Page 3 of Monster Mistake

She let out the breath she’d been holding when Khill chuckled and rubbed his knuckles over the dog’s furry belly. “Good boy,” he said.

What I wouldn’t give to have him call me a good girl.

Good grief. Why were her thoughts so porn-y today? She needed to get laid. Like, ASAP.

Khill scooped his new best friend up, cradling him against his chest like a football before he grabbed her hand and yanked her to her feet. Per usual, he underestimated his strength, and she smacked into him, nearly squishing the dog between them.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“It’s fine,” she said, brushing some dust off the knees of her jeans. She didn’t tell him she was horny enough to have enjoyed smashing into his chest. That was just pathetic.

Khill opted to hold the dog rather than secure him in a crate while she drove them back to the rescue. He didn’t offer any explanation, but Justine knew he didn’t want to give up his precious burden, who was now snuggling into Khill’s arms like they were the comfiest place he’d ever known.

Great. Now she was jealous of a puppy.

“I’ll give him an exam when we get to the rescue, but I’m going to wait on vaccinations until he’s put on a few pounds and his skin clears up,” she said. “I can get him started on an antiparasitic, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatories in the meantime. That’ll make him feel a lot better. Then I’ll get one of the kennel staff to give him a medicated bath and get him set up for the night. He’ll need to be isolated from the other dogs for quite a while, though.”

Which meant he’d be staying in a clinic kennel instead of one of the luxury dog suites at the rescue.

The vast grounds of the historic Spellman Mansion where her bosses lived held more outbuildings than she could count. One of them was her vet clinic. Others held supplies and grooming tubs. There was also a caretaker’s cottage where Khill lived.

Then there were the tiny houses. So, so many tiny houses.

Instead of cages, the Monsters for Mutts rescue set each of their pampered guests up in their own private tiny houses, complete with gated front yards, chairs and couches, and, of course, central heat and air.

There was also a giant fenced area, many acres wide and long, behind her clinic where all the dogs could frolic, socialize, and receive training if necessary.

In other words, it was doggy Shangri-La. Justine couldn’t wait until this little guy could join the ranks of the other potential adoptees.

“I’ll bathe him and get him settled,” Khill said gruffly.

She held in her instinctive “aw.” She loved it when the big, tough orc decided to take care of a tiny little puppy. And it happened all the time. He was a soft touch, for sure. Which she imagined was something only she knew, based on his appearance. “You’re not going to the Monster Match tonight?”

That was the other thing the Spellman Manor was known for. Speed dating events for monsters looking to hook up with marriage-minded human women, otherwise known as a Monster Matches, were held once a year at the manor. Lucy and Viktor had met at one, as had her friend Roxie and her husband, Riordan.

Justine had never attended as a participant. It just felt a little too…social for her. The idea of flirting and trying to pretend she wouldn’t rather be at home with a glass of wine, binging episodes ofCobra Kaiwhile wearing her comfy pants was too daunting. Besides, pretending to be pleasant for hours wasexhausting. She could maybe pull it off for one speed date. But several?Pfffttt. No way.

He snorted. “Hell no. What about you?”

She ignored how much it pleased her that he wasn’t looking for a wife. But his question did make her side-eye him. “You know I’ve been seeing Jake. Why would I go to a Monster Match?”

Khill always looked like he’d just stepped in a fresh pile of dog vomit every time she mentioned Jake’s name. She’d never asked why. After all, it wasn’t like Khill was much of a people person. Er, monster. Whatever.

“You’re still with that guy?”

He might as well have asked, “Still got herpes?” That was the tone he used when he asked about Jake.

If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was jealous. But even if he was, what did he expect her to do? Move into a convent and become a nun after he rejected her? She was a mildly antisocial introvert who didn’t enjoy the company of many people, but shedidenjoy sex, which meant that abstinence wasn’t in the cards for her, and she’d already waited long enough for Khill to change his mind about dating her. She refused to apologize for moving on with her life.

Besides, Jake was a decent enough guy. He was good looking, clean, had a steady job as a paralegal at the biggest law firm in town, and never seemed to mind when she’d had enough people-ing for a day and required a little space. Surely all that was a decent foundation to build a relationship on, right?

“Yes,” she answered patiently. “I’m still seeing Jake. He’s had that flu that’s been going around. I’ll head to his place after this little man’s exam and bring him some soup or something.”

Khill made a sound somewhere between a snort of disgust and a growl. Again, she ignored it. Instead, she asked him, “What are you going to name your new friend there?”

He glanced down at the dog in his lap and ran a fingertip over the edge of his chewed-up ear. “I’m thinking…Van Gogh.”

She let out a shocked laugh. “That’s perfect.”

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