suffer her appearance. “Come by whenever,” she said loudly so he could hear her over the storm. “I’ll be home in ten more minutes.”
Because traffic was nonexistent with the storm, she made it in eight—and Corbin’s SUV was already in her driveway. When he saw her, he got out to manually open her garage door for her, since the power was out, and she slowly drove in past him. Before she even left the car, he was inside, with Justin dashing in behind him.
The boy wore a brand-new bright green raincoat, rubber boots and a smile of anticipation. Corbin had on a windbreaker, which hadn’t done a thing to protect his head. With both hands, he pushed back his sodden hair.
Ivey stepped out to greet them. “I know why I was out on the road, and I’m guessing Justin will be pleased. But why were you guys out?”
“It was only drizzling when we left,” Corbin explained. “I thought we’d get something to eat before coming over, but the weather changed our plans.”
“We bought me a raincoat instead,” Justin said, admiring his neon boots with icky black spiders on them.
“You look very sharp.” Without thinking about it, Ivey lifted her own boot, bright yellow with chickens...and realized she’d worn shorts. And her knees were soaked. And she had gooseflesh. “My, uh, boots are cute, too, don’t you think?”
“I like mine better,” Justin admitted.
She choked on a laugh.
Corbin cocked a brow at her knees. “I think they’re very cute.”
Time for a subject change! “Guess what?” She tipped her head toward the car. “I have a surprise in the back seat.”
“What is it?” Justin tried to peer in the window around her.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Daisy and her babies alone at the clinic in this weather, so I brought her home.”
Instead of appearing happy, Justin’s face fell. He quickly looked down, hiding his gaze from her.
“Justin?” Gently, Ivey moved closer to him. “You don’t want to see Daisy?”
“Are you keepin’ her now?”
“What? Oh, honey, no. She’s your dog, I promise.” At that, he perked up. Ivey couldn’t resist brushing back his damp hair. “I just didn’t want her to be alone, that’s all.”
“But you said your cat wouldn’t like her.”
“True. I suspect Maurice will get all grumpy, give me dirty looks and then hide under the couch. Or maybe the bed.” She cupped his cheek. “But you’re here now, so you can help me introduce them. What do you say?”
Suspicion narrowed his eyes. “She’s still my dog?”
Ivey crossed her heart. “I promise.”
The concern disappeared from his face, replaced with glowing happiness. “I’ll help for sure. Daisy likes me, right?”
“Daisy adores you.” Ivey opened the back door, and there was the little dog, her nose pressed to the side of the carrier, her tail going crazy.
Poking a finger between the wire bars of the carrier’s door to touch Daisy’s nose, Justin bent to speak to her. “Hey, Daisy. Are you scared, girl? I’m here now.”
Corbin caught Ivey’s hand. “Thank you.”
“For?”
He nodded at Justin. “I’ll take the carrier in.”
“All right.” She gathered her phone and purse from the front seat, then hurried ahead to the door. It opened into her mudroom, which housed Maurice’s litter box.
And... Maurice had been busy, so it wasn’t the most pleasant welcome for Corbin or Justin.
“Sorry.” She grabbed the air freshener and liberally sprayed the air.
“You have a cat,” Corbin said, “so a box is a reality. We don’t mind, do we, Justin?”
Face scrunched up in distaste, Justin mumbled, “Guess not.”
There in the doorway to the hall sat Maurice, blocking their way with his imperious posture, his incredulous expression taking in the humans and the carrier with accusation. When he sniffed the air, Ivey could almost hear him demand, A dog? You dared bring home a dog? Fluffy gray fur bristled on end and his tail poofed out to twice its normal size. Arching his back, Maurice glared.
“Let me get him,” Ivey said, but when she reached for him, the cat gave her a grumble of betrayal and shot away.
“Maurice,” she called. “Don’t be like that.”
A very rusty meow came back at her as the cat scurried down the hall and disappeared.
“Well, damn. He’s going to sulk for hours now.”
Corbin and Justin glanced at each other, then grinned.
“You talk to your cat like he’s a person,” Justin said.
“Well, yeah. He’s been my buddy for fifteen years.” She rubbed her forehead. “Like me, Maurice is set in his ways.” Giving up on that for the moment, she turned