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

plan with Zoe to stay at her place until she got her first official paycheck from the vet hospital.

Her life was moving forward into a new chapter. And it felt good. Except for that one spot. That spot in the middle and a little to the left. The place where it ached like someone had taken a scalpel and excised a vital piece of her. But it was okay because it only hurt when she was alone, or it was quiet, or she thought about the dog rescue center. Or breathed. But that was hardly ever, right?

Colin sat by her side and stared at the minuscule collection of belongings. His barrel chest seemed deflated. He swung his head toward her as if asking, Can’t we go back to Sophie and Aiden’s house? I liked it there.

“Sorry, buddy. We’re going to live with Aunt Zoe.”

He rubbed a paw over his face. But I miss them.

“I know.” She sighed. “So do I.”

And out of some sick, masochistic urge, she went to the passenger side of the car and dug through her purse for her phone to see if Aiden had texted or called to beg for forgiveness. But then she remembered the cops had kept it to retrieve evidence. Which was just as well, because she didn’t care if he called or texted or if he fell off the face of the earth altogether.

Addison slammed the lid on the dumpster closed and headed over, staring at her hands in dismay. Piper pulled out some hand sanitizer and gave her a squirt.

Addison sighed. “Looks like we’re all done here.”

“Thanks for your help today, Addy. I really appreciate it. I couldn’t have done it without you.” It was getting easier, the admitting-she-needed-help thing. She didn’t always have to be fine.

“No problem. It was either that or spend the morning getting humped by Toby. But Zoe drew the short stick, so here I am.” She spread her arms to show her thereness. “Do you think Marilyn’s been to the center yet?”

“I don’t know.” She frowned, imagining Marilyn’s reaction to seeing her beloved rescue center.

Piper had wanted to be at the center first thing that morning when Marilyn arrived so she could … well, she didn’t know what. Explain? Beg for forgiveness? But she didn’t put it past Steve to call the cops if she didn’t move out by her three-day deadline. And as sorry as she felt, Marilyn took a backseat to jail time.

Addison’s phone chimed, and she pulled it out of her pocket. She checked the screen, her nose wrinkling in confusion.

“What is it?” Piper asked.

“An address.” She typed a response and hit send. “It’s from Zoe. She wants us to meet her there.”

“What for?”

Addison’s phone chimed again. She shook her head. “She says it’s a surprise. And to hurry up.”

“I think I’ve had enough surprises for one week.”

“Well, let’s hope it’s a good one.”

Piper read the address. “I’ve delivered pizzas around there. I know where that is. You can follow me.”

With one last glance at her old apartment building, she loaded Colin and pulled out of the parking lot to head across town. When she got closer to the address, she began watching street numbers. It was a quiet neighborhood, a mix of business and residential. She slowed as she approached a large property obscured by a densely wooded area and surrounded by a cute white picket fence. She checked the swirly numbers on the fence—this was the place.

Two ornate metal gates stood wide open, allowing Piper to pull onto a newly paved driveway. The scent of fresh asphalt still hung in the air. Addison followed behind in her Mini as they wound up the long driveway beneath the tendrils of pepper trees lining either side.

Piper’s Bug finally broke through the trees, and a lovely two-story Victorian house came into view. While it was clearly old, it had been updated and renovated, with add-ons to the back of the building. Painted a soft pineapple yellow with white trim, it sat gracefully in front of a few acres of cleared land nestled in a sort of private forest. Prime real estate in a city like San Francisco.

It wasn’t until she pulled into the large parking lot in front of the house and crawled out of the car that she saw the sign. She read it three times before she finally believed her eyes. Even then, she thought it must be some joke.

San Francisco Dachshund Rescue Center.

Addison pulled in next to her, staring out her windshield in awe. “As in our dachshund rescue center? But how?”

Piper didn’t answer. She was too busy rereading the sign.

A moment later, Zoe appeared on the wide wraparound porch, waving them inside. “Come see!” she called, laughter in her voice.

Piper frowned at the house, trying to figure out what was going on. However, when that hole in her chest burned again, she had a sneaking suspicion. And she hadn’t had nearly enough of Addison’s ice cream to deal with it.

