The Player and the Pixie(109)

Now, two weeks after Sean had moved to New York permanently, we signed the lease on a top floor apartment with a roof garden. The best part of all? Pets were permitted in the tenancy agreement. I wasn’t sure who was more excited, me or the big hunk of rugby muscle who currently held my hand as we walked through the kennels at the shelter, saying hello to all our friends.

“Hello Sam, hello Patch, hello Charlie, hello Buddy, hello Hampton,” I sing-songed as Sean went to greet his favorite canine.

Being such a large dog and almost six years old, Hampton had a hard time getting adopted into a home. Sean had sponsored him at the shelter and visited with me whenever he was in town. I knew without even having to ask that he was the one Sean wanted, and I was already mentally preparing to purchase a year’s supply of lint rollers and some sort of handheld vacuum cleaner to deal with all that long black fur getting everywhere.

“You want him, don’t you,” I said, grinning down at Sean where he knelt by Hampton’s kennel, reaching through to rub him on the head. Hampton barked in greeting and gave Sean’s hand a big slobbery lick.

He only nodded quietly and smiled, his attention all for Hampton as he opened his kennel and the big dog came barreling out, knocking Sean off balance and causing him to fall flat on his bottom. I laughed loudly as Hampton proceeded to hop all over Sean, licking his face, delirious with excitement to see his most favorite human.

It was as I was smiling at the two of them that I saw something zipping by me out of the corner of my eye, a little ball of tawny fur. Several more zipped by and I looked down to see four Pomeranian puppies play fighting with one another at my feet.

“They’re adorable, aren’t they,” said Linda, one of the full-time volunteers. “A woman came in with them the other day. She found them in the bushes at the back of her house, thinks the mother abandoned them after giving birth. That being said, I doubt we’ll have any trouble finding them new homes.”

“Me neither,” I agreed as I stared down at the ball of fluff biting and yipping at the toe of my shoe. “I think I’ve just fallen in love.”

Linda smiled as I bent down to pick the puppy up and cradle her in my arms. She was a girl and she was so adorable I could seriously die.

“Hello,” I said, staring down at her.

She barked a tiny puppy bark and I was convinced she’d just said hello back. Sean approached with Hampton and I peered up at him, mustering my most pleading expression.

“I have to have her,” I said beseechingly.

Sean frowned, then glanced down at Hampton, who made a sort of huffing noise like he wasn’t too sure either.

“I dunno. That crazy little face kinda freaks me out,” he said but I could tell he was holding back a grin.

“Her face isn’t crazy! It’s the most adorable face ever created and I’m putting my foot down. I won’t leave this kennel without her. I’m sorry, but we’ve bonded and are now best friends for life.”

“You just picked her up five seconds ago.”

“Yes, and when I stared into her eyes I silently told her I was her mother. It’s a done deal. There’s no turning back now.”

Sean laughed as he ruffled Hampton’s fur. “What do you say Hampton? You okay with sharing your home with a spoiled little furball?”

“She won’t be spoiled. She’ll be a lady.”

Now he smiled at me. “You know I love giving you everything you want. Of course we can have her.”

“I’m so happy right now. So happy. Can we get her a rainbow-striped kennel with her name on the front?”

“Perhaps. I haven’t bought you anything in a while. You’re due a gift.”

“You just bought me lingerie.”

“That doesn’t count. Lingerie for you is a gift for me, and is as essential as breathing.”

I shook my head at him. “Only you could say that and make it sound normal.”

“You know I like to treat myself to something extravagant for you at least once a month. This month you can have your rainbow-striped kennel, with rainbow rhinestones if you’d like.”

“And what about next month?” I asked with a hint of flirtation.

His eyes heated up as he gazed at me and there was something about his look that made my tummy do a flip. “You’ll have to wait and see,” he winked.

“No clues?”

He paused a moment, a glint coming into his eye. “There might be a diamond involved.”

My heart stilled and all I could do was stare at him. I’d been joking around, flirting harmlessly, and then he went and dropped a bomb the size of a small country on me.