Page 47 of Fang Fatale

"I know."

"But you seem like someone who appreciates a dog who's already stopped trying to impress anyone."

I lift an eyebrow.

"So I'm not impressive?"

"No."

He smiles wider.

"You're just not trying to be."

I look at him over the rim of my mug.

"That was almost smooth."

"Almost?"

"You telegraphed it."

I point toward his face.

"Your left eyebrow does this little thing."

He blinks.

For the briefest moment, every carefully constructed wall slips.

"I'll work on that."

"You do."

I nod toward Barnaby, now enthusiastically licking the floor for reasons known only to him.

"In the meantime, Barnaby is an excellent judge of character."

"And?"

"He hasn't bitten you."

He nods solemnly.

"High praise."

"The highest."

The bell jingles.

Clover appears holding up her phone.

"Daisy says she's dying of loneliness and requires breakfast scones immediately."

"On it."

Grateful for the interruption, I box up the pastries.

When I glance back, Alaric is watching me.