With a disbelieving laugh, Addison grabbed her by the hand. She half-dragged her up the stone steps set into the gentle slope, past the beds of lavender, aloe, and poppies. Colin raced them up to the entrance, nails clicking on the steps, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

Daffodils and dahlias lit up the base of the house, the inviting smells welcoming Piper onto the covered porch. Hanging baskets bursting with petunias dangled overhead at intervals. She climbed the wooden steps and noticed the distinct lack of squeaks and groans. Instead, her shoes clacked on firm oak that smelled of freshly cut wood and stain.

“Isn’t it amazing?” Zoe asked.

“It’s incredible,” Addison said. “I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it,” she said. “Come on inside. There’s so much I have to show you.”

Zoe and Addison rushed through the double front doors, disappearing into the depths of the house. Piper lingered behind, hesitating in case it was some kind of trap. Colin didn’t seem to have the same misgivings. He trotted inside, sniffing out the unfamiliar territory.

Following him, she drifted through the set of French doors and into an open-concept reception room larger than her old apartment. High-quality vinyl flooring stretched out underfoot, the perfect effect, grain, and color of rich hardwood but hardier against sharp doggy toenails. Rockwork decorated the reception desk, matching the fireplace that dominated one wall of the room. Plush chairs and an antique-looking sofa gathered around the hearth, making it seem homey, rather than a place of business.

A glint of metal overhead caught her eye. A little brass bell dangled above the entrance—no, not just any brass bell, but their old one. It was a little dented, but someone had bent it back into shape and reattached the clacker.

Reaching up, she tapped it with a finger, relishing the happy jingle that called her home once again. The pleasant sound filled the room. As though by magic, Marilyn appeared, reminding Piper of the day she’d first walked into the center eight years ago.

“Marilyn!” Piper cried. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.” The saying suddenly made so much sense since her eyeballs ached with unshed tears that had been building up for days.

“Piper!” Marilyn hurried across the room to wrap her arms around Piper.

She sank into the woman’s arms. Everything would be okay. Marilyn was finally home, and she could fix everything Piper had messed up since she left, explain everything away.

“I’m so sorry, dear,” she said to Piper. “This is all my fault.”

Or apparently not.

Piper pulled away to stare at Marilyn and saw a man enter the room behind her.

“Inspector Samuels!” Piper said. “What are you doing here?”

“He’s come for a visit and some tea.” Marilyn gestured to the teapot on the coffee table, as though she needed evidence.

Piper could have sworn the Englishwoman was blushing.

“Hello, Piper.” Inspector Samuels chuckled. “Zoe said I could find you here today. I came to give you your phone back.” Pulling it out of his pocket, he handed it to her. “We didn’t find much else but an absurd number of photos of your dog.” He smirked.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Piper.” Marilyn’s forehead creased with concern, and she wrung her hands. “The girls and the inspector filled me in on everything that happened while I was away. What a mess I’ve caused.”

“You caused?” Piper frowned. “What on earth is happening? What is all this?” She gestured to the house around them.

“It’s a gift,” Marilyn said. “From Mr. Caldwell.”

She stared at Marilyn, uncomprehending. The seconds ticked by, and Piper wondered how long her brain could go without oxygen. She took a deep, shaky breath and felt that ache in her chest again. Oh, the pain. Maybe it was a heart attack.

Her brain scrambled for an answer. “You mean Aiden built it after what happened with the fire? Was it some kind of plea bargain?” But that didn’t make sense. The house couldn’t have been renovated in a matter of days.

“Certainly not,” Marilyn said. “It’s been under construction for months.”

Piper rubbed a hand over her face. “Months? That can’t be right.”

“Maybe I can clear up a few things,” Inspector Samuels said in his no-nonsense way.

Piper turned to him. Facts. Yes, I can handle straight facts. Facts make sense in their factliness, she reasoned numbly.

“Mr. Caldwell made a deal with Marilyn right after his company bought the property where the center was located. If she agreed to move so he could build his apartment complex there, he’d build her a state-of-the-art dog rescue center.”

Piper’s forehead creased like she was doing a complicated math equation. “That