It Had to Be Him(73)

Just as she closed her eyes, the puppy whined again. Meg reached down and petted the dog until it quieted. But no sooner than Meg had fallen asleep, the whining started again. It was like having a newborn.

This dog was lucky it was her favorite of the three puppies or she’d make Josh deal with it. She reached down and petted the dog until it settled again. Brother. Look at her, getting all attached after only a half hour.

Closing her eyes, she gave up and just left her hand on the puppy’s back, willing herself to sleep.

Meg awoke to a warm tongue licking her tingling, numb fingers. It was morning, but just barely. The pooch probably needed to go outside again.

With her stiff arm, she lifted pirate pup from the basket and stared into his adorable, furry little face. “I hereby dub you Captain Jack Sparrow. No. What the heck, maybe I’ll just call you Johnny Depp. You’re both pretty darned cute. And you’ll probably have the chance to meet him. He’s a big tipper and one of my favorite guests.”

And, she was talking to a dog.

Sheesh.

When she opened the bedroom door, the boy was up. His hands were full of stuffed-animal guts and the room was almost tidy again. Josh and Haley were still asleep on the couch.

She whispered, “Hi. Thanks for cleaning up. I’m Meg.”

Relief flashed across the kid’s face. “There’s the missing one.” He dumped the stuffing into a garbage bag and then held his hands out for the pup. “I’m Eric. I’ll take him outside with the others. I made a pen for them.”

“Thanks, Eric.” Meg handed the dog over and started for the kitchen. A kid who cleaned up and figured out how to make a pen all before six a.m. didn’t seem like the kind to get into fights. There must be some big story behind Eric and the dogs. Best to load up on caffeine before she and Josh got into it.

As she flipped the switch for the coffeemaker, a big set of hands slipped around her waist.

“Morning.” Josh pulled her against him and wrapped her up tight, trapping her arms at her sides. Then he nibbled on her neck. A move that would have normally driven her wild.

“Not gonna work, pal. But you’re smart to restrain my fists. I’m tempted to belt you.”

He kissed her cheek. “I deserve it, but will you hear me out first, please?” He let his arms fall to his sides, releasing her.

It was hard to fight with someone who admitted his guilt right up front and sounded so sincere, but she was willing to try. Spinning around, she said, “You knew I didn’t want a dog right now.”

He crossed his arms. “That’s why my plan was to get a puppy for myself, so you wouldn’t have to deal with it. But then things got complicated.”

Struggling to keep her voice low so as not to wake Haley, she said, “It doesn’t work that way with kids.”

Josh’s brows crumpled in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“She’s going to fall in love with it and think of it as hers, no matter if it’s mine or yours.”

“I didn’t think of that. But why does that matter?”

Temper flaring, she blurted out, “I don’t appreciate you making this big a decision about our daughter without me. I understand this is all new to you, but if things don’t work out . . . well, it just adds a complication we don’t need right now!”

Josh’s jaw tightened. “If things don’t work out? I thought—” Eric came back inside, so Josh took her arm and guided her to the bedroom. He shut the door behind them. “I thought we were on the same page here. Clearly we’re not.”

He was angry too. But holding it together better.

Haley’s puppy was going to be one more thing they’d have to share for years to come. Bonding them even tighter. Half of her liked the idea, but her other half was terrified.

Meg sank to the edge of the bed. As she opened her mouth to try to explain, he said, “I’m in this for the long haul, Meg. I thought you were too.”

She stared into his eyes; they were swimming with pain and frustration.

The girls had all ganged up on her the night before, telling her she needed to deal with her trust issues. Those junior shrinks concluded it had started with her dad, and then Amber made it worse when she’d suddenly turned on her. That’s why Meg had kept most people at arm’s length and picked emotionally remote men whom she expected to dump her.

Until she’d met Josh. He was the first guy she’d allowed herself to trust. Then he’d left her too. But, unlike the others, he’d come back. That had to count for something. People make mistakes; she’d certainly made her share.

Casey had admitted she actually liked Josh, thought he was good for Meg.