Page 46 of Pugs & Kisses

E vie thought Constance had gone overboard for her fortieth wedding anniversary, but it was nothing compared to what had been accomplished at tonight’s puppy gala.

Her mother, along with Ashanti and her twin sisters, and the team of designers and vendors Dom and Ridley had strong-armed into donating their time and services, had turned the Audubon Tea Room into a puppy-filled extravaganza.

There were various activities happening throughout the event space and the grounds all night long, but the fashion show currently taking place was one of the highlights of the gala.

Participants paid a thousand dollars to have their fur baby take to the stage.

Not only had Evie cajoled her father into paying Waffles’s fee, but she’d also convinced him that his ear, nose, and throat practice should sponsor the dessert buffet, which everyone was now devouring as they enjoyed the puppies parading in their snazzy outfits.

The dogs were definitely the stars tonight.

Evie waited with Waffles, who looked dashing in his puppy tuxedo, if she did say so herself.

Of course, he refused to wear the accompanying top hat, but he was behaving so well tonight that she couldn’t hold it against him.

She just hoped that all didn’t change once it was his turn to take his stroll.

She’d learned over this past month that her new dog was a bit of a loose cannon.

She’d marked it on her calendar to sign him up for obedience classes once the gala was behind them.

“I’m not sure how Waffles will do in front of this crowd,” Evie said to Ashanti, who stood next to her with a dolled-up Duchess.

“He’ll do fine. He’s friendly. The friendly ones always feed off the crowd.”

Ashanti motioned with her head. “Now go. You two are up.”

Evie took a deep breath, then started on the runway that had been constructed down the center of the Audubon Tea Room. She could admit that she was probably more nervous than Waffles, but she had a lot riding on this night.

Everything was riding on it.

Lucas Shepard’s real estate agent had contacted The Sanctuary yesterday, informing them that the new owner would be taking over the building soon.

The owner appeared to have a softer heart than Lucas because he was giving them until the end of next month to vacate the property and find a new home for the remaining animals.

Evie refused to allow that home to be an already overcrowded animal shelter. She needed to raise enough money tonight to put a hefty down payment on one of the buildings she’d found in her search. None were ideal, but there were several contenders that would suffice.

She and Waffles finished their fashion walk, making way for the two stars everyone had come to see tonight. The crowd erupted into cheers when Kara, who was serving as the emcee for the fashion show, announced Duchess the Frenchie, and her faithful companion, Puddin’ the Poodle.

Thad wore a tux to match Puddin’s. It included a vest peppered with pictures of Duchess’s face. Ashanti wore a pink gown that complemented Duchess’s frilly outfit. They were such cute couples that it made Evie want to throw up.

She immediately felt guilty. It wasn’t Ashanti and Thad’s or Duchess and Puddin’s fault that even the thought of romantic relationships of any kind—including of the canine persuasion—annoyed her.

She wasn’t thinking about that tonight. She’d made a vow to evict all thoughts of Bryson as soon as they popped into her head.

She would direct all her attention to the gala.

She’d done a remarkable job of it, throwing herself into every aspect of the planning for tonight.

But she feared what would happen when she no longer had the gala or The Sanctuary to focus on.

She had no idea how she would prevent Bryson from creeping into every part of her psyche.

Worry about that if —when, you know it’s unavoidable— it happens .

Ridley walked over to her and propped her arm on Evie’s shoulder.

“You would think nothing would surprise me after the way people lost their minds over Duchess and Puddin’ last year, but here I am, surprised as hell. Do you see the kind of money they’re shelling out here tonight?”

“Everyone loves cute dogs,” Evie said with a shrug. She playfully elbowed Ridley in the side. “Even you, although you don’t want to admit it.”

“Because it is false,” she said. “I tolerate dogs, and only yours and Ashanti’s, and only on occasion.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I am glad things are going well tonight. You deserve it after the way you’ve busted your ass these last two weeks.”

“I, in every respect, could not have done this without all of you,” Evie said.

“Well, of course not,” Ridley immediately returned. Then she grinned. “Still, I’m happy for you.” She gave Evie a kiss on the cheek. “You’ve inspired me to one day use my evil for good. Not today. But someday.”

