Paws off the Boss - Casey Griffin (best books under 200 pages .TXT) 📗

the first time. She hadn’t been looking for volunteer work. She was looking for a dog named Jack, a ten-year-old piebald dachshund. Her dachshund. Or rather, he had been before her mother had given him up.

When Piper was busy taking her high school exams, her mom had gone on ahead to San Francisco to get things ready for their big move. She’d taken Jack with her, but it turned out their apartment had a strict no-pets policy. And it wasn’t like they could find a different home, because they’d lucked out; her aunt had left the city just in time for them to move into her rent-controlled apartment. To avoid upsetting Piper before graduation, her mother had secretly given up Jack at a local rescue center.

When Piper had arrived a few weeks later to find Jack missing, she was furious. She’d practically grown up with him. Hadn’t she already lost enough as it was?

Once she’d learned which rescue center her mother had dumped him at, Piper had stormed in there and demanded her dog back. But the Englishwoman who ran the place had said someone had already adopted him. Of course someone had. He was a great dog.

Piper had felt like she’d finally lost everything: her dad, the farm, her brother, her dog. Her life had been the makings of a country song. It was just her and her mom left, a few pieces of furniture that fit the two-bedroom apartment, and Mr. Wiggles, her childhood teddy bear.

But there was something about being around dachshunds that made the loss a little less painful. As though she still had some connection with Jack, with her old life, by reminiscing about him with the other guests. Piper could imagine that they remembered their time with him and could share those stories with her.

So, she returned to see them, week after week. And soon it was no longer just about Jack. It was about the other doxies, about finding them good homes, like Marilyn had done for Jack and for so many other dogs over the last thirty years.

When Aiden returned, he was carrying a hefty box. Despite his well-used gym membership, he looked to be struggling with it. Piper placed the bell on the desk and hurried over to help him carry it into the kitchen. They slid it onto the round vintage table and stepped back.

“What is it?” Piper asked.

“It’s a new fish tank.”

“Really?” She beamed up at him, surprised by his thoughtfulness. “That’s so sweet.”

“I’m glad to see the ladies are still alive.” He tapped on the coffeepot.

The goldfish were gliding around their temporary home, bumping into one another in the cramped quarters.

“I’m sure they’ll be happy to get out of there,” Piper said.

Aiden stepped back into the reception room. He assessed the damage, scowling as he read the message scrawled across the yellow wall. “One week until what?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” she said.

“I guess I should have picked up a couple gallons of paint on the way too.”

“The damage is mostly cosmetic. It won’t take much to cover up the graffiti and get things back in order.” Piper just hoped that in a week they wouldn’t have to deal with it again. Or worse. The first warning flashed through her mind. Get out! Or I’ll make you.

Aiden slipped off his sports jacket and rolled up his sleeves. “Where do I start, boss?”

She held up her hands to wave him off. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Piper.” Grabbing her hands gently, he gave her a strange look. “I’m free to help. I don’t mind.”

“But we’re fine.”

He waved at the sorry excuse for a reception area and raised his eyebrows at her. “You’re not fine.”

A chuckle tinted his voice, like she was a hippo claiming to be a cockatoo. It made her muscles tense with indignation. He thought she couldn’t take care of herself, that she needed help.

“Hey, Pipe.” Zoe gestured out the front window. “Looks like the news crew is here. Are you ready for your television debut?”

“You called the news station?” Aiden asked.

Piper blinked. “Why? Do you think it’s a bad idea?” It suddenly occurred to her that she should have asked his permission first since it was his property.

“Not at all. I think it’s a great idea to create awareness. Dogs in danger? It’s easy to appeal to the public’s emotions when animals are involved.”

“See? I told you,” Zoe said. “Pitiful sells.”

Piper narrowed her eyes. “Are you talking about the situation or me?”

“I think I’ll go help Addison fill in the reporter.” Zoe winked and headed outside.

Piper twisted and untwisted a strand of hair around her finger. “I don’t know if I’m the best person to do this.” It might have been her idea in the first place, but she’d expected to be the brains behind the operation. Not the poster girl for it.

