Page 67 of Puppy Kisses

The only sounds in the kitchen were Gigi’s erratic chewing and Uncle’s steady breathing. Well, that and the thump of Adam’s pulse beating in his ears. Every word he was saying was a lie—and also one hundred percent true. Hewassorry and hewasselfish, but not enough to change his mind.

He also wanted to reach out and touch Dawn. Not in an intimate or erotic way, but in a reassuring one—to know she was there, to remind himself that they were still very much a part of each other.

He didn’t though. He wasn’t selfish enough for that.

“Is that why you wanted her in the first place?” Dawn eventually asked. Her voice sounded small and tight, almost as though she was controlling it through sheer force of will. “Just for fun?”

No. Never. “Yes.”

“You never thought you might want to keep her forever?”

Yes.Always.“No.”

“You never felt her curl up next to you and wondered what it might be like to have her there every day of your life?”

Adam had to put a stop to this. He couldn’t keep lying, couldn’t keep standing here pretending like they were talking about a dog and not the woman standing on the opposite side of his kitchen sink—the same kitchen sink that had stood here for generations, the same kitchen sink that would remain exactly like this for as long as Adam lived.

“Of course I thought about it,” he admitted. “How could I not?”

Running a hand through his hair, he allowed his natural expression to emerge for the first time. He was sad and tired. He wished there were a way to go back and shut his heart against both Gigi and Dawn. He was also resolute.

Dawn knew it. And she wasn’t afraid to make him admit it out loud. “But?”

“But you and I both know that’s not realistic. I like Gigi, yes. She’s fun and playful and turns every day into an adventure.”

“But?” she prodded again.

“But fun and playful and adventurous aren’t enough. Not for me, anyway. I’m sure there are some people out there, some men who…” He let his voice trail off, unable to finish the sentence. Not that he needed to. They both knew what he meant. There were some men—thousands of them, probably—who would be able to give Dawn the life she deserved, matching her step for step, accompanying her on every adventure, supporting her through every dream.

“Some men who’d be willing to overlook her faults? Some men who could look beyond the surface to see what else she has to offer?”

She was wrong, of course—laughably so. Dawn’s faults weren’t what kept him from jumping in with both feet. His own were.

But he nodded anyway. There was no other way to end this conversation and remain standing. “She’s not cut out for life on a ranch. It’s better to end things now, while she has a chance at being happy somewhere else.Withsomeone else.”

The pause that settled over them was heavy and uncomfortable, broken only by the jangle of something that sounded like either a harness or a leash. It was enough to draw the attention of both puppies, who clamored over to Dawn’s side to see what delights were in store for them.

She murmured something low and soothing as she presumably attached the devices, but Adam didn’t move. He didn’t move, didn’t blink, barely even breathed as he awaited Dawn’s response.

It was everything he expected…and offered no satisfaction whatsoever.

“Okay.” She drew a deep breath. “They’re all set. Uncle is in his harness and ready to go on a perimeter walk with you. Ideally, you two should make it all the way around the ranch, but I know this place is like eleven million miles, so only go as far as you’re comfortable today. But you’ll need to finish tomorrow—I’d like him to learn the full extent of his boundaries while I’m on hand to make any necessary corrections.”

“You aren’t coming?” he asked, surprised.

“Nope. You’ve made your decision.” There was no rancor in her voice, no accusation. “If you and Uncle are going to make a real go of this, then you need to learn to depend on each other.”

From a logical standpoint, Adam had known this moment was coming. Six weeks sounded like a long time to spend in the company of just one person, but not when that person was Dawn. He’d have gladly extended the training for another six weeks, six months, sixyears, but that wasn’t the point. Uncle was here to make him more independent, to reassure his friends and family so they could enjoy their time away from the ranch.

In other words, Uncle was all he had left.

“What are you going to do?” he asked gruffly.

“Head over to Bea’s, probably.”

“But—” Adam had to shake himself as a reminder that his interest from here on out needed to be cool and casual. “I’m not sure I follow. Gigi is yours. The bet is canceled. It doesn’t matter whether or not you find those papers of Bea’s anymore. In fact, you can forget that whole arrangement with you buying her house as our intermediary. I’m sure there’s another, less morally questionable way around it.”

“Oh, I know.” This time therewasrancor in her voice. And accusation. “But I promised her I’d help, so that’s what I’m going to do. Contrary to what many people believe, Iamcapable of sticking around and seeing a project through to its finish, even when it isn’t covered in glitter and lined up with vodka shots.”