Amber bounced on her toes and squealed her excitement at the tiny mutt. She bent forward with her arm extended.
“No!” Marla grabbed her hand. “Let me show you the way to approach a strange dog.” She formed her hand into a fist and instructed Amber to do the same. “Now, slowly reach out and let him sniff your hand. Skip’s not a biter, but when dogs get startled or scared they sometimes nip. See? Once he checks you out, you can open your hand. Okay? Now you can pet him.”
Grinning, Amber knelt, and Skipper went on his hind legs to lavish her laughing face with dog kisses. Marla wasn’t sure which one of them was more excited. She reached for the dog’s leash hanging on the coat rack.
“Let’s take him for a stroll in the backyard. He has to pee by now.”
“Doesn’t he have a doggy door?”
“I locked it after a starving stray kitten came in here and couldn’t find its way out. Hungry skunks and raccoons can smell Skipper’s kibble too.”
Amber’s bottom lip pushed out in a sad pout. “Ohhh, the poor kitty.”
Marla patted her head. “Not to worry. She got a good home. I wrapped her in a towel and took her to Miss Emmaline.”
Wide-eyed, Amber sucked in a breath. “Princess Elizabeth? Is that Elizabeth?”
“Yep.” Marla chuckled. “That’s her.”
“I love Elizabeth. She cuddles with me when Miss Emmaline babysits me. She tickles my nose with her rilly fluffy tail.”
Marla led the way through the cozy entry, across the living room, through the kitchen and out the back door.
Amber didn’t miss a single detail. “Oh, your house is pretty. It smells good too. Ours is nice, but it’s kinda plain. Daddy doesn’t have flowers and perfume and stuff.”
Knowing she’d soon find out for herself, Marla didn’t comment. A sweet, innocent child, Amber didn’t seem to have a contrary bone in her body.
Marla left them in her small, fenced back yard and went inside to change into a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. This evening wasn’t a date. She had no intention of glamming up for Dwayne. Macaroni and cheese with a man and his little girl. That’s all it was.
Chapter Four
Dwayne pulled the bubbling macaroni and cheese out of his oven and set it on a wooden cutting board to cool. Slamming car doors alerted him to Marla’s arrival with Amber. After a quick glance around the kitchen to make sure all was in order, he yanked the dishtowel from his waist and made his way to the front entry.
Amber bounded through the door, a happy fat pooch clutched in her thin arms. His heart squeezed painfully at her look of sheer joy.
“What have you got there?” He bent forward to scratch the dog’s chin.
Amber whirled out of his reach. “No, Daddy! I’ll show you how.” She held Skip’s leash, set him on his feet, and said, “Make a fist like this, then put it by his nose rilly rilly slow.”
He glanced at Marla and smiled when she stepped inside and heard Amber give him his marching orders. She raised her eyebrows, pursed her lips, and watched him follow his daughter’s precise instructions.
“What’s this bruiser’s name?”
“His rill name is Skipper, but Marla calls him Skippy Wippy. Isn’t that silly?”
“Yeah. He’d probably prefer a name like Genghis or Killer. What do you think?”
Amber released a tortured sigh. “Daaad! You’re even more sillier than Marla.” She tugged the leash. “I’m taking him out back to pee.” The dog willingly followed her in a fast trot down the hall. The back screen door banged.
Arms akimbo, Dwayne smirked. “Where’s that mouse sleep? In a jewelry box?”
Mimicking his stance, Marla stuck out her chin. “No, in a demitasse cup.”
“I thought so.” Dwayne pointed toward the back of the house. “We’d better keep an eye on those two. Come on.”
They made their way through the kitchen. Marla sniffed appreciatively. “That smells heavenly. It looks yummy too. When do we eat? I’m starving.”
Not only was she hot and vah-voom, she wasn’t afraid to reveal her healthy appetite. One more point for her. At this rate she’d surpass the perfect ten rating he’d secretly bestowed. But he was no fool. He’d keep that information to himself.
They stood inside the laundry room door and watched while Skipper explored the backyard and found several places to squeeze out a few drops. Amber followed, her mouth moving as she spoke to him.
Finally she raised her arm and called out, “Skipper’s hungry, Daddy. I hope you made enough.”
“No problem there, squirt. Come on in and get those hands washed.” He held the door open for them. “Dinner is ready, and Marla is starving.”
Marla asked, “Is it okay to take him off the leash?”
“Sure. Follow me. I brought the rest of the champagne home so you could have a celebratory glass. Sound good?”
Her footsteps echoed behind his as they returned to the kitchen. “Did you send your cousin my way?”
“Yep. She asked for a referral. I knew you’d take good care of them.”
“You have no idea how relieved I am to close that deal, Dempsey. It’s been lean pickings the past few months. Your cousin is getting a great house and the price is right.”
He reached in the refrigerator and retrieved the ice-green bottle. “That’s what I told them. Rosie likes it that I built the house. I think that’s what sealed the deal for them.”
Marla reached for the juice glass he held. “I owe you one.”
He speculated on various ways he’d enjoy collecting his debt. None of which he could say out loud because there was a child in the house. But that didn’t stop him from imagining how Marla would look if he ever managed to get her naked. He cleared his throat and turned toward the sink. “Have a seat. I’ll grab the salad and get the bread from the warming oven.”
“Isn’t this the old Crocker house? I vaguely
