Chapter 51
Entering the condo with her security officers at her back, the sound of Antero giggling made her heart squeeze. The sound of Torq’s echoing laugh made it pulse and race. She followed the sound of the happiness as her security team waved goodbye and walked out, she wondered what it was which was so funny.
Since she’d spent so much time in Torq’s office, she’d not been able to get everything done before end of day and she’d insisted she be allowed to do her job. Torq finally agreed and said he’d pick Antero up from school and bring him home.
“What on earth is going on in here?” bubbles were everywhere. Antero was standing on a chair next to the sink and Torquato was
in behind him.
Two identical sets of eyes turned to look at her in horror and she cocked her head to one side, curious as to what it was which was causing both of them to seem so worried about her being in the room.
“You’re back already?”
“It’s after six, Torq.
A noise from the sink made both of them look at the sink and then back to her
in a rush and moved to the sink. Her
“What did you do?” she felt her heart racing as she dropped her laptop bag, purse, and backpack to the floor in fingers gripped the counter in disbelief. “What the hell is that?
“It’s a dog, Mom!” Antero locked at her as if she were stupid. “Don’t you know what a dog is?”
Torq squeezed his eyes shut at Antero’s tone and gave a warning shake of his head.
“I know what a dog is Antero Bruno Mariani, but what is one doing in my kitchen sink?” the tan and black thing lifted one paw up and set it on the edge of the sink. Splashing her in the process, she was about to scream when she noted the size of it’s paws. “What kind of dog is this?” Big brown eyes stared at her surrounded by big fluffy bubbles. She looked at the big wide kitchen sink and wondered how the thing fit in there.
“Well, the thing is,” Torq cleared his throat, “while I was waiting for Antero I got talking to one of the fathers and he was complaining how the person who was supposed to pick up his last puppy didn’t show up and turned out he got arrested so it was for the best the dog didn’t go to him but now he was trying to rehome a puppy.”
She pointed at the dog, “that’s a puppy? No. That’s the size of a full–grown dog.”
Torg scratched his neck and Antero copied the movement. Even in trouble, only a day after meeting, the boy was the clone of his father’s
motions.
“Mom, big boys need big dogs.”
She tucked her tongue between her cheek and her teeth and took a steadying breath as she looked back to the dog. “How old is this dog?”
“Twelve weeks.”
“Three months? This dog is only three months? He has to weigh fifty pounds.”
“She” Antero corrected her missing the clear clue his mother was imitated.
The dog sneezed and bubbles and water splashed everywhere. Antero giggled and Torg grinned. Alcee looked at her shoes which were now soaked.
“This isn’t happening. She whispered as she looked at the dog. “What is he? Half pony?”
“Half English Mastiff and half Great Dane.” Torq scratched the pup on the top of the head. “an’t be cute. The guy we got her from told us the mother went through her first heat cycle, and they thought she was fine. She was booked to get fixed. He sent her to doggy daycare while he was at work and then when he took her to get fixed the vet told him she was pregnant. Doggy daycare failed to tell him a rowdy boy was humping all the girls on one of the days. He didn’t have the beart to abort the pups, so he let her carry them. She’s booked to get fixed next week and he’s keeping her out of doggy daycare until it’s time. We got lucky. She was the last one.”
“You didn’t even talk to me about it.”
“It all happened so fast, Alcee and Antero mentioned how he always wanted a dog.”
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Chapter 51
dog like this is?”
“I can barely keep him alive.” She waved at Antero. “Do you know how much work a dog like
“I’m going to help, Mom. We’re going to walk her together like a family and go on vacations together and everything. I love her so much,” Antero squeezed his hands in the dogs fur and Torq quickly pulled them away.
“Cuteness aggression, Torg, do you see it? He wants to squeeze the pup.”
*I mean look at the pup. She’s pretty dang cute.”
“She can sleep in my room. We got her a crate.”
“How b
big is she going to get?”
Torq drew his bottom lip between his
eth and mumbled.
“I’m sorry, I’m pretty sure I heard you say between a hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds.”
He nodded and then added, “the guys were pretty excited about her. They will help with walking her when we’re working. Tito was on the floor with her for an hour.”
“He was, was he?”
“Yes. Tito and Bastiano went to get us pizza for supper.”
“You get a sausage pizza all to yourself,”
“We should have discussed this before you did this, Torq.” She gave him an angry glare.
“I agree we should have but in my defense, the guy had the mom dog and the pup right there with him and I mean look at her eyes, Alcee. Look into her eyes and tell me she isn’t the prettiest pup you ever saw. I took one look at her and knew she was meant to be part of our family.”
“Really?”
Yes. The same way I knew you were meant to be mine, I knew she was too.”
“So, I’m on the same level as a dog then??
His mouth opened and closed, and she backed away. “Clean this mess up. Get the deg out of my sink. Make sure you disinfect it. My pie better be, a large,”
“it’s an extra–large,” Torq called after her, “We’re keeping with the theme.
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Tanya Gordon
it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission
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