Page 26 of Fragile Sanctuary

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “You ever give more than one-word answers?”

“No.”

A laugh did bubble out of me then. Couldn’t be helped. “Fair enough. Let’s play a one-word game, then. Lakes or oceans?”

Anson stopped in his tracks and turned slowly toward me. “What are you playing at?”

I shrugged. “You’re my brother’s best friend. You’re going to be working on my house for the foreseeable future. Don’t you think it might be nice to get to know each other a little bit? Maybe even be friendly?”

That was the wrong word.

The blue bled out of Anson’s eyes, leaving them pure gray. “I don’t do friends. I don’t do silly little girls playing games. Just let me do my job and stay out of my way.”

A slap would’ve stung less. But I didn’t let it show. “I might be silly, but silly’s a heck of a lot better than being an asshole.”

And with that, I headed to water the plants in the north greenhouse. Anson could load the damn trailer himself.

“Thank you for taking him,”Nancy said as she handed me a leash. “I didn’t want to call you for another week, at least. Hoped to give you a chance to get settled in your new place. But desperate times call for desperate measures.”

I took hold of the thick green leash as the dog looked up at me with sad eyes. It was anyone’s guess what mishmash of breeds he was. He had a stocky body with short, stubby legs, and his head looked two sizes too big for the rest of him. His black fur was dull, but I knew that would change with a month of good meals.

“It’s not a problem. Kitten season is always hectic.” I crouched down to get on the pup’s level but didn’t offer my hand yet. I wanted him to get used to my scent first.

Nancy swiped the tendrils of frizzy hair out of her face. “You’re telling me. I’ve got two litters right now.”

I looked up at her, taking in the dark circles under her eyes. “Are you getting any sleep at all?”

“Ken and I are taking shifts, so I’m cobbling together five or six.”

“Angel points,” I said with a smile. “But you deserve a trip to the spa, too.”

Nancy’s big, bawdy laugh swirled in the air around us. “I’m not against it once we’re deep into summer, maybe fall.”

But she wouldn’t ever go. She’d feel like a trip away meant letting down the animals that needed her. Wags & Whiskers Animal Rescue was her pride and joy, her purpose. And she didn’t trust anyone to run it in her absence.

My gaze shifted back to the black dog. His ears twitched.

“What do I need to know about him?”

Nancy sighed. “He got dumped down by Castle Rock. He does okay around women, but he’s not the biggest fan of men.”

An ache settled deep in my bones. That could only mean that some man hadn’t treated him well. Bastard.

“He have a name?” I asked.

“Thought you could do the honors there as you get to know him.”

The dog shifted a bit, easing toward me.

“Hey, buddy,” I crooned.

At the soft tone, he scooted even closer.

I pulled the packet of treats I kept in the car from my back pocket. “How do you feel about liver? I think it’s nasty, but it smells extra strong, which usually means pups love it.”

The moment I broke the seal on the bag, the dog started sniffing wildly. I chuckled and plucked a treat from the pack. Holding out my palm, I waited.

He stretched out his neck as far as possible and quickly snatched the treat.

---