Light up the Night (Firehouse Three #2)(38)
“Are you here to see Everly?” Charlie winked at him mischievously.
“Actually, no, I’m here on business,” Drake said, smiling at her devilry. Charlie’s eyebrows climbed high as he laid the picture on the counter. “I’m looking for a particular young lady to take home with me.”
Charlie’s startled laugh was halfway between a cough and a snort. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Nope. I miss her.”
“I’ll need you to fill out this form,” Charlie said, handing over a clipboard and pen. “That’s awesome, but are you sure about this? You know a dog isn’t a responsibility to take lightly.”
“I’ve already made arrangements for Hunter’s dog sitter to watch her while I’m on shift. And I’ve read three books on pet ownership in the last few days. I also plan to ask a really good friend of mine for all the tips she has.” Drake looked over to Everly’s office door, which had opened a few moments before. “I’ve got the feeling I’m going to need her good advice.”
“What’s going on here?” Everly walked to the counter, and Drake’s chest warmed at the way she was trying to hide her smile and failing.
“Mr. Hammerfell is filling out an adoption application,” Charlie said as she reached for the photo frame. “For this little lady.”
Everly took the picture and smiled down at it. Glancing up at Drake, she tilted her head slightly, causing her ponytail to curl over one shoulder. “You sure? She’s ugly.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“She smells.”
“She’s unique.”
“She’ll worm her way into your heart.”
“She’s already there,” Drake said as he signed his name at the bottom of the form with a flourish. He pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “Here is my credit card for the adoption fee. Now where is my Gossamer?”
Charlie whooped as she swiped his credit card, dancing around the desk chair as the machine chittered away and printed his receipt. Everly just shook her head and walked through the back doors to the dog’s kennel area. Feeling like a nervous new papa, Drake took his credit card back and waited.
He’d wanted a dog when he was small, but his dad’s allergies had put the kibosh on that idea. And then when he and Belinda had moved in together, she had gotten a Persian cat that liked to piss on his side of the bed. So the whole idea of an animal in the house had been kind of unwholesome. But something about that ugly little stinker of a fairy pug butt had made him consider the idea again. And when he’d thought of the best ways to spend time with Everly, she had jumped into his mind and stayed there.
Even if he and Everly didn’t work out, he couldn’t take the idea of Gossamer not having the home and family she deserved just because she was, well, not typical.
The click, click, click of doggy nails on the floor heralded her arrival, and as Everly swung open the door Drake knelt down and opened his arms.
“Where’s my girl with a beautiful personality?”
Tongue lolling, curly tail flailing, Gossamer waddled her way to him and began a quick sniff and kiss routine of the entirety of his exposed skin. He laughed as he scratched her.
Everly’s smile was evident in her voice. “Here she is. Sure you’re ready for this? Do you have the things you’ll need? Bed, leash, crate, food, all that stuff?”
“Not yet,” he said, picking up the tubby dog and cradling her in his arms like the world’s most unfortunate looking baby. Gossamer looked completely content to be worshipped as he scratched her round, pink belly. “I was hoping since it’s close to closing time that you could come help me pick out the best stuff for her.”
Everly looked at the clock, then back at Charlie, who waved them off. “Don’t worry, boss, I’ll lock up. You go help our newest adopter get ready for Gossamer.”
“Thanks,” Everly said, and the bright smile on her face wrapped around Drake’s heart and yanked, just a little. She ducked into her office to scoop up her purse, and then the three of them headed to the closest pet superstore, with Drake saying silent hosannas the entire way as a stinky pug mutt propped her three chins on his lap.
This was working out much better than he ever could have hoped.
13.
As the three of them walked up and down the aisles of the pet supermarket, Drake kept a close eye on both his girls. Gossamer was quite happy sitting in the cart, and Everly’s knowledge was proving extremely helpful in selecting all the things he would need to keep Gossamer healthy and satisfied. Together they picked out a new collar, leash, harness, treats, bowls, food, the whole nine yards. Halfway through the trip, Gossamer had to get out of the cart and walk, because there was simply no room for her in the midst of all the stuff.
Of course, if he hadn’t selected the deluxe model princess pup canopy bed, she could have squeezed in there. Everly hiked an eyebrow, but she didn’t contradict his selection.
And Everly. He had been waiting for that shield of hesitance to rise between them again; for that little pullback that would show him he’d shoved her into the deep end too soon. But it didn’t. Not when he teasingly tugged on her ponytail after she made a joke, or when she brushed his hip with her hand when reaching for a doggie toothbrush. Not even when he tangled his fingers through hers casually at the six-deep checkout line.