Page 58 of Speechless
Right now, she was curled under her new duvet—complete with the duckling cover Sarah had found her online—with her attention riveted on the TV from beneath half-lidded, glassy eyes. The last seven days had proved testing for them both—Jenna with the new routine Connor set in place after Hadley’s departure, and Connor himself with laying down the law in a manner she couldn’t skirt around with big green eyes and that ridiculously cute pout she’d learned worked wonders on him.
Despicable Mewas halfway through for the…fifth time that day, Connor calculated. He could recite a good third of the script already; he feared for his sanity by the time the week came to a close.
Another reason for his beer.
“It’s a solid idea, Cain. I’m not arguing that, but what the hell am I supposed to do with it? I have enough on my plate trying to get little miss over here to eat, let alone remember to feed, walk and play with a damn dog.”
Cain shook his head. “Use your head, smart man. When Jenna eats, the dog eats. Jenna has lunch, she gives the pup a treat after. Dinner? Well, she has to clean her plate before she can feed her best friend. Walking’s a little more difficult with the constraints the agent’s put in place, but as long as you’re with them, I don’t see the problem. It gets Jenna out into the yard, back into the outside world. Has she even been past the front door yet?”
Connor scowled. “Can’t get her anywhere near. She grabs hold of anything she can get her hands on and clings to it, usually the banister.”
“There you go. Encourage her to explore. This isn’t a floppy-eared mutt that comes up to your ankle, brother. With a word, this thing will rip the throat out of anyone who poses a threat to her.” Cain sipped his beer, tipped the bottle toward Jenna. “My friend has four you can choose from. All over a year old, all house-broken, trained to police specifications, and soft as fucking butter until they go to work. Couldn’t ask for better protection.”
In theory, it sounded like a good plan. Solid, as Connor told Cain, and it had merit. Companionship and personal guard service rolled into one. While he had no intention of leaving Jenna unsupervised, another pair of eyes on her would be beneficial. Particularly if those eyes came with a set of sharp teeth.
“And if this dog decides it doesn’t like me, Sarah, the fucking mailman? Hell, if it takes a dislike to Jenna?”
“You’ll be introduced as top dog,” Cain replied easily. He swigged again, swallowed, looked at Jenna. “Sarah could charm the rainbow off a goddamn tight-assed leprechaun, and who the fuckdoeslike Chad the mailman? The man’s a narcissistic prick with a God complex. Holding people’s mail hostage,” he muttered with a snarl that brought Jenna’s attention swinging over to him. “Sorry, beautiful, go back to your movie.”
She checked to make sure Connor was still there, then wiggled deeper under the duvet. Moose’s ears popped over the edge as she cuddled him beneath her chin.
“As for her…dogs are damn good judges of character, Connor. The right dog, a loyal dog, is gonna take one look at her and become her shadow. Let’s face it, she inspires loyalty. You and Sarah immediately became her guardians the moment she fell into your care. Partly because of who you both are, but mostly because of who she is.”
Well, that he couldn’t deny. Jenna brought out his nurturing instincts more than anyone else of his acquaintance. “I guess you better ask her if she likes dogs, then, hadn’t you?”
His brother’s smirk warned him of incoming snark. “I’m not her Daddy, am I?” He flipped the foot of the recliner up, kicked back. “That’s the privilege of a Daddy, not an uncle.”
Connor blinked. Would it never cease to amaze him how easily Cain accepted…hell, everything? Caleb would be shitting kittens if he knew the sharp turn Connor’s relationship had taken with Jenna, yet for Cain, it was just a slight bump in the road, one he cruised over without taking too much notice.
And always with a sense of humor.
“I’ll keep that in mind,UncleCain, when I need someone to babysit.” Connor drank deep. Once he’d asked the question, his life would undoubtedly become more complicated in a short space of time. A dog, for fuck’s sake.
It could be a poor joke in the wrong hands.
A little, a dog, and a psychopath meet in the middle of the woods…
He shook his head clear of the thought. There’d be a bullet between Sire’s eyes before he got within reach of Jenna. He ran his hand over the dainty lump beside him, smiled as she stirred. Sleepy eyes peered at him.
She wasn’t getting enough sleep. What little she achieved wasn’t enough to boost her appetite or keep her energy levels raised. Maybe tonight he’d give her half a sleeping tablet, see if that would navigate her through the torment of dreams for an easy night.
“Baby, Cain would like to get you a present.” Without taking his eyes off hers, Connor heard the recliner ping back into an upright position. He smiled to himself as Cain choked on his beer and spluttered a protest. “How do you feel about dogs?”
“Connor—”
Jenna squealed and erupted from her cocoon like a rampaging butterfly. Moose went flying, tumbling over the floor, while his little girl turned into a missile, launching herself at him with another joyous squeak. Arms locked around his neck, her forehead cracked into his chin hard enough to make his teeth ache, but she stuck to him like glue in her pretty pink cotton pajamas.
She leaned back, clapping her hands on his face and hers alive with such innocent jubilance it took his breath away. Tears gave her green eyes a shimmering beauty, but he saw no sorrow, just happiness. “Puppy?”
“Not quite, baby. A little older than a puppy, but it would be yours.” He could no more deny her the damn dog now as he could punch her in the face. Hell, if she wanted a puppy, he’d go to the pound and bring her home ten just to see this look in her eyes. “But there are stipulations, Jenna.”
She nodded eagerly.
“Thank you, Daddy.” Sweeter than any child, she kissed him. The first time she’d kissed him of her own volition. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, baby. Why don’t you thank Uncle Cain; it’s his present to you.” Connor’s grin flashed wickedly as Cain curled his lip at him. As Jenna scrambled off his lap, Connor added hastily, “Not like that, baby. I want to be the only one you kiss like that.”
Her answering smile was shy. “Yes, Daddy.”