Gray nodded abruptly in decision.Dillon held the puppy while Gray Tied the ring to the ribbon and gently tied it around Sparky’s fuzzy neck.The ring vanished into the Golden Retriever’s fluff.
Sparky commenced trying to reach the bow to chew it, so Dillon sacrificed his finger to the dog’s sharp puppy teeth to keep it from losing the expensive ring.
“What if she says no?”Gray blurted in an uncharacteristic burst of nerves.
“She won’t say no.”
“How do you know?”
“Because at the kennel I saw how she looks at you.She already said yes.She’s just waiting for you to catch up.”
“Stay till they get here,” Gray said.“I want a wingman in case I forget how to talk.”
“I’ll stay, but because somebody has to make sure this scamp doesn’t eat your engagement ring.”
Gray paced.Dillon sat on the floor beside the dog and transitioned Sparky to chewing on a dishrag when his finger got sore.
Gray asked abruptly, “You ever think about it?”
“About what?”
“Family.”
Dillon kept his eyes on the puppy.“Used to.”
“What happened?”
“Had a wife.She told me on her way out the door that I was a workaholic with nothing left over for a woman.”He shrugged.“Can’t blame her.A country vet’s schedule—well, I have no schedule.”
“Some women would put up with that.”
He sent Gray a small, sad smile.“I’ll let you know if I find one.”
Thankfully, Bonnie’s car pulled into the driveway just then, distracting Gray.
“Showtime.”Gray ran his hands through his hair.“How do I look?”
“Like a man about to commit a federal crime.”
“Helpful, Dillon.Real helpful.”
The kids hit the porch like artillery rounds demanding to know if the puppy was here.Bonnie came in behind them, putting her keys on the hook by the door and saying hello to him with a smile.
Cassidy reached the dog first.She dropped to her knees and scooped up Sparky.Her hands stopped, mid-stroke, on the puppy’s chest.Her eyes went wide and her gaze snapped to Gray, then to her mother.
“Mom,” Cassidy said urgently.She bodily shoved the puppy into Bonnie’s arms.
“Cassidy, what’s wrong?Dillon is he sick?—”
She felt it, too.Looked down.Saw the glint at Sparky’s throat, small and clear and sparkly in a sea of golden fur.
She froze.
“Why’s there a string on him?”Noah said, looking up at the puppy.
Cassidy, in a voice that contained whole constellations: “It’s a ribbon, Noah.”
Bonnie looked up at Gray, who stood frozen by the sink.He didn’t take a knee.Didn’t launch into a speech.Poor guy didn’t seem to remember his own name.
