the lump in her throat, she fought for composure, swearing to bottle up the tide of crazy emotions to deal with later. Smiling through the sting of tears, she reached out and took Pinky from him, murmuring soothing nonsense to her. She shook slightly in her arms, looking back to Stone with an imploring look. “Don’t be silly, I’m glad you brought her. The worst-case scenario: she can stay in the bedroom. But let’s see how she does meeting Robert.” She turned at the sound of front paws skittering over the wood floors and kept Pinky safely tucked in her arms. “Here’s my good boy. Robert, we have a special guest tonight. Her name is Pinky, and she’s been hurt. But she’s a fighter like you.”
Robert’s tongue lolled out in excitement, but he stayed quietly in front of her, waiting for the go-ahead.
“She’s scared, especially of pit bulls, so we need to show her how to trust again. Just like Stone did.”
Robert looked up at Stone as if giving him a doggy high five.
“I want you to stay. I know you’re happy for some company, but don’t move. Understood?”
Robert dropped his head to his front paws and stilled.
“Damn, he’s smart,” Stone muttered. “Good boy.”
Arilyn smiled and slowly knelt. Pinky began to shake with mini convulsions, a high-pitched whining beginning from her throat and growing into a panicked howl. Arilyn settled her on her lap, her hands stroking her small body, and allowed her to get used to Robert’s presence. The howling went on for a while, but Arilyn never moved, and neither did Robert. As if he understood how important it was to remain completely still, Robert barely breathed, keeping his submissive posture.
Finally, the howling stopped. Pinky stared at Robert, who didn’t make a move to attack her, and calmed.
Stone let out a breath. “My ears won’t recover.”
Arilyn kept soothing the dog and whispering low nonsense. “It’s the only thing she had left, I think. Her voice. They’re going to be okay together, but I think we’ll keep Pinky separate for a while. Build up her level of safety. Can you take Robert to his bed and give him a dog treat? His purple bunny squeaker should be there, too. Tell him to stay.”
Stone followed her instructions, and Pinky’s body finally relaxed as Robert trotted off.
Arilyn pressed a kiss to her tiny head. “You did so good. You were very brave. Now, I have an extra dog bed so I’ll set you up where you’ll feel safe.”
They fixed up the separate spaces and finally both dogs were happily settled. Stone went to the refrigerator and pulled out an IPA. “I’m sorry, Arilyn. I shouldn’t have brought her. Do you want wine?”
“Yes, please.” She let him fix both drinks and leaned over the counter. “I’m glad you brought her, Stone. She’s doing so much better. Because of you, she gets to have a real life.”
“Well, it’s only a week left. I guess I can handle one more week.”
She didn’t answer, just sipped her wine. His voice held a tinge of regret, and Arilyn knew he wouldn’t give her up. But he didn’t realize it yet. He needed to figure it out on his own. “How was work?” she asked.
He tipped the bottle back and drank. Wiped his mouth. “Fine. We found a stolen car, which was so fucking exciting I thought Devine was gonna have a heart attack.” She laughed. “Anyway, ended up being a kid dared by his friends, but for a while it was like being back in the Bronx, having a car chase.”
She traced the rim of the wineglass with her finger. “Do you miss the Bronx?” she asked. “I mean, I know it was tough, but you got used to being challenged all the time. You nabbed real criminals, made a difference. Would you ever want to go back?”
He scratched his head. “Hell, no. Sure, it fed my ego a bit. I was always on, the rush of adrenaline kept pushing me for more. I worked around the clock, needing the hit like the junkies I busted. But I like Verily. I like what it represents. I have a real life here I wouldn’t want to give up.”
Happiness flooded her. She kept her head down so he wouldn’t catch how much his words meant to her. “I’m glad.”
“Are you?” He studied her thoughtfully and placed his beer down. “Why?”
She shifted her weight. “Because you’re good for this town.”