“We have a housekeeper who comes in from the village, but she doesn’t live in. Chase likes his privacy.”
“Yeah, must be hard having spontaneous sex if you have people lurking around every corner.” She spoke without thinking and was about to apologize when there was a loud bark and a large black Doberman bounded out of the kitchen.
“And here’s the other reason we don’t have staff—they can’t handle my dog.” Matilda braced herself and held up her hand. “Stay. Stay!”
The dog didn’t stay. Instead he cannoned into her, tackling her around the knees, almost sending her flying.
“Whoa, that is one enthusiastic animal you’ve got there.” Fliss grabbed Matilda’s arm, steadying her. Then she grabbed the dog by the collar. “Well, hello. You must be my client. Hasn’t anyone told you it isn’t polite to tackle a pregnant woman?”
Hero wagged his tail so hard he almost removed her eye.
Matilda grabbed him and tried to persuade him to sit. “I apologize for his behavior. It’s my fault. I don’t like scolding him in case I crush his spirit.”
“I think it would take a lot to crush his spirit.” Like her sister, she knew animals. And she knew dogs. This one was bright-eyed, intelligent and mischievous. Her favorite type. “It’s great to see a Doberman with a long tail.”
“I found a breeder who didn’t dock them at birth. I wanted him to have his tail. A tail is how a dog expresses himself and it’s important to be able to express yourself, don’t you think?”
“I do, and Hero is seriously cute.”
She recognized a kindred spirit when she saw one. She knew all too well how it felt to have a continual urge to do the wrong thing. And she knew how it felt to have everyone think the worst of you.
“Chase wanted me to have security when he’s working, but I couldn’t think of anything worse than having a stranger in the house when I’m trying to work, so we compromised.”
Fliss held out her hand to the dog and let him sniff her. “So you’re a compromise, are you?” She smiled as he thrust his nose into her palm, and she slid her hand around to rub his neck. “Yeah, you like that, of course you do. You’re a pushover, do you know that? A big, cuddly, oversized baby.”
“Most people are terrified of him, but Chase thinks that if someone broke into the house he would lick them.”
“Maybe, but the point about a dog like this is that he’s a deterrent. The breed comes with a certain reputation. That reputation is often enough to make someone think twice.” Fliss stroked her hand over the dog’s head. “It’s instinctive to him to protect those he loves. There’s a reason they make great guard dogs and are often used in search and rescue.”
“You know a lot about dogs.”
“It’s my job. Knowledge is power, and when I’m walking a strange dog I like to be the one with the power.”
“He likes you. You have a way with him.” Matilda seemed relieved. “Does that mean you’ll be willing to walk him for me until I have the baby?”
“It will be my pleasure.”
“I’d want it to be a business arrangement. I know how hard you’re working to grow the business, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable otherwise.”
“I appreciate that. Does he have any bad habits I need to know about? Does he munch on small children? Growl at old ladies?”
“If anything he’s too sociable. He greets everyone as if they’re his long-lost best friend. It’s the reason my cranberry juice is all over my shirt and not in my stomach.”
Fliss petted the dog. “Enthusiasm is not a bad habit, although the way you’re expressing it might need a little modifying. Dobermans are supersmart. They need consistent training and lots of exercise.”
“I was taking him to classes in Manhattan before I got too big to comfortably move. Chase said you were also walking your grandmother’s dog. Will you walk the two of them together?”
“Maybe. I’ll see how they get on. Sometimes they benefit from a little company. Sometimes they’re better on their own. Harriet and I personalize the service we offer and do whatever we think is best for the animal.” She guessed that Hero might be the type who preferred to be the center of attention. “You have a nice dog there.”
“Thank you.” Matilda gently scratched his head. “Chase is worried I’m going to trip over him because I’m so clumsy. Which reminds me, I need to do something about this shirt. I look like a walking murder victim.” She let go of Fliss’s arm. “Let’s go through to the kitchen. I have a mountain of cookies that need eating.”
“Cookies? You love baking?” Fliss felt a rush of inadequacy. Was she the only person on the planet who didn’t find baking soothing? “Harriet is the same. I’m beginning to see why the two of you get along so well.”
Matilda laughed. “I’m nothing like Harriet and I loathe cooking. The sum total of my creative endeavor is writing. Whenever I cook I inevitably get distracted by the scene I’m working on and forget about whatever is in the oven. Which is probably why I burn everything. I’ve set off the smoke alarm twice this summer already. We’re connected direct to the fire department, and Chase gives them a huge donation every year in order to smooth any frustrations they have for having me living on their turf.”
“Really? So you had a team of hot firemen running through your house? If I knew that was a possibility I’d burn the toast every day. Wait. Come to think of it I do that anyway.” She followed Matilda through the house, wondering if it would be rude to give in and let her jaw drop open. She thought about the guy standing next to Seth on her grandmother’s doorstep. He’d been casually dressed. Relaxed. She never would have suspected he was a gazillionaire. “So if you don’t bake, how did you end up with a mountain of cookies?”
“I mentioned to Chase that I had a craving for them, and ever since then he’s been picking them up on his way home. He’s so thoughtful, I don’t have the heart to tell him I can’t eat them all.”