Mistletoe Magic (Paradise Place #6) - Natalie Ann Page 0,16

into everything.

She’d lost her mind thinking she could handle two puppies in a brand new house as well as trying to cook dinner for a guy she wanted to know better.

She could barely balance her life from her boring dull existence and here she had three new things going on at once.

She’d had a short day at the shelter, which worked in her favor. Then she’d come home and played with the puppies in the yard, trying to tire them out. Good grief, all they did was sleep when they arrived at the shelter, but when she was home all they wanted was attention.

Part of her was thrilled they were so comfortable in their new surroundings; the other part wondering what the heck she’d gotten herself into.

By three thirty, they were up from their nap and she immediately took them outside to do their business. Potty training was hit and miss, but so far she’d kept it to piddle pads in her office that was now the dog’s room.

But the minute she was outside with them on their leashes—finding it was easier to train that way for now—Livi started calling her name in the back. She still had her bookbag on and must have just gotten home from school.

“Livi, leave Robin alone,” she heard Philip say. She’d only met him that once at the closing, but of course she’d been in the house just a week. He seemed like a nice guy and was probably giving her space.

“She’s got puppies, Daddy. I want to see the puppies,” Livi shouted.

There was no way she could tell the little girl no. “Come on over if your father will let you,” she yelled back.

“Let’s put your bag in the house first,” Philip said.

The dogs finished their business while her neighbors were in the house, then Philip and Livi returned and entered through the fence in the back, shutting it behind him.

Robin unclipped the leashes from the dogs and Leia took off first, Luke following his baby sister, the two bundles of fur charging the little girl and jumping all over her.

“Oh my God,” Livi squealed. “They are so soft.”

“Be careful,” Robin said. “Their teeth are sharp and they nip while they try to lick. They aren’t trying to bite you as much as they are young yet and can’t seem to control themselves.”

“What are their names?” Livi asked.

“Luke is the bigger one and Leia the runt. They are brother and sister. I couldn’t separate them.”

“Looks like you aren’t wasting any time planting roots,” Philip said. “Getting any sleep with these two?”

“It’s not too bad. I keep them in the office. Sorry,” she said. “It’s their space now. I need to get someone here to put a dog door in for me so they can let themselves out when they get older. Once I can trust them more I’ll let them loose in the room, but for now they are crated.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said. “It’s your house now to do what you want.”

“I know. It feels weird in a way.” She hadn’t thought much of it until now.

“Daddy, can we get a puppy?” Livi asked.

Philip rolled his eyes. “I’m not sure Blair would like a dog running around and getting into her flowers and herbs. It might be toxic for them too.”

Robin grinned since Livi already confessed Blair and she were working on Philip for the dog.

Livi’s bottom lip came out. “How about a cat?”

“How about we change the subject,” he said.

“You can come play with my dogs anytime you want. They would love to have a kid run around the yard with them.”

“Can I, Daddy?”

“If Robin says so, then it gets you your puppy fix.”

“What’s a puppy fix?” Livi asked.

“It’s where you get to visit, play, and then leave the hard work with me,” she said.

“Exactly,” Philip said.

They stayed in the yard for about twenty minutes, the dogs running everywhere, and thankfully Philip said they needed to get in and have Livi do her homework. She was grateful as she was having a hard time figuring out a way to get back in the house.

She collected the dogs and went back to the kitchen, stirring her sauce and checking on the meatballs that were cooking. It was a chilly fall day out and sauce would hit the spot.

And it was easy.

She needed something easy for today.

By the time she was done cleaning the house and changing her clothes, checking herself out in the mirror, the doorbell rang and she went rushing to answer