“I’m not sure I want you to train her.For one, you cost a lot, and I’m sure you’re worth it, but sadly, I’m not made of money.And two, I hope you aren’t insulted when I say, you don’t seem like a very nice person.”
The bite was back with, “How is that not supposed to insult me?”
“I thought you knew you were surly,” I stated blithely.
“I’m not surly,” he clipped.
“Well, you’d have to be on my end of the conversation to make that call, and trust me, you’re surly.”Before he could say anything, I said, “I’m really thankful for your time.But I think we’re done here.Goodbye, Mr.Hutchison.”
And with that, I hung up on him.
“What a dick,” I said to my phone.
I dropped it on the desk and looked back at my laptop.
“Guess what, Tonks.If webond, as Mr.Grouch says we need to do, you’re coming home soon.”
I slapped my laptop down.
And the oven timer dinged.
Excellent.
Just what I needed after that call.
Brownies.
I took them out and poured the Mars bar frosting I’d already made on top of them.
It oozed over the hot brownies, but I helped it with a spatula (better to be able to have something to lick afterwards).
That sorted, instead of going to the bureau I should be sanding, I went back to my laptop and did a deep dive on red Siberian huskies while my sweet treats cooled.
SEVEN
Tonks and Moxie
Mabel
It was official.
I was in love.
It was the next morning.
I was not in my workshop sanding that bureau.
I was at the Stony Bluff Animal Rescue and Wildlife Sanctuary, in one of their meet and greet rooms, falling in love with a dog.
“She really likes you,” Winona, the slim volunteer who was with us at the rescue and had blue and pink tips in her short dark hair, said.
I was giving Tonks a full head rubdown, while Tonks panted happy dog breath into my face, but I looked to Winona.“Does she like everyone?”
She smiled and shrugged.“Pretty much.”
I turned back to Tonks, looked into her blue, blue eyes, and whispered, “Well, I love her.”
“I’m glad,” Winona said hesitantly.“But?—”
