Page 23 of Tucker

So smart. “She’s adjusted amazingly well.” Kady trailed along behind man and dog.

“She has,” he agreed. “She seems so tame, in fact, Jordan asked around for me just to make sure she wasn’t someone’s pet. A few people said they’d seen her with vacationers back in the spring.”

“The spring?”

He nodded, going out to the stoop while the dog raced around his backyard, watering various plants and trees. “I spoke with Garrett, too. He thinks the dog was abandoned.”

Her cousin was a smart man, so if he thought it, it was probably true. “Why?”

“He remembers her with a couple who didn’t have her on a lead. They were at the boat dock, got in a boat and almost left without her.” Tucker narrowed his eyes. “The bastards were probably trying to ditch her even then.”

“Oh, how awful.”

“Garrett said the dog kicked up such a fuss, running along the dock and barking, that another vacationer flagged them down and there was uncomfortable laughter as they said they’d just forgotten her.”

Bastards, indeed! Kady touched his arm and found it rigid with suppressed anger—for a dog.Was it any wonder she loved him?She smiled, leaning into him. “Luckily she found you.”

He looked down at her, his eyes so green, so intense. She thought he’d kiss her again, right there at the side door, but the dog returned, trotting in past them, and the moment was broken.

A few minutes later, Kady was on her knees beside Tucker’s bed, reaching underneath for the pups, aware that her rear end was in a most undignified display.

She tried not to think about it as she stretched to get the last tiny dog.

“Kady?”

His voice sounded deeper than usual. “Almost done.” She crawled back, and as she emerged, she realized he was staring at her behind. A mix of embarrassment and pleasure flushed her face. She said quickly, “I had thought about wearing a dress, since you said you like them—”

“I like the shorts too, believe me.” He took the little dog from her and put it in the box with the others. The anxious mama watched with concern, constantly circling.

Kady quickly pulled out the soiled blanket and put it in a laundry basket. Going under the bed again, she arranged the fresh folded blanket in the same spot.

The dog darted under to investigate. From her bent position, Kady watched with a smile. “I think she likes it.”

“How can you tell?”

“She’s kicking it around, nosing it this way and that. I guess getting it the way she wants it.”

“Good.” Tucker began passing the puppies back to her, and finally the little family was all settled again.

Kady stood. “Where’s your washer?”

“In the basement.”

“You have a basement?”

“The door is off the kitchen. Most people think it’s a pantry.” He tried to take the basket from her. “I can do the wash.”

“Nonsense.” She wanted to extend her time with him, not cut it short, so she carried the basket out of his room and sailed down the hall to the kitchen. Her flip-flops slapped the floor with her hurried pace.

When she opened the basement door, Tucker—who was right behind her—reached past her and turned on the light. Then with no effort at all, he took the basket from her.

She tried to protest. “I can—”

He surprised her by saying only, “Careful going down. The steps are narrow.”

Lit by a single overhead bulb, his small basement was dark, with concrete floors, bare walls and open rafters. Taped boxes had been stored in one corner on pallets. In another corner, Tucker stored his tools along a workbench.

A utility tub, washer and dryer sat beneath a narrow window.

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