Read Online Under His Kilt by Melissa Blue - Free Book Online Page A

Other than Ian felt the need to point it out. Dobbers did things like that. Aye, he liked to mark his territory and had no qualms about it, but Jocelyn wasn’t his. Still, he’d invited himself to make sure nothing happened to her. “The first place.”
    They stepped out under an overhang. The backyard was huge. A fairly new swing and seesaw set took up a portion and the shed took up another. He caught the pained expression on the man’s face.
    Ian shifted uncomfortably having witnessed the unguarded moment. “Did they pass?”
    Galen blinked and shook his head. “Divorce. She took the kids. I got the dog. They can’t have them where she is.”
    “Oh,” he replied with sympathy and hoped that would end the exchange.
    The man laughed and clapped him on the back. “Yeah, you’re here for puppies, not a therapy session. Shall we?”
    They entered the shed and Galen left the door open. The mother had sable coloring with white spots and weighted about twenty-five pounds soaking wet, but with enough bulk to not be an ankle biter. She stood and her pups started jumping up like popcorn around her. Not even fazed, she focused on her owner, wagging her tail happily.
    Ian asked the proper questions as he picked up one of the pups for a closer inspection. Healthy, happy. They might grow bigger than their mum, but not by much.
    “They’re already vaccinated, but they’ll need to be spayed and neutered. I’ve already done the mom.” Galen’s smile tightened. “No more dogs for me. Puppies are a handful.”
    Ian put down the dog and stood. Jocelyn’s voice carried into the shed as she ended her call. He turned to her. “If you’re on the fence about getting a puppy don’t come in and look at ’em. They’re too cute to walk away from. I’m warning you.”
    She halted for a moment and then closed the distance. It took a one-hundreth of a second for her to melt at the sight of them. He laughed and said to Galen, “You’ll be one short by the end of the day, at least.”
    Surprisingly, Jocelyn asked all the same questions he had and then haggled over price with the man like a pro. Then it came down to choosing which one to take home. She started for the pup that looked just like its mum and settled on the one with white around its nose and paws. With her hands full, he made sure to get one of the blankets in the makeshift nest.
    “I feel bad for taking her.” She doubled checked. “Yeah, her.”
    Galen said, “I really appreciate it. I can’t take care of all of them and they needed a home.” He paused. “I know this might be asking for too much, but the kids would like to see pictures every now and again. You can just email them.”
    Her tone softened. “Not a problem at all. I’m a single woman. I’ll be taking tons of pics.”
    The man looked at Ian for a split second but fingered his ring with his thumb. “Thank you, anyway. Let me see you out.”
    At their cars, Jocelyn turned to Ian. The new puppy cuddled into her chest, quivering and whining. He handed over the cover and she tucked the dog into it. “Now the deed is done, not sure what the hell to do next.”
    “She needs stuff. Lots of it, but you shouldn’t take her out in public yet. Vaccinated or not.”
    She bit the side of her lip. “Yeah. Wonder if my sister can sit while I go.”
    “I can,” the words left his mouth before he could consider them. Shit. What was wrong with him?
    And then he thought of the possibilities and pushed the offer. “Go home and I’ll bring all the stuff you need.”
    She pursed her lips. “I don’t know.”
    “I’ve done this before. I know what needs doing.”
    Her gaze narrowed, because she probably caught onto his tone. “You’re just trying to get into my pants.”
    “I am.” He paused and smiled at her. “Is it working?”
    “Depends on what you bring, uh…” She looked down, squinted. The pup had fallen asleep. “Killer.”
    “Oh, God, no. Better name.”
    “Paws?” She barely contained