Love Is a Four-Legged Word Read Online Free PDF Page B

your scent.”
    She liked the scent of him, too, she realized, a citrus after-shave mingled with something uniquely warm and male.
    “My scent? Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?” he said.
    “No. It’s all about instinct. Animal instinct. Do you realize that now Brutus has found a new leader of his pack he’ll snap out of his mourning? That’s what the vet said would happen, anyway.”
    Tom O’Brien was looking charmingly disconcerted, obviously not at all certain of how to react. It suited him so much better than his too-straight lawyer look. “Look here, I am not this dog’s pack leader. I’m his lawyer . . . uh . . . that’s not right, either.
    “Dammit, I’m the executor of Walter Stoddard’s will, and my responsibilities toward this animal only extend as far as making sure it stays alive and well for the next seventeen days.That’s all.”
    “And that I’m a fit dog guardian. Don’t forget that,” Maddy prompted. She was discovering this big, so-serious guy responded beautifully to a bit of teasing.
    He groaned. A loud how-the-hell-did-I-get-into-this-situation type groan that, surprisingly, endeared him to Maddy.
    “That’s right. That you’re a fit guardian. But I am not—repeat—not this dog’s alpha male or the leader of its pack.”
    She looked up at him, wide-eyed. “I’m afraid you are,” she said. “Brutus has chosen you and that’s that.You don’t have a say in the matter.”
    She tried very hard not to laugh at the expression on Tom O’Brien’s face.
     
     
     
    Tom looked down at Maddy as she knelt by the dog. Her hair was burnished copper by the spring sunshine and he noted that she didn’t wear any makeup. She didn’t need to.
    As she leaned over Brutus, her T-shirt pulled right up from her jeans and Tom couldn’t keep his eyes from the enticing stretch of gently curved tummy it revealed. She had a great body—slim, but rounded in all the right places. He wondered what her legs were like.
    Brutus was rolling his eyes in ecstasy as she energetically patted and stroked him, crooning endearments as she did so. Lucky dog. He wondered how it would feel if she—
    Tom refused to let his thoughts go any further. He wrenched his gaze away from the sight of her hands caressing the dog’s fur. Her fingers were long and slender, topped by practical, short-filed nails. Brutus obviously thought they felt great as he whimpered his appreciation.
    Was she serious about this alpha-male thing? Tom couldn’t be quite sure. She seemed earnest enough but her green eyes were dancing with mischief.
    Or was it challenge?
    Right. He was taking control of the wheel here.
    He cleared his throat. Maddy’s eyes widened with quick interest. “That was not a growl,” he said.
    “Oh,” she said, “I thought you were going to try it.”
    “No!” He assumed his best lawyer voice. “You will never—I repeat—never hear me growling at a dog.”
    She pulled a disappointed face and again he couldn’t be sure how serious she was.
    “And furthermore, if we’re to keep that dog alive, you can start by feeding it proper dog food—not cake.”
    “What? You’re not serious? Brutus has such a sweet tooth.”
    “No cupcake,” he said.
    She glared at him. “That’s ridiculous. He’s been snacking on my baking ever since I moved in here.”
    As she argued, she held the cupcake up out of the little dog’s reach. But it wasn’t high enough. With surprising speed for an animal with stumpy, cabriole legs, Brutus suddenly leapt up, twisted in midair, and expertly snatched the treat from her hand. Maddy gasped and stepped back.
    Brutus gobbled the snack down in one gulp and then looked up expectantly for more, begging with his black button eyes. He whimpered. He held up his paw to shake.
    Maddy laughed triumphantly.
    “Bad dog,” said Tom.
    “Sorry, Brutus,” Maddy said to the animal, “No more.You’ve got a new leader of your pack now and he says no. How’s about some yummy kibble