“I’ll be like lightning.” She nudges me with her elbow as I sort through the keys. “Look at us little scrubbers from floor seven, making it all the way to Mr Henley’s place. Did you really do it? Sniff his underpants?”
“Course I do. I wear them on my head while I’m scrubbing.” I shoot her a goofy smile, and she laughs as I turn the key in the lock. “You have to be careful of Brutus,” I tell her. “Never come here without fish treats. I’ll give you a pack.”
“Cindy warned me already. Said he’s a monster.”
I feel strangely protective. “He’s not a monster. He’s just… misunderstood.”
“Like his master, eh? Up to no good sticking his dick in hooker pussy.” She grins. “I know Cindy told you. Said you looked damn like you were gonna get yourself down there to Harley’s tavern yourself.”
“She told me a lot of things,” I say, and my cheeks burn as we step inside. Sonnie really does make a dash for it, scooting through the hallway in her bid to deactivate the countdown timer. I’d forgotten how efficient she is.
The alarm stops beeping and she takes a look around the place, jaw open.
“Yep, just as I thought. Swanky as hell.”
She hasn’t seen anything yet.
And she hasn’t seen Brutus yet, either.
He takes her by surprise, his growl crazily intimidating as he checks out the intruder in his house. It’s a sound I haven’t heard in a while, and I’m dithery as I rustle for the treats in my apron pocket. I toss them to her.
My heart is thumping as she catches them, and she’s even more dithery than I was.
Shit.
“Hey boy, good boy,” she flusters, but he isn’t having any of it. He stalks her with his teeth bared, and she backs away before I can tell her not to. It’s a mistake.
He launches himself in her direction, and she tears off with a shriek, heading right back out the front door as he throws himself against the other side.
“Brutus!” I call, but he isn’t listening. “Shit, Brutus, no!” I shout, but he’s still clawing at the woodwork as she grips the handle tight on the other side.
“Help!” she calls, and my actions are automatic. I just do it.
I put on my bravest voice, just like I heard on that dog whisperer show, and head over calmly to take hold of his collar.
“Stop!” I tell him. “No!”
He’s still growling as he turns his head, teeth still bared as he clocks my expression.
“Brutus! No!”
I’m sure he’s going to bite me, positive I really will be fired for spilling blood over cream carpets, but the fight in his eyes simmers down, and he grumbles, groans a bit before sitting his ass down on the floor.
“Christ, Lissa. Is it safe? Are you still alive in there?”
I tug Brutus away from the door. “Stay,” I tell him, and hope he knows that word. I ease it open just a crack and Sonnie’s terrified eyes greet me on the other side. “Sorry about him,” I say. “He takes a while to get used to new people.”
She’s shaking as she eases herself back through the doorway. “Ain’t you who’s got to be sorry, hon. He ain’t your monster.”
A tiny pang in my stomach, and I realise why I’ve been feeling so off since we set off from the office earlier.
Reality. The burst bubble that comes with realising I really am just a cleaner and this isn’t my house, or my dog, or my life.
Brutus isn’t my monster, and neither is Alexander Henley. Not even if I wash his underwear and smell his sheets.
Or take his beautiful cock in my ass all night long.
Alexander Henley doesn’t even know my name.
Sonnie flinches as Brutus drops to the floor, but he’s not doing anything other than giving her the eye. “How’d you get him to like you so much?”
I shrug. “Persistence and fish treats.” And love.
The addition shoots through my mind, and it gives me a shiver. That’s the key, when it really comes down to it. It’s all about love. All about putting your heart on the line for someone and trusting they’ll see right through to your soul. Like Brutus did with me when I offered him the first fish treat from my fingers and stared him right in the eye.
“Persistence and fish treats,” she repeats, and takes a breath. She pulls one from the packet and tosses it between his paws. “There you go, boy. Nice fishy snack. Nom nom.”
Brutus nudges it with his muzzle, sniffs but doesn’t bite.
He doesn’t want it.
He doesn’t want her.
I shrug. “Early days,” I say. “He’ll get used to you. Just give it some time.”