Good Lord, Harley. Stop this.
“Wh-what are you doing here?”
His brow lifted, and he pushed off the doorframe and walked my way.
“This is my parents’ barn.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Right. But why are you here right now?”
He looked down at the puppy in my arms.
“I figured we needed to work out our custody agreement for Hemi.”
My heart soared. I wasn’t sure if he was doing this because I had gotten angry, and he felt guilty, or if he was just doing it for me. I hoped the latter.
“Really?”
With a nod, he scratched under Hemi’s chin. “It only seems fair since it was my niece who got you in this predicament. Besides, I already begged Steed to take the damn thing and he said no. She could go back to Hank.”
I pulled Hemi closer to me, and Tripp laughed.
“He can’t take her back. That would be terrible.”
“That’s what I told him. So what do you propose we do with this mutt?”
My cheeks hurt from smiling so big. It was wrong of me, but I knew if Tripp took Hemi, it would give me an excuse to see him more often.
Yeah, that is a pretty shitty thing to do to Mallory, but right now I don’t care.
“Okay, well, I’ll keep him Friday afternoon until Tuesday morning. I usually use Mondays for surgery so Hemi could come to the vet clinic that day since it’s slow and Julie or Louise can watch over her.”
“So, I’ll have her Tuesday morning through lunchtime on Fridays?”
“Yep, if that works for you. I can get you a crate for your office. She seems to do great in it. If you have to leave or go out or anything you can keep her crated. Just make sure she goes potty first and don’t leave her in there for long periods of time.”
Tripp stared at me for a few moments. When his eyes dropped to my mouth, I instinctively licked my lips.
“I’ll, um, give you food and everything.”
“I can buy the food.” He stepped closer to me, or to Hemi, I wasn’t sure.
My gaze drifted down to the dog. If I kept staring into Tripp’s baby blues I was going to combust.
“O-okay. I’ll get her some toys.”
Hemi was now looking back and forth between me and Tripp.
“Anything else I should know?” Tripp whispered, reaching a hand toward me…or the dog, surely.
I love you more than life itself.
“No, I can’t think of anything.”
Lifting my gaze, our eyes met once again. It felt like a secret moment between the two of us. I could feel the intensity we’d always had. Swallowing hard, I took a step back to break the heat between us.
“Hurry, Mommy! Here she is.”
I looked past Tripp to see Laney pulling Mallory into the barn. When I turned back to Tripp, he was no longer looking at me. The ache in my chest grew stronger.
“Laney! You are pulling my arm out of my socket.”
“Harley! Can I hold Hemi?”
“No!” Mallory stated, just as I said, “Sure!”
I stopped handing the puppy to Laney.
Tears built in her eyes. “Mommy, why?”
“His fur will get on you.”
I wanted to roll my eyes, but I really wasn’t sure if she had an allergy or not. “I can brush any hair off of her if you’d like.”
She shot me a fake smile. “I don’t want her getting attached because she won’t be seeing Hemi again.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” I said. “With Tripp watching Hemi for me during the week, I’m sure Laney will get to see her.”
“What?” Mallory glared at Tripp. He had his eyes closed for a few seconds before popping them open and sending me death rays.
Oops. Looks like Mallory doesn’t know about Tripp’s new house guest.
“You’re taking the dog?”
Tripp walked closer to Mallory. “Not permanently, just for a few weeks.”
Her mouth fell open. “Weeks? How many weeks?”
When Tripp didn’t answer, I did. “Only about six or so.”
I had to admit it, I was smiling inside, and I knew it was so wrong. I may or may not have done a mental fist pump at the look on her face.
So. Wrong. But it feels so right.
“Six weeks!” Mallory shrieked as Laney jumped up and down in excitement.
“Or so,” Tripp added with a smirk.
“Tripp, we cannot deal with a puppy for six weeks.”
He cleared his throat and moved closer to Mallory. “We’re not dealing with her, I am. She won’t ever be at your house.”
“Damn right she won’t!” Mallory whispered. “You know I don’t like dogs and am allergic.”
“Yep. I know.”
Mallory’s death stare was now on me.
“Was this your idea?”
“Yes. Considering I don’t even want another dog, it was only fair that Tripp help me out with her.”
“If you don’t want a dog, why are you keeping her? Take her to the pound.”
My blood burned hot. “The pound? Are you seriously telling a vet to take an animal to the pound?”