Dalton, Tymber - Doggy Tales [Doggy Tales] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Free Page A

out of touch for a few days.”
    “Are you sure?”
    He listened to her in the shower. Lindsey hummed, a light, tuneless melody that tattooed her voice across his soul. “Yeah, dude. I’m sure. She’s my mate.”
    Jeremy sighed. “What do you need from me?”
    “My truck’s still over at the park. And my clothes. She’s in the shower, but she’ll be done in a minute. I think she’s going to go to the store. Can you wait outside and run me over there after she leaves? I can be back before she returns. Just wait for me in the parking lot here, a few buildings away.”
    “Don’t leave me sitting all day.”
    Ivan heard her moving around in the shower. “Gotta go. Bye.” Ivan hung up and shifted back, padding into the bathroom.

    * * * *

    Lindsey closed her eyes and let the hot water soothe her sore muscles. This wasn’t a normal dog. She wasn’t into crazy psychic shit, but there was something different about that dog. He wasn’t a stray. He was well cared for. Maybe a police K9 dog or something that escaped from its handler.
    She should put an ad in the paper. Shouldn’t she?
    The thought ripped her heart out. She didn’t want to give him up. It was stupid, silly, and childish, but the dog saved her. He wasn’t just a dog. He was more.
    And it felt right thinking about keeping him.
    He needed a good name. Not some normal dog name, a name that fit him.
    Sensing a presence, she looked down. He’d shoved his head into the shower, the spray dotting his black fur with small drops of moisture.
    Was he smiling? If he was a guy, she’d say so.
    “Hey, personal space, buddy.”
    He snorted, but withdrew his massive head.
    “And don’t go dragging your wet fur onto my bed, either!”
    Another snort and she watched through the opaque shower curtain as he rubbed his head dry on her bathmat.
    She stuck her head out of the shower and looked at him, an absurd idea hitting her between the eyes. “Hey, you.”
    He looked up.
    “Go get me a soda out of the fridge.”

    * * * *

    Is she fucking serious?
    He debated, then when the full force of her jade eyes nailed him, he bolted from the bathroom and carefully opened the fridge with his mouth. He gently gripped one of the cans of Coke, trying not to puncture the can, and bumped the door shut with his ass. Then he trotted back to the bathroom where she stood with her head exposed, watching him in awe and disbelief.
    He waited for her to reach for the can and he gently placed it in her palm.
    “Thank you,” she whispered.
    He sat, wagging his tail. No problem, babe. Anything else you want? Sandwich? Chips? Wedding ring? A good, hard fucking?
    She slid to the shower floor, leaning against the wall. He worried she’d fainted, but she stared at him, deep in thought. She popped the tab on the can and took several long swigs, then let out a loud belch.
    He laughed, which he knew to her sounded like a snort.
    “You think that’s funny?”
    He couldn’t help it. He nodded. Maybe it would make it easier for her to wrap her mind around the truth later.
    “You’re not a normal dog, are you?”
    He shook his head. Babe, you have no fucking idea.
    She set the can on the floor and stood, finishing her shower. She dried and dressed, and he watched her every move. He’d do whatever she wanted. Anything she wanted.
    Now he had to figure out how to tell her the truth.
    She walked to the front door and grabbed her purse, then turned. “Don’t chew. Don’t have an accident. Do you have to go to the bathroom?”
    He shook his head.
    “Okay. I’ll be back in about two hours.” She stopped, laughing. “Jesus, I need a life. I’m talking to a dog like he understands me.”
    He watched from the front window as she drove off. Five minutes later, Jeremy drove into the complex. Ivan shifted back and raced to the bathroom, grabbing a towel from the floor. He returned to the front door and opened it, waving.
    Jeremy walked up with a pair of shorts and a T-shirt in his hand, tossing