“NOW I need a very long nap, Diane. God, that was wonderful.” I complimented her and rolled my neck, breathing in the aromatic oils she used at the shop. As I handed her my card to pay, I heard the bark again. And there he was, staring in through the glass of the shop window, wagging his tail at me.

“Looks like you have an admirer, Brynne,” Diane chuckled. “I bet he’d go home with you, if you allowed him.”

“He would?” But what about his owner? “Who does he belong to?”

“He’s a stray. Just showed up a few days ago, and has been lingering around the shops for scraps. It’s so sad what people do to innocent animals. Especially the big ones, as he will be when he reaches his full growth. The larger dogs get abandoned, dumped on the side of the road.” She shook her head and grimaced disgustedly. “Arseholes ought to be abandoned to the cold with no food or shelter, and see how they like it.” Diane looked out the window at him. “I’ve been putting out some food, as has Lowell from next door because we don’t want him to starve, but he really needs a home, and a family. A big dog like that needs open space where he can run.” She winked at me with her pretty hazel eyes. “He would make an excellent guard dog and protector. I imagine your husband would very much approve.”

“LET me do all of the talking, okay?” We shared a look with each other, his round golden eyes lifting up to hold mine as if he understood me. The new leather collar and leash looked good on him. And he was fluffy and clean now, thanks to Diane pointing us in the direction of the pet supply and groomers, where her son, Clark, just happened to work. With Clark’s helpful assistance, I chose dog food, a bed, dishes for food and water, and even some doggy chew-toys, while he was being bathed and groomed. Then Clark loaded everything into the back of my Rover, and waved cheerfully to me as I drove away. And just like that, the decision was made.

The drive home was fun, and I don’t think I ever stopped grinning once. I had a furry passenger sitting in the front beside me with a seat belt strapped across his chest. My dog. I could tell he loved me already.

Nothing left, but to drop the bomb on my husband.

“I need to figure out a name for you,” I said to him as we went in search of Ethan and Zara. His toenails clicked on the wood floor as he walked beside me. I swear he was on his best behavior, trying to show me what a good dog he would be. I wasn’t worried, I just didn’t know what Ethan would say when I showed up with a big German Shepherd, and announced I’d be keeping him.

I was about to find out.

I could hear them before I went in, and knew what they were doing before I saw the evidence. They were playing a game that Zara loved, and Ethan, probably not so much, but he was a good sport about it. Pretty Pretty Princess. I’d loved the game, too…when I was little. There were photos of my dad wearing the crown and other jewels, happy as could be, indulging me in playing a ridiculous little girl’s dress-up game just because it pleased me. You were so good to me, Daddy.

And there was Ethan sporting a turquoise necklace and matching earrings, battling Zara for the win. “Ah ha, the black ring is gone!” he boasted across the table from Zara, in her blue and yellow party dress.

“But you don’t have the crown,” she smirked, poking her finger into the frosting on her cupcake and licking it off.

“I probably will win it, though,” he teased, “I think I’d look good in a crown.”

Zara giggled at him, and my heart just melted into a puddle of goo. I knew Ethan would be such an amazing father. Just watching him interact with Zara was a beautiful thing. It made my heart so happy, I needed to rub my belly to remind myself everything was still real. Yep, that was a miniature rump underneath my hand. I grinned as I worked out the position of head vs. legs and decided that my butterfly angel was upside down. It was fun to figure things like that out.

Sometimes my new life felt more than a little unreal. So much had changed in such a short time. But, moving forward was my only option, and desire. With Ethan’s commitment to me, his devotion and love, and our child, how could I want anything else?

My companion whined softly beside me. Ethan and Zara looked over and spotted us. I checked Ethan’s reaction, and decided to just stand there, and smile. Hoping for the best, and waiting for him to figure it all out.

“YOUR doggy looks like Sir Frisk,” Zara informed me.

“And who is Sir Frisk, may I ask?”

“A dog in a painting at my house.”

“Really.” I was very intrigued by this information. I’d checked out most of the art at Hannah and Freddy’s Hallborough, but I didn’t remember a dog painting.

“I’ll show you when I go back home. It’s a very good painting of a dog, Auntie Brynne.” She nodded her head seriously, and petted him all the way down his back, in long, careful sweeps. “And he looks just like him,” she reminded me.

My new dog must’ve thought he’d died and landed in doggy heaven, as he lay at Ethan’s feet with a very dedicated little girl working over his freshly washed fur with lots of soft stroking. I don’t think he could’ve been coaxed out of the house if our lives depended on it.

“So, while I’m fighting to take the crown in this game, you’re collecting stray animals and bringing them home?” he asked dryly, giving me the added tilt of his head with an eyebrow raise. And so devastatingly sexy doing it, I could lick him.

“’Fraid so, Blackstone,” I shot back confidently. “He’s a good one.”

“Well, that’s obvious, my darling. He chose you, so he must be good,” Ethan said, bending down to rub under his chin. “Are you going to protect your mistress and keep her from danger, young sir?” He spoke earnestly to the dog, eye to eye, man to man. “Hmmm? Because, it’s a very important charge, but somebody’s got to do it. If you want the job, it’s yours.”

I laughed at how sweet he was about everything I tried to do. Could there be any man on earth more perfect than my man? Highly doubtful. “So you approve of him being our new guard dog here in the country?”

“I do, my beauty.”

“WHAT a beautiful dog. Oh, my God, he looks just like Sir Frisk.” Hannah bent down to pet him and held his face as she studied him thoroughly. “He could be his descendant.”

“So everyone keeps telling me. I want to see this painting.”