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The dog looked up at them with those large, brown eyes as if he understood everything they were saying and was worried he was heading straight back to the rescue center. It was heartbreaking. Nor did it require any more thought. “I’ll do it,” she said.
He blinked twice, clearly astonished. “Really? I mean, would you stay in the house for a couple of days while I’m gone?”
She had to bite back her smile. Did he really think it was a hardship to stay in the house of her dreams for a couple of days with two of the sweetest dogs in the world? “I’d be happy to.”
Two seconds later, she found herself in his arms as he hugged her tight. “You’re a life saver,” he said into her ear. Her lobe tingled where she felt his warm breath. He squeezed her tighter then, and as he did, she felt the strength in him, the heat coming off his body. The sea air whispered through her hair, telling her naughty secrets.
The hug lasted just a moment too long. And then he pulled back as though one of the dogs running around had just bitten his ankle. All business again, he said, “Great. That’s great. Come on back and I’ll get you a key and the codes to the security system.”
Chapter Twelve
To keep the conversation light as they walked back to Jay’s house, Erin asked, “Any more thoughts on what you’re going to name him?”
He seemed to puzzle over the question and then smiled. “I don’t know. I’m not asking you, or you’ll come up with something literary and obscure.” His smile turned into a mischievous grin. “It should probably start with aBto keep it in the family. Since we already have Buzzy and Buster, why don’t we add more confusion? I could call him Baxter.”
Erin nodded, the phrasekeep it in the familyringing in her ears—because Jaywasan old friend of the family. In fact, hewasfamily to the Davenports.
Experimentally, Jay called, “Baxter,” but the dog didn’t even look at him, just kept running.
“Not Baxter,” she said, laughing. She thought over some other names beginning withBand then suggested Bullseye.
He bellowed, “Bullseye!” The dog kept running. “Bartholomew!”
Not to be outdone, Erin yelled, “Blacktop.”
He turned and looked at her with a raised brow. “Blacktop?”
She shrugged. “Like the cab. I thought maybe he would stop if you called.”
They both looked at the dog. Nope.
By the time they’d got to Brigadier and Bullfrog, they accepted that they were running out of names and the dog seemed uninterested in all of them. He said, “I need to give this some serious thought. As you know, names are important. Idon’t want to yell out something that’s going to embarrass both of us.”
She nodded. “You and the dog will find a name that fits. Give it a day or two. You’ll figure it out.”
They’d arrived at his house and she could see Jay wanted to say something, but was hesitating. He’d get there in his own time. She was liking this new Jay, who took more than half a second before speaking.
Finally, he said, “I have a spare set of keys ready, but do you want to come inside for hot chocolate? I really want you there to help the little guy settle in.”
Erin smiled. It felt good to be needed like this. Really good. She should get back to Buzzy, but she was also dying to see how the unnamed border terrier/mutt mix liked his new home. After living in a crowded cage in a shelter, he was definitely moving up in the world. So she agreed.
Jay opened the door and showed her the code to the security alarm. But no sooner did he let the dog off the leash, rather than timidly staring at his enormous, multimillion-dollar new home, he took off to race from room to room.
Jay looked at her. “What’s he doing?”
She shrugged, totally surprised. “I don’t know. He’s a terrier. Maybe he’s searching out vermin.”
“Vermin?For the amount this place cost, his search better be in vain. I guess if he finds any, I’ll have to give him an enormous treat.”
They both followed the dog’s erratic movements around the house, and then he roared up the stairs at top speed. By the time Erin got to the top, right behind Jay, the dog was in Jay’s fabulous bedroom. He had leaped onto the bed and settled himself right in the middle of it.
She couldn’t help it—the giggles took over. “I’ll say it again—some training really is in order.”
Jay shrugged with a sparkle in his eye. She could tell he liked the feisty spirit of his new canine friend. “You’re not wrong.”
The dog leaped off the bed and ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. They followed at a more sedate pace and then Jay pushed a button on a fancy-looking control panel. Music came on. He said, “Maybe some tunes will calm him down.”
Shania Twain sang,Man! I Feel Like a Woman!while the pup sniffed here and there. When Taylor Swift came on, Erin hoped that the rescue dog might settle, but apart from stopping to slurp some water from his new designer water dish, he kept moving. Poor little guy, it must be so strange for him.