Page 42 of Wag More Bark Less

“Yeah,” she said as I opened the passenger door so I could move a few things off the seat before she got in. “My mom’s obsessed with flowers.”

“Mine, too.”

My heart squeezed, a flash of Mom’s flower garden dancing across my mind. It was her favorite hobby outside of running the bookstore. Dad tried to keep it up these past few years, but he didn’t have the green thumb Mom and Grandma Connie did. And yet, the flowers bloomed despite it.

Maggie slipped around me, climbing into the passenger seat, the hint of a sweet floral scent teasing my senses. It was just a whiff, considering she smelled mostly of lake water. Honestly, I couldn’t decide which I liked better. Both.

Apparently, I was staring off into space, because I wasn’t aware of Maggie’s hand until it rested on my forearm. The skin-to-skin contact instantly warded off any chill I’d been feeling. It was as though a warm current of lava flowed throughout my body.

I lifted my gaze from her hand, and once again it snagged on those lips. What would it be like to kiss Maggie Holland? To slowly tangle my fingers in those damp blonde locks as I brought her mouth to mine? Would her tongue hint of sassiness when it slid against mine?

“Luke?” she said.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry about your mom.”

The words were like a shock to my system, and I shuffled backward as if her touch were poison. How the hell did she know about Mom? Did Alyssa tell her? The last fucking thing I wanted was her pity.

“I need to get back,” I said, closing the door, shutting down that conversation before it could start. Guess I’d be braving family dinner after all.

SIXTEEN

ELLIE

Forever Dad’s home!

Find the perfect sock.

But be quiet, Ellie Belly.

Forever Mom’s asleep.

Ellie Belly should be asleep, too.

It’s past bedtime.

I’ll go back to bedtime after I give Forever Dad his new sock.

Sniff, sniff, sniff.

This one!

It’s the bestest sock.

Quiet steps.

Don’t wake Forever Mom.

Hang on, sock.

Ellie Belly needs to open the door.

Grab the rope.

Bite the rope.

Tug, tug, tug.