Just Good Friends (Cheap Thrills #5) - Mary B. Moore Page 0,29
asked DB, making me smile.
“I’ll survive without one,” he deadpanned, kissing the top of his daughter’s head.
Rolling her eyes at him, Tabby turned back to me. “How’s Zuri?”
Checking my watch, I chuckled when I saw the time. “About to have some entertainment.”
And then I filled them in on why, enjoying it when DB laughed but panicking slightly when Tabby told me I was nuts.
I was slightly later than normal getting home, but the package I’d collected had been twenty-five minutes away from the precinct. Then it was a thirty-three minute drive back to Zuri’s house on the other side of town, which had been made longer by the rambunctious passenger in my truck.
Getting out, I let him into the enclosed yard at the back. “Behave and enjoy yourself. Remember the instructions, when I call you, you come running in and sit in front of her.”
Not answering, the key player in my plan turned and ran off to have a look around. I wish I had that much energy.
Opening the front door, I came to a halt when I saw the walls of brown boxes. “Uh…”
“You had some deliveries,” Zuri shouted from deeper in the house. “I didn’t open them because I knew they weren’t for me. The last thing I ordered was what I thought was one of those long carpets for the hallway, and it turned out to be bath mat sized.”
Well, shit, there went the first part of the plan.
Adapt, Garrett.
“Why don’t you help me open them?” I called back. “Can you bring a knife or pair of scissors, please?”
I could use the Leatherman in my pocket, but I was smarter than that.
I was still staring at them when her head poked out from behind one of the boxes, almost scaring the shit out of me as she held the scissors out. “What did you get?”
Winking at her, I gestured at her to do the honors. “That defeats the fun of opening them, so you’ll just have to wait and see.”
Lifting one of the boxes down for her, I waited as she cut the tape and then pulled the sides open. Of course there were packaging noodles, of fucking course. I get that they did a good job protecting stuff, but I don’t know one person who was happy when they opened a package with them in there. Why? Well, they went fucking everywhere. Even when you put them in a bag before you put them in the trash can, they find a way out of it, and then you’re stuck finding them in your grass and yard for weeks. Fuckers!
Moving them aside carefully, she reached in and pulled out a metal stand with two bowls in it.
“This would’ve been awesome a week ago so I didn’t pull the stitches, but I can still use it. Wait, is it for us?”
Us. I fucking loved that. I was also slightly concerned that she’d eat out of a raised dog bowl.
“Keep going,” I urged, pointing at the next box.
By the time she was done, she was surrounded by empty boxes that’d been piled on top of each other again, the bowls on the stand, a big fluffy bed, squeaky toys, soft toys, dog treats, dog food, dog vitamins, a leash and matching collar, and sprays of all kinds in case he peed in the house.
“I know some of it’s for a dog, but what’s the rest for? Are you getting a service K9?”
Winking at her, I skirted around where she was sitting, stroking the bed, and walked over to the backdoor.
“Close your eyes.”
Not arguing, she covered them with both hands, and I opened the door.
I didn’t have to shout or whistle to get his attention because the oaf came bounding in, almost knocking me over.
Gently grabbing the collar Alex had put on him, I got his focus on Zuri and whispered, “Go get her.”
And that’s what he did. He went shooting across the floor and skidded to a stop in front of her. I’m not even sure he breathed as he leaned in and started licking her frantically, making my stomach twist again. I mean, I’m fairly certain he licked his balls with that tongue, and he was only an inch away from her mouth.
“Uh, Garrett? I don’t know if this means that you want to take our relationship to a new place, but would you brush your teeth?”
Closing the door with a bang, I strolled across the room again. “Lower your hands, pretty girl.”