Chapter 1 Early December #2
“Ah. Well, that’s good.” He gestured to Sam, sweeping this arm to encompass River and Sable. “Those two can be let off leash.” He pivoted toward me. “Are we expecting anyone else?”
I shook my head. “And we can bolt the door so no one randomly opens it from the outside. You ready?”
He grinned. “Lead the way.”
Sam let Sable and River off leash, and the two little ones bolted for the living room.
A cacophonous yammering of pooches reached us.
“We’re okay to let ours off leash too?” Mickie, of course.
“Yep.” Noah caught my gaze. “This is truly lovely, but did you think the consequences through?”
“You mean, did I stock up on extra cleaning supplies? Of course.” I grinned. “Now, let’s go.” I turned to Sam. “Following us?”
The tall man, who quite resembled Noah—except he was heftier—shook his head. “I’ll hang out here for a bit. Until things settle.”
“Why don’t I keep you company?” Soren offered with a shy smile.
I blinked. Okay, didn’t see that coming.
Except had I seen anything at all? Just two guys hanging out. Two gay men, admittedly, but Malcolm, Noah, and I were all gay as well.
I followed Noah into the living room, where he was met by about eight dogs.
Tibby had stayed with Soren, and I guessed Penny had made her way to the kitchen once Daphne had released her. She was extremely food-motivated.
Noah crouched to greet each dog in turn. He had each do a trick and then gave them a treat from his pocket.
Good thing his pocket’s always full.
He didn’t know I’d taken the day off from my job at the grocery store to organize all the food. I turned to Malcolm. “Help me serve? Nothing toxic for dogs, of course. Accidents happen. That said, don’t let Roxy near cheese.”
“Oh, I know about that one.” He chuckled.
“Of course you do.” I laughed. “You’re everyone’s vet, right?”
“Yep. My practice is thriving these days. Noah’s constant referrals help.”
We headed into the kitchen.
“Well, you send dogs in need of training his way—so it all works out.” I eyed the platters of finger foods. “I wanted to do hot stuff—like pigs in a blanket—but I just didn’t find the time.”
“This is plenty.” He nudged me. “You made it clear tonight was just a cocktail party.”
“Oh, drinks.” I winced.
“Already on it.” Mickie sailed into the room.
“Duncan’s been leading the organization on that.
Janelle held Frankie’s leash while I helped him get everyone situated.
No one wanted any booze.” She gestured to the pretty paper bag and bottle Soren had brought as a gift.
“I think the snow has everyone thinking twice.”
“Potentially icy conditions, yeah.”
“I’ll keep an eye on things.” Malcolm gestured to the back door. “I know how to get in and out without the hordes following me.”
“You’ve got a no-nonsense voice. Much like Noah’s.” I chuckled. “Okay, let’s do trays of food.”
I grabbed the tray of cheese and crackers while Malcolm grabbed the tray of cheese puffs Daphne’d brought.
Mickie grabbed rye bread chunks with spinach dip.
Another plate had chunks of sourdough bread with shrimp dip.
The veggie tray was ready to go, and so was the fruit platter—along with several dessert trays. All dog-safe foods.
When we entered the formal living room—the biggest room in the house—Noah sat on the floor, surrounded by dogs. Duncan had joined him. As had Flora—with Sleepy cuddled against her, of course.
My husband was in seventh heaven.
Some of the puppies were giving him kisses and rubbing against him. Several had found chew toys and were enjoying them.
Fortunately, Stormy, Sable, and River weren’t possessive. Having a constant stream of obedience students meant they were accustomed to chaos.
Noah was forever busy with his clients—new and old. He spotted me and grinned. “Best party ever.”
“Agreed.” Miss Esmeralda extended a hand toward the food.
Malcolm, who also carried paper plates, gave her one. Then, I held out the tray. By the time Mickie had as well, Esmeralda had a nice little pile of finger foods.
And the rapt attention of several dogs.
“Oh no, you don’t.” She eyed each of them. “This is mine, and I’m not sharing.”
I flashed back in my mind to when the ten puppies had shown up. Barely four months old and most very untrained.
Now they were almost a year old. Nearly full-grown Labrador retrievers were a sight to behold.
Haggis attempted to put his snout on Esmeralda’s thigh.
“Nope.” Duncan guided his dog away. “We don’t beg.”
His dog appeared crestfallen.
Noah gazed at me. “Surely—”
I nodded. “I was hoping to get the humans fed first. Pecking order in the pack, and all.”
“He also checked allergies with us.” Mickie continued to hold the rye bread and spinach dip. Just about everyone took some after Malcolm handed them a napkin.
Flora yawned. “How is it that I yawn all the time—even when Sleepy is, well, fast asleep?”
“Good question.” Malcolm grinned. “I don’t have a scientific answer for that—except to ask if you’re getting enough sleep.”
