Oh yes! Her brain had been in the gutter lately. Love did strange things to people. “Yes, of course. We’re meeting at ten?”

Sky nodded. “We’re very excited about adopting a pet. We’re still struggling about trying to decide between a dog and a cat.”

“We’re only going to the shelter tomorrow. There’s no rush with making a decision. You can always foster first.”

Sky grabbed Lake’s hand. “You’re still available tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. We need to look for a Sky the Second of our very own.”

Sky laughed.

Candy groaned. She refrained from stomping her foot but only just. “Her name is Isobel. Isobel,” she repeated, this time with more emphasis. It seemed that the original name had stuck. Everyone called the little black female Candy the Second. She caught herself doing it all the time as well, much to Torrent’s amusement.

Torrent chuckled.

She gave him a slap on the arm.

“Owww.” He pretended she had hurt him and even rubbed his arm. “You’re acting just like Candy the Second. Pretending to hate me when in fact”—his voice got all low and husky— “you love me.”

“Isobel”—she pronounced the name with infinite care— “couldn’t love you more if she tried.” She looked at Torrent with googly eyes. Followed him around like a lovesick puppy. “Most women would be jealous.”

He nuzzled into her neck. “There is only one female for me.”

“You mean the only one for you who only has two legs?”

“The only one for me, period.” He kissed her.

Lake cleared his throat. “Um… would you mind taking this elsewhere? I would recommend… back to your chamber.”

“Sorry.” Candy felt her cheeks heat.

They said their good-byes and headed home.

The dogs were excited to see them.

“You do your thing in there.” He pointed to the bathroom. “I’ll take these two out. Siggie… Siggie,” he called to the puppy. She had decided to call him Siegfried, which had quickly become Siggie.

There was no reason why she had chosen that name other than it popped into her head and she thought it would be cute. The little guy had grown quite a bit since coming to live with them.

Sensing a potential walk, he bounced up and down around Torrent’s feet. Candy the Sec… Isobel, wagged her tail and looked up at Torrent with such love and adoration in her eyes. “Come on you.” He gave her a scratch behind her ears. He hooked her leash onto her collar.

“All set.” He walked over and clutched the back of Candy’s neck, giving her a lingering kiss. “We’ll see you in a few.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“And Candy…”

“Yeah?” She could hear that he was up to something.