Page 196 of Huckleberry Hill
“You told me I didn’t need them,” he said with a gaping mouth.
“I don’t think I ever said that explicitly. It’s hard to remember that night.”
“Hard to remember? Seriously?”
“What led up to the conception,” I drawled. “We’d had bourbon and I was so down bad for you it was all fuzzy static up there.”
“Down bad.” He shook his head. “Yeah. You so were.”
“So were you,” I pointed out.
“Never said otherwise.” He leaned over and kissed me. “But also, we never had the conversation after that night either.”
“Hmm. As Salem called it, we were raw-doggin’ it from the beginning.”
“No complaints on my end.”
My gaze dropped to his mouth. “Me either.”
“Stop stalling. Go tell your dad about the puppies.”
“I’m not stalling. You’re the one who brought up the new car idea.”
“It was on my mind.” He shrugged.
I opened the passenger side door and got out.
“Signal when it’s safe.”
I went up to the front porch and opened the door. Muddy was resting in her chair, crocheting the same project she’d been working on since I’d gotten home.
Dad was on the couch with Jane cuddled up next to him.
“Hey,” Dad greeted. “Where’s Declan?”
“Out in the truck,” I said. “Can you come outside for a second?”
Dad frowned and nodded. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s perfect,” I said with a smile. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Uh-oh,” Muddy said, setting her crocheting aside. “I better come see what it is too.”
“Wait for me,” Jane added.
The three of them followed me out of the house and to the truck. Declan was still in the driver’s seat.
I opened the back door of the truck.
“Puppies?” Dad asked. “You brought home four puppies?”
“Yep,” I said. “Declan paid for them.”
Dad looked at Declan. “You didn’t tell her no?”
“Have you tried telling Hadley no?” Declan defended. “It’s impossible.”
“How can you say no to puppies?” Jane asked, reaching her hand out and stroking the back of one of them.
