Page 71 of Hello Trouble

“Fuck no,” I said at the same time Della said, “He’s so cute...”

I could see the war raging in her features. It was like there was an angel on her shoulder screaming PUPPY and a devil on the other saying BAD IDEA.

“Let’s go look around,” I said, hoping to spare her.

“Okay,” she said, pushing up from the ground. The puppy danced around her feet.

“What’s his name?” Della asked.

Hudson said, “I’ve been calling him ‘We’re Not Keeping You’ so my wife wouldn’t get any ideas.”

Della laughed, the sound warming me just as much as her fingers twining with mine. “Should we look around outside first?”

“Sure,” I said.

We left the little puppy inside, going out the back door and walking across the gravel path to the Quonset hut, a big metal building with a garage door leading inside. There was everything inside, from tractors to mowers and a couple cars that could make cool project pieces. Della asked questions about them, seeming interested just because I cared about it.

Most women didn’t bother getting to know me beyond what I could do for them. Not that it ever bothered me before, but now I was grateful to share this piece of me with her. There was an old dirt bike toward the back that would be fun to restore, and I made a mental note to ask Hudson about it later.

Then we went inside, wandering the room. I wasn’t much of a knickknack guy, but I watched Della, seeing what caught her eye. She flitted about the room while We’re Not Keeping You trailed at her feet and eventually found his way into her arms as she browsed every item. His fluffy white head lolled in the crook of her elbow while his big doe-brown eyes slowly blinked shut.

I smiled at the two of them, shaking my head. Was I about to get a dog?

Hell, I’d get a slug if it made her smile like that.

As we browsed the room, Della pointed out things for me to carry. A lamp with a stained-glass shade. A crock she said would be great for holding her sourdough starter. She seemed thrilled with each piece.

“Ready to go?” she asked. “I’m getting a little hungry.”

I nodded, leading the way back to the living room, where Hudson was sitting, flipping through an old photo album. At the muted sound of our footsteps on plush green carpet, he looked up. “Find any goodies?”

“So many,” Della said with a smile. “Your parents had excellent taste.”

The wrinkles around Hudson’s eyes crinkled. “Looks like you found a friend, too.” He gestured at the dog in her arms.

“Hope you don’t mind me hogging him all morning,” she said, a little guilty expression on her face. Then she glanced down at the sleepy puppy with a dejected look. “It’s going to be hard to say goodbye.”

Hudson pushed up from the chair, walking over to the cash register set up on a card table. “You can have him for free with all this stuff you found.”

“Oh, I don’t know...” Della said, looking down at him. “I’m not sure I have the time for him. I would hate to leave him at home all day while I’m working.”

“I’ll take him,” I said.

Both Della and Hudson gaped at me.

“What?” Della said.

I shrugged. “He could hang out with me at work. I’m sure the customers would love him too. And training him would be a good part-time job for Maya if she’s up for it.” It was making more and more sense by the second.

While Hudson totaled up all the items, Della leaned closer to me. “Are you sure about this? You really don’t have to for my sake.”

My eyebrows drew together. “Why else would I do it?”

That earned me an exasperated smile. “Hayes Madigan,” she whispered.

I leaned in and kissed her temple. “Della Dwyer.”

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