Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Yes, I’m ready.” She and Grant had gone to the pet store during her lunch break. She had all the necessary items to take them home. Grant had also brought his big truck of a car with him. They hadn’t attacked Wanda either. They were good dogs. She just knew it.
Bull stood and rubbed at the back of his head.
Was he debating it?
She loved Ernie and Bruno. They were hers. She just knew it. Andy and Phil had already agreed that she could take them into work, especially during this time, when she was getting to learn all about having dogs.
“I’m going to give you two weeks with them,” Bull said. “Someone from the club will stop by, check on you and the dogs, see how they’re doing, and how they’re adapting.”
“Seriously, Bull. Don’t you think that’s overkill?” Grant asked.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“None at all. I can take them?” she asked.
“Yes, you can take them.”
She got to her feet and the truth was, she didn’t have a clue how to command or instruct them.
“Come on, Bruno, Ernie, let’s go home.” She suddenly stopped. “How do I, ah, pay?”
“A small donation to the animal shelter is all that’s required,” Maddie said.
Aria smiled. “I’ll do that tomorrow.”
Bruno and Ernie followed her all the way to Grant’s car. She opened the back doors and in they climbed. There was no growling as Wanda took the front seat. There were two front seats in Grant’s truck—one for Wanda, and the other for Aria.
“I’m sorry about my brother,” Grant said, the moment they pulled away from the clubhouse.
They were heading toward her place. She already had everything set up. Food, beds, toys, the works. She had no idea how this was going to work, but she wanted it to.
“Don’t worry about it. He cares about the dogs’ well-being. That’s a good thing.”
She glanced back. Both dogs had lain down on the back seat. She was going to take care of them.
The drive wasn’t a long one. Grant turned off the ignition and Aria climbed out of the front seat, rounded the truck, and helped Bruno and Ernie out of it.
Wanda joined them in the house, and Aria stood at the closed front door, and watched.
“Go on, dogs, go and enjoy.” She nibbled her lip and winced. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Grant laughed. “Do you think I’ve got a clue when it comes to Wanda?”
“You don’t?”
“Nope. I just do what comes natural to me.”
“Natural?”
Aria rubbed at her temples and then walked into the sitting room. Both beds were set up. She wanted them to be cozy.
“Come on, Ernie. Come on, Bruno. Time for you to see your new home. That’s right. Come on.” She patted the bed and at first neither dog moved.
She smiled at the dogs and held up a toy for them to see. That did seem to appeal to them. They both came forward and she couldn’t help but laugh as they walked closer.
“I see. They just need a bit of bribing.” It took about ten minutes, but both dogs walked onto the bed. They sniffed the area and then started to slightly scratch at it with their paws. It was the cutest thing she had seen and she loved it.
“This is good, right?”
“Yes, it’s good. It will take time, but they’ll settle. Look at Wanda.”
Aria got to her feet and moved toward him. Even though she was nervous, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you.”
“You’re thanking me?” he asked.
“Yes. For coming with me. For … having faith in me.”
“Aria, you’re helping them out. Trust me. The shelters get full easily and it’s not always easy to house previous fighting dogs. It can be difficult.”
“It’s not just that, you don’t tell me that I’m taking on too much. You have confidence in what I’m doing, and you believe in me. That is … it’s nice.”
“I’m not going to like your mom, am I?”
She shrugged. “You might love her.”
“Anyone who hurts you, I’m going to have a big issue with.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. Aria ran her hands up his back, holding him close.
She loved being near him, feeling him. Another moan spilled from her lips and he growled.
“Aria, I better go,” he said.
She pulled away and looked up into his eyes. “Why?”
“Because…”
“What if I wanted you to stay?” she asked, nibbling her lip.
“I could make up a bed.”
She pressed a hand to his chest. “No. What if I … wanted you to stay with me?”
“Aria, what are you saying?” Grant asked.
She had been thinking about this a lot in the past couple of weeks. When she was with Grant, he made her believe she could do anything, be anything. There were no limits to what she could achieve, but it wasn’t just that. He made her feel so many things—aroused, alive—and she wanted to be with him, even if she was terrified.