“When she’s working, no. You need her to be alert and focused on you, more like an employee than a friend. But during her off time?” She shrugged. “Absolutely. She still needs to be loved, just like everyone else.”

“Just like everyone else?” he echoed.

“Yes. That’s not going to be a problem, is it?” Sophie’s voice took on a sharp edge—the same one that had caught his attention in the kennel that morning. “I know she’s not the Great Dane of your dreams, but there’s a lot to like about her. Contrary to what you might think, being giant and strong isn’t everything.”

Harrison found himself rooted to the spot, more intrigued than insulted by the challenge in her voice. People didn’t speak to him like that very often. Well, Oscar did, but he hardly counted—he’d practically known the man since birth. He’d only known this woman for all of an hour. Although she might claim to be scared of him, something about that puppy brought out the steel in her.

He wished he knew what it was. His own glance down at that minuscule creature, so helpless and vulnerable, only brought a frown. Bubbles sat exactly where Sophie had told her, awaiting her next command. She was like a stuffed toy soldier, ready to head into battle for no reason other than it was asked of her. The doubts that had assailed him since the start of this preposterous scheme returned anew. He’d been prepared for a big, badass canine companion to head into the flames with him, alert to the changes in his blood sugar that resulted from hard labor and shifts that often lasted more than twenty-four hours. To ask such a sacrifice of a Great Dane or a bulldog or even that nice golden retriever seemed natural.

To rely on this scrap of a creature, with her oh-so-trusting eyes and tiny beans for toes, was another thing entirely.

“Will it really be so hard?” Sophie asked. “To learn to love her?”

He reared back, unsure if he’d misheard the underlying plea of her words. But one glance at Sophie’s gently furrowed brow and he knew his hearing worked just fine. This woman thought so little of him that she was worried he’d mistreat the animal she was giving over to his care—an animal who had already been subjected to cruelties at the hands of a ruthless puppy mill.

“We’ll be fine,” he said, knowing the response was inadequate but unsure what else he could say. “Just tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it. At this point, I’ll try anything.”

“Anything?” she asked, one of her brows lifted in a perfect arch.