Page 69 of Bad Nanny

“Did you give yourself a bath too?”

She looked over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you not a dog person? That might be a deal-breaker for me.”

I couldn’t tell if she was joking because she went right back to lavishing the dog with attention.

“I’ve never had a dog and don’t intend to get one now. There’s enough shit going on around here. Besides, you’re getting all attached, and the dog might belong to someone.” I walked around the far side of the couch and sat down at the end. The dog didn’t take its eyes off me. “What if she has rabies? Have you seen the movieCujo?”

“Does she look rabid to you?” Josie rubbed the dog’s ears, making them flop. “I understand your concerns, so here’s what we’ll do...I’ll take her to animal control to have her?—”

“I have work. I don’t want Delaney around that dog.”

As if summoned, Delaney came down the stairs. “Daddy?” She stopped, her eyes landing on Josie and the dog with a gasp.

The dog sat straight up at attention, its eyes locking onto my baby girl like she was a juicy piece of meat.

Josie held the dog tight, keeping it from lunging at Delaney. My protective instincts surged, and I started to stand, ready to intervene, but Delaney was already next to the couch, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Josie managed to get the dog under control, its squirming ceasing as she spoke to it gently. She looked up at me, silently asking if it was okay.

I hesitated before giving a short nod. If it made any move to hurt Delaney, I’d be on it in a second.

“Delaney, this is our new friend,” Josie said softly. “She’s a little scared right now, so we have to be extra gentle. Do you want to come say hi?”

Delaney looked uncertain, glancing between Josie and the dog. “Is she nice?”

“I think so, but we’re still getting to know her. Why don’t you hold out your hand and let her sniff you first?”

My muscles tensed as Delaney took a small step forward, extending her hand toward the dog’s nose. It gave a few curious sniffs, then gingerly licked her fingers.

Delaney giggled. “Her tongue tickles!”

Some of the tension left my body at the sound of Delaney’s laughter. The dog seemed calm, its tail wagging as it continued licking Delaney’s hand. Still, I stayed ready to intervene at the first sign of trouble.

Josie kept a firm hold on the dog as Delaney pet its head. “What should we name her?”

“Josie.” This woman was going to make me go prematurely gray.

“We can’t name her Josie!” Delaney waved me off dismissively. I didn’t bother to correct her. “Hmm . . . how about . . . Bluey?”

I suppressed a groan. Of course, she’d want to name it that. “We can’t name a dog that doesn’t belong to us.”

“That’s a lovely name.” Josie gave me a pointed look. “Ithink Bluey is a perfect temporary name. We have to see if she has a family first.”

“Oh.” Delaney leaned her hip against the couch, her hand still stroking the dog, who appeared to be in heaven. “Did her mommy leave her too?”

“We don’t know, but we’re going to make sure she has a good home.” I scooted closer to the trio, and the dog leaned toward me, putting the very tip of its chin on my knee and peering up at me with the saddest eyes I’d ever seen.

Fuck.

I rubbed a finger over her snout and between her eyes. With a whimper, she tried to move closer to me. “Let her go.”

Josie grinned and loosened her hold, so the dog could put her head on my lap. “See, I knew you’d come around.”

The dog immediately shut her eyes as I rubbed my finger between them. “Oh, she likes that, doesn’t she?”

I was going to regret this, wasn’t I?

My phone buzzed with a text message, and I picked it up to see a new group text with Noah, Lex, and Josie. How the hell did they get her number?

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