New Leash on Life(8)

Dad frowned, shaking his head as he came closer. “New rescue?” he asked, looking at Daisy.

“She’s Marie’s dog,” Garrett said, giving the dog’s leash a tug. “We’re boarding her for a month or so, and I have to get her checked in and over to Molly. Come on, Daisy.” He started walking, and Daisy followed at a nice, even trot.

“That’s a good girl,” Shane said, watching them go and appreciating how well trained Daisy was. If only people could see that dog when they thought of a pit bull, they’d change their stupid preconceptions in a hurry.

“That’s a happy boy,” Dad replied, his gaze on Garrett. “I really couldn’t be more pleased with Garrett’s engagement.”

Shane eyed his dad, suspecting, as they all did, that the possibility of a romance was the real reason Dad had encouraged his middle son to consent to the in-depth profile that Jessie, a journalist, had wanted to do on him. The whole thing had damn near exploded as badly as one of Liam’s sniff-training devices, though.

“So, Liam’s out all day?” Dad asked, sounding a little disappointed.

“They’ll come back for lunch, or you can text him. What’s up?”

Dad shook his head. “That won’t work. I need him this morning.”

“For what?” They all had various specialties at the facility, but most of the jobs were interchangeable. And if Dad, who was the de facto boss of all of them, needed something, Shane was always willing to help. “I’m almost done with this training round, and I can give you a hand.”

His father leaned against the split-rail fence that no longer enclosed much of anything, but it was the original fencing they’d had around the old yard when they were kids, and Dad kept it for sentimental value. He gazed at Shane, considering the offer, a frown making the creases around his eyes deeper. He didn’t look fifty-nine, nor did he act it. He sure wasn’t “an old guy,” as a judgmental stranger had called him the other night.

“I really wanted Liam,” Dad said.

“I can do anything Liam can do,” Shane said, adding a grin. “Usually better and with way more personality.”

“But you’re not the one I want.”

Shane’s competitive streak shot up his spine. “But I’m the one you got. What do you need?”

“I really believe Liam would be the right choice for this…situation.”

“For what situation?” Even in the early morning, summer heat made him sweat. Or maybe that was his frustration with Dad, who was obviously meddling, pulling strings, and being the man they called the Dogfather. He got the nickname for his love of dogs and his desire to get people to do what he wanted, like The Godfather of the Mafia. Only, Irish without the bloodshed and way more fur.

“It’s that Tourism Advisory Committee I’m on,” Dad said. “I have a conflict and need to back out of today’s meeting and, honestly, I thought it would be a good idea for Liam to take my place.”

“Liam? Don’t you have to talk in those meetings?”

Dad shot him a look. “He’s the best for this…task.”

“If the task is training German shepherds how to kill on command so we can sell them for ten grand a pop, yeah. If you need someone to represent…” Something clicked in his mind. “The tourism committee, you say? What’s this meeting about?”

Dad waved a hand as if the actual reason for the meeting wasn’t that important. “Mayor Wilkins brought her niece up from Miami, and she’s some kind of tourism expert who’s going to help Bitter Bark get more visitors.”

Oh, hello, manna from womanly heaven. I thought you’d never fall into my lap.

“Her niece from Miami?” Shane actually had to stop himself from fist-pumping in victory.

“Yeah, and she’s supposed to give some presentation at eleven today. Seems she has some ideas to help build tourism.”

“I’ll go.” Nothing would stop him, in fact.

“I really want Liam to go.”

Like hell Liam was getting near her. “Dad, you are looking at the best possible representative for Waterford Farm. I’ll be there at eleven, no worries.”

Dad lifted a brow as if he was trying to say something but didn’t want to. “Andi Rivers is on that committee.”

The architect? “Yeah? So?”

“Andi Rivers,” he repeated, as if Shane didn’t hear him the first time. “Liam’s Andi Rivers.”

Oh, so that was Dad’s game. Shane laughed softly. “Subtle, man. Unbelievably subtle.”

“I know they used to date, and I thought…”