Page 27 of I Hate Myself for Loving You
She admitted to herself that she hoped Lassiter would take her up on her offer to talk. For old time’s sake, if nothing else.
Her paws were silent as she crept up the back stairs to Lassiter’s sliding glass door. Again, he was with Bud, talking to him as if he were a human being.
His dark hair was ruffled and he looked tired, peering at the bird, sitting on top of its cage.
There was a well-worn sheet of paper sprawled out on the kitchen table, scattered amongst the blueprints of the Adams’ land. “Well, pal, we got trouble. I don’t know where else to go from here, but I swear to you, we’ll find a way.” Lassiter’s statement was vehement, said with a conviction she saw written all over his face. It was in his body language, tense and rigid.
Damn it, this was frustrating. A way to what and to whom?
Focusing her mind on the task at hand, Avery scratched at the back door.
The light came on and Lassiter popped open the slider. His smile once again warm and welcoming. If only he looked at her like that when she was in human form.
Her heart shifted when he knelt down at the opening of the door and put his hand out to her tentatively.
Avery let her muzzle rest in his palm for a brief, lingering moment before pushing past him and into the trailer.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you?” he stated with a degree of smugness in his tone, picking up the bowl from the floor and bringing it to the refrigerator.
Yeah, bring on the bacon, she thought, admiring his tall frame as he buried his head in the fridge.
“I knew you’d be back. So whatcha been up to, Princess?”
A little of this, a little of that. You know, dog-like stuff. Bone burying. Cat chasing. ‘Cause I’m a dog. An honest to goodness dog.
Who was she convincing here?
He chuckled as he filled a bowl. “I went looking for you the other night. You sure are a quick one. You just disappeared. But it’s okay, I’m glad you came back.” Stooping, he ran his fingers over her back, hand over hand.
Even in were form it felt damned good. Shaking her head, her ears snapping, she forced herself to stay on task.
Find the letter.
No pining for Lassiter.
In that order and no variation thereof.
Lassiter tugged at the end of her ear and pulled it upward. “Do your ears bother you? Mites, maybe? I think have something that would help.”
She let a low growl out to warn him that wasn’t a good idea. Next, he’d want to milk her anal glands or something. After all, JC had taken Max to be spayed.
“Okay, not today.” Lassiter pointed to the food. “You gonna eat? I can’t figure how you got to be so picky. Strays usually don’t demand human food,” he teased, holding the bowl up under her nose.
She made a hacking noise, bringing the sound from deep within her throat.
Which wasn’t hard, considering he was offering her leftover Hamburger Helper.
Avery moved her nose in the other direction, lifting her muzzle to display to him her displeasure at his culinary choices.
“Wow, Princess, you are picky. But you know what? It’s okay. I went and got you some canned food.” He went to the lower cabinet and pulled out a can of Decadent Dogs with a pleased smile.
Oh, yay. Spare no expense for the stray, huh? Avery decided to avoid eating dog food, more exploration was in order, so being the dog she was hoping to portray, she sniffed the floor.
Beginning in the kitchen, she worked her way out to the small living room.
Someone needed to break out the vacuum. Hector’s rabbit could quite possibly mate with the dust bunnies Lassiter had under his couch.
He followed closely behind her. “Are you looking for that sock? You wanna play, Princess?”