She shook her head. Ridley would never change, and Evie was just fine with that. She’d had enough trouble adjusting to the tiny changes she’d witnessed in her friend since she returned from London. She wasn’t sure if she could handle a more drastic change.

The fashion show came to an end, which meant the costume contest was up next. Evie had opted to keep Waffles out of this event after seeing some of the elaborate outfits many of the dogs wore. No need to give her baby an inferiority complex.

“Ev! Evie!” She turned to find Ashanti moving quickly toward her. “Hey, have you checked the number on the silent auction lately?”

“Not since before the fashion show,” Evie said, pulling her phone from her pocket. Goodness, how she loved a dress with pockets.

She logged into the app that patrons were told to use to submit their bids.

There was a table set up with QR codes attached to auction items ranging from puppy dates with Duchess and Puddin’—for both canines and humans—to dinner at several of the city’s finest restaurants.

Multiple dog groomers had donated their services.

The biggest draw, by far, was a full year of doggy daycare at Barkingham Palace’s new Lower Garden District location, along with a year’s worth of Duchess Delights Dog Treats.

“Holy shit!” Evie said when she pulled up the page for the Barkingham Palace auction. The bid for that one item alone was already at over thirty thousand dollars.

“ You are saving The Sanctuary tonight,” Evie told Ashanti.

“Duchess and Puddin’ are,” Ashanti corrected her. She pointed to the photo setup where the two dogs sat on a cream-colored velvet settee. “I can’t believe how many people are willing to pay two hundred and fifty bucks for a picture with those two.”

Evie couldn’t believe it either, but she was damn happy about it. She looked around for Ridley. She could only imagine what she would have to say about these numbers.

“Hey, any idea where Ridley went? I was just talking to her a minute ago.”

“She’s probably somewhere avoiding Von,” Ashanti said. “He showed up about five minutes ago.”

Evie shook her head in disbelief. “What could that man have possibly done to have her so shook?”

“I don’t know, but it must have been damn good.”

“And Von hasn’t said anything to Thad?”

Ashanti shook her head. “Thad’s just as stumped as I am. More so, because he said Von usually can’t wait to talk about the women he’s slept with.”

They both rolled their eyes. Men.

Then again, Ridley was the same way. Evie had heard more about her friend’s sex life over the years than she cared to recall. Yet, she knew barely anything about what happened between her and Von.

“It’s so weird to see Rid like this,” Evie said.

Ashanti grinned. “Yeah, but you gotta admit it’s also kinda fun.”

Evie held her thumb and index finger together. “Just a bit.”

While the costume party was still going on, Evie and Waffles began making the rounds.

Her dog may not be as popular as Thad and Ashanti’s, but Waffles was getting a fair amount of love from the crowd.

She went over to where her parents and several of their friends sat at one of the round tables, enjoying the offerings from the dessert buffet that had cost her dad a fortune.

There had been an unmistakable shift in her relationship with her mother in the short time since their heart-to-heart at the hospital.

There was a lightness to their exchanges now.

Her mother had even joked about dog sitting her grandpup.

She quickly assured Evie that it was a joke and that Waffles was still relegated to the sunroom, and only when Evie was at the house, but it was still funny at the time.

Her mother’s relationship with her father, unfortunately, remained the same. Not that Evie truly expected a change. As much as she loathed it, their partnership worked for them.

“I don’t know, Dr. Williams,” Evie said as she sidled up to their table. “You may be this world-renowned cardiologist, but I think a second career as an event planner is on the horizon.”

“I do have a knack for it, don’t I?” Constance said.

Evie giggled at her cheekiness. It was so unlike her mother. She wouldn’t mind seeing this side of her more often.

“Don’t forget to bid on the silent auction items,” Evie said, giving both her parents a kiss on the cheek. “Doc Landry’s sister donated a week at her beach house in Gulf Shores. It will make for a nice vacation spot.”

Evie was on her way to check in with the caterer when she was stopped by a kind-faced woman with tight silver curls. She wore a beautiful pink dress that reminded her of Duchess’s outfit.

“Excuse me, but are you Dr. Evie Williams? The person who put on this party?”

“I am,” Evie said.

“I’m so happy I found you,” the woman said with a relieved smile. “Every time someone pointed me in your direction, you left before I could reach you.”

“I’m so sorry for that,” Evie said. “I’ve been so busy this evening.”