I let out a disbelieving huff. “Oh no. You did not buy me a puppy.”
Stepping closer, he nuzzled the dog, letting it lick his face. “Isn’t he cute? I thought we could call him Cannoli. You know, since you’re Italian and you’re my favorite dessert? He’s a golden retriever. You get it?”
Good lord. Now there’s two of them.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to rein in my irritation.
“I wanted you to have someone to cuddle when I’m on the road.” He pressed an icy kiss to my cheek.
“It’s a really nice thought,” I began. “But it looks like he has a lot of energy.”Like someone I know.“And it wouldn’t be fair to have him cooped up all day while I’m at work. Seems like the two of you have bonded, so maybe you can keep him over at your place.”
“No can do.” Sasha shook his head, the snow-clumped strands of his hair whipping his face. “I’m gone for days at a time when the team’s on the road.”
I threw my hands in the air. “Then hire a dog-sitter, or kennel him, or take him back!”
“How about this? I have the next few days off. I can crate-train him for you. That way, when you go to work, he’ll be fine until you get home.”
“Sasha, no.” I kept my tone firm.
He pressed his lips together in an exaggerated pout, holding the puppy up so they were cheek to cheek. “How can you say no to this sweet face?”
And just like that, my forty-eight hours of peace and solitude went up in smoke.
Chapter 19
Goose
It took some coaxing,but eventually Gemma let both me and Cannoli into the house. When his little body began to shake in my arms from the cold, she’d finally relented.
Was buying her a puppy part of my master plan to win her heart? Absolutely. It was formally titled as Phase 1.
If he could work his way in, it would clear the path for me. But the scowl on her rosebud lips betrayed it wouldn’t be an easy task for either of us.
Locking the glass door to the patio, she placed both hands over her face and groaned. “What the fuck am I supposed to do with a dog?”
“First, we need to get him cleaned up and dry.” I stepped past her, carrying Cannoli up the stairs.
“Where are you going?” Gemma cried, hot on my heels.
“If you can babysit him in the tub for a minute, I’ll grab the stuff I bought from my car.” I turned into the guest bathroom, setting the puppy down inside the tub and kneeling beside it.“Can you hand me a towel? I’m gonna rub the snow out of his fur first.”
There was a beat of hesitation before her steps sounded behind me, and she placed the requested item in my hand.
Cannoli’s tail wagged as I rubbed him down, his head turning from side to side, offering me a toothy grin. “You like that, don’t you, buddy?”
“You know he can’t talk back, right?” Gemma grumbled.
Peeking behind me, I found her leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. Yeah, she definitely wasn’t on board the puppy train yet, but I had faith. He was the sweetest little thing, but he wouldn’t stay that way for long. Golden Retrievers grew quickly, and I’d been warned by the breeder that our boy would be full-grown in less than a year, packing on a few pounds a week until then.
Note to self: set up an auto-delivery on dog food.
Standing, I tossed the damp towel to the side. “Stay here with him. I’ll be right back.”
Panic filtered into her hazel eyes, and she held up both hands. “Wait!”
Moving closer, I dared to cup her cheek, my heart swelling when her eyelashes fluttered as I kissed her soft skin. “What’s wrong, kitten?”
Peering up at me, she chewed on her lower lip. “I’m out of hot water.”
