Single Kid Seeks Dad. Linda Wisdom Randall

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СКАЧАТЬ birds.”

      Lucy winced. “Then we’ll just hope that she loves fish.”

      “Or the clinic will end up with a fancy tank in the waiting area.”

      “Just don’t put it on the cat side,” she quipped. “Now, where do I sign the papers to make this baby boy mine?”

      “I’ll stop by Mrs. Crenshaw’s house tomorrow to have her sign the dog over to you,” he told her. “And I’ll give you some puppy food to take home.”

      She nodded. “After here, we’re going shopping at the pet store,” she cooed to the puppy. She studied the rhinestone-studded baby-blue leather collar with its matching leash. “She didn’t name you, but she gets you a fancy collar that doesn’t go with your personality. Don’t worry, I’ll find you a collar that’s more you and all sorts of toys for you to play with.”

      “I have to say, when you decide to get a dog you don’t do it by half measures.”

      Before she could reply, Jeremy called Logan and walked quickly away.

      Lucy looked down at the puppy as he opened one eye and stretched his mouth in a jaw-cracking yawn.

      “I wonder what Luther will think of you,” she murmured.

      “Hey, Mom, cute dog.” Nick walked up to her. He frowned as he studied the puppy. “Where’d he come from?”

      “You always said we should have a dog.” She stared into the face that stole her heart right away. “Meet Domino. He’s going home with us.” She laughed at the shock on his face. “Once we’re finished here we’ll have to do some shopping.”

      Nick shook his head as he walked away. “When I said we needed a dog I was thinking more like a lab or German shepherd.”

      By the end of the day, Lucy was exhausted. She could only sit on a folding chair and stare at the ground. Domino lay curled up in a tiny ball on her lap. Nick had collapsed on the grass beside her chair.

      “No wonder you only do this once a month. It takes that long just to recover.”

      “A lot of dogs found good homes and so did most of the cats,” Logan said. “I want to thank all of you for your help.”

      “Forget the thanks, when are you feeding us?” Jeremy demanded.

      Nick opened one eye. “Food?”

      “Logan always orders pizza at the end of the day,” Kristi explained.

      “No mushrooms,” Nick said.

      Lucy looked down at her son. “We really should go.”

      “Stay and eat with us,” Logan invited. “You don’t need to make any stops tonight. As I said earlier, I’ll send some puppy kibble home with you.”

      “Yeah, Mom,” Nick said. “Besides, it’s part of my community service.”

      “Do you really think I’ll believe that eating pizza is part of your work?”

      “I’m a growing boy.”

      “Tell me something I don’t know.” Lucy turned to Logan. “He can eat his weight in pizza,” she warned.

      His grin did strange things to her insides. “So can I.”

      SATED FROM sausage pizza and cheese garlic bread, Lucy sat back in the chair and allowed herself to relax. The puppy snoozed by her feet.

      “You know Luther’s going to have a fit when he sees the puppy,” Nick said as he flopped down on the grass.

      “Luther has issues, but he’ll get past them,” she said.

      “Yeah, he hates everyone.” The boy leaned forward and picked up the puppy, setting him in his lap. The dog stood up on his hind legs and licked the boy’s face. “Okay, fella, time to run and play.” He stood up, taking Domino with him.

      “A boy and his dog,” Logan said, taking Nick’s place by Lucy’s chair. “I guess I should say your dog.”

      “It’s a shame I can’t get him to work this hard at home,” she commented, watching her son herd the puppy into the enclosed area. The puppy took off running.

      “I always worked better anywhere but home.” Logan swiped a slice of pizza off Lucy’s plate.

      “Did you always want to be a veterinarian?”

      “Since I was five and watched our cocker spaniel have puppies. She had some difficulty with the birth. I thought the vet was magic because he helped her. My dad always wanted me to be a lawyer then a judge like him. He never forgave me for not going into the law.”

      Lucy studied him through a narrowed gaze. “I have a pretty good imagination, but I can’t see you in a three-piece suit delivering an impassioned summation to a jury.”

      “Neither could I.” Logan half turned when a cold nose nudged his arm. Magnum sat on his haunches with his eyes fixed on the pizza in his hand. Logan heaved a sigh and held out the remainder of the slice. It disappeared in one bite.

      “So he does put down the cell phone,” Lucy commented, watching the dog carefully pick the phone up.

      “Only when he eats.”

      “Have you ever been tempted to call it and see what happens?”

      Logan grinned. “I did that once. The minute it rang, he looked at me with one of those ‘you should know better’ looks. All he ever allowed me to do was take the battery out of it. At least he doesn’t chew on shoes or furniture. Besides, he’s a good guard dog.”

      “He’s a lucky dog.” She looked over to where Kristi and Nick played with her puppy. Domino stayed at Nick’s heels.

      Logan studied Lucy’s face highlighted by the fading afternoon light.

      Today was the first time she’d seemed fully relaxed around him. He didn’t know exactly what there was about her that called to him. When he’d first noticed her at Cathy and Lou’s house he’d sensed an incredible energy about her. It was apparent that while technically she was an in-law, she was considered a full part of the Walker clan. He could tell that even if her brother wasn’t married to Ginna, the Walkers would still have gathered her into their family fold. Logan had gone to school with Brian Walker and knew how readily the family adopted any friend of their children’s.

      Today he saw a softer side to Lucy. Even after their long day, a faint hint of perfume drifted toward him. What little makeup she’d worn was now gone, but he doubted she wore very much.

      “I want to thank you for all your help today,” he said. “We sort of threw you into it and you didn’t run off screaming.”

      She looked amused. “You mean some people have?”

      “A few. I always thought a T-shirt and pizza was a more-than-adequate bribe, but some people didn’t see it that way.”

      “Maybe СКАЧАТЬ