Page 48 of Training my Human

My toes curled and I wanted nothing more than to drag him into the back and have my way with him. Hmm. On second thought…

A good thing we could be quick seeing as how the bell on the shop door dinged just as we finished. Mads quickly tucked and buttoned before heading out to deal with the customer.

After fixing my mussed hair, I also sauntered out, my step brisk as I walked to work. I entered to find my boss leaning on the counter, chatting with Kalypso.

Upon seeing me, her mouth rounded and she exclaimed, “Oh, Pip, I am so sorry about your place. You okay?”

“Yeah. Luckily, I wasn’t there when it happened.”

“Were you able to save anything?”

I shook my head.

“It was a shit thing to happen. Especially since you had that new pet,” Leo stated.

His comment startled me for a second until I remembered I’d told them a half-truth about me acquiring a lizard to explain my visit to the pet store. “Guess I wasn’t meant to be a reptile mommy.”

“Any idea what started the fire?” Kalypso asked. Morbid yes, but let’s be honest, people couldn’t help but be curious when tragedy struck others.

“No idea, but I was having problems with a plug in the kitchen. Guess I shouldn’t have fucked around getting it fixed.”

“Well, at least we’ve got an epic boss. I’m kind of jealous you get to stay in the barn. Place is a hundred times nicer and bigger than my shithole.” Kalypso’s nose wrinkled.

“It’s only temporarily, until I figure out what to do next.”

“I think this was a sign you need to start building,” Leo declared.

“The sign could have been a little less destructive,” was my wry reply. “Building from scratch will take months, and winter is coming.”

“Actually, you could get it done quick if you went with a prebuilt home. I have a friend sitting on a ready-to-go house in his warehouse because the buyer couldn’t come up with the final payment. Given he got to keep the deposit and needs it gone, I could probably get him to swing you a deal.”

“Really?” For a second, excitement filled me, until I remembered Abaddon. I couldn’t take him back to my property, not until I could be sure those goons would leave us alone.

“I’ll make a phone call and see what my friend can do.”

I chewed the tip of my thumb. “I probably don’t have enough to pay for a house in cash.”

“Cash?” Leo snorted. “What you need is called a bank loan. Before you say anything, I know your granny would hate it, but in this case, it’s the right thing to do if you want a roof over your head before the snow starts flying.”

“You think they could really install it that fast?”

“Like I said, the house is already made. Just needs a concrete pad and some utilities run, then boom. Drop it on top and hook it up. Instant home.” He made it sound so easy and I had to at least pretend I wasn’t planning on permanently relocating.

“Talk to your friend and let me know what he says.”

“Will do, but even if he can’t help until spring, you know the barn is yours as long as you need it.”

“Thanks, Leo.” I really did have the best boss.

And the best boyfriend.

When I returned from some essential shopping, Maddox told me he needed to pop out for about an hour and asked if I would mind the shop. Easy enough to sit on the stool behind the counter and ring up purchases, although the person who wanted live crickets got told to come back because like hell would I be wrangling bugs.

My temporary gig as a pet store clerk ended when Maddox’s part-time employee, Suzy—a plump woman with a big smile—showed up. I headed back to the apartment with Princess in tow to find my dragon reading on the couch—with a bag of Doritos.

I happened to be looking out the window when Maddox returned and parked out front with a motorcycle trailer hooked to his truck.

“You didn’t have to rent a trailer. I would have been driving over by myself,” I exclaimed when he joined me inside the apartment.

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