Page 35 of Pugs & Kisses

B ryson spotted Evie’s gray SUV in the parking lot of the glass building in Metairie. It took him less than ten minutes to get here from the hospital, where he’d left Bella at the employee daycare while he and Evie went on what he was certain was a fool’s mission.

But Evie was convinced if they pleaded their case, face-to-face, the same man who had been cut out of his grandfather’s will would miraculously have a change of heart and do the decent thing.

Bryson had known assholes like this his entire life.

He had no doubt Stanley Shepard’s grandson would sooner kick a newborn puppy in the ribs than not sell The Sanctuary out from under them.

Evie’s goal was to get him to donate the building, which would never happen. Even a person whose heart wasn’t composed of sulfur and stone wouldn’t be that generous.

Bryson pulled into a parking spot two cars down from Evie’s. By the time he got out of his Jeep, she was waiting at the end of it.

“Thanks for driving over,” she greeted.

“Did you think I would let you do this alone?”

“Well, you said it was a waste of time when I texted my plan.”

“I still think it’s a waste of time. That doesn’t mean I want you facing this guy on your own.”

She peered up at him, an incredulous frown creasing her forehead. “I don’t think I’m in physical danger, Bryson. He may be a selfish SOB, but I doubt he would touch me.”

“I’m more concerned about you laying hands on him, not the other way around. Nobody’s got time to bail you out of jail.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Let’s do this,” Bryson said. He put a hand on the small of her back and guided her to the entrance of the building.

Lucas Shepard’s law office was on the fourteenth floor. Of course he was an attorney. A personal injury one at that. He probably had more money in the bank than any of them.

“Can I help you?” a receptionist greeted.

“I’m Dr. Evelina Williams and this is Dr. Bryson Mitchell. We’re here to see Mr. Shepard. I called earlier.”

Bryson’s brow shot up. Where had that starched, serious voice come from?

“Give me just a moment. Mr. Shepard is in a meeting with the other partners a floor below us, but it should be wrapping up any minute. I’ll check with him.

” She shot off a message. Seconds later, she nodded.

“Yes, he’ll be up in just a few minutes.

He asked that I show you to his office. Can I get you coffee or water? We have both sparkling and still.”

“No thanks,” Evie said.

Bryson could use a water, but he didn’t want to contradict Dr. Evelina Williams.

The receptionist guided them into a large corner office with expansive windows that provided views of both Lake Pontchartrain and New Orleans’s downtown skyline.

Yeah, this dude definitely had more than enough money to live on. Bryson doubted the profit from the sale of The Sanctuary would have a significant effect on his lifestyle, unless he was in the market for a third vacation home and fourth speedboat.

“Ugh, this isn’t a good sign,” Evie said. She pointed to the wall, where a banner with familiar Greek insignia hung. “That’s Cameron’s fraternity.”

“Yeah, I know,” Bryson said.

If there was any question that they were dealing with a prick, he’d just gotten his answer. His hunch was confirmed a moment later when Lucas Shepard burst into the office with an air of such self-importance that it carried a stench. Or maybe it was Shepard’s cologne.

“Hello,” he greeted. “What can I do for you?”

The fact that he didn’t offer them a seat told Bryson that he didn’t plan for them to be here very long. Good, because he didn’t want to be around this asshole any longer than he had to.

“Hi, Mr. Shepard,” Evie started.

“Lucas is fine,” he said.

“Lucas,” she corrected with a strained, uneasy smile. “I’m Dr. Williams and this is Dr. Mitchell. We’re both veterinarians who matriculated from the mentorship program at The Sanctuary, which you know is housed in the building your grandfather owns.”

“Owned,” Lucas said. “My grandfather died.”

“Yes, we know that,” Evie said. “As I’m sure you know, your grandfather generously donated the building’s use to the rescue. His good friend Dr. Fredrick Landry has operated The Sanctuary for years.”

“My grandfather was very generous. To some,” Lucas said. “But, as we’ve established, he’s dead. His estate is currently going through the arduous testate succession process required by Louisiana—gotta love that Napoleonic code. The property near the river is part of the estate.”

