Page 26 of Housebroke

Her smile this time was genuine. “Oh, I know. And thank you for saying that. It means a lot.”

“Hey, it’s true.”

She stood and called the pups. “I’m going upstairs for a while. Thanks so much for watching the dogs.”

“We had a great time.”

He watched her walk inside, the dogs happily following her.

She was upset. Sad. Her heart had been broken. She probably did want that alone time. He knew if it had been him, that’s what he’d want.

He walked upstairs, intending to wash up, but then he heard her crying.

Well, damn. He went to her door and knocked softly. “Hazel, can I come in?”

It was a few seconds before she answered with, “Okay.”

He opened the door. She was on her bed, sitting with the pillows propped up behind her. Her legs were crossed, and the dogs were on the bed with her. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen, and tears ran down her face.

“Is it okay if I sit here with you?”

“You don’t have to do that. I just need to cry it out and then I’ll be fine.”

He untied his boots and kicked them off, then climbed onto the bed next to her, much to Lilith’s irritation, which she addressed with a low growl. Hazel scooped her up and put the dog on her other side.

“You might be fine tomorrow, or next week, or next month, but I get how much you love your dogs, and it’s okay to not be fine today.”

She choked out a sob. “I really am happy he’s found his forever family. You have to understand that.”

“I do.”

“He’s just the best boy and I’m going to miss him so much.”

“I know you will.” He put his arm around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder and cried while he comforted her the best way he knew how—just holding her.

Eventually, Gordon climbed onto his lap and curled up into a ball, immediately going to sleep. Penny stretched out alongside his legs, and Freddie lay next to Hazel. This all felt...

Comfortable.

Weirdly comfortable. Even with Hazel crying, though eventually she stopped and sighed and blew her nose, but still lay there with her head resting against him. And until she decided she wanted to move away, he was going to stay just like this.

Because sometimes you needed someone to offer comfort while you felt miserable and shitty. And this was one of those times.

So he was going to be there for Hazel for as long as it took.

CHAPTER TEN

Hazel had barely gotten any sleep last night. How could she, when Boo had always managed to wriggle his way into the bed and press his chunky little body next to her?

She’d warned Savannah and Leo about his propensity for sleeping in the bed. They had just happily smiled and said it was no problem at all. She’d told them he was a toy gatherer and carried one around with him all the time. In fact, he’d brought along the bunny that Linc had given him.

Leo and Savannah said he was adorable.

Of course they’d said that, because it was true. She’d truthfully lined out all of Boo’s bad habits, including the occasional backyard digging. They said he was a pup and they’d certainly work with him.

Dammit, they had loved him. How could they not love him? He was sweet and cuddly and had the best smile.

The problem was, Hazel had loved him, too, and giving him up had taken a piece of her heart. But she knew going into this job that every time she had to give up one of her babies, it was going to be painful. And every time she’d happily smiled and given thatlast hug to one of her foster dogs, it had hurt. It had also made her heart soar with happiness. And wasn’t that a conundrum.

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