Beautiful Beast (Gypsy Heroes)

‘Nope,’ Jake says and pushes a glass into his hand.

We raise our glasses. ‘May it always be this good,’ Jake says.

And we drink. Life is good.

Just before lunch, Snow comes up to me. ‘I’ve got a surprise present for you,’ she says, her eyes shining.

‘I thought I got mine last night?’ I tease.

‘This is better.’

I raise my eyebrows. ‘Better than the one I got last night?’

‘Much,’ she says, her eyes sparkling.

She puts her hand out, I take it, and let her lead me. She pulls me upstairs to my mother’s guest bedroom.

‘Are you ready?’

I guide her hand to my crotch. ‘Is that ready enough for you?’

She gasps and says sternly, ‘It’s not that kind of present.’

‘Well, then it can’t be better than last n

ight’s.’

‘Shane?’ she whispers.

‘Yes’

‘Don’t spoil it.’

I put my hands up in surrender.

She opens the door and we enter … and a male German shepherd puppy is sitting inside a large metal cage.’

‘Merry Christmas,’ she shouts.

I turn my head to look at her. ‘This is my present?’

‘Yes, isn’t he wonderful?’ she enthuses ignoring my unenthusiastic tone.

‘So my present is a dog from your favorite breed?’ I ask.

‘Yes,’ she says blithely, and goes to open the cage door. The dog immediately jumps all over her excitedly. And I can see that she is dying to pick him up, but she doesn’t.

‘Have you any suggestions for a name for him?’ she asks instead.

I shrug.

‘You could call him Ghengis … if you want to,’ she suggests.

I turn away from her and say, ‘Ghengis.’

The dog immediately looks at me with its bright, intelligent eyes.

I turn to her. ‘How strange. He seems to answer to that name.’