She turned around, allowing herself a small smile as she deliberately walked away.
After a moment of stunned silence, Aidan and Archie caught up with her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Aidan said. “I’ve told you before there’s no way I can have a dog.”
“You already have a dog,” she said. “He may be staying with me, but he’s adopted you. I’ll give you a bill for room and board.”
Panic seemed to flit across Aidan’s face, and she sensed it had nothing to do with being charged for Archie’s care.
“Liz, be reasonable. It’s a tiny one-bedroom apartment, barely bigger than a studio, when you get right down to it.”
“And I have a two-bedroom house with two other dogs and a cat. What’s your point?”
“It’s just not fair for him to be shut in all day while I’m at school,” Aidan told her.
“He seems to be doing okay at my house all day when I’m at the store. Besides, school will be out in a couple of weeks.” She beamed at him. “You’ll have lots of time to take him out for runs then. If you want, I’ll even keep him till school is out. That should work out perfectly. Any more objections?”
Aidan frowned. “I thought you didn’t want to place pets with people you didn’t think would be good owners.”
“True,” she said readily, as they reached the dog park. “I think you’re going to be an excellent owner. You just need to get used to the idea.”
Liz claimed the two dogs that Kitty had been watching, tried to ignore the other woman’s amused glance at Aidan and a now-docile Archie and headed toward home. Aidan was still arguing with her when they reached her house. This time, though, she was determined not to listen. Whether he realized it or not, he and Archie were meant to be together.
Inside the house, she released all three dogs. Hers headed for the kitchen for water, but Archie stayed right at Aidan’s side as if sensing that something significant involving his future was about to change.
Determined to seize the moment and not allow anything to dissuade her from this decision, she added, “You should probably come over early Saturday morning.”
Aidan frowned. “Why? Aren’t you working?”
“Of course, but if you’re here by seven, we’ll have time to take Archie for a visit to Cordelia. You should probably get to know her.”
He stared at her blankly. “Who’s Cordelia?”
“I told you about her,” she reminded him. “She was Archie’s original owner. She misses him. I want her to know that he’s going to a good home and, best of all, that it’s with someone right here in town so she can still see him. You’ll enjoy spending time with her, I’m sure.” And Cordelia would be in her element with a handsome man coming around with Archie in tow. She’d have bragging rights at the seniors center.
Aidan looked as if he might argue, but instead he sighed deeply. “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”
She glanced pointedly at the dog, who hadn’t taken his eyes off Aidan during the entire exchange. “How can I? This was clearly meant to be.”
“He has to stay here till school’s out,” Aidan said, as if clinging to one last shred of hope that he could eventually change her mind.
“Agreed,” she said, fighting a smile. “But not one second longer.”
“We’ll see,” Aidan murmured, but even as he spoke, he was stroking Archie’s head.
“I have to go,” he said suddenly, and turned toward the door.
“Have a good night,” she called after him, holding tight to Archie’s collar when the dog whimpered and clearly would have followed him.
When Aidan was out of sight, she petted the Aussie. “Don’t fret. You’ll be going home with him soon. I’ll see to it.”
Even as the promise crossed her lips, she found herself chuckling. It might not involve people, but apparently she was turning into something of a matchmaker herself. There must be something in the Chesapeake Shores air that made people want to see everyone they knew happy...one way or another.
8
“I swear to God, I don’t know how she did it,” Aidan told Connor the next morning when he bumped into him at Sally’s. He’d come in earlier than usual, hoping to avoid Liz for a change, because last night’s interaction had proved to be even more disconcerting than usual. As he waited for his coffee, he filled his friend in.
“I was out for a run, minding my own business,” he continued. “Next thing I knew Archie came bolting out of nowhere with Liz hard on his heels. She jumped to the conclusion that meant he belonged with me. Now she’s determined to move him into that tiny apartment upstairs the second school lets out.”
Connor chuckled. “Is this the first time in your life you’ve crossed paths with a woman who’s determined to get her own way?”
“Hardly,” Aidan said. “But usually they’ve wanted to move themselves in, not a dog.”
Connor gave him a disbelieving look. “And it was easier to say no to that than to a dog?”
“We’re talking about women. It’s never easy,” Aidan said in a resigned tone.
“So, help me out. Is it the dog or Liz who’s complicating your life?” Connor persisted.
“It’s the combination, man. Liz, plus that dog looking at me as if he understood every word she was saying.”
Laughing, Connor glanced at his cell phone, then shook his head. “Darn, it’s only June 1. I thought for sure you’d hold out till the Fourth of July at least. I owe Kevin twenty bucks.”
“You had a bet with your brother about Liz and me?” Aidan asked incredulously.
“Not just Kevin. Dad was in on it, too,” Connor revealed. “As a matter of fact, he was the first one to pick up on the vibes between the two of you. I have to give him credit. When it
