Page 45 of Beastly Mountain Man

“Absolutely not.”

Bear sat.

“You’ve eaten.”

His tail swept once across the floor.

“You’re trying to manipulate me with your face.”

“That sounds familiar,” I said.

“I work with actors.”

Bear leaned into her leg.

Caprice scratched behind his ear.

“No sausage.”

Bear turned his eyes toward me.

“Don’t appeal the ruling.”

Caprice laughed.

She finished the waffle, then looked at the empty plate.

I got up.

“Another?”

She hesitated for barely a beat.

“Yes, please.”

Nothing added.

No reason why she should or shouldn’t.

She wanted another waffle.

So I made her one.

By the time brunch ended, blue had opened between the clouds and the snow outside shone bright enough that we’d turned off the lamps.

Bear had been moving between the rear door and Caprice for several minutes.

She finally noticed.

“Why does he keep doing that?”

“He wants outside.”

“He’s already been outside today.”

“You’re applying human standards to a retriever in fresh snow.”

Bear shoved his nose at the door.