beside Gabe. Actually, plopped down on top of his right foot.
Gabe glared down at the dog. “He’s not a person.”
“True, but apparently he considers you his person.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Actually, it’s not uncommon at all. I see it all the time in my practice.”
“Well, then, he’ll just have to reconsider.” Watching the boxer, he remembered another pair of big, brown puppy-dog eyes. Please, Daddy? Please? I’ll take care of him. I promise. Gruffly Gabe declared, “I’m not keeping that dog.”
When Nic Sullivan simply stared at him, waiting, he raked his fingers through his hair. “Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. He’s a good dog. Goofy, but I guess that adds to his appeal. I agree with you that he needs a good home, but that home isn’t with me. Be reasonable. I’m a guest here. I can’t move a dog into Eagle’s Way.”
“Why not? Does Jack Davenport hate dogs?”
“No. He has dogs of his own. But they are well trained and well behaved, everything this dog is not. Besides, I don’t want a dog. Period. Now, can I offer you and your friend something to drink before you head back? The coffee is fresh, or I think there’s some packets of instant hot chocolate if you like that stuff.”
“Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?” Nic responded in a dry tone. “I’d love a cup of coffee if that’s an invitation to go inside. I really do want to see Eagle’s Way, and I have another reason for coming up here today.”
“You brought my jacket back?”
She snapped her fingers. “Well, shoot. I forgot. I noticed it hanging on the coatrack, but I walked right past it.”
“So what does bring you here?”
She grinned and suggested, “Coffee? And brownies. You didn’t have the chance to sample the Bristlecone Café’s brownies last night, so I brought them along.”
Sighing, he said, “Shall we call your friend?”
“No, she truly did tag along to take pictures, and besides, she has a personal bias against caffeine. She’s an artist.”
Gabe almost asked what one had to do with the other, but instead he focused on the dog and frowned. “Do you have a leash?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring him in. It’s not like he hasn’t been through the place before.” After she grabbed a round dessert tin from her truck and fished a pink-and-purple nylon rope from her pocket and clipped it to the boxer’s collar, Gabe turned toward the house and said, “Follow me.”
He led her around to the side entrance, and their path took them past the pool area. “Oh, wow,” she murmured. “A waterfall into a hot tub? How cool is that? So romantic.”
Gabe felt a stirring of professional pride. He’d done a particularly fine job with the landscape design here, and he found Nic’s enthusiastic reaction gratifying. It had been a long time since he’d taken any pleasure in his work.
He escorted her inside and gave her the two-bit tour. “I can’t believe this is only a vacation house,” she said after exiting the media room. “Scuttlebutt in town is that Jack Davenport rarely visits. Only a handful of people have ever met him. If this place were mine, I’d live here permanently. What a waste to have it always sitting empty!”
Gabe knew that in reality, Eagle’s Way welcomed visitors quite often, although that wasn’t something he could share. “Jack is a busy man.”
“Well, I hope whatever he does with his days is worth the sacrifice.” She reached down to pet the boxer, then said, “What about your days, Gabe? What brings you to Eagle’s Way? Celeste tells me that you are a landscape architect. Are you here working on a new project?”
Avoiding her question, he asked one of his own. “I just met the woman last night. How does she know anything about me?”
Nic explained the older woman’s contact with the hospital project he’d done in South Carolina. “A small world,” Gabe murmured as he gestured toward the cozy upholstered seating group that offered a spectacular view of snowcapped mountain peaks. “Have a seat, Nic. I’ll get our coffee, then you can tell me why you’re here.”
He took a step toward the kitchen, then paused. “Here. Hand me the leash. The dog probably can use some water.”
Gabe detoured to the mud room, where he pulled a dog bowl and a box of treats from a storage closet. He filled the bowl with water and waited for the boxer to slake his thirst. Then he offered up a dog treat while saying, “Don’t get ideas. You are leaving