I got Tonks’s leash, clipped it on her collar (it was challenging to find one that complemented her glorious copper fur, I settled on light blue), headed out to the front porch and watched Hutch park his truck.
I then watched him angle out of it, and with the grace of a man who knew exactly what every inch of his body could do (something he’d demonstrated magnificently in my bed), I continued to watch as he walked toward me and up the steps to the porch while Tonks barked at him.
He ignored Tonks.
“Glad you didn’t make me hunt you down,” he said as greeting.
God, this guy was a dick.
I made a decision while offering him Tonks’s lead.
This made the dog shut up and cock her head in curiosity.
“I’m letting Moxie out of kitty prison while you two do your thing,” I told him.“I want her to get a good look around, leave her scent, smell Tonks’s, so when I finally get down to introducing them, it might go better for us all.”
His brows were knit.“Moxie is in kitty prison?”
How did he even make saying the word “kitty” hot?
Strike that.
Ultra hot.
And why couldn’t my one-night stand be some faceless mountain man who lived in virtual hermitude, lazing around, writing songs, occasionally gracing The Link with his presence, and as such, I’d never see him again, and not this guy, who I was going to have to put up with training my dog.
“It’s what my research told me to do, quarantine her so she can?—”
“After I read your application, I put those two together and there were no issues.If you’re worried about Tonks, put her in her crate.”
Uh-oh.
“I didn’t get her a crate.”
This time, his brows shot up.“You didn’t get her a crate?”
I squared my shoulders and stated, “I’m not putting her in another cage.”
“Mabel—”
I raised a hand, palm out his way.“No.No discussion.”I dropped my hand.“Yes, I’ve read about it.Yes, I know they say it’s actually a good thing and makes them feel safe.I just…” I swallowed.“Can’t do it.”
His voice had gentled, for the first time (outside of bed) reminding me of how he sang, when he said, “They’re your animals, Mabel.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Though, I urge you to reconsider down the road,” he said carefully.“It actually is a safe place, and it’s not the same when they’re home.They can see and smell home, and you, which is another home for them.You with me?”
I nodded.
“Go let Moxie out,” he ordered.“We’ll get to work.”
“Right.”
“C’mon, girl,” he murmured to Tonks as he turned to walk down the steps.
My dog looked back at me, but she went with Hutch.
I went into the house, right up the stairs, opened the bathroom door, and Moxie, who had decided my bathmat was more comfortable than her cat bed, something, as far as I knew, she hadn’t even sniffed, was curled on the mat.