“My boys are chaotic at the best of times. I got Sleepy to run them ragged.” She rolled her eyes. “You can see how well that works. Of course, being four months pregnant probably isn’t helping with the fatigue. I thought fatigue got better in the second trimester.”
“You’re pregnant?” Noah’s eyes grew wide. “That’s so amazing.”
Flora grinned. “Yes, it kind of is. I thought we were done—but the universe had other plans. I’m just hoping for a girl.”
“Oh, my dear.” Miss Esmeralda smiled in clear sympathy. “We didn’t have fancy diagnoses like we do today. I believe I would’ve been labeled with ADHD. Is that the term?”
Several guests nodded—all clearly enraptured with our most-experienced guest. “I could outrun all my male cousins. I was a rabble-rouser and a shit-disturber. Oh.” She gazed around the room.
“The puppies have, I’m certain, heard such language before.” I grinned. “No kids tonight.”
“Thank God.” Flora yawned again. “A night away is a gift.”
“Well, I’m grateful you’re here to celebrate our first holiday season together.” Noah gestured for me to come closer.
Silly me—I assumed I was going to get a kiss.
Nope. He took three crackers with cheese on them. Then he winked and mouthed later.
My cock stirred. Later was one of my favorite words.
“I’ll take one of those.” Soren stepped through the mêlée of dogs to snag a couple of crackers.
“Oh. How about Sam?”
Soren met my gaze with his fathomless light-brown eyes that held…sorrow? Regret? He cleared his throat. “He gave his apologies—it’s a fairly long drive home for him, and the snow’s coming down quite heavily.”
“Oh dear.” Flora rolled onto her hands and knees.
I would’ve offered to help her get up—but I didn’t know the protocol for that.
Three dogs—none of them hers—surged forward so they could lick her face.
She laughed. “Yes, I love you too.”
Noah, who’d shoved the crackers into his mouth, said, “Off.”
Frankie and Roxy backed off.
Bear kept licking.
Glynnis was on her feet. “Bear.”
At her admonishing tone, her wayward dog gazed up with innocent, wide, dark-brown eyes.
“It's hard to stay angry at that.” Miss Esmeralda smiled.
“Shall I give you a lift back to the residence?” Soren held his hand, clearly offering to take the woman’s crumpled napkin and empty plate.
“Wait. Dessert!” I walked to the kitchen. To hell with the fruit platter. Vegetables would be consumed the next day. I grabbed the tray of doggie treats and made my way back into the living room.
By this point, both Flora and Noah were on their feet.
I made my way to stand next to Noah. “Will you do the honors?”
He grinned. “You’re the best.”
“That’s debatable. Who could’ve predicted snow?”
“You’re thinking like a Tennessean. They do get snow in Northern California.” Still, he pecked my cheek before snagging several green treats. “Okay, who would like treats? You have to be good.”
Penny got there first—with Daphne rolling her eyes. The dog gently took the offered treat after having sat.
Frankie and Roxy did down. Haggis and Bear both did spin. Sleepy roused enough to shake a paw.
Our Sable and River were so excited, they could barely keep their butts on the ground. Each did a high five and then booted out of there with their treats.
Stormy stepped forward—a little shyly. As a full-grown Newfoundland dog, she was significantly bigger than even the biggest of the lab puppies. And she loomed large over Sable and River.
Noah had her lie down and then put her chin on her paws.
Several people in the room oohed and awed.
As always, she was perfect. Once she’d taken her treat, she stepped away.
“Have Tibby do everything.” Soren puffed out his chest.
Noah grinned. Then took the dog through sit, down, spin, roll over, shake a paw, high five, and speak.
Flora sighed. “If only my baby could do half of that.”
“Bring her back for a refresher course. No charge.” Noah gazed around the room. “In fact, we should plan a reunion around their first birthday. Take them through their paces.”
Glynnis laughed. “Yes, that’s a great idea. I need to be going as well.”
“Do any of you want to take food to go? We’ve got lots. And containers you can bring back. Or keep…”
No one took me up on the offer. Instead, everyone rose, sorted leashes and dogs, and headed out.
I caught up with Soren. “I was planning to take Miss Esmeralda home.”
“She’s on the way for me.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You live in the middle of nowhere.”
“Right. So, either everything’s on the way or nothing’s on the way. I was thinking about dropping into Blue Star quickly.”
“Take some food with you. We have so much. Oh, bye.” I waved to Mickie—who had a tight grip on Frankie.
“Nah. I’m thinking meatloaf—not baby carrots with dip. I’ll call ahead since I’ll have Tibby with me.”
“We’re leaving now?” Miss Esmeralda leaned on her cane.
“Let me bring my SUV up to the house.”
“Very well.” After Soren and Tibby left, she pivoted to me. “Best thing I ever did was rent my house to you.” She’d eventually given it to us.