Page 76 of Puppy Love

“No!” Wallace’s head jerked up with a start. “And you’re not to go telling him, understand? Nothing is finalized yet. Not but what he’ll be glad to see the back of me… We don’t get on. We never have.”

On the contrary, Sophie had a suspicion that they were as tied to each other as two people possibly could be. Oh, they were grumpy and antagonistic, and both obviously liked to have things their own way, but they were all each other had. With the exception of Aunt Caroline and the occasional helping hand from Oscar, neither one had mentioned another friend or relative who’d stepped up to help a struggling single father raise his diabetic son.

In fact, they’d been alone together for so long, she doubted they were aware just how weirdly codependent they’d become.

No one knew that kind of relationship better than Sophie. When sacrifices were made—when one life was put on hold for the sake of another—it was impossible to just pack up and move on. No matter how much you might want to.

“I think he has a right to know,” Sophie said gently. “It’s as much his life as yours.”

Wallace pointed a gnarled finger at her. “If you say so much as a word to him, young lady…”

“You’ll what?” Her voice took on a hint of the steel that had been appearing so much in Parks company lately. “Let me remind you that I don’t work for you, or even for your son. I work for Oscar.”

Wallace’s internal struggle was visible on every line of his face. His lips twitched and twisted and finally turned flat. “Please,” he said. “I’m asking as a personal favor. I’ll tell him the moment my plans are finalized, I promise.”

Had he turned surly or made more of those gruff demands, Sophie might have been able to stand her ground. That bleak look, however, and that plea in his voice…

She sighed. “Themomentthey’re finalized,” she warned.

“Word of a Parks,” he promised. Before she had time to wonder just what she’d gotten herself into, he added, “Well?”

“Um. Well, what?”

He released an exasperated sigh. “What kind of dog should I get for Minerva? Something friendly but not too friendly. Clean and low-maintenance. And none of that messy shedding everywhere, yeah?”

She splayed her hands helplessly. Although she might be comfortable selecting service animals for clients with very specialized health and professional needs, she had no idea what to tell him. What she wanted to say—that he couldn’t move out without at leasttalkingto his son first—was clearly off the table.

“A cat,” she finally said.

“Eh?”

“What you’re describing isn’t a dog—it’s a cat. And not a kitten either. You want one of those gnarly old ones from the animal shelter that everyone else overlooks because it has one eye and mangy fur and hates children.”

“I do?”

“Yes. Those cats need good homes more than kittens, and they’re almost always well-trained. They practically take care of themselves.”

She’d half expected Wallace to be up in arms at her suggestion, but he nodded and scratched his grizzled chin. “A cat. Yes, a cat. With one eye and a terrible personality. She’ll love that.”

Sophie wasn’t sure whether that was a point for or against Minerva’s taste, but she merely echoed, “She’ll love that.”

With a cackle and a wink, Wallace turned to leave. “Of course. After all, she chose me, didn’t she?”

Chapter 17

“What the hell did Sophie do to your father?”

Harrison turned at the sound of Oscar’s voice. The older man strode across the wildfire training grounds. It was impossible—and ill-advised—to set fire to actual trees, so most of their training included mock scenarios played out over this huge expanse of land attached to the Department of Natural Resources offices.

Oscar halted when he reached Harrison, who was holding a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other. He also had Bubbles strapped to his chest, which was, of course, what Oscar zeroed in on first.

“Never mind. The real question is, what the hell did Sophie do to you?”

Harrison felt none of the irritation he expected from such of a question. Strange though it seemed, he was starting to feel more uncomfortablewithoutthe puppy than he did with her. He supposed that was the inevitable outcome of spending almost twenty-four hours a day with someone. You grew attached.

He glanced over to where Sophie had seated herself on a folding chair near the edge of the field and smiled.

You grewveryattached.