It pushed forward, nuzzling its nose against Cole’s thigh.
“Those are rented pants,” said Cole.
It pushed farther forward.
“I live in Alaska.”
Its tail began to wag.
“Crap.”
“Mr. Parker?” The driver appeared in Cole’s peripheral vision. “Are you ready to go, sir?”
Cole stood, drawing a deep sigh. “We’re ready.”
“We?”
“The dog’s coming, too.”
The driver glanced down at the scruffy animal. He hesitated, but then said, “Of course, sir.”
“Do you have a blanket or something to protect the seat?”
“I’ll get a newspaper from the doorman.”
“That’ll work,” said Cole. He looked to the dog. “You want to go for a car ride?”
Its head lifted. Its brow went up. And its tail wagged harder.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Cole knew he was making a stupid, emotional decision, one he’d likely regret very quickly. But he couldn’t bring himself to leave the animal behind.
He closed his eyes for a long moment. All this for a pair of shoes.
Three
The next morning, Cole headed for the Hendersons’ penthouse apartment to return Amber’s shoes. He took the dog with him, thinking maybe he’d stop by the shelter on his way back and drop it off. He told himself they were in the business of finding stray animals good homes.
The dog looked much more appealing since Cole had given him a bath in the hotel’s carwash bay. He smelled better, too, considerably better. And he’d probably put on five pounds between the room-service steak last night and the bacon and sausage breakfast.
The animal had been meticulously well behaved, and now stood quietly by Cole’s side while Cole rang the bell.
A minute later, Amber answered the door. She was dressed in faded blue jeans, bare feet poking out at the bottom. A stained T-shirt stretched across her chest, and she had what looked like oatmeal smeared in her hair. Zachary was bawling in her arms.
“The doorman said it was a delivery,” she told Cole over Zachary’s cries.
Cole held up the shoes. “It is a delivery.”
She focused on the shiny creations while struggling to hold the wiggling, howling Zachary. “Honestly, I’d hoped somebody might steal them.”
“You have got to be kidding.” Cole didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Only partially kidding,” she admitted. “They cost a lot of money, but I don’t ever want to have to wear them again.” She glanced down. “You have a dog?”
“I have one now,” he said.