Page 90 of The Billionaire Bodyguard Next Door

“What about picking up after the dog?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I can put the dog’s toys away when I put mine away. Easy.”

“That’s not the kind of clean-up I was thinking about…”

Alice squealed again as she approached the last kennel, tucked away in the back.

Harper, the staff person helping us, chimed in. “That’s Bruce; he’s a beagle-mix, and he’s an absolute sweetheart.”

Sebastian lifted a finger. “I can confirm this, even though Bruce refuses to jog with me.”

“He might not be the most active of our residents, but he loves cuddles and kisses,” Harper added.

Alice beamed. “I love those things too.”

I placed a hand on Alice’s back. “That’s true, you do.”

Harper unlatched the enclosure. “Let me get Bruce on his leash and we can meet you out in the play yard?”

Sebastian stepped in. “Follow me, I’ll show you where the play yard is.”

A minute later we found ourselves in a dog’s dream house. The play yard had toys and tunnels, mirroring dog parks that I’d driven past and never stopped at. Basically, it was heaven, and Bruce came out with Harper, tail wagging as he sauntered right up to an enthusiastic Alice.

Alice showered Bruce with love and kisses and pets as Harper relayed some basic information about the dog.

Four years old.

Potty trained.

Left behind when its owner passed away suddenly.

Has a sweet temperament.

Has been at the shelter for two months.

I listened to every nugget of info being shared while watching both my daughter and Luna. Luna had taken it upon herself to photograph the interaction between my daughter and Bruce from every angle. I closed in behind her and whispered in her ear, “I think you got the shot.”

Luna jumped, and I placed a hand on her lower back. “If this ends up being the dog, then she’ll want some pictures. Trust me.”

A cacophony of barks interrupted us. Alice lifted her head as several more dogs made their way into the play area.

“It’s morning recess,” Harper explained. “Besides, this will allow you to get to know all the dogs we have available.”

A little mutt with dark brown hair and a tongue lolling out of its mouth walked right up to Luna and placed a tender paw on her foot. Wiry hair, goofy face, but with the sweetest energy.

I bet that’s the dog Sebastian was talking about. Pepper.

Luna immediately bent down and cooed. “Hello, there—” She glanced at the tag on the dog’s collar. “Pepper.”

The tiny dog graciously accepted pets, immediately lowering itself to the ground to get some good belly rubs in. Then it dashed off, zooming back and forth across the play area before coming back to Luna, nuzzling her legs.

“Careful. I think you may have found your new best friend,” I warned.

“I never imagined getting a dog,” Luna said wistfully, almost to herself. She poured her love and attention onto Pepper who started running in circles around her.

I shook my head thinking we might not be the only ones getting a dog.

Then my attention drifted back to Alice who continued to be solely focused on Bruce. While I love that she connected instantly with him, she hadn’t given the other dogs an opportunity to shoot their shot. “Honey, why don’t you greet the other dogs too? Get to know them?”

---