Page 16 of Finding Noah
She licked his cheek. She didn’t understand the words, of course, but she clearly understood something big was happening and herpersonwas upset.
I hated to add to her upheaval, but no easy way existed for us to do this.
Paxton gave her a hug as she leaned against him. Clearly, he’d bonded with her.This must be killing him. I know it would destroy me.I’d raised four dogs through my childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Losing each had gutted me. I would’ve loved to say my mother had guided me through the pain, but she hadn’t. She’d simply agreed to let me rescue another dog.As long as they don’t get in my way. Herwaybeing whatever guy she was with at the time. I loved my mother, but her taste in men was atrocious.
Paxton rose, handed me the leash, turned, and then walked away.
Stormy tried to follow, but I clicked my tongue. She turned to me.
I pulled a treat out of my pocket.
She cocked her head.
I placed it on the ground between the two of us.
She didn’t hesitate, inhaling the treat without even tasting.
“Want another?” I clearly had her attention.
She eyed me.
“Sit.”
She plopped onto her butt and eyed the treat. When I offered it on my palm, she lapped it up.
“Good girl. You’re such a good girl.” I held out my hand.
After a long moment, she placed herself under my hand.
I was able to stroke her long, luscious, silky fur. I’d never had a Newfoundland of my own, but I’d trained one at the store a couple of years ago. Wicked smart and, if raised correctly, incredibly gentle. I trusted that if Paxton had any concerns, he would’ve voiced them. She’d been living with complete access to three other dogs and a toddler without incident. “Are you ready to come home with us? Oh, you need to meet Christian.”
He stepped within her line of sight.
“You can give her a treat.”
His eyes lit and he dug into his pocket.
We’d prepared for the visit and the hopeful eventuality that she’d come home with us.
“Treat?” He held it out to her. “Oh, can you go down?”
She plopped onto the dry earth.
“Oh, what a good girl you are. So precious.” He was using his cutesy voice that always amused me. I would vary my tone of voice depending on how I was interacting with the dogs—but I never didcutesy.
She lapped up the treat he offered.
We were going to be okay.
Chapter Five
Christian
Leaving Stormy in order to go to work nearly broke my heart, but it had to be done.
In turn, I was exhausted when I pulled into the driveway at the end of my first day.
Dillon was a fair employer, a stickler for taking breaks, and a bit anal on how he liked things. That was completely fair—given the store was his. Passed down by his father a little while ago.
