A McCabe at Heart

An elegant brow rose. “Not today you didn’t.” She pointed an accusing finger his way. “You messed up as badly as I did.”

Sam spread his hands and made a prediction. “Tomorrow will be better, and the day after that even more so. For both of us, Robin.”

Her luscious lower lip trembled. “You don’t know that.”

Sam stepped closer, resisting the urge to take her in his arms again. “Yeah. I do. And what’s more, I’ll prove it.”

She tilted her head and narrowed her pretty blue-green eyes. “Now I’m listening.”

He grinned at her quiet parody of his earlier words. He stepped closer still. “Bring Molly by tomorrow around dinnertime. But this time don’t act like it’s for her benefit. Tell her you’ve agreed to help me care for the puppies. Hopefully, she’ll be unable to resist their cuteness and will eventually join in on the fun.”

Robin paused. “You really think that will work?”

Sam nodded. “I know it will.”

***

Robin was skeptical. But she decided to give it a try anyway.

Unfortunately, Sunday evening was a replay of Saturday. Monday was only slightly better. Tuesday, Molly was visibly engaged in watching everything that went on, though she remained on the sidelines. Wednesday, she briefly knelt down on the floor with the puppies. Thursday, she actually allowed a puppy to lick her hand. Friday, she petted one gently. By the end of the weekend, she’d even gone behind the sofa to rescue Yellow and bring him out to the dinner bowl.

Molly still wasn’t saying a lot to Robin, but she was clearly interested in the puppies.

So, Monday morning, after putting Molly on the school bus, Robin called Sam and asked him if he would mind stopping by to see her on his way to work. She was in the barn, starting her own work day, when he arrived.