The big dog nudged her hand, and the smaller one snuggled into her lap. Sage laughed, delighted. “This is going to be great,” she promised them. “Now, I just need to do a little business. I’ll be right back.” She stood up and turned, ready to pull out her wallet. But when she found the two men, Arik was already handing Tom several bills, obviously paying for the dogs himself.
“I’ve got it,” she protested, waving her wallet. “Tom, these will be my dogs. How much do I owe you?”
Tom smiled, shaking his head. “Arik’s got it all covered, Ms. Sage,” he replied, tipping his hat politely. “I’ve also told him about the different kinds of foods they’ll need, and I’m bringing some food around to Arik’s truck, so you’re set for tonight.”
Food! She hadn’t even thought about food! Or supplies, like leashes, doggie beds and…whatever else a dog might need! “Oh, I’ll head into town to get supplies. I don’t have a leash or beds or anything yet,” she told him, bending down to pick up the smaller dog, while scratching the bigger one’s ears. She frowned at Arik. “And I’m paying you back too.”
With that announcement made, she turned and walked out of the barn, her new friends in her arms and by her side.
Chapter 4
“You’re not getting a pink leash,” Arik announced, putting the pink leash back and grabbing a black one.
“Yes, I am,” she replied, grabbing the pink one again and tossing it back into the shopping cart.
“I’m not walking a dog with a pink leash,” he snapped.
Sage’s lips twitched with amusement, which she tried to hide from the man beside her. “Of course you’re not. I don’t think that your masculinity could handle walking a dog with a pink leash.” She turned and gazed up at Arik, devilment in her eyes. “In fact, I doubt you’re strong enough to even walk a female dog. That’s why…” she stopped when he wrapped an arm around her waist, hauling her against his rock hard chest.
“Just what, exactly, are you implying?” he asked, his voice low and threatening, but amusement sparkling in his eyes.
She shrugged, ignoring her breathlessness. “I wouldn’t dare to question your masculinity.” She purposely eyed the pink leash, then back up at him, lifting her eyebrows.
Why was she challenging him like this? Why wasn’t she backing away, like she usually did?
“Sounds like you are, little lady,” he replied back, leaning forward.
A bark down below startled them out of their back and forth. Sage was the first to pull back and look down at Xena, the name she’d decided on for the big German Shephard mix. “You agree, don’t you, Xena?”
Xena nudged Sage’s hand with her nose and whined softly. As she bent to scratch her ears, Sage gave Arik a knowing, “I told you so” smirk. A moment later, Sage spotted a cute toy for her new friends and hurried away to inspect it.
Arik looked down at the big dog. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
He wasn’t expecting a response, but Arik would have sworn Xena was laughing at him. “Moving on,” he sighed, pushing the cart along the aisle as Sage tossed various items into the growing pile of toys and treats. “You guys are going to be so spoiled.”
The tiny fur ball pranced along beside the big German Shephard, happy as a clam, and Xena seemed to allow the tiny little creature the illusion of being in charge.
A half hour later, Arik stood behind Sage as the cashier rang up their stash. He wasn’t surprised by the amount. Sage was going to baby those two like no one’s business! He wasn’t sure if her overspending was due to her enthusiasm and the newness might eventually wear off once she was more comfortable with what dogs really needed – such as love, affection, and security. Or if she would continue to buy more toys than any dog could ever play with. He also wondered about the need for two dog beds. He couldn’t imagine Sage forcing the dogs out of her own bed at night. Nope, she looked like one of those people who would encourage her dogs to sleep with her. The image of Xena and the Runt curled up around the two of them on the bed flashed behind his eyes. They would need a king sized bed, he thought.
Since he intended to be the person next to her in that kind sized bed, he’d have to veto the possibility of the dogs in bed right from the start. He’d be firm and explain the pros and cons of allowing the dogs to sleep in the bed with her, but put more emphasis on the cons. Such as ticks and fleas since the dogs would be running around out in her pastures most of the time. Or muddy paws on her clean sheets.
“Don’t even try it,” he growled when she dug into her purse for a credit card. He knew she’d do it too and had his own credit card ready. While he handed the cashier his own card, Arik reached for her, wrapping one of his arms around her so that she couldn’t extend her arms.
He felt her sharp, indrawn breath and suspected that he was in trouble. But when he looked down at her, she was looking at him over her shoulder, that incredible mouth softened and he could see the desire smoldering in her eyes. Arik could feel her tremble. Or shiver? He wasn’t sure which and didn’t know if it mattered. He just felt
