The puppy began to try to crawl out of the box. She fell on her back twice, crying in frustration, shooting Joe those dark, dark puppy eyes. Caving like a cheap suitcase, he scooped her up, and immediately got a face licking from chin to forehead.

“Look, they were giving away puppies at the pound yesterday,” Kenny said. “I drove by as they were cleaning up. She was the last one left. I mean look at her, I couldn’t just leave her, right?”

“You should never have stopped.”

“I know. But she’ll make a great arson dog, don’t you think? Check out that nose.”

As if on cue, the puppy wriggled her nose, and then set her head down on Joe’s chest, panting happily.

“She’s got your name all over her,” Kenny said hopefully.

Although she couldn’t have been more than a few pounds, she felt like the weight of the world. She was a responsibility, a huge one, and he was a man who couldn’t see himself making it work. “I don’t need a dog,” Joe said, and stroked her soft fur.

“Look her in the eyes and tell her that.”

Joe stared down at the puppy, then back at his partner. “Don’t do this. Why are you doing this?”

“She ate everything that wasn’t tied down last night, man. I thought I was ready for a dog but she’s crazy.”

“Take her back.”

They both looked at the puppy, who cocked her head at them and whined softly.

“I can’t do it, man,” Kenny said miserably. “I thought I could but…you take her.”

“No.”

“Come on. Would it be so bad to have a real attachment? An emotional connection?”

“You know what? Don’t even start.” He’d had a hell of an emotional attachment just two nights ago, and yet it wouldn’t be him that put a halt to things, but Red’s own issues with a so-called commitment. “I live on a sailboat. How do you walk a puppy on a sailboat?”

“Very carefully.”

“This isn’t funny. Take her back.”

“Ooops,” Kenny said, picking up his pager, reading the display. “Gotta go.”

“Don’t you even think about—Kenny!”

But it was too late, he was gone.

Joe swore colorfully but that didn’t change a thing. He was still alone with the puppy. “Great. Well, I have to go, too,” Joe said. To no one. To the puppy. He set the thing down in the box and headed to the door, stopping at the sound of a long, pathetic whine. “You can’t just come with me.”

She tilted her head. Her ear hit her in the face and she sneezed.

“Okay, you’re cute. I’ll give you that. But you still can’t come.”

She let out another heartbreaking whine.

“Ah hell.” He moved back to her and picked her up. “You plan on being good, right?”