Revealing Annie - Freya Barker Page 0,17
see her tail start thumping against the concrete floor.
“You came,” Annie says, smiling, when I push open the door.
The dog gets up and I stop a few feet away, showing her the back of my hand. With hesitating steps she comes closer and sniffs me. Then she takes another step and pushes her big head against my leg. I look over at Annie, whose smile is beaming, and I carefully scratch Daisy behind the ears.
“Looks like you’ve been adopted,” she says.
I look down at Daisy’s face. She’d make a great dog for a boy. My mouth moves before I can check the words.
“I may be able to take her.”
Annie’s eyes go big. “For real?”
I can hear the excitement in her voice. Oh yeah, I’m gonna be the butt of many jokes.
“I’ll know for sure in a couple of days.”
“That’s fine, and I can help you figure out what you need for her.” She seems to catch herself and quickly gets to her feet, as she adds, “I mean, if you’d like.”
I take her in, the brown contacts back in place and the glasses perched on her nose. However, now that I’ve seen what she’s supposed to look like, I can’t unsee it.
“Sure,” I find myself agreeing.
She hands me the thick book. “Here, why don’t you finish the chapter with her? Gives me a chance to get the paperwork ready. Just in case,” she adds with a wink, before she turns toward the door, leaving me with Daisy.
I’m not sure how long I sit there, but when Annie walks back in a few chapters later, the dog has her head on my lap. I stand up, stretching my muscles as she puts Daisy back in her kennel. Then I follow Annie to the front office.
“I have everything here,” she says, pointing at a file folder. “All you’d have to do is sign, and there’s a small adoption fee. It’s got contact info for the vet, all her vaccines—they’re up to date—her reports, how she does with other animals, and—”
“Annie,” I interrupt her rambling, curving my hand around the side of her neck as I lean in.
I pause for a second; giving her a chance to stop me, but nothing in her face tells me this is unwelcome so I brush my lips against hers. I do it again, feeling her breath against my mouth as she sighs.
The front door swings open, and Annie jumps back, as the older woman I now know as Margaret, walks in.
“Never mind me, kids,” she says, flapping her hand in our direction. “I’ve gotta feed my babies so you can just carry on.”
I chuckle, noting the deep blush creeping up Annie’s cheeks. She avoids my eyes, even after Margaret disappears into the back.
“Annie,” I try to get her to look at me, which she finally does. “I’m gonna need your phone number.”
“Why?”
“Because I plan to call you tomorrow to ask you over for dinner on Wednesday when I’m off.”
“I don’t think…”
She startles when I stroke the back of my fingers over her cheek. She never finishes her objection.
“I’d like to take you up on that offer to help me with Daisy.”
It’s a lie. I don’t really need help. I grew up with a dog and remember they’re basically happy as long as they’re walked, fed, and have a comfy place to sleep.
But if the excuse makes accepting easier for Annie… She tilts her head and narrows her eyes at me.
“Are you trying to manipulate me into having dinner with you?”
I bite off a grin.
“Is it working?”
She shakes her head and ducks behind the desk to grab her purse. She pulls open the door to the back and yells, “Margaret! We’re out of here!”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” the older woman yells back, followed by a loud cackle.
“Come on,” Annie says, motioning for me to follow her outside. “I’ve got something for you, I almost forgot about it.”
She leads the way to an old Buick that probably should’ve been scrapped fifteen years ago. She opens the back door with a loud squeal and grabs a bakery box from the back seat.
“Butter tarts,” she says, handing the box to me. “But I have a favor to ask.”
I peek inside and sniff. Shoving a hand in the box, I pull out a pastry and take a huge bite. Goddamn, that’s good.
“Shoot.”
“Do you think you could drop me off at the garage? Brick has my car ready and I don’t know where it is or how I’m gonna get