Searching for Always(116)

Anthony frowned and cocked his hip. “It’s not about the money. Never was. It’s about commitment. Now, why don’t you think about it some more, and if you still want a dog, I’ll find you one that will fit your lifestyle better. Maybe a German shepherd.”

“I don’t want a shepherd,” he said through gritted teeth. “I want my Chihuahua back with her stupid pink collar and sweater and bat ears and rat face. I love her, okay?”

Stone saw the softening of the director’s features, but he still didn’t budge. “And I appreciate that. But you were the one who told me your shifts are endless and there’s no one to take care of her. Not a good match.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, man, give me a break. I take her to work with me.”

Anthony coughed. “You what?”

“Yeah, I take her. She likes the station and the squad car.”

Anthony crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked doubtful. “Why am I finding that a bit hard to believe?”

“Ah, fuck. Give me a minute.” Stone grabbed his cell and punched in the number. “Devine? Yeah, is McCoy there? Dunn? I need you down at the Animals Alive shelter. Don’t give me this shit, I said I need you now or I’m not going to get Pinky back. We need to prove she’s allowed at the station and in my squad car, and the director doesn’t believe me. No, just take the police cars, ’cause I need you quick. I don’t care! I’ll take the heat with Dick! Get your asses over here now.”

He clicked off. Anthony’s mouth gaped open.

“They’ll be here in five.” He stabbed his finger in the air. “And once they give you the proof you want, I want my damn dog back.”


ARILYN SCROLLED THROUGH ENDLESS pages of data and held back a sigh. She wasn’t feeling her usual mojo, and all the numbers and matches and characteristics were giving her a headache.

Ah, heck, she had to admit the real reason.

She just didn’t feel like matching anyone today. She was feeling a bit small, embittered, and whiny. The toddler voice beat through her head in an unending rhythm.

When is it my damn turn?

She sighed. Time to get it together. Maybe she’d cheer up once the dogs came. New fur babies were always a nice distraction, and their sweetness filled her up and gave her hope.

Her phone buzzed. “Umm, Arilyn? Can you come out here for a moment?”

She tried not to be bitchy, but she so did not want to meet with a client today. “Is it important? If it’s a client, could you take care of it for me?”

A pause. “Not this one, babe. Better come quick.”

She blew out a breath. “Fine. Be right there.” Arilyn took a moment to breathe deep, in and out, find her center, and touch the calm. No reason to take out her bad day on someone who deserved her best. Trying to find the old spring in her step, she strolled out of her office, down the hall, and into the main reception area.

Then stopped short.

Stone Petty stood in the waiting room. There were two other clients there, staring at him curiously. In full uniform, looking badass and sexy as hell, he held Pinky.

Clad in her pink sweater and bling collar, the dog looked as if she had found her nirvana. The look of complete love and trust filled her eyes and her body, and emanated in waves of endless energy.

Pinky had forgiven him.

Her fingers flew to her mouth and pressed against her lips. “Wh-What are you doing?” she asked.

“I got her back.” Those inky eyes were fierce, seething with raw emotion in a twist of lust, need, and determination. His muscles seemed locked and loaded, as if ready to explode in a rush and take her with him for the ride. The heat in her belly uncurled and spread through her veins like wildfire until she could only tremble, helpless under his gaze and the promise she so wanted to believe in.

“I fucked up. I won’t again.”

The room was eerily silent. Kate held her breath beside her. The two clients leaned forward, as if desperate to hear his next words. The slow patter of footsteps stopping in the hallway alerted her to Kennedy’s presence. Nothing mattered but the man in front of her holding his dog.

“How . . . how do I know?”

“You don’t. Look, I’m no poet, and I suck at these big endings and declarations like in a sappy romance novel, but I love you. I love you, body and mind and soul, and I love this rat fink dog more than I can ever say in just words. So I’ll show you every damn day instead. I want to be in this with you. I know we’re gonna fight, and you’ll piss me off, and I’ll piss you off, but I think we were meant to be together the moment I first laid eyes on you and decided I didn’t like you.”