Page 44 of To Bed the Bride
“Those commands can come in handy at any time. Besides, a well-trained dog is a better companion. Something else you need to consider. Bruce comes from a long line of working dogs. He’ll need a job.”
“I don’t have any sheep he can guard,” she said.
“Then his job will be to protect you.”
She looked down at the puppy, now rolling on his back in the grass. Even though he seemed to be growing larger every day, it was still difficult to think of him as a guard dog.
“You knew that when you gave him to me, didn’t you? Did you think I needed a protector?”
“Honestly? I wasn’t thinking of that. All I knew was that he needed someone to love him and I thought you could do with a little companionship as well.”
“Do you go around giving puppies to strangers all the time?”
“It’s the first time I’ve ever done it. And probably the last. Unless, of course, I meet another beautiful woman on the road in Scotland.”
He really had to stop saying things like that. She wasn’t beautiful, especially compared to Deborah or Daphne. She was simply herself.
“Now, about whistling,” he said. “All you have to do is wet your lips, then make sure your mouth is pursed a certain way.”
He demonstrated, whistling one note.
She did as he instructed, making a moue of her mouth.
“Breathe through your lips.”
She did, making the tiniest sound, nothing close to his whistle, however. Still, he seemed pleased, smiling at her.
A man’s smile had never had that effect on her, but his did. It was as if his happiness incited hers, which was ridiculous. Her emotions weren’t tied to his. Nor did he have the ability to alter her mood. Or shouldn’t.
“Do it again,” he said.
He startled her by placing both his hands on either side of her mouth and pressing her lips together even more.
“There. Try a whistle again.”
This time, the sound was stronger.
He dropped his hands. “There, you have it. All you have to do is practice for a bit and you’ll be able to do more than one note.”
He was too close. His eyes were direct, almost as if he was talking to her in his gaze. His look told her that he wanted to do much more than teach her how to whistle.
Reason enough for her to pull back, but she didn’t.
“You’ll have to practice your whistle as well as Bruce’s training.”
“He’s a great deal of trouble, you know.”
The puppy was a bother in many ways, but he was also a joy, which surprised her. She truly hadn’t realized how lonely she was in London. Bruce was a bit of Scotland by her side. He demanded her attention and it was surprisingly gratifying to care for him.
“I imagine he’s taking you away from all your fittings for your trousseau,” he said.
There it was, the mention of her engagement. How strange that he’d brought it up this way.
Bruce jumped up on the bench, the first time he’d done so, wedging his way between the two of them. Once he was satisfied that his favorite people were near, he settled down, making himself a nest on the fabric of Eleanor’s skirt.
She smiled down at him, petting him as he sighed into sleep. There were times when he almost reduced her to tears because he was so sweet and defenseless.
“You’ve always struck me as a woman of intelligence.”
