“Probably. He’s a good kid, and he might be willing to fill you in because of your connection to Sebastian. Not to mention, his sister is all about keeping kids safe. I’ll talk to Leah about it. If she’s cool with this plan, I’ll pass Dylan’s number along to you.”

Is Agatha’s family arriving today, or am I going to have to take her to a freeway?” Luke asked Finley the following morning in her office. The little dog lay on his forearm like a woman on a spa massage table.

“Good morning.” Finley looked genuinely happy to see him.

She’d piled her black hair on top of her head. The style highlighted the back of her long graceful neck and the hinge of her jaw. It made him want to pull on a strand so he could watch the heavy mass fall.

“I’m very pleased to inform you,” she said, “that the Gomez family will arrive to collect her in an hour and a half.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s too good to be true.”

I insist that you come out and meet them,” Finley said to him once Agatha’s owners arrived.

“You don’t need me there. You can give them instructions. You’re the expert.”

“And you’re the one who fostered her. The employees here who foster a puppy are always a part of Gotcha Day.”

He sat at his desk, staring at his monitor. He hadn’t looked directly at her, but he knew she’d placed her hands on her hips.

“Gotcha Day?” he asked.

“That’s what we call it around here. It’s the day when the new owner says, ‘Gotcha!’ to their fabulous little fur baby.”

“I hate the term Gotcha Day. And I hate the term fur baby.”

“You’re coming out to meet them. It’s a rule.”

He swiveled his chair to frown up at her. “I’d like to see where it’s written that the schmuck who fosters a puppy has to be there to hand the puppy over.”

“It’s a rule if I say it’s a rule! You don’t want me to tell the family to go away and come back another time, do you? They’re in the foyer waiting.” She reached down and grabbed his hand, which sent a shock of heat up to his shoulder. “Come on. You are so stubborn. Come on!”

Grumbling, he stood.

Kat was positioned at the central worktable, sorting the papers she’d just printed. “Luke is throwing all of my excellent qualities as an employee into focus. I feel that I deserve an Employee of the Year plaque.”

Quick as a flash, Finley dashed behind him. Placing her palms on the middle of his back, she pushed him toward the hallway. As if she could physically force him to go anywhere.