Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“And I really like the sound of Gorev-Malloy. I mean, you sound so international.”
I rolled my eyes as he raked his fingers through my hair.
We both heard it then, the pitiful howl from the other side of the door.
“No,” he said.
“Misha Gorev-Malloy,” I whispered, kissing under his jaw.
“Little shit,” he muttered as I sat up. I pulled the covers up so the mess we made was covered, and he rolled out of bed, crossed the room, and opened the door a crack.
Misha darted in, ran around the bed, realized there was no way up, and then whined until Gale picked him up and put him on the end. He tumbled over to me, received pets and kisses, and then once Gale returned to bed and I snuggled into his shoulder, Misha curled up into a ball at my nape.
“You can’t take back Misha Gorev-Malloy,” he made clear, his hand in my hair before he kissed my forehead. “That’s a done deal.”
“Yes, baby,” I agreed, hugging him tight.
“Oh, I really do like the baby,” he sighed.
He bought Misha a ramp. The following night, after we said our good-nights to Ada after dinner and returned to his house, now mine as well, there was a ramp on my side of the bed so Misha could get up and down whenever he wanted.
“You got that for him?”
“Of course I got that for him,” he grumbled. “I refuse to have him ruin my postcoital cuddle with you with his whining.”
“Well, you’re still going to have to get up and open the door.”
“Unless I teach him to stay off the bed during sexy times.”
I groaned loudly.
“What else am I supposed to call it?”
I had no idea.
That Saturday, Viola Berry came to see me at the farmer’s market where Gale and I went to watch Ada sell her pottery that we had set up for her. Viola thanked me lavishly, and we had a nice visit with her daughter, Harper, and the dogs. I’d been so busy; I hadn’t seen her since the first day at the vet’s office. Apparently, Bruce was still locked up since he couldn’t make bail—his family had washed their hands of him—so he hadn’t been able to bother his soon-to-be ex-wife and his daughter. His cousins, Viola told me, had come by to apologize for the misunderstanding. Bruce hadn’t been honest with anyone. They had spent a week in jail each and would be serving some serious community service time. I was glad to hear it. Gale reiterated to Viola that if she had any problems, he should be her first call.
“Or Maks,” Harper chimed in, beaming up at me. “He saved us and our doggies, so he’ll protect us.”
Gale shot me a look.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re always the hero.”
I nodded. “That’s how I roll.”
“Oh,” Ada said, shaking her head and scrunching up her nose. “Don’t ever say that again. That’s just so not you.”
Gale thought that was hysterical.
Viola explained that she and Harper had moved into their new house. It was small, but safe and wonderful, close to the elementary school.
Hearing that, Ada insisted that Viola take eight place settings of dinner, salad, and dessert plates, along with bowls and mugs. “You must be able to entertain in your new home.”
Viola cried, and Harper hugged Ada, then sat down and talked to Misha.
It was a very good visit.
The Snyders were next and Lauren introduced me to first her Chihuahua/Yorkshire terrier mix, Bedelia—I glanced at Mrs. Snyder and she shrugged like she didn’t know why the name either—and then to Thor.
“You know, like the Avengers.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I got it.”
Thor was impressive. He was a Belgian Malinois and the way he was watching that little girl, I couldn’t imagine anyone she didn’t like was getting anywhere near her. He was also enjoying all her pets and hugs and the pretzels they were both eating.
I got a hug from Mrs. Snyder, a handshake from Mr. Snyder, and we set a date for the following Saturday for Lauren to come see the sheep.
“Can I bring my dogs?”
“As long as you promise not to let Bedelia chase the cats or the sheep.”
“You’re not worried about Thor?”
“No,” I said quickly, thinking that Mr. Kramer’s training had included Thor not being the type to chase anything but bad guys. “Just Bedelia.”
Lauren crossed her heart that her baby would be good.
Dr. Coleman came by, with his husband, Troy, and introduced me. He was sorry he hadn’t called.
“I would have,” he said, glancing at Gale, “but I was informed that you were quite busy being Ada’s caretaker.”
“That’s true,” I agreed, as Gale took gentle hold of the back of my neck. “But I would love the four of us to get dinner sometime.”
“I would love that,” Troy said, beaming at me.
Gale only grunted.
Ada did a thriving business, selling every last piece of pottery, much to her surprise and delight. Her banker, Mr. Raleigh—Allen—was thrilled for her, even more so when she hugged him. Clearly, the man was a bit smitten. I invited him for dinner, and he quickly accepted. Ada, Gale, and I had dinner together every night at our house, and one more was always welcome.