Page 6 of Worst in Show

Leo spins around, surprise and something else brighter flickering across his features.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve coming in here.”

“My granddaughter, Cora,” Harvey says. “This is Leo Salinger of the Canine King.”

“Yeah, I know who he is.” I point at Leo. “You should have told me you’re the one opening that store when we met in the park. Seems a bit… wily… to keep that fact to yourself.”

He blinks. “Wily? If my memory serves me right, there were no introductions made from your side, either. I didn’t know who you were.”

That’s true. Ugh. “Whatever. Why are you here?”

“Um, I was inviting Mr. Morton—Harvey—to my opening next week.”

The nerve. No doubt all he wants is to show off. Look at my fancy store that makes yours look like a moth-eaten relic my sensitive nose can’t handle.

“You’re welcome to come, too, of course.” He shows me rows of pearly whites, and the star quarterback I once cheered on peeks out from behind the now more mature planes of his face. At least half the girls in my class had a crush on him at one point or another.

“We’ll be busy,” I growl. “As we are now. So, if you’ll excuse us, that would be splendid.”

To his credit, he flinches. His blue eyes look so innocent, but I know better. I know what these chain stores do. They eliminate the competition. What I don’t know is why the hell he is opening a Canine King here.

“Now, now, Cora.” Harvey puts a hand on my arm. “Manners.”

I shrug him off. I’m twenty-seven, not ten. “It’s not going to work, you know,” I continue. “Everyone knows Harvey. Our customers are loyal.”

Leo’s pupils darken. “That’s great,” he says snidely. “Then you should have nothing to worry about.” He clamps his jaw shut as soon as the words are out. Then he runs a hand through his hair and turns back to Harvey with the pleasant expression from earlier back in place. “What I meant was, I’m confident there are enough customers to go around.”

“I’m sure, I’m sure,” Harvey says.

“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” I cross my arms.

Cholula lets out another growl as if to concur.

“I think that’s my cue.” Leo chuckles without any warmth. “Just wanted to be a good neighbor. Anyway, here’s my card.” He slides it across the counter like a smarmy salesman finishing his pitch.

Harvey picks it up with a nod, and for a moment, I think Leo is going to leave, but instead he glances down, a look of alarm coming over him. “What’s wrong with your dog?”

This again? I’m about to lay into him about how differences should be celebrated when he crouches by Cap and looks up at me. “We’ve got to do something.” His hand rests against Cap’s shaking shoulders.

Crap. “No, he’s fine. Don’t touch him.” I sit down next to Cap and lower my voice. “You’re okay, buddy.” He’s stiff as a board and jerking like an animatronic puppet, but there’s nothing to do but wait it out. Cholula and Boris lie down next to him. They know.

“He spaces out like that sometimes,” Harvey says. “Probably had a head injury before he was rescued. But the vet says it’s harmless.”

Leo looks skeptical.

“Don’t worry. It’ll be over soon.”

As soon as Pop says that, Cap shrugs as if a spell’s been lifted and sits down.

“Good boy,” I coo, petting his square brow. “All better?”

“Jeez. That was freaky.” Leo runs a hand through those wheat-colored strands. “Well, hey, if you ever decide you want a, um, different sort of dog, I can talk to my aunt about reserving an Aussie from one of her litters. She breeds them. Super reliable, great lineage, you know exactly what you’ll get.”

I dig my nails into my palms. “I’m sure you’re not suggesting we are looking to replace our dogs. Our family members?”

“Okay, okay.” Harvey steps between us. “Leo, thanks for stopping by, but I think it’s best if you…”

“Yeah, sure.” He cuts his eyes between us. “I didn’t… Yes.”

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