Page 8 of How Not to Date a Demon

Galen shushed the puppies once more, giving their leads a gentle tug as he pulled the keys out for the apartment.

But before he could even push one into the lock, the door swung open to Maeve’s smile.

“You’re back!”

The excitement on her face was bright and genuine, making her green eyes sparkle, and he was struck stupid for a second.

The three puppies weren’t, and they tried to rush into the apartment. The new lead he had tied to their matching harnesses pulled them to a stop.

One of them plopped over dramatically, and even Maeve was helpless in the presence of their cuteness. She giggled, the sound light and airy and welcoming, and he followed her in like another lost puppy, plastic bags rustling in his hands.

“Spoiling them already?” she asked with an arched brow.

He paused, glancing up guiltily, at least until he saw the mirth in her pretty green eyes. "I had to drop by the office, and took them with me."

“Well,” she prompted, “show me what you got.”

Galen smiled and let her take one of the bags and set them on the couch.

He unsnapped the puppies from the leash and watched as they waddled around uncoordinated in their harnesses.

“So… do they have names?” she asked as she took a seat.

“Of course. The one over there” —he pointed to the one in the green harness who was sticking his nose into the bag— “that’s Bubba, short for Beezlebub. The girl in blue is Achlys. Or Lissie. And the last one in purple is Eligos, or Eli.”

Maeve blinked at him, a smile twitching on her lips. “Those are certainly… name choices. Do they have a preference?”

He rolled his eyes, a pinch of affection fluttering in his chest. “I know they’re weird names, so I shortened them myself. They seem to take to them better, watch.”

He snapped his fingers and called, “Lissie, come here, Lissie!”

The pup’s head snapped in his direction, pulling her attention from the coffee table. Her ears flopped side to side as she waddled over like a big fluffball.

His heart melted, and he sat on the couch to reach down and scoop her up. She wiggled in his arms, but as soon as he settled her on his lap, she started nipping at his hands and seeking affection.

“That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Maeve said quietly.

Galen grinned and leaned down to kiss Lissie’s little furry head. “See?” he whispered loudly. “I told you she’d give in.”

“Galen,” she chided with a laugh. “Shush.”

“Okay, okay,” he conceded, his attention all for the puppies as the other two trampled over to see what their sister was up to.

Galen grinned, watching them play before he could help himself. These were the cutest damned pups he’d ever seen. How could Maeve have considered not keeping them?

“You’re just so cute. Yes you are,” he cooed.

If only his colleagues could see him now.

“You’re soft,” Maeve said with a chuckle as she rearranged the bags. The words were a little too close to something his coworkers would say for comfort.

“So what?” he asked, glancing up at her. She was a vision. Dark hair long and glossy over her shoulders, lips pink and quirked with a smile.

Galen slid to the floor with all three puppies, his back resting against the front of the couch as he waved his hands back and forth between the pups. They chased his hand, mouths open wide, little teeth bared, ears flopping all over the place.

“I’m allowed to be soft. What psychopath isn’t soft for puppies? Huh?” he asked one of the pups in question, leaning down for wet kisses.

“I never knew you loved dogs so much,” Maeve said, sitting down beside him.