Page 163 of Hot for Hostage

All the dogs from the shelter had attended. Sadie had baked specialty treats for the occasion. There’d been bouquets of white flowers to match Cookie’s coat and a veil Gladys had handmade for her.

Sadie had somehow talked Vince into being both the ring bearer and the flower girl.

Framed pictures of the whole debacle hung proudly in our living room—taken by a professional photographer Sadie had hired.

It all felt like a fever dream.

But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me all the more eager to make Sadie my wife.

My plan was foolproof. I’d spent hours in the kitchen yesterday making my masterpiece—and almost as much time working with Bear on his role. It was a simple retrieval he could do in his sleep, but the hellhound had let me know early on that Sadie was his owner and he’d only listen to my commands if hewantedto.

He rarely wanted to.

Sadie only had a few weeks left of culinary school, and I’d recruited Tony to drop a few hints to her about the early summer weather being perfect for a picnic. So, when he packed a basket with a full spread and sent us to the back grounds one afternoon, she was none the wiser.

I set up a blanket near the tree line, where Sadie lay out to sunbathe in one of her intriguingly short pink dresses. She talked me into hand-feeding her grapes and rambled excitedly about a new dog treat recipe she’d been experimenting with, while I sat next to her—feeling an inkling of nerves for the firsttime since I was thirteen and my pop had let me join him on a job.

That was unexpected, and I checked on my accomplice to make sure he was ready.

Bear took up a whole corner of our blanket, spread out and soaking up the sun like he didn’t have a care in the world. Sadie even rubbed the pampered beast’s back with her foot.

I snapped my fingers—the signal Bear and I had settled on for his part of my plan.

But instead of jumping up and trotting into the forest like the dozens of times we’d practiced, Bear only shifted his head on the blanket to stare at me.

I snapped my fingers again and nodded toward the trees.

His tail thumped against the ground in answer while he continued to stare, and I bit back a groan.

“Happy Tails Haven is hosting a pet talent show this summer during one of our adoption events,” Sadie announced, pulling me out of my staring contest with Bear. “Do you think Bear should enter?”

“What would he do?” I asked dryly, glaring at the beast in question. “Ignore orders? Or show how fast he can fill my shoe with slobber?”

“That wasonetime.” Sadie winced and sat up. “But I’ve been teaching him some new stuff! Watch this. Bear,roll over.”

Bear’s ear twitched in answer, but no rolling happened.

Sadie frowned. “He did it yesterday. Maybe he’s tired.”

“Or practicing selective hearing,” I grumbled, snapping my fingers again. “Fetch the basket, Bear.”

By some miracle, the dog finally listened and got to his feet. Just like we’d practiced, he slunk away into the trees.

“Basket?” Sadie echoed as he disappeared. “What basket? Where’s he going?”

Bear reappeared at the tree line, carrying a little pink basket with an even smaller box in it. He trotted over to me and held it out in offering.

“Good boy.” I took it and rubbed his furry head. “Now, get lost.”

He just stared back at me expectantly, his tongue out and tail wagging.

“Go on,” I pushed. “Go play with your wife, mutt.”

He didn’t budge.

Rolling my eyes, I slid off one of my loafers and flung it across the yard. Bear took off after it like a bullet, leaving me and Sadie alone for phase two of my plan.

Sadie laughed as Bear ran off, and I handed the basket to her.

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