Page 39 of Without Judgment

“Says who?”

“Everyone knows what a perfect prince should be.” I pictured her ex with his family money, country club membership, and yachting clothes. Yet the guy had cheated on her. Maybe not so perfect, after all.

“Perfection is in the eye of the beholder, not to mention overrated.” She leaned her face down to allow Koda to lick her. “I wish I could adopt him. How about you? Want a dog?”

It took me a moment to realize she’d shifted gears. I’d considered getting a dog. Trevor had Rufus, a huge mastiff, and seemed to make it work. “I do want one, but as soon as I get done here, I have a lot of other work to do, which means not a lot of home time. Wouldn’t be fair to a pet.”

“No, I don’t suppose it would. That’s okay. I believe there will be someone special who’ll be worthy of him someday.”

I found myself imagining the same for her. That someday she’d find someone to marry, she’d live in the perfect house with a white picket fence, and she’d give birth to perfect kids with pretty blue eyes and big hearts same as hers. I refused to acknowledge the kernel of regret I felt in thinking it wouldn’t be with me.

The buzzing of my phone took me out of the moment. After taking out my device, I glanced at the screen. “Your brother texted. He’s at the house.”

The way she lit up at the news told me how much it meant to her. “Really? Right now?”

“Yep. Let me tell him we’ll be on our way after we drop off Koda.” I got up and held out my hand to help her to her feet.

But instead of accepting my touch, she got up on her own.

Strange.

Once we were back in the truck and driving, the poor dog seemed to sense we were returning to the rescue center. His ears flattened, and he put his head on Avery’s lap. She appeared near tears.

Maybe my idea to cheer her up had backfired. It was even seriously depressing me to have to return him to his cage.

“I didn’t realize this would be so hard.” My hand found his fur. “Sorry, buddy. And so much for cheering you up.”

“It did. And I’ll see him again later this week maybe.”

“Do you want to come inside with me?”

She gave Koda kisses. “Nope. Not only is goodbye hard enough from the truck, but I’m certain Melanie wants a chance to get you alone so she can ask you out.”

Shit. I’d forgotten that. Probably because I’d been completely distracted by Avery’s company. “I don’t suppose you could, uh, come in, too?”

Her lips twitched with a contained smile. “I’m sure you don’t need any help telling a girl no.”

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