“We need her to fall hopelessly in love with us. Me especially. You, she’ll love. Me?” He waved his hand sideways. “I have to work harder at it.” Simon pulled into her driveway and stopped the car. He got out, told George to stay and shut the door. George sat staring out the front window.
The door opened before Simon got to knock. The dogs ran out, bouncing around his feet as if they hadn’t seen him in ages. “Excited still, guys? Did your mom tell you we’re heading to the park today?”
“Their mom did.” Ruby appeared at the door with Ziggy in her arms. “Park and walkies always creates maniacs.” She glanced at the car, her mouth dropping open. “You don’t expect me to put the dogs in that car, do you?”
“It’s only a car, Ruby. I have a blanket on the back seat and what’s the worst they could do? Scratch the leather? I don’t care. Honestly. Leather looks better when it’s worn anyway.”
She screwed up her eyes and glared at him as if she smelled something fishy. “Simon.”
“Yeah.” He smiled.
“What’re you up to?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m taking you and the fur babies out to the park for a picnic and a lazy Sunday.”
“Not that. What is that in your car?”
He turned and grinned. George had his front paws on the dash and stood staring over the hood, his tongue hanging out. “That is George. I couldn’t leave him home today. It wouldn’t have been fair.”
“George?”
“Yeah. I’ve had him since he was a puppy.”
“You bought a designer dog when the shelters are full of needy animals?” Her nostrils flared as if she was ready for an argument.
“No. I saved a small designer dog from certain death because he was born deaf.”
Her face dropped. “Are you serious? They were going to put him down for that?”
“You know people do it for less, Ruby. I heard about him from my secretary. I couldn’t let that happen. Besides, I needed a friend and he needed someone to save him.”
She handed him Ziggy who tucked herself into his chest, her little eyes watching every move Ruby made. He traced a finger over her head and she swiped at his fingers with her tongue, obviously happy enough to be with him now the other dogs had broken the ice.
Ruby approached the car and crooned to George through the open window. He stood up and slobbered over her face, his stump of a tail wiggling furiously. She opened the door and he bolted out, sniffing around her feet. Soon three balls of fur raced toward him.
Simon held his breath. This was their territory so he wouldn’t have been at all surprised if there was a scuffle. Not that George would start anything. He was the most laidback beast Simon had ever met. A lover, not a scrapper.
They all took turns at sniffing the newcomer and peeing on the grass near the car. Ruby laughed and looked over at Simon as George ambled his way over to the house with the rest of the gang. “Well, I guess that’s that. He’s one of the family.”
Simon breathed a sigh of relief. “Fabulous. We’ll have a great picnic now they all get on.” He stroked Ziggy’s head. “I seem to have a friend here too.”
Ruby bit her lip. “Sorry. That was stupid of me. She’s so timid and all I could think of was poor George and what they were going to do to him. What a lousy dog momma I am.” She made kissy noises at Ziggy who turned her nose up and made it clear she wanted to stay with Simon.
“She’s fine. Now, dog leads, water bowls, snacks. Do you have all that under control because I have a picnic basket for us and a blanket.”
“I do.” She reached inside the door and grabbed a shopping bag. “All here.”
“Let’s go then.” Simon led the way to the car and soon they were off to the park.
* * *
Ruby lay back on the grass, George laying on one side of her and Ziggy, the other side. Both dogs had their heads on her stomach, snoring happily. She was drowsy too after their long walk, the frisbee chasing games and a leisurely lunch. A nap under the shady trees sounded perfect.
This would have to be one of the best Sundays Ruby had had in a while. Outside with her beloved dogs and the man who still, despite being an idiot, made her pulse race. It was meeting George that did it for her. The deaf rescue dog that doted on Simon.
He was a different man now than he had been when they were together. His kindness, his cuteness and the way her dogs took to him made her feel that there was hope but something still held her back. She didn’t really know this man, the billionaire Simon. How he worked, what his values were now. How much had his money changed him? Would she even like the man he was today once she got over the gloss and dug down into the layers?
She peeked at him from under her lashes. He lay back on the blanket, eyes closed and three dogs snuggled against his taut chest, blissfully sleeping. Simon had one tanned and muscled arm lay around Ziggy who snuggled peacefully. His other hand worked as he stroked Honey on the belly. Ruby watched. He would pause, possibly giving into the urge to grab an afternoon nap, and Honey would claw at his hand encouraging him to keep moving.
She hadn’t realized he was such a sucker for dogs. Even though he’d always liked them, she never imagined he’d be such a softie.
All Ruby had to do was let down her
