Page 49 of Puppy Kisses

“It’s a girl puppy, and between you and me, she’s not.”

“Oh. That’s too bad. What’s wrong with her?”

“You mean other than her love of chasing bugs and eating shoes?” Dawn waited for the girl’s giggle to subside before continuing. “Nothing. It’s just that some puppies are good helpers, and some aren’t. That’s all there is to it.”

“Did you get all that?” A man laughed as the woman finished her recitation of the directions, obviously aware that Adam had only been paying half attention. “It might be hard to find the path, but we can walk with you to where it starts, if you want.”

“Thanks, but my friend should be able to get us the rest of the way.”

“No problem. Come on, Gracie. Say goodbye to the nice lady and her puppies.”

“Bye, lady! Bye, puppies! See you later!”

The family moved off, but Adam and Dawn didn’t start walking right away. As if aware that something was holding him back, Uncle hadn’t made the least push to start moving again.

“What is it?” Dawn asked. Her hand touched his arm. “Why do you look as though someone just told you that you’re going to have to put one of the puppies down?”

Because that was essentially whathadhappened. Adam had known for some time now that Gigi wasn’t likely to win any guide dog awards, but he’d been holding out hope that she might be able to step in and give Uncle the occasional day off. Unfortunately, not only was the harness an issue now, but that girl—a child—had noticed within five seconds that Gigi wasn’t suited for the life he had planned for her.

Some puppies are good helpers, and some aren’t. That’s all there is to it.

“She’s never going to be any good at this, is she?” he asked. He put his hand out only to have Gigi leap full tilt into it, almost oversetting his balance. Only Uncle’s solid bulk kept him from sprawling in the dirt. “No matter how much work we do, no matter how much time she spends on the ranch. She’s always going to be like this.”

Lots of women—men too—would have used this opportunity to remind him that this was precisely what she’d said from the start. It had never been Dawn’s intention to give him Gigi, even less to spend six weeks of her life training Uncle as an alternate. She had every right to be frustrated with him, with the job that had been foisted on her, with the fact that he’d practically forced her into helping Bea Benson with her nonsensical chores in an effort to get Gigi back.

But not Dawn. With her familiar laugh, she said, “Oh, hell no. Don’t you dare.”

“Don’t I dare what?”

“Reverse psychology me.”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

Her fingertip hit the middle of his chest and stayed there. “I can tell you right now that your evil machinations won’t work, so you can wipe that smirk off your face.”

“I wasn’t aware that I was smirking. Or, for that matter, reverse psychology-ing you.”

She drew closer, her finger still wedged between them. Something about that connection—her hand the only thing separating their hearts—made him suddenly feel relaxed. Well, either that or the fact that her laugh was the one thing in the world that had the capability of lighting his whole world. “You think that if you suddenly start telling me that Gigi is no good, I’ll fight harder to make her work out.”

“Um…”

“You think the challenge will only make me want to prove you wrong.”

“Does it?”

She laughed, her mouth so close to his by now that he could feel, smell,tastethe ruffle of her breath. “A little bit, yes. I never could resist a dare.”

Adam believed it. He also believed that nothing would make him happier than having Dawn prove him wrong about Gigi—abouteverything. “So…if I told you that you’re no good, either, would you fight to prove that wrong?”

Her answer came immediately. “Yes.”

His heart leaped in his chest, the steady beat so off-kilter that he was afraid Dawn must have somehow been able to feel it. “Oh, yeah?” he asked, striving to keep his voice level. “What would you do? How would you fight?”

“You already know the answer to that, Adam.” Her voice was low and sultry anddangerous. He didn’t realize just how dangerous until she placed her palm flat on his chest and began a slow, tortuous journey down his abdomen. Every movement of her fingertips over his body was both a promise and a threat. “Dirty. I fight dirty.”

“Adam! What are you doing?” Phoebe’s voice broke in just as Dawn grazed the top of his jeans. He jumped back, startled into immediate action, but Dawn only laughed.

“Hey, Phoebe,” she said easily. “I guess you caught us.”