Page 30 of Hound Dog
Finn dropped his phone beside him. “Drool? Wait, are you … are you talking about a dog?”
I blinked, taken aback by his question. “Yeah. What the hell did you think we were talking about?”
He sighed and started texting with a shake of his head.
“Nothing,” he muttered. “I think there’s been a mix-up. I work with humans… not dogs.”
I glanced up at the animal rescue sign above our heads. “You work with humans at the animal rescue?”
“Yes. I mean,no. Yes, I work with humans, but I don’t work here at the animal shelter. I just volunteer here from time to time, walking the dogs. What areyoudoing here? Trying to get rid of a few dogs?”
Dammit. What a waste of time! “So, wait! You’renotin charge of taking in rescues for the adoption events?”
He shook his head, and I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling my pulse race. “Dammit,” I muttered. “Now I’m going to have to put an ad on Craiglist or something and risk the murderers and perverts coming to Aunt Meryl’s house.”
“You can’t adopt animals to people you don’t know,” he said, incredulously. “What if they’re, like, leaders of a dog-fighting ring or something?”
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Well, what do you suggest?”
“How many animals do you have?” he asked cautiously.
“Fourteen dogs, six cats, and a hedgehog.”
A laugh erupted and he quickly smothered it with his fist. “Sorry. A hedgehog? That’s just so… random.”
“Yeah. I know. Aunt Meryl’s been taking it on herself to rescueallthe animals in Maple Grove. After she fell, I convinced her we needed to rehome most of them. The rescue is full, not accepting anymore pets, but I was hoping I could beg them to take at leastsomeof the dogs.”
His brow pulled together, slanting, deep in thought. “The shelter is full.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “Iknow. Way to rub it in, Finn.”
He ignored the scowl I sent his way, and slowly said, “And you need homes for a bunch of pets.”
“Isaidthat already. Are you okay?” He was acting weird. Repeating me, staring at me… “Are you having a stroke or something?”
Then, a languid, irresistibly devastating grin spread across his face, and the warmth in that smile churned within my belly. “No… but I think we can help each other.”
Something about the determination in his eyes set off alarm bells in my head. I’d seen that look on him once before. Years ago, when he screwed me over. Even still, morbid curiosity and desperation won out, as I found myself asking, “How?”
That arresting smile of his widened and the tone of his voice sent shivers down my spine. “Tell me, Haylee. Are you good at keeping a secret?”
Chapter Seven
Finn
“Let me get this straight.”Haylee stood in front of me and Chewy, pacing nervously. “You and Enzo run a secret matchmaking service where you utilize rescue dogs to help people find their perfect soulmate?”
“That’s right. Small correction, though—perfection doesn’t exist, and soulmates are a myth created by greeting card compa—”
“I really don’t need your commentary on the subject of soulmates!” she screeched, holding up a palm to halt me mid-sentence.
“O-kay.” I stood cautiously, setting Chewy down to let her sniff around the bushes beside us. “I get it… you don’t want to work with me. And trust me, I don’t want to work with you, but we need each other.”
Her eyes narrowed and she folded her arms. “I don’tneedyou. I’d rather take my chances with the weirdos on Craigslist.”
“If I recall, your exact words were murderers and perverts. And yes, youdoneed me, Haylee. You can’t have strangers from Craigslist coming to Meryl’s house. Enzo already runs background checks on people who apply for my services. And most of them end up adopting the dogs they walk. It’s the safest and best way to find suitable homes for your aunt’s dogs, and you know it.”
With a sigh, Haylee bent over, stooping to pet Chewy as she chewed her bottom lip, thinking a while before asking, “And after we get these dogs adopted, then what do you do? You still don’t have an official rescue to partner with.”
