Page 29 of The Wedding Planner's Manny
I'd like for the kids to see you as someone they can trust rather than a police officer in my employ.”
“I guess that makes sense, but I’m still sorry.”
“Apology accepted,” Ethan said easily. “For the record, the next time one of my kids adopts a pet, a person, or even an inanimate object, Iwouldlike to know.”
“Understood.”
We started walking down the quiet street Ethan lived on, not too far away from the town’s center. It was a good location. Nathan could walk to school from here—andwecould probably walk to the pet store and get a leash, if that was what Ethan wanted. It didn’t seem super unlikely. I couldn’t picture him abandoning the bundle of fur he was carrying, even if he didn’t approve of his son’s actions.
“You seem to be taking this pretty well,” I commented, sticking my hands in my pockets because the weather was getting chilly and I hadn’t brought gloves.
Ethan gave me a shrug. “In my business, you learn to roll with the punches or you go up in flames.
Bride shaved all her hair off in a fit of frenzy an hour before the ceremony? I got wigs, hats and stupidly cute tiaras. Groom loses his nerves on the big day? I have a list of motivational speeches and a swig of whiskey to get him through. Son carries a dog home from the park? I know where to buy a leash. Honestly, there’s not much that can shake me anymore.”
“Other than your wife leaving you?” I hadn’t meant to voice that thought, but somehow I did.
Ethan stopped and stared at me, features frozen. Oh no. I’dreallyupset him now. My stomach turned to knots. Was this the moment Ethan would finally unleash his alpha temper on me?
But that wasn’t what happened. After only a moment, he caught himself and his expression smoothed over again. “I guess you’re right about that.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Your observation was accurate.” He gave me a shrug and started walking again. Toward the pet store, I assumed as I walked with him. He’d said something about getting a leash after all, which meant… “You’re going to keep the dog?”
“To be honest, I don’t want to reward Nathan’s behavior, but look at this little guy.” He nodded at the puppy he was carrying. “I’m sure other alphas might be strong enough to throw him back out, but I can’t be.”
“I don’t think being able to throw out a puppy is a sign of strength at all. You know what takes real strength? Taking him in when you never expected to have him thrown at you and treating him with the same love and kindness you would show him if you had personally picked him out at the shelter.”
For a long moment, Ethan only looked at me, and I wondered if I’d overstepped a line or something.
Then he said, “I’m glad you feel that way.”
I tried not to fidget when he looked at me like that, all his attention focused on me. His gaze made me feel warm for some reason, even though the air was chilly around us, whispering promises of snow into our ears. I shrugged to break the tension. “Are you going to punish Nathan?” I asked, to change the topic.
“I will, but to be honest, I'm not sure how yet.” His eyes left me to glance up at the gray sky instead.
“I'm kind of running out of ideas. Nothing I do or say gets through to him.”
“Is that why you threatened to take his pets away?”
“Yeah. I wouldn't really do that, but he doesn't have to know I won't.”
“I'm glad to hear you're not seriously considering giving Nathan's pets away.”
“No, I'm not heartless.”
“I know you're not.”
He turned to me and there it was again, that weird tension in the air between us. Was he feeling it too?
Or was it all in my head? I couldn't tell. I misread situations often enough that I wasn't willing to trust my instincts with stuff like this. Ethan opened his mouth, about to say something, when suddenly someone called his name from the other side of the road.
“Ethaaan! Darling!”
When I turned to look, I spotted an old lady in a wheelchair, waving at us. Was that Ethan's grandmother? Behind her, pushing the wheelchair was the chief of the local fire department. I recognized him because my brother Dean worked with him.
Next to me, Ethan groaned. “Please tell me that's not who I think it is,” he muttered to himself. Then, he put on a smile and approached the old lady and the fire chief.
