“I wish I could bend down and pet you, baby girl. And I can’t wait for the day when I can pick you up. Not just yet, though.”
She barely got out the sentiment when Kam’s SUV pulled down the street and turned into the driveway.
Suddenly, PB showed a whole new side of herself. Lunging at the car, she strained at the end of her leash, which gave Glory a yank that sent a breath-sucking ripple of pain through her ribs. Yapping and growling, PB continued to put on a vicious show until Kam hurriedly left the SUV.
PB’s outrage transformed to undiluted excitement, and that was almost as bad.
“What’s wrong?” Kam’s long strides brought him quickly to her side, so he could take the leash.
It still took Glory a second to speak. “I got jerked a tiny bit, that’s all. I’m okay.”
He stared at her, worry keeping his brows together. “What are you doing out here, Glory?” As he spoke, he bent to lift PB into his arms. The dog was beside herself, licking his face and nuzzling at him.
Glory wished she could greet him like that, too. “It’s a nice day, I’ve enjoyed being outside, and I figured PB and I could wait for you out here. I spoke with Addie, so I knew you wouldn’t be long.”
“And you missed me?”
How was she supposed to answer that?
“Stop analyzing,” he said with grin, “and just tell me what you’re thinking.”
Fine, if he wanted the truth, she’d give it to him. “Yes, I missed you. A lot. But I’m also glad you got out to do your own thing. And I’m glad I got to do my own thing, too.”
“You’re really okay?”
“Perfectly fine.” As much as she could be with broken ribs. “It was all going well until PB didn’t recognize you. I had no idea she had such a vicious streak.”
“She’s a protective girl.” Then, his voice dropping to a silly, sweet tone, he said to the dog, “Aren’t you, baby? Yes, you are. Such a ferocious guard dog. The prettiest, too.”
PB ate it up.
Grinning, Glory watched him carry on. “I’d wanted my own kiss, but now that you’re covered in dog slobber...” she teased.
He put PB on her feet, lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe his face, and then leaned in for a soft smooch. “Get used to it, baby. PB is a lovebug.”
“When she’s not being protective?”
“It’s a great quality in a dog, even in one so small.” He kissed her again. “It’s been a hell of a day, and I have a lot to tell you, so how about we head in?” With his arm around her back, he led her along.
“I have a few things to tell you, too.” She started with how Glenda had climbed the fence, wrapping up with what a wonderful neighbor she turned out to be.
“I wish I’d seen that.” Inside, he insisted on making them both sandwiches for dinner, and she insisted on sitting at the table again. “I’m glad you’ll have someone nearby, just in case anything happens.”
“Not that I’ll rely on a seventy-five-year-old woman.”
“Hey, she’s close enough to lend a hand until I can get here—or Tanner, Callie, or Addie.”
“Addie’s only a few years younger than Glenda.”
He paused with a pickle chip almost to his mouth. “Damn, that’s right.” The reminder turned him solemn. “I forget—or maybe I just don’t like to think about her getting older.”
“She always seems younger because she’s so active. Other than her feet hurting at Callie’s wedding, she never complains.”
“Compared to Liz, who complains a lot.”
“Usually at me.”
He grinned with her. “Now I better understand, but at the wedding, it was making me nuts how she kept nitpicking at you.”