Page 92 of Various Intentions

She glanced between us and smiled with kindness. “I’m glad someone will be home during the day. I don’t believe in leaving pets on their own all week, but I know it’s unavoidable sometimes.”

“I assume you addressed all of this with Juno?”

“Yes. They said they’re an artist, and their partner works from home. So they’ll both be available to raise this puppy?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to get acquainted for a minute and make sure of your decision. If you do decide to take the little boy, I’ll need an immediate e-transfer for sixteen hundred dollars, since you won’t be able to provide a certified check.”

“Of course.” I passed her the check that Juno had given me. “Here’s the payment for the female.”

“I’ll be back in a moment with the papers. You’ll have to sign, but there’s also a spot for Juno. It can be faxed or emailed back to me so I can send in the registration.”

She left the room to give us some space and allow us to make our decision.

Matteo had switched with Vincent and was holding the male puppy now, while Vincent held Charles’ puppy. I held my hands out to Matteo with a resigned expression on my face.

“Give him to me, please.”

Matteo handed him over. He was warm, soft, wriggly and fucking adorable.

I held his pudgy little body up in front of me so I could look him in the eyes while he scrambled for purchase.

“All right, now listen. If you come home with us, you will have to learn to pee and poop outside, behave yourself and not chew on inappropriate things or steal socks.”

As I considered all the things that could go wrong, I caught glimpses of a chaotic future. But who could say no to that face? Perhaps I was a Big Bad Dom capable of reducing grown men to tears, but I knew when I was mastered.

“Here, take him,” I said, passing him to Vincent, who gave the female pup to Matteo. “Come up with a name by the time we get home.”

“Are you serious? We’re going to buy a puppy?” Vincent said.

“Yes. I’m going to buy this puppy for you. Do you have a problem with that?” I went all gruff and businesslike when I felt vulnerable and terrified that a decision I’d made might come back to bite me in the ass.

“I don’t, but I’m having a hard time believing it,” Vincent said in hushed tones.

“How the hell am I supposed to say no when we’re taking his only remaining sibling away?”

“You can say no. I’ve heard you.”

Matteo laughed.

“What are we supposed to do, leave the poor thing here?”

They were both smiling when Francine came back in the room.

“So, have you decided?”

“Yes. We’ll take the male,” I said. “Matteo, can you send Francine an e-transfer from the expense account?”

“Yes, of course.”

“That’s wonderful!” Francine said. “My email address is on the form I gave you to fill out.”

“Thank you,” Matteo said.

Once the paperwork and payment were taken care of, Francine gave us some blankets to wrap the pups in for the journey, along with two large cloth bags.

“There’s a food sample and a toy for each of them to get you started, and a list of instructions for puppy’s first month. I’m sure this little boy will bring lots of excitement to your lives. Thank you so much for taking him, and please wish your friend the best with his pup. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need advice. Puppies are a lot of work.”