“You’ll do fine,” Aiden said. “What’s important is that you’re passionate about these dogs. That much is obvious. I’ve seen it myself, and it will come across to the viewers.”

He stepped closer to her, close enough that she could smell his cologne. She took a deep breath through her nose until her lungs filled with Aidenness. It made her a little dizzy. Or maybe that was just her nerves.

Heels clicked up the front steps and through the entrance, jarring Piper from her Aiden-addled thoughts. In strolled Holly Hart, stylish in a fitted pale pink blazer and black, jeweled Manolo Blahniks, with her cameraman in tow. She clapped her hands like one would to get the attention of a bustling newsroom. All it did was get a bark from Colin.

“Okay, let’s get started,” she said. “Who’s doing the interview?”

Piper took a deep breath and stepped around the desk. “I am. I’m Piper Summers.” Taking a page out of Aiden’s book, she shook the reporter’s hand—fake it till you make it. “Nice to meet you.”

“Holly Hart. Channel Five News. That’s not what you’re wearing, is it?” Her nose wrinkled, as though Piper not only had poor fashion sense but smelled funny too. Then, achoo! Holly sneezed, not once, not twice, but three times.

Colin barked, Bless you!

Holly sniffed. “Ugh! Allergies.”

“You’re allergic to dogs?” Piper asked.

Aiden huffed behind the counter. “Or just about anything with a heart.”

Holly turned toward his voice. Noticing him for the first time, she gasped and shoved Piper aside. “Aiden Caldwell.” She said his name like she was ordering a warm fudge brownie with gelato. “What a coincidence seeing you here.”

“Miss Hart,” Aiden replied in a clipped tone.

“Are you sure you don’t want to do the interview?” she purred, slinking close to him. “I’ve been trying to nail you for a while.”

Zoe raised her eyebrows at Piper, as if to ask, “Who does this chick think she is?” But Piper was still wondering what was wrong with her outfit.

“No, this is all Miss Summers. I’ll be staying on the sidelines for this one. My PR people handle that kind of thing.”

“I know.” Holly pouted like a disappointed trout. “They’ve stopped answering my calls.”

“Maybe it was because of the last piece you did on me,” he said coolly.

She laid a hand over her heart. “Hey, I’m just doing my job. I’m the voice of the people now.”

“Well, it was a little over the top.”

“I was concerned for the rights of the working class,” she said, undeterred.

“And so you chose a disgruntled ex-employee to represent those concerns?”

She shrugged, a coy smile threatening the corner of her mouth. “How was I supposed to know that source was lying?”

“You’re a reporter.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s your job to check your facts.”

“Sounded plausible to me. Besides, you weren’t available for comment.” She ran a finger down his silk tie.

He stiffened and took a step back. “And I’m still not. I believe you’re here on other business.”

“All right. Fine.” She dropped the sexy veneer like a fluff piece at deadline. Her voice was now brusque and severe, like the harsh smell of nail polish. “Now, do we have a dog we could use? Like a super-sad dog. It would be better if he were missing an ear or a leg or an eye or something. All three would be best.” She looked delighted at the thought.

Zoe leaned over to Piper. “I told you so.”

“I’ll go grab Charlie,” Addison said, slipping into the back.

“Hey, you!” Holly Hart barked at her cameraman. Snapping her fingers, she ordered him to test the light so it highlighted her best feature—which was clearly her sparkling personality.

She took out a mirror and checked her lipstick as he set up the shot. She wrinkled her nose at her reflection, then Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!

Gesundheit! Colin barked.

Aiden watched with his arms crossed, eyes narrowed. Piper sidled closer to him.

“She seems … friendly. Do you know her well?”

“Just from the press room.” Piper liked the way he said it. Firmly enough to assure her that he and Holly had no history. Like it was any of her business to know. Not that she cared or anything, but she couldn’t help the little “woohoo!” that shot through her brain.

Addison returned with Charlie limping at her side. Holly Hart pulled a horrified face, which was obviously a good thing because she said, “Perfect. Totally sad.