Page 95 of Open for Negotiation
“Uh, Scarlett, there’s actually something I need to tell you before we go inside.”
She climbs out of the car and looks at me confused, “Okay… is everything all right?”
“Yeah, everything is perfect, but I sort of—”
The door to the house opens up and a very happy, bouncy three-legged basset hound bounds out of the house and nearly knocks her over, wanting all the attention and love from the woman who saved him from the side of the road.
“Shit, sorry, guys!” Jackson calls as he rushes out for him. “Guess he’s excited.”
“Oh my God!” she shrieks and sinks to the garage floor to let him do whatever he wants to her.
“I went back to the shelter and adopted Trooper.”
“Trooper,” she repeats. “Max, it’s him, isn’t it?” she asks, but she knows the answer.
“I missed you, and having him here would be a reminder of you. I needed that, and I needed to know that he was all right. Jackson has been here helping me take care of him for now.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She is crying again now, letting Trooper lick her face. “He’s okay now?”
“They said he’s recovered beautifully and he’s a very happy dog.”
She holds his face in both hands and scrubs his cheeks, much to his delight. “Have I told you how much I love you?” she asks and Jackson comes up to my side and nudges me.
“Nice job, brother.”
I smile at him then nudge him back. “Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime. I like that little fucker a lot.”
“You better be talking about the dog, Jackson Duke,” Scarlett calls from the floor before pushing up and wiping off her legs.
“Well yeah, but I like you too, ya know? You make my brother less of an asshole.”
She saunters over and wraps her arms around my neck. “Yeah well, we seem to make each other better in many ways, don’t we, Boss?”
“And I hope to explore many, many more ways, baby.”
“Forever?” She blinks those beautiful eyes up at me and instead of that word sending me running in the other direction, it makes me physically ache with happiness and pride.
“Forever.”
