Our big puppy hadn’t stopped smiling since we first saw her, and I felt my heart aching to get her back home. There was a kindness to her orangey-brown eyes, and a gratefulness.
“Yes, you did, good girl.” I rubbed her back, the rolls of puppy fat rippling under my pets as I leaned into the baby voice.
With a grand signature, Leo stepped away from the desk and passed the papers to Dani. “Done.”
She took a look over the papers and stretched out a hand to Leo. “Thank you for your service, Major.” Turning to the rest of us, Dani smiled wide. “And congratulations on your new buddy.”
“Hear that? You’re all ours.” I whispered to our big puppy who lifted her front paws. Maybe she was just excited at the attention, or maybe she knew that she was home forever now.Between the four — okay, maybe three — of us, she’d never want for anything ever again.
And I was starting to think I might not either.
Leo took the leash as we thanked the staff and headed out the front door. As Jester pulled Leo out of the lobby and into the brisk winter air, I peeked over my shoulder at Dom who lagged behind us. From her wallet, she slipped a few hundred dollar bills in the donation box when she thought we weren’t looking.
But once we were back in the parking lot, Dom was back to her grumpy self as she looked at her pristine gold car in the empty lot. “Oh, hell no. That dog is not getting in my vintage fucking Camaro.”
“I’ll hold her.” The answer came from my lips quickly, without considering just how long the drive might be. But I didn’t care, I was going to hold my dog.
“Kiera, be serious. She’s an 80 pound dog.” Dom rolled her eyes. “Her claws will pierce my leather seats.”
“You owe me.”
From beside me, Spencer shrugged. “Us. Really.”
Dom didn’t say yes, instead she threw herself into the driver’s seat with a growl as she roared the engine to life. Opening the door for me, Spencer let me hop in first, sliding to the middle seat.
Once she was next to me, we patted our laps for Jester to hop up next to us. In one great leap, she tumbled onto the back seat. Spencer was quick to scoop up her butt and slide her over. Her nails just barely missed the vintage leather.
Passing the leash to Spencer, Leo got into the front passenger seat and buckled up.
Dom’s suspicious eyes stayed on me in the backseat as we put on our seat belts. But I was careful to hold the puppy close, not willing to let her out of my sight just yet.
Her body was heavy and warm as Dom drove us back home. She kept watch over the windows, both excited by the passing forest and also a bit alert. I felt my body relax under her weight, finally taking a deep breath.
She seemed just as comfortable, leaning into the cuddles as we careened down Valemont’s backstreets. It was like she could tell that Dom would be pissed if her claws even grazed the seats.
Good thing she didn’t mention drool.
Jester’s mouth was covered in it, thick slobber dripping down onto the leather as Spencer rubbed her belly.
“Good girl.” Spencer cooed as a devious smirk took over her face, taking satisfaction in watching Dom’s car get covered in dog slobber. In a low whisper, Spencer leaned into the pup’s ear. “She can afford it, not to worry.”
“What about… Chance?” Leo turned in the front seat to look at us, sprawled out in the back.
Shaking my head, I looked at her face. “Mac?”
“Dumpster.” Spencer laughed from next to me. “Oh—Biggins.”
I threw a punch into her arm. “Be serious, you asshole.”
“Lady.” Dom broke her silence from the driver’s seat, all of us whipping our heads around to look at her.
In my lap, the dog started panting at the sound of the name. Her tail was wagging harder now, thumping against the leather seats.
She was sweet, and gentle but wielded a quiet power that she’d use for good.
I felt my throat tighten. It was perfect. For her, for us. For the circumstances.
And somehow Dom had thought of it. With all her armor up, she still had that soft spot I remembered. She wasn’t always like this, hardened by the cruelty of her father.
