Page 46 of The Offer

“So you lied.”

He stepped back, rubbing a hand down his face. “Yes. I’ve regretted it every day. I really, really want you to trust me.”

“I do,” she confessed, her words surprising her. “As long as you promise me two things.”

He stepped into her, closing the distance between them. “Anything. Literally anything, Jessica.”

“One, do not lie to me again.”

“Done. From this point on, you know everything. I’ll even text you when I poop.”

“That’s too much information, you sicko.”

“Never too much information. We’re about to become dog parents and deal with a lot of poop. What’s the second thing?”

“Promise me that you will be responsible with your money. No more going into debt. If there’s something on this list we can’t afford, we can’t afford it. Like getting a dog.”

“That’s the thing, I can afford to get a dog right now.”

She cocked a brow. “You can?”

“After paying off my debt, I actually started putting money in my savings.”

Jess smirked. “Look at you. An actual adult.”

“I mean, I am about to blow it on a dog, but yeah. I’ve got the money.”

She studied his face, thinking it through. She was about to adopt a dog with a man who had money habits that made her uncomfortable. But…she already made the choice to go into business with him. Would sharing a dog be any different?

Feeling reckless, she nodded. “Sure, yeah, okay. Let’s get a dog.”

He grabbed her hand and hauled her back to the town green. They shuffled through the different stations, booping wet noses and scratching little ears. Even if the puppies they passed were fuzzy and adorable and Kevin claimed he wanted to take them all home, she hadn’t made a connection with one yet. She hoped to find a kindred spirit. She wondered if it was ridiculous to even hope for that.

They hit a collection of mutts toward the back, and Kevin about lost his mind. He hopped the fence and sat down in the middle, laughing as puppies climbed all over him and licked his face.

“Jessica, get in here. This is magic.”

“I’m good out here, thanks.”

Kevin held out a hand, curling his fingers and motioning for her to get in. She sighed and carefully climbed over the thin fence, then took a seat next to him. Puppies sniffed her shorts and her shoes and her hands. She smiled and scratched underneath little snouts, stroking the fur from their heads down to their wagging tails.

One brave golden pup climbed into her lap and took a seat on her thighs. The puppy stuck out its little tongue and panted, tail thumping back and forth.

“You’re glowing.”

“Stop, you’re being weird.”

“At this point you should know that’s pretty much my motto,” he said. “This little one likes you, I think.”

Jess cupped the puppy’s face and rubbed her thumbs against the fur on its nose. Its tail wiggled faster and faster.

“She’s a mix, golden retriever and a lab,” the rescue worker explained from beyond the fence.

Jess ruffled her floppy ears. “Does she have a name?”

“No name. I call her Honey but it doesn’t matter. She can’t really hear me.”

Kevin frowned. “Is she deaf?”