Page 201 of Trick or Stalk

Her tiny body is rigid, ears flattened, eyes fixed on me.

For approximately three seconds, she looks like a guard dog.

Then she recognizes me.

Her entire ass starts wagging.

I stare at her. “Pathetic.”

She trots toward me.

I crouch as she reaches me, scratching beneath her chin. “You’re supposed to protect her from men who break into the house.”

Her tongue swipes across my hand.

“You’re fucking terrible at your job.”

Penny licks me again.

“Is your mom asleep?”

Her ears perk. She spins around, then trots toward the hallway.

I remain where I am.

She stops and looks over her shoulder at me.

I raise an eyebrow.

Penny stares.

“Really? Do you lead intruders to her?”

She turns and continues toward the stairs.

I watch her disappear around the corner.

A few seconds later, her head reappears. She stares at me again.

“You cannot be serious.”

Her tail wags.

I shake my head and take a step in Penny’s direction.

She disappears, the sound of her nails growing fainter.

And because I’ve lost whatever remaining dignity I possessed somewhere between stalking a woman through the woods and buying her dog a Halloween sweater, I follow her.

Penny waits at the bottom of the stairs until I reach her. Then she starts climbing.

“Unbelievable.”

Her nails click softly against the wood.

She doesn't even hesitate at the top. She heads straight down the hallway to Presley’s bedroom.

I shake my head.