Page 14 of Taming Georgia

“Xavier was cleaning kennels when I left. There’s too much work around here and not enough workers. I couldn’t spare him. Besides, I knew I could get her.”

“You only say that because you got her. Had she gotten away from you, it’d have been a different story.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, our new volunteer showed up today. I think she’s going to be around longer than a day.”

“You sure about that?” I laugh, thinking of the past dozen volunteers who never returned for their second shift.

“I am. She seems like a tough one.”

“They all do…at first.”

“She’s different.”

“If you say so. Where is she now?”

“Out walking Skye.”

“All right. Bring her up to meet me when she gets back. I’ll play nice.” I press my lips into a line.

“You’d better be nice, Wyatt. We have a hard enough time keeping good help around here as it is. I don’t need you scaring the girl off.”

“I said, I’ll play nice.”

“Well, considering that you don’t have the best track record regarding your people skills, excuse me if I’m leery,” she huffs.

“What do you mean? I’m great with people. Ask Xavier. He and I get along just fine.”

“First of all, it took you a year to say more than three words to Xavier. Secondly, he enjoys idle conversation just as much as you do. So, I wouldn’t call you butt buddies.”

“Who said anything about butt buddies? I said, we get along.” I shrug.

“Just be nice. It wouldn’t kill ya.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” I say with a grin.

Ethel sighs with a shake of her head as she walks away. “You’re going to die alone, Wyatt.”

“Hey, I’ll have my dogs,” I call after her.

A few minutes later, I look out the office window to see who must be the new girl bending down, petting Skye.

I roll my eyes.Nice, Ethel.That woman is ruthless in her pursuit to find me a woman—one that I’ve told her time and time again that I don’t want.

Ethel pulled out all of the stops with this one, too. Just from what I can see, the new recruit is not lacking in the looks department. She’s average height and thin with a taut, round ass. Her long blonde ponytail sways against her back. It appears she’s laughing with Skye.

I can’t say that I don’t appreciate that.

Unless her face is completely unfortunate—which I highly doubt—I’d say she’s quite fine. Not that it matters. I’m not looking for a two-legged companion regardless of how gorgeous she is.

I shake my head. “What are we going to do with Ethel?” I ask Cooper. “I told her that I have you and that’s enough. But she won’t listen, will she?”

Cooper cocks his head to the side. His left ear perks up as if he’s taking in every word I say.

“It doesn’t matter, right, boy? She’s not going to last more than a day. Two, tops. No one that pretty is going to be content with shoveling dog shit for free.”

Both of his ears rise, and he whines.

“You like her, do you? Well, that doesn’t account for much. You like everyone.”

I look down at my desk to see the line of Post-it Notes that Ethel has scribbled my messages on. They have a striped cat in the top corner, and next to the annoying creature, it reads,You’re purr-fect.

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