Ildaria smiled faintly in response, but asked, “So this was a job interview?”
He grinned and nodded, the expression making him look ridiculously adorable. The man was a big teddy bear . . . with tattoos,piercings, and a bright green Mohawk.
“So when can you start?” G.G. asked abruptly, his expression serious again.
“How about now?” she asked lightly, and then paused to frown. “No. I guess I need to take the blood home to Marguerite first.And then I should probably change into something more professional, but I could start after that. Maybe in two hours?” sheasked and then explained, “It’ll be rush hour traffic when I head back or I’d say sooner.”
G.G. smiled faintly, but shook his head. “Take the blood to Marguerite and relax tonight, get anything done that you think will need doing and you can start tomorrow,” he suggested, and then pointed out, “It’s nearly sunset, and I wouldn’t have time to show you the books and how they’re done before opening anyway. Tomorrow you can come in at say . . . four? Then we can go over the books so you know what you’re doing.”
Ildaria nodded easily, happy to start whenever he wanted.
“Good. Then I’ll go get that blood for Marguerite so you can be on your way.”
“What about H.D.?” Ildaria asked with concern as he stood up. “What will you do with him tonight?”
G.G. hesitated and then shrugged unhappily. “One night in my office won’t kill him. I’ll just make sure there’s nothing lyingaround for him to eat.”
“Or I could take him home with me,” Ildaria suggested quietly, and then added, “On the house.”
G.G.’s eyes flew up in surprise, but then he shook his head with regret.
Before he could say no, though, she added, “I don’t mind. Besides, I’d be upset thinking about him being stuck locked up inyour office all night long . . . and I would bring him back with me tomorrow. That way he wouldn’t be on his own and get intoanything.”
The large man hesitated briefly, but then considered aloud, “It’s usually 7 or 8 a.m. or so before I finish cleanup and go up to my apartment. All I do is take H.D. out for a pee break, and then it’s to bed.I sleep until three—” Pausing, he explained, “That’s why I suggested you return at four. It would give me time for breakfastand a cup of coffee before you returned.”
Ildaria nodded and then waited.
“So,” G.G. said thoughtfully, “all he’d miss is sleeping time with me and watching me eat my breakfast. That would work,” he decided, but then paused and suggested, “Maybe you should check with Marguerite first, though. She might not want the little runt running around her house.”
“I’m sure she won’t mind,” Ildaria said and was quite sure that was true. Marguerite loved dogs. Still, she pulled her phoneout of her pocket, saying, “But I’ll call her to be sure.”
“Right.” He nodded. “I’ll get Marguerite’s package while you do.” Leaving her to her call, he picked up his plate and headedaround the bar to pass through the swinging doors.
As she’d expected, Marguerite was more than happy to have H.D. come stay the night. The woman loved dogs almost as much asshe did. Ildaria didn’t tell her that she had a job now, she merely said that the dog sitter G.G. had hired to look afterH.D. had let him down and she didn’t want to leave the poor fur ball stuck in his office all night. Ildaria wanted to seeMarguerite’s face when she told her that she’d got the job she’d recommended her for, plus the dog sitting position as well.She also planned to stop and pick up some flowers on the way home to give the woman as a thank-you for recommending her toG.G. and she wanted them to be a surprise too.
Ildaria was smiling to herself at the thought as she put her phone away.
“It’s all right with Marguerite then?”
A glance showed G.G. pushing through the swing doors, a medium-sized cooler in hand. Ildaria’s smile widened. “More than all right. She’s eager to give him cuddles. She thinks Julius will be grateful for the break.”
G.G.’s mouth dropped open at this and Ildaria grinned with amusement and explained, “Julius the dog, not Julius her husband.”
“Ah.” He smiled wryly. “I always forget she names her dog after her husband.”
“Do you know why?” she asked with interest. It did seem an odd habit to her, but she hadn’t got around to asking Margueriteabout it.
“Yes, I do,” he said with a faint smile, and then carried the cooler around the bar, adding, “And I’ll tell you another time.I need to set up for tonight right now.”
“Oh. Of course.” She hesitated, her gaze sliding from G.G. to the cooler he held and then toward the bar. H.D. was nowherein sight.
“I’ll grab H.D.’s leash, his favorite toy, and his food and treats,” G.G. announced, setting the cold container of blood onthe bar.
“Right,” Ildaria said, relaxing and then she watched him slip back through the swinging doors. It didn’t take long beforehe had returned with two bags.
Moving to the cooler, he opened the lid and set one of the bags inside, saying, “This is H.D.’s food and favorite treats. There are three separate meals, each in its own container. I make his dog food myself from fresh meat and vegetables, so it has to be kept refrigerated and then microwaved before serving. The containers are microwavable, and I usually put them in for twenty-two seconds, but each microwave is different, so check it before you give it to him to make sure it isn’t too hot, because he’ll gobble it up the minute you set it down without checking it himself,” he
