Page 92 of Just One Silver Fox

Mack gave him a fierce look. “Sheba treats Anastasia like a rodent.”

“Aren’t guinea pigs rodents?” Angel asked.

“Sheba’s not exactly wrong,” Jimmy agreed.

“Anastasia is my pet and she deserves not to be eaten or terrorized!” Mack protested.

Pierce shook his head again.

“It’s only temporary, guys,” Mack tried again.

There was an expectant silence.

“I was evacuated with a bomb dog,” Nate admitted, his throat a little tight just at the memory of that day. “He was great.” He’d been half out of it, probably thanks to an injection, but he recalled the solid reassuring heat of that dog—and Rex’s joy when Nate had driven to North Dakota.

He felt Pierce studying him and wondered how much that man knew of his history.

And his current personal life.

It probably wasn’t a coincidence that Mack was bringing this up in their meeting today.

“I knew you’d understand,” Mack said with enthusiasm. “I talked to the hotel and they said you could have her there, so long as she isn’t left alone in the unit.”

“As subtle as a steamroller,” Angel muttered.

Pierce held up a hand and Mack fell silent. “Don’t let her push you into it, Nate. We’ll find a foster home for the dog.”

“I’d like to have a dog,” he admitted. “But it might be better for this dog to be adopted, not fostered.”

“Volunteering?” Mack asked brightly.

“It depends on the rules of whatever apartment I rent, though. And it depends how many hours I work, because a dog shouldn’t be left home alone a lot.”

“She could come to the office with you,” Pierce said.

“She’s perfectly trained,” Mack said.

“Especially to kill rodents,” Smoke contributed and Mack glared at him.

Then she smiled for Nate. “I could bring her over…”

“Tell him the rest,” Pierce said, his voice low with command.

Mack exhaled. “She lost a paw. She was caught in an attack and they had to amputate one of her front legs. That’s why she was discharged.”

Nate looked up, intrigued. “Does she have a prosthesis?”

“Yes, but she won’t put her weight on it.”

“She doesn’t trust it,” he guessed. “Or it might hurt. Have you looked at the scar?”

Lisa gave him a look. “I’m just trying to keep my existing pets from being devoured.”

“Bring her over,” Nate said. He could help this dog—and he wanted to. “But if we get along, I won’t just foster. It’ll be for the duration. I’ll need an apartment that allows dogs and she’ll need a place at the office.”

“I can do that,” Mack said. “It’s a good thing you didn’t commit to an apartment yet. There’s a new building near a park…let me see what I can find.”

“I don’t care if it costs more,” Nate said.

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