Page 9 of Summer with a Single Dad

“Hmm,” he wondered.

“This is weird,” I said. When he shot me a bemused smirk, I added, “Right?” Chris’s stint of silence unnerved me. “I mean, we slept together.”

A smile tugged at his mouth. “So, you do remember that night?”

“Pretty hard to forget.” Now it was Rufus’s turn to snort. I patted his head, silently begging them to behave.

“I thought it was just me.”

“No,” I said. “It was?—”

“Look, Madison,” he said, then shook his head. “Emily. That’s going to take a while to get used to. Emily, Emily, Emily,” he repeated. “I’ve had the name Madison in my head for so long.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I need a trainer. You’re a trainer. I just moved here for work, and I don’t have time to shop around. Your reviews claim you’re the best. I need the best.”

A series of barks sounded from Chris’s truck.

“Your dog’s in there?”

“Yeah. I can’t leave the beast alone. He’s a terror. Which is why I need you.”

Another series of barks rang out.

“Shit!” he said, eyes going wide.

“Go get him,” I said.

He ran to his truck and released a string of curse words. “God damn it, you little shit!”

Chris was a mess trying to get his dog out. I couldn’t resist laughing as the little guy wriggled in his arms, licking and yipping away.

“Stop it! For Christ’s sake, knock it off!” He plopped the dog on the ground. Embarrassment mixed with relief when he looked my way. “Come on,” he said, tugging on the leash.

Chris let out a sigh when he stopped.

I signaled to Rufus and Moose to stay put.

The dog lunged forward, excited to meet new friends. Chris yanked him back. “See what I mean? I need you.”

Laughing, I crouched down, snapped my fingers, pointed, and said, “Sit.”

Astonishment laced his words when his butt plopped onto the grass. He said, “He only does that when I force his ass to the floor.”

“It’s all in your delivery. What’s your name, little guy?”

“Lucifer,” Chris said.

I peered up at him. “Seriously?”

“He’sseriouslythe devil. He was chewing on my steering wheel in there. Shoes, belts, ties. I can’t tell you how many things he’s destroyed.”

“Puppies are likely to chew when they’re bored.”

“He has his own toys. But he prefers to play with things that aren’t his.”

“You can break him of that habit. It just takes discipline.”

“Lucifer has no discipline.”

“I’m talking about yours, not his.” I ruffled his fur in both my hands. “You’re not the devil, are you, Lucifer?”

---