Page 27 of I Still Do

Emma looked from her big brother to her grandmother and back again. “Peeese?”

Abby put a hand over her mouth but there was no missing the way her shoulders shook with laughter.

Maria and Flynn exchanged a look that said it all. Flynn stood and reached for the dog’s collar. “Let’s take him into the kitchen, get him some food and water, and we’ll go from there.”

The kids cheered so loudly that the dog lifted his ears and barked again.

Cora followed the crowd into the kitchen and watched as the dog wolfed down the half sandwich that was left over from lunch. He drank a bunch of water, dripping some of it on the floor as he turned to look longingly at the counter. When Maria picked up another slice of sandwich meat, the dog again bounced up and down on his front legs.

“What are we gonna name him?” Zac asked.

“Well, we do need to call him something,” Mom agreed. She looked thoughtful. “How about Pogo?”

Laughter and approving comments filled the room.

Zac looked up at his dad. “Can we keep him, Dad? Please?”

Flynn shook his head firmly. “Someone probably misses him, buddy. Once we have power, we’ll call down to the resort and see if someone is looking for him. If so, I’m sure they’ll be really glad we found him and gave him some food.”

The little boy nodded sadly. Cora felt for him. She’d never had a pet as a child. Her parents had insisted that they were too dirty and too much work. No matter how many times Cora promised to take care of it herself, the answer was always “no.”

As if the dog could sense her thoughts, he walked through everyone else and sat down at her feet. Cora crouched on the floor beside him and ran her hand over his head. She’d always wanted a dog, and Pogo here would be perfect. Too bad the timing was all wrong.

Grey moved to stand next to her. “If we can’t find the owner, you should take him home with you. I bet he’d be a great guard dog.”

“Maybe. But I work twelve-hour shifts at the hospital. I can tell just by looking at Pogo that he needs a lot of attention and opportunities to run. He’d be miserable waiting for me to come home. Probably make the neighbors miserable.” She doubted her apartment building would even let her have a dog that large in the first place. “Maybe you could take him home. He could be your store’s mascot.”

Grey seemed to consider the idea. If he took Pogo, she could always go by the store to see him.

The dog, not Grey.

Not that she had any intention of going by Grey’s store for any reason.

The fact the idea had popped into her mind at all annoyed Cora. That near kiss had obviously messed with her brain more than she’d thought.

Chapter Eleven

Grey had been playing poker with Dare, Mom, and Cora at the kitchen table when a blood curdling scream drew everyone to the living room. They found Zac standing near the fire place, the log Dare had been working on at his feet, and blood dripping from his left hand. Pogo was whining at him, clearly concerned.

Abby reached the boy first, but only by moments. She nudged the dog out of the way and knelt in front of her son. Dare led Pogo off to the side so he wouldn’t get in the middle of everything.

Once Grey got closer, it was clear what had happened when they all saw the open pocket knife lying on the ground near the log.

Flynn’s back straightened. “Zac, I’ve told you a hundred times not to mess with pocket knives unless someone’s helping you.”

Abby gave him a surprised look. “He cut himself really bad. I think that’s punishment enough.”

Flynn raised a challenging eyebrow at Dare. “Maybe if certain people didn’t just leave their knives lying around…” After his less-than-veiled accusation, he handed Emma to Mom and then turned his attention to his son. Abby held Zac’s hand in hers as blood continued to drip. The boy cried even though he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the wound.

Dare’s eyes flashed. “I get you’re worried about your son, Flynn. But maybe you should do some checking before you start throwing accusations around.” He patted his pocket. “My knife is right here.”

Flynn bent to retrieve the knife on the ground then grunted. “Zac, did you go upstairs and get my knife off the side table?”

Zac’s chin dropped as he stared at something invisible on the floor.

In true Flynn fashion, he ignored the fact that he owed Dare an apology. Grey would’ve said something if it weren’t for Zac’s finger.

“This is really deep, Flynn.”

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