Page 41 of Courting Catherine
C.C. couldn’t hold back the grin. “Very fashionable.”
“And a leash.” Trent set that on the table, as well. “Puppy food.”
“Uh-huh.” C.C. began to go through the bag herself. “And puppy treats, rawhide bones.”
“He’ll want to gnaw,” Trent told her.
“Sure, he will. A ball and a squeaky mouse.” Laughing, she squeezed the rubber toy.
“He should have something to play with.” He didn’t want to add that he’d searched for a dog bed and cushion but hadn’t come across them.
“I didn’t know you were a softie.”
He glanced down at the happily lapping puppy. “Neither did I.”
“What’s his name?” Lilah wanted to know.
“Well, I...”
“You found him, you get to name him.”
“Do it quick,” Amanda advised him. “Before Lilah sticks him with something like Griswold.”
“Fred,” Trent said on impulse. “He looks like a Fred to me.”
Unimpressed with his christening, Fred plopped down with one ear in the saucer of milk and went to sleep.
“Well, that’s settled.” Amanda gave the pup one last pat before she rose. “Come on, Lilah, it’s your turn to take a shift.”
“I’ll give you a hand.” Instincts humming, Coco hustled her two nieces out of the room and left C.C. alone with Trent.
“I’d better go, too.” C.C. started for the door. Trent laid a hand on her arm to stop her.
“Wait.”
“What for?”
“Just... wait.”
She stood, battling back hurt. “I’m waiting.”
“I—how’s your hand?”
“It’s fine.”
“Good.” He felt like an idiot. “That’s good.”
“If that’s all...”
“No. I wanted to tell you... I noticed a rattle in the car when I drove down to the village.”
“A rattle?” She pursed her lips. “What kind of rattle?”
An imaginary one, he thought, but shrugged. “Just a rattle. I was hoping you could take a look at it.”
“All right. Bring it in tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
