“Avery, I need you.” Brooke looked down at the list of animals she still needed to place for the next few days and rubbed at the ache starting in her temples.
“For what?” Avery Cahill’s tone was full of wariness.
“I think you know what.”
“Brooke, I really ca—”
“Before you say no, let me remind you it’s just temporary. Until the weather warms back up. I’ve even got the smallest dogs picked out for you.”
“It’s not a matter of size.”
“Then I can give you the laziest. You could keep Mulligan. He’s practically a cushion with legs.”
“That overweight basset hound? Good God. He’s a fart factory.”
He was, but that was beside the point.
“Avery, I need you to take a dog or two or I’ll be forced to take drastic measures.”
The line went silent with tension. “You’re calling in your favor for t
