Tessa kept stroking the dog’s head as Micah stepped out the door. After a few minutes, he knocked.
Homer was immediately at attention, pawing her first and then running to the door over and over again until she got up and let Micah in. Instinctively, she patted the dog’s side and muttered, “Good boy.”
The canine looked up at her adoringly and Tessa’s heart melted. “I think he likes me.” Her eyes shifted to Micah.
“I talked about you all the way back to the house. I think he knows who he belongs to. He’s energetic and young, so he can do your runs with you. Hell, put his service jacket on and there’s almost nowhere he can’t go. He can even come to New York with you.”
“I can’t believe you did this. Why?”
Micah shrugged. “You said you didn’t want to try the implants again, and I thought Homer would be useful.”
“You don’t care if I don’t hear?” The question didn’t come out the way she’d wanted to ask it. What she’d meant was, didn’t it matter to him that she was deaf and chose to stay that way?
“I want you to do whatever makes you happy, Tessa.”
Tears started spilling from her eyes as she realized that Micah really didn’t care if she wasn’t willing to do the implants again to regain her hearing, as long as she was happy with whatever decision she made. “I might try again someday,” she admitted. “I’ve been afraid, and I can’t keep using money as an excuse.”
“You have funds. Liam told me. Why haven’t you ever looked at your money?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I was afraid that if I knew exactly what I had, I wouldn’t have any excuses anymore.”
“Liam has plenty of money to refurbish the restaurant. He just needs time.”
She nodded. “I know. But I like to keep busy or I go stir-crazy. Plus, I want to make money of my own. I guess I’ve always been able to rationalize that the money was Liam’s, and I really didn’t know what he had. He put what he insists is my money into my personal bank account for me a few days ago. He deposited my share of our inheritance, and my profits from the restaurant. I haven’t looked at what I have. I live off what I make in tips and working other jobs. I really wanted him to take the money Mom and Dad left, and the profits on the restaurant. He does a lot there, and he gave up a lot for me.”
“I don’t think he regrets his life. He’s still consulting on some movies, and he seems to like being at the restaurant.”
Tessa’s expression registered surprise. “He still does work on movies?”
“You didn’t know?”
She’d never really asked. Maybe she needed to spend more time with Liam, asking questions. “No. I didn’t now. God, he worries about me so much that he doesn’t even date.”
“I have a feeling that’s his choice. He seems to have his eye on one of his employees.”
“How do you know that? Who?” God, she’d love it if Liam finally found himself a woman that he cared about and who recognized how caring he really was. She’d tried to set him up with friends several times, but it had never worked out.
“I only saw her briefly, but Liam couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. She’s pretty—long, dark hair—and young.”
“I know who you’re talking about. She’s new, and she hasn’t been at the restaurant for long. She isn’t that young.”
“Tell Liam that. He seems to be pining for a woman that he’ll never approach. And the feelings look mutual.” He paused before adding, “Do you want to see what Homer can do?”
“Yes. Very much.” She knew without a doubt she was going to keep this dog, but . . . “I’m sure you paid for him. I want to pay you back.” She almost flinched at the brooding look on Micah’s face as she spoke.
“Homer is a gift. And I think I got him for selfish reasons. I want you to have protection and help if you need it.” His face was unreadable.
“Thank you,” she said simply, knowing there was no way Micah was going to take payment.
She watched as he put Homer through his paces, doing different things to make the dog alert her. Any noise seemed to trigger his response to make her acknowledge it, and the more she praised him, the more he responded to her. Her dog was also trained in obedience, and he responded to those commands perfectly.
When he finished, Micah remarked, “You’ll bond with him, and he’ll bond with you. Eventually, you’re the only one he’ll respond to.”
She broke the “stay” command that she’d given him, causing Homer to wander over to get some affection. She gave it to him willingly, scratching the dog’s belly as he rolled over to get more attention.
“He’s so cute,” Tessa crooned as the dog sat up again and stayed in a sitting position by her side.
“He’s well trained. He can find things for you if he’s familiar with the object. You can practice by showing him different items and then having him go find it.”
“I could get very lazy,” she said jokingly. “I assume he’s potty trained.”
“Of course. You can let him out, but he’ll do his business and come right back. He knows his job is to watch out for you.”
She rose and threw herself into his arms. “Thank you. This is the best gift I’ve ever received.”
He closed his arms around her. “If that’s what I get, I think I need to buy you a few more dogs.”