn’t bite or attack her.He licks her face, making her giggle, and the breath I had been holding whooshes out.
“Faith, is he going to hurt her?”I question.I’m frozen to the spot, unable to move, so a verbal assurance is all I can do right now.
“I don’t think so, but he hasn’t completed our training.Being around children was our last step.Guess he passes.”
“Then why did you rush in like she was about to free a feral animal?”Reid questions, his tone high-pitched, his complexion red now.He looks at me, bending until his hair is in my face.“Do I have grey hairs?I do, don’t I?”
