the dog clean was to get in there with him, so he stripped down, grabbed the handheld and made sure the dog was totally wet, then took shampoo and started lathering him up.
The funny thing was, the dog seemed to really enjoy it. Maybe he was tired of stinking, too.
After he rinsed the dog, he grabbed a large towel and dried him off. The dog shook himself and water flew everywhere.
“Thanks a lot, dude.”
Finn dried off, too, though he’d have to take another shower later. The important thing was getting the dog clean. He looked at the shower floor. It was covered in dirt and twigs and God only knew what else. Obviously he’d have to clean the shower, too. But at least the dog looked better.
He was pretty, if too thin. Finn would take care of that. He’d have to take him in to the veterinarian to be checked out. He didn’t even know if he’d had any shots. He was glad Jason was a vet so he knew the dog would be well cared for.
The first thing he had to do was get him checked out. If he was microchipped and just lost, he’d have to find his owner and return him.
And didn’t that hit him like a gut punch. He’d grown attached already.
If he wasn’t chipped or lost, he’d get food and supplies for him and make the dog feel welcome and at home.
The dog lay on the bathroom floor and calmly watched while Finn cleaned the shower, then washed himself. After he dried and dressed, he picked up his phone and called Jason, who fortunately answered his cell.
“Are you at the clinic today?”
“Yeah.”
“A stray dog wandered onto the property. I got him cleaned up but he’s really thin. Can I run him in for you to check him over?”
“Sure. I’ll be here and I’ve got some time.”
“Thanks. I’ll be there in a bit.” He hung up, got dressed and headed out to his truck. The dog had already decided to follow him everywhere, so he assumed it would be the same, though he didn’t know about riding in the truck.
The dog hopped right in.
“Good dog,” Finn said, ruffling the fur on his head. He was yellow and fuzzy and looked to be a cross between a golden retriever and a Labrador. “You’re a damn handsome fella. I don’t know why someone didn’t want you, but obviously whoever it was sucked as a human.”
The dog leaned over and licked his face. Finn laughed.
“How about a ride to see our friend, Jason?”
The dog just looked at him.
“You need a name, too.” Finn studied him, the way his head tilted sideways, the intelligence and life he saw in those big brown eyes.
“Murphy. That’s your name.”
The dog’s ears perked. Finn grinned.
“You like that name, huh, Murph?”
His tail whipped back and forth.
Finn put the truck in gear. “Murphy it is. Let’s go get you checked out and fixed up, then we’ll buy you some food and toys.”
* * *
• • • • • •
BRENNA WAITED ALL through dinner for Finn to show up. When he didn’t, she was at first irritated, then concerned.
Finn never missed dinner with the family. But she didn’t want to bring it up because . . . well, why would she? It wasn’t like they were dating or he was anyone special to her.
He obviously just had other plans. But when they were talking in the kitchen earlier that day, he’d told her he’d be there.
And then he hadn’t shown up.
So after dinner, instead of going to her office to work, or into the library to read or to do some research, she’d gone up to her room to pace and think and stew and generally annoy herself.
Just walk down to his place and find out what’s going on, dumbass.
Right. What if he had a date or something and brought her to his place and you walk in on that? Then she really would be a dumbass. No way was she doing that.
Instead, she went downstairs to the library and picked up a book on medieval forms of armor and sat in her favorite reading chair, paging through amazing photographs and descriptions. After thirty minutes, she couldn’t remember a single page she’d read.
Dammit. She got up, put the book away and walked out the back door, feeling ridiculous the entire walk to Finn’s place.
He probably wasn’t even home. He was out on a date or something.
But as she rounded the corner and saw all of his lights