“You don’t miss a trick in an ambush. Housebroken, you said?”
“Yeah.” He thought it best not to mention one of them had already peed on his boots. “Ah, you might have a couple mishaps, just while they’re adjusting to a new place.”
“What do I do when it gets cold? I’m here, the boys will be at school. They’d have to stay out in the yard.”
“We need to build a doghouse.”
“We do?”
“Sure. It’ll be fun.”
“Oh, Beckett.” She gave in, nuzzled dogs. “What are their names?”
“Chauncy and Aristotle.”
“You have to be kidding.”
“Afraid not. They really want new names.”
“Who could blame them?” The smaller one let out a high, excited bark, and bit his brother’s ear. “I hope this isn’t a mistake.”
“It’ll be great. Having them will teach the boys responsibility, how to take care of a pet.”
“Right.” The pups rolled between them, yipping and wrestling. “I’ll remember you said that when I’m letting them in and out and cleaning up mishaps.”
He leaned over the two dogs to kiss her. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You had me at ‘they’re brothers.’ Apparently I have a weakness. Let’s hope my parents do, too. They want a sleepover with the boys Saturday night.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes. Actually they’d like it better if all of us just moved in.”
“They’ve got to be worried about you.”
“I have to call home every night, check in, reassure them my doors are locked, and so on. I only got out of joining the Saturday night sleepover by telling them I’d see if you’d consider a date with me.”
“I think I can clear my schedule.”
“Good. I’ll come by at seven.”
“You’re going to pick me up? Where are we going?”
“You’ll find out Saturday night.” She looked at the dogs, wandering now, sniffing floor and air. “You’re not the only one who can spring an ambush. Now.” She got to her feet. “You’ll have to figure out what to do with these dogs until after school. You can bring them—and the supplies—over then.”
“How about I bring pizza, too? I have a feeling everyone’s going to be too busy playing to worry about dinner.”
“Dogs and pizza. The kids are going to be in serious heaven.”
HE HADN’T CONSIDERED the logistics of transporting dogs and pizza, but quickly realized active pups with curious noses needed to be segregated from food. It only cost him the price of a pizza and the waiting time for the second to be made to learn the valuable lesson.
He left the pizza in its borrowed insulated delivery pack in the bed of the truck, had a bit of a struggle bringing the dogs back when they sprinted to the end of their leashes, in opposing directions. But counted every bit of the hassle worthwhile when Murphy opened the door.
Even as his eyes popped wide and his mouth dropped open, both dogs leaped forward. Murphy landed on his butt, belly-laughing as the dogs ran over him, plopped on him, licked everywhere they could reach.
“Doggies! Beckett’s got doggies.” He rolled with them, doing his best to hug them to him as his brothers charged out of the playroom.
Chaos, probably the best possible kind in Beckett’s opinion, ensued. Dogs raced, jumped, barked. Kids chased, tumbled, and shouted.
Clare came out to watch, set her hands on her hips. She started to shake her head, call some sort of order. Then found herself simply staring at Beckett.
He grinned, wide and easy, as kids and dogs wrestled and rolled around his feet. He stood, hands tucked into his front pockets, legs spread wide enough for boys and puppies to squirm through. When one of the pups tested its sharp little teeth on the toe of his boot, he just laughed and nudged it clear.
In the instant that he looked up, met her eyes, his warm, warm blue and full of fun, she fell.
Maybe she’d been sliding, she realized, inching her way along. But this was the finish line, the moment she knew—no doubts—she loved. The moment she could see herself with him next month, next year, next always.
Maybe it came with a little trickle of panic, and the uncertainty of knowing what could or would be. But the love rang as strong and as real as her children’s laughter.
And that, she thought, was that.
“Mom! Mom! Did you see?” Liam staggered up, carrying a pup whose tongue hung out in a silly doggie grin. “Beckett brought puppies over.”
“They like us.” Harry turned his face right and left as the second pup covered it with kisses. “They really like us.”