“If that asshole shows up, I’ll arrest him,” she declared. “It’s illegal to tie a dog up in any way that threatens the dog’s life and health. I’d love for him to show up and try to take Daisy.”
“I don’t think he will, warrior princess. But that wasn’t the question. Do you want to keep her? It’s okay if you don’t. I can take her and I’ll find someone. I won’t take her to a shelter. I’ll keep her with me until the right family comes along. I’m pretty good at matching people and pets.”
She was already in love with the dog. Even though the little Lab had already started chewing on the furniture. Luckily she was pretty neat and organized. There wasn’t much for Daisy to mess with, which was likely why the toys she’d bought had been a huge hit. She’d spent the hour before they had to go to dinner playing tug with the dog.
It had been a nice day after her parents had gone back to the B and B. The conversation with Armie had been awkward. He’d laughed his ass off and teased her about their failed love affair. Then she’d been left with Zep, who she’d worried would press her.
Instead he’d made her some toast and coffee and offered to drive into Houma to get the supplies they would need for the dog. They’d gotten Daisy in the back and spent the nicest afternoon she could remember. They’d wandered through the store and she’d watched as Zep had patiently started teaching Daisy to walk on a leash. He never once lost his cool, never seemed to get frustrated with the puppy. When she misbehaved, he used a firm voice. When she was good, he gave her a treat. That bag he’d shown up with the night before contained a bunch of treats, as though he would try to make friends with any creature he came upon. He’d taken Roxie to a tiny place that sold sandwiches, and she’d discovered she liked shrimp po’boys. They’d eaten them in a park and he’d told her more about his dad.
He hadn’t pushed her. He hadn’t tried to get her into a position where they got physical. It was odd because knowing that everyone thought they were pretending had helped her relax around him. She hadn’t been scared someone would judge her for being with him or laugh for thinking she might be able to keep him. She’d simply let herself be, and it had been lovely.
But she knew this couldn’t last. “I work twelve-hour shifts sometimes. I don’t think that’s fair to a dog.”
“So? Take her with you. As long as she’s properly trained, no one is going to mind having a dog up at the station house. Hell, Lila has Peanut at the clinic with her most days. We’ll get Daisy a police dog vest and then you can put her on the payroll.”
Sometimes Peanut came in with Armie. Peanut was a sweet golden retriever mix who usually slept at the sheriff’s feet. Would anyone care if she brought her dog to work? In the past it would have been wholly unprofessional, but professional meant something different here.
What would happen if she decided to try to get on in New Orleans again? She definitely wouldn’t be able to take Daisy to work with her there. Was she being hasty?
“Hey, how about we consider you her foster mom for now?” Zep offered. “We’ll keep her at your place until your parents leave and then we’ll decide. Like I said, she can always come with me.”
“Shouldn’t you ask your mom?”
He sat up a little straighter. “I do not live with my mother.”
She stared at him.
“I live in an apartment above the garage, thank you very much.”
It was good to remember he was a manchild. He had no ambition beyond where he was going to grab his next beer and find a woman for the night. “Yeah, well, I still think you should probably ask your mom.”
“I’ve been keeping animals for a long time. My momma is used to it.” He stared at her for a moment, studying her. “Is that why you wouldn’t go out with me again? You think I live with my mother because I can’t afford anything else?”
“I didn’t go out with you in the first place. Drinking a lot and falling into bed together isn’t a date. Not in my world. Also, you didn’t actually ask me on a date. I believe you said, ‘Hey, Roxie, let’s do this again sometime,’” she replied simply.
It was likely what he said to every single woman he slept with. She often wondered if she’d told him, “Yeah, sure,” would he have spent the last year pursuing her? Or would he have drifted on to the next woman without another thought to her?