Kiss Me in the Summer - Barbara Dunlop Page 0,2

began barking in earnest, and the sharp sound jangled my nerves.

I swallowed, telling myself to stop being irrational. The dog was in a carrier, not running free. He wasn’t going to pay any attention to me.

“Now, now,” Annalisa cooed to Bangle.

He stopped barking.

I steadied my breathing.

But then Annalisa flipped open the top and lifted him from the case. Bangle wiggled in her hand, bicycling his legs in the air while his gold and gem-crusted collar sparkled around his neck.

My heart rate jumped to flight mode.

“He needs his lunch,” Annalisa said to no one in particular.

The dog looked my way then. His black nose twitched like he could smell my fear.

Annalisa nuzzled the top of his head. “He can’t have his medication without food, can you my little darling . . .” She let the words dangle, obviously expecting someone to step up and solve the problem for her.

I looked at her staff sitting along the wall, but none of them volunteered. They weren’t even making eye contact. I had to guess they weren’t Bangle fans.

“He only eats the highest quality meat,” Annalisa said, lifting her face. She began stroking his head. “But nothing spicy. Is there a good deli on the block? His favorites are chicken breast or roast beef, but it has to be thinly sliced.”

Bangle barked again and lunged my way. I held my ground. I couldn’t let a dog of all things mess with me before my big presentation.

“He likes you,” Annalisa said to me.

I couldn’t immediately find my voice. I sure wasn’t interpreting Bangle’s glare as friendly.

“Laila,” Mr. Wallingsford said in a meaningful tone.

I glanced his way, trying to figure out what he wanted.

He nodded to the dog. “Please take Bangle for Ms. LeFroy.”

I blinked. I couldn’t possibly have heard him right.

“He really does like you,” Annalisa said, edging my way.

“Laila.” Mr. Wallingsford sounded slightly testy. “Take Bangle and find him some lunch.”

“But,” I managed to squeak out.

Annalisa extracted a bottle of pills from her purse. “You have to break the capsule open and sprinkled it on his food. Be sure to rub it in. It tastes bad.” Her voice turned singsong. “Doesn’t it, little boo-boo?” She nuzzled the top of the dog’s head again.

Mr. Wallingsford raised his voice. “Laila.”

“My presentation,” I managed to squeak out.

He waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll take care of that. Just give your notes to Thad.”

I barely managed to hold back an exclamation. I’d committed most of the facts to memory. Thad couldn’t just jump in with my notes—and I really wanted this opportunity. I wanted to shine.

“Laila loves dogs,” Mr. Laatz interjected.

My eyes lost focus for a second.

Annalisa pushed a wiggling Bangle into my arms. His back feet scrabbled against my handouts, and his front claws scratched my shoulder. I reflexively squeezed to keep him from climbing over my shoulder, and he growled his annoyance and lunged at my ear. I squealed in fright and dropped my handouts as he jumped and hit the floor running.

“Laila!” Mr. Laatz shouted.

“You dropped him!” Annalisa cried. Her pretty face flushed red. “Catch him! Somebody catch him! Oh, Bangle. His legs could be broken.”

Judging by Bangle’s sprint across the boardroom, his legs were perfectly fine. He skidded around a chair, sliding under the catering table and disappearing behind the white cloth. Seconds later, he was out the other end, but his jeweled collar caught on the fabric.

The tablecloth pulled him to a choking stop, but not before the dishes shifted. The five-tiered dessert tray tilted dangerously to one side.

“Bangle!” Annalisa shouted again, rushing across the room on her pink spike heels.

I watched in horror as the elaborate dessert tray tipped over, bouncing off the table before smashing to the floor. The sound scared Bangle who made a desperate lunge. He broke free of the tablecloth, but the tall floral arrangement came down next, soaking the hors d’oeuvres, breaking the champagne flutes, and knocking three bottles of champagne to the floor where they exploded and foamed out in a flood.

Bangle streaked for the open boardroom door, but Thad had the presence of mind to close it before the dog could escape. Then Thad scooped up the dog and returned it to Annalisa, who cuddled and cooed, burying her face in his fur.

Everyone else stared at me with varying degrees of censure and blame.

*

I told myself my career wasn’t over.

I didn’t really believe myself, but I was trying hard to stay positive.

Annalisa had stalked out with Bangle clutched in her arms, followed by a lineup of