Maggie #4
“You saw that man and your brain short-circuited.”
“My brain did no such thing.”
“Mm-hmm.” He takes a slow sip of his iced coffee. “All those romance novels finally got you.”
“That’s not—” I stop, exhaling. “He caught me off guard.”
“He has eyes, Maggie. That’s not a surprise.”
“It wasn’t the eyes.”
Jules’s mouth curves, slow and knowing. “Oh, so we’re narrowing it down now.”
I open my mouth to argue, then close it again, because that would be a mistake and he’d know it anyway. “Don’t you have something to do?” I mutter instead, turning away to check the board.
“I do.” He pauses, just long enough to make me look back at him. “This.”
I roll my eyes, but it’s half-hearted. “How was your date?”
His expression changes immediately, his mouth flattening as he exhales through his nose. “Hot.”
I nod once. “And?”
“Dumb as rocks.”
I clamp my lips together, trying not to laugh and failing. “That seems to be a theme for you.”
“I like a challenge,” he says dryly. “Just not one that involves explaining what a nonprofit is.”
“That does feel like a low bar.”
“Ain’t low enough, apparently.”
I shake my head, smiling as I set the clipboard down and head toward the kennels. The morning picks up quickly after that, feeding, cleaning, and checking on a new intake that came in late last night, a skinny little thing with too-big ears and eyes that haven’t decided they trust us yet.
I’m crouched down by his kennel, speaking gently, letting him come to me instead of reaching in too fast, when the front door opens.
The change in the room is subtle, but I notice it. Voices drop a little, and movement slows just enough to catch my attention. I look up, and there she is.
Ivy steps in first, her backpack slipping off one shoulder, and warm brown curls bouncing as she looks around like she’s already halfway inside before her feet catch up.
Behind her is a woman I haven’t met, tall, blonde, and put together in a precise way, watching Ivy carefully.
Just behind them is the man I recognize from yesterday, with that same quiet presence and watchful eyes, taking everything in without drawing attention.
“Hi, Maggie,” Ivy says, already moving toward me like she’s been here a dozen times instead of once.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I say, pushing up to stand and brushing my hands on my jeans. “You made it back.”
“She asked her father three times before bed last night,” the woman says, her accent faint but there, her tone polite but firm. “He said she could stay for thirty minutes.”
I glance at Ivy, who winces just a little.
“Thirty?” I echo.
“Thirty,” the woman confirms.
“Well,” I say, lowering my voice like we’re sharing something important. “We better make it count.”
Ivy grins.
Jules appears at my shoulder like he’s been waiting for this moment all morning. “Well, look who came back.”
Ivy glances at him, recognition clicking in right away. “Hi, Jules.”
He presses a hand to his chest like he’s been personally honored. “She remembers my name. I’m touched.”
She studies him for a second, then nods once, like that settles it.
“That’s it?” he asks, offended. “That’s all I get after making such a strong impression yesterday?”
“Yes.”
I snort, turning away before he can see it.
“Ruthless,” he mutters.
“Come on,” I say, motioning Ivy toward the kennels. “We’ve got someone new you need to meet.”
The puppy is still in the corner when we walk up, watching us with those big, unsure eyes. I crouch down again, resting my arms loosely on my knees. “He came in late last night. We’re still figuring him out.”
Ivy steps closer, slow and careful, making something in my chest pull tight. “Hi,” she says in a low voice, like she doesn’t want to scare him.
The puppy’s ears twitch. His tail gives a hesitant wag, then another.
“That’s a good sign,” I murmur.
Ivy glances at me, hopeful. “Can I…?”
“Go ahead.”
She kneels, reaching her hand out just enough to let him come to her instead of the other way around. It takes a second, then two, and then he steps forward, his nose brushing her fingers.
Her face lights up.
“Oh,” she breathes. “He’s so little.”
“Yeah,” I say. “He is.”
She looks up at me, eyes wide. “Can we keep him here? Just for a little bit?”
My mouth opens, then closes again, because I know exactly what she’s asking… don’t let him go yet.
I glance over her head, catching Jules watching me with a look that says you’re about to do something you can’t take back.
He’s not wrong.
I look back at Ivy and the way she’s already inching closer, giving that puppy a place to feel safe.
“Alright,” I say quietly. “We’ll hold off on listing him for a few days.”
Her whole face brightens. “Really?”
“Really.”
She beams, turning back to the puppy like the world just gave her exactly what she wanted.
Jules leans in close to me, his voice low. “You’re gonna get attached.”
“I already am,” I murmur back.
He glances at me, then past me toward Ivy, one brow lifting slightly. “Yeah. Not to the dog.”
I don’t answer, just glance back at Ivy, because he’s right, and I did it anyway.