That “or else” sends a tingle down my spine, and I’m not sure why. It’s fun, thinking of ways to get even, and I don’t think my threat does much because she risks taking a quick, small sip.
THIRTY-SIX
Miles
Lucy looks adorable paired with such a large dog. Alexander could carry her. In fact, I’m pretty sure Lucy ishispet. But the way she’s leaning her head against his neck is making me jealous of a damn dog.
A damn nice dog.
I was worried I’d regret offering to let Alexander come live with us. I love dogs, but have never spent much time with any bigger than a golden retriever. I wasn’t sure whether I should expect him to be aggressive. But he’s such a big sweetheart that I’m already attached to him.
“We should have picked him up sooner. I like this guy.” I swing open the door and let him jump out. He immediately presses his head against my stomach. “Yes, you’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
Lucy walks around the side of the car. “Oh, he really does like you. He leans into people he loves.”
“Is it a family trait?”
Lucy blushes, and I wonder if she remembers last night and her snuggling into me in her sleep.
“Thank you for letting him come live with us,” she says as she steps close and wraps her arms around me in an awkward hug.My arms are pinned at my sides, so I lean my head down to rest it on top of hers.
“I wish I had known sooner. I love dogs,” I reassure her.
She releases me as quickly as she latched on and looks at me. “Every place I tried to rent here had a no-pet policy, so I just assumed you wouldn’t want one either since you didn’t already have one.”
“I’ve always wanted a dog, but I just haven’t had the time to train one. Especially with being gone a lot of weekends and being at the office so much.”
Lucy turns around and grabs a leash out of the back of the car. “I’m going to take him on a long walk since he’s had to ride in the car so long with Krystal.”
“Where did that giant thing come from?” a feminine voice asks.
I turn around to see my ex-girlfriend, followed by Preston, coming toward us.
“It’s Lucy’s dog.”
“Why didn’t you have the dog with you already?” Preston asks as he studies us with a shrewd look in his eyes.
“With our long work hours, we haven’t had a chance to go get him until now,” I supply as an excuse.
Lucy looks at him in annoyance as she bends down to clip the leash onto his collar. “Let’s go, buddy.”
She stands up and turns toward the trail that I found her and Grandpa on earlier. She grabs my hand as she walks by, tugging me with her.
“We’ll go with you!” Preston exclaims.
“But I need my walking shoes,” Carly says.
“Oh, we’ll wait for you on the trail,” Lucy says without pausing her speed walk.
When we’re out of earshot, I lean down and ask her, “Do you want to hang out with my cousin and ex-girlfriend?”
“Like I want a migraine,” she mutters, still pulling me after her.
Alexander is happy to keep up with us. Poor guy is probably so tired of being cooped up in a car.
When we hit the bend in the trail, Lucy grabs my hand and tugs me after her and Alexander into the brush. “I hid from Preston in here with your grandpa. We’ll wait for them to go by, and then we can have a nice walk without them.”
“I like the way you think.”