He was intentionally telling them shit they already knew, and it was starting to get under Bryson’s skin. He spoke up for the first time.

“A building inspector and real estate agent visited The Sanctuary this morning,” Bryson said. “When is the building hitting the market, and what will be the asking price?”

Shepard looked over at him with raised brows, as if he’d forgotten Bryson was there. “I’m not planning to put the building on the market,” he said.

Bryson blinked in surprise. That wasn’t what he’d expected to hear.

“You aren’t?” Evie slapped a hand to her chest, releasing a relieved laugh. “Thank goodness.”

“You plan on raising the rent, though, don’t you?” Bryson asked. His grandfather rented the building to The Sanctuary for a dollar per year. There was no way in hell the man in front of them would continue that practice.

Lucas settled on the edge of his desk, crossing his ankles in front of him.

“You misinterpreted what I meant when I said I’m not putting the building on the market,” Lucas said. “It’s not going on the market because I already have a buyer.”

Bryson could tell by Lucas Shepard’s sardonic smile that he’d purposely misled them. Why was he not surprised the man had turned out to be the kind of asshole he’d expected him to be all along?

He took little comfort in knowing he was right, especially when he looked over at Evie and saw the utter devastation on her face.

“To who?” Evie asked.

Lucas barked out a laugh. “I’m not sharing that information with you so that you can go and harass my buyer.” He moved from his perch on the edge of the desk, walking around to the chair behind it. “I have another meeting. I trust you can see your way out?”

Evie just stood there looking shell-shocked.

Bryson wrapped his fingers around her wrist and gave her a gentle tug. He wasn’t sure if she was on the verge of crying or going into a rage, but he refused to give Shepard the satisfaction of seeing either.

“Come on, Ev,” he encouraged.

Lucas Shepard tapped a pen against his open palm, that smirk still turning up the corner of his mouth. The bastard was getting off on what he probably saw as a power move. It was the epitome of small dick energy.

Bryson’s instinct to protect his livelihood and reputation was stronger than his urge to slap that smile off Shepard’s lips, but not by much. He needed to get the hell out of here before he did something stupid.

“Ev,” Bryson urged again.

She jumped as if he’d startled her, then nodded. Wordlessly, they left the fancy corner office. Bryson was sorry he hadn’t brought Bella with him. He would have waited around long enough for her to shit on the carpet.

He had managed to get his anger under control by the time they made it to the parking lot, but he knew if he saw Lucas Shepard again anytime soon, he would have a hard time not punching the smug bastard in the face.

“Well, that went as horribly as it could have,” Evie said, folding her arms tight over her chest. “The succession can go through at any moment, Bryson. Just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “The Sanctuary can cease to exist, just like that.”

Bryson pointed out the obvious. “That has always been the case, Ev.”

“I know,” she said. She ran a hand through her springy curls. “It’s just… it seems inevitable now.” She pointed to the building. “He looks as if he will enjoy watching The Sanctuary close.”

“Scrooge McDuck will probably throw a party when the rescue shuts its doors,” Bryson said.

She snorted a defeated laugh. “I should have walked out the moment I saw which fraternity he belonged to,” Evie said. “I spent too many years around their kind.”

She blew out a sigh. “You will think I’m insane, but I’m not ready to give up. I know you don’t believe finding a new place to house The Sanctuary is an option, but I won’t be able to sleep at night if I don’t at least explore the possibility.”

He held his hands up. “Whatever you need to do to sleep at night, Ev. Who knows, there may be something out there.”

“I’ll start searching tomorrow. Right now, I just want to hug my dog and forget about the disaster of a meeting we just went through.”

Bryson stuck his hands in his pockets and debated the wisdom of speaking the words he was about to say. The afternoon had already turned into a shit show. He figured he didn’t have anything to lose.

“Not to sound like a horny, insensitive asshole, but we can always go back to my place and cheer each other up with sex.”

He fully expected Evie to call him on his horniness, insensitivity, and assholery. Instead, she nodded and pointed at his car.

“Go get Bella. I’ll get Waffles and meet you at your place in an hour.”