Janet handed me the second leash. "You don't have to do anything but feed them. Let them run around the backyard a little."

"My dog hates other dogs. He's super protective of the house." He'd loved walking with Bacon and Bits before, but that didn't mean he wanted them on his couch. NB had a jealous streak.

I had a list of excuses at my disposal if she didn't take those. Janet would have to find some other sucker to take in her felon dogs.

"I'll pay you a thousand dollars for the week plus any additional expenses they incur," she said without hesitation.

Additional expenses? A thousand dollars a week? Hell, for that price, they could move in full time. I paused, letting my next excuse die on my open lips.

"That's what I thought," Janet said and popped her trunk from the keypad in her hand.

I walked toward the trunk. If she had another three dogs in there, I was going to need more than a thousand dollars. Both dogs jumped to attention and followed me toward the back of the SUV. "I haven't said yes."

"Vonnie, you're already holding the leashes." Janet pushed open the back end of her vehicle.

She had a huge yellow bag of dog food laid out in the back and a round wicker basket flowing over with toys beside it. On the left, a stack of thick blankets had two dog beds resting on top.

"They're going to eat that much in a week?" How often did they eat?

The front door to the house opened and Broadrick walked out. He passed by us with an expression that said we'd be discussing the dogs later.

"Hey, honey," I said extra cheerfully. "Can you grab this bag of food? I'd be ever so grateful."

Broadrick lifted an eyebrow. "Of course, cupcake. My pleasure."

Oh yeah, he was so going to make me discuss the dogs later. He never called me cupcake. That was practically an "I'm mad at you" nickname.

He balanced the blankets and dog beds on top of the giant bag of food and lifted it all at one time. With his free hand he picked up the basket of toys and strolled toward the house looking like a considerate Gaston.

"You'll call me the minute she's ready for the dogs to return?" I asked Janet, keeping eye contact the entire time.

She held up a hand in some form of mock salute. "Absolutely."

"Okay, I guess they can stay." I mean, Broadrick already took their stuff inside, and I had their leashes.

Janet closed all her open doors and headed back toward the driver's side. "Thanks, Vonnie. I knew you'd be useful."

"Um." I didn't know how I felt about that comment. Before I came up with something to say, Janet had herself in the driver's seat and had backed out of my driveway.

I led the two dogs toward the house. Both of them stopped at NB's favorite bush and peed on it. He wasn't going to like that. We made it to the front door, and I held it open with my butt while they meandered inside, sniffing everything with wagging tails.

"I don't even want you to tell me," Broadrick said from the kitchen while I unhooked leashes.

That's good because I had nothing to tell him. Except I desperately needed a nap. Bacon watched as I finished with his brother and then both dogs shot away.

NB stood up on all fours on the couch and barked as the two dogs charged at him.

"No!" I yelled and reached out with my hand, but the three of them collided into a heap of fur.

NB hated people in his space-at least, I assumed. We'd never had anyone in his space before, except Frankie's horrible cat. I raced forward, worried we'd have a massive dog fight on our hands. NB jumped over Bits' back-with a leap of faith that he'd make it-and then raced under Bacon's legs. They barked and passed by each other's noses.

"Oh." I came to a stop about two feet away while they finished their introductions. Instead of trying to eat one another, they were playing. Weird, but good.

NB barked, and then the other two replied. The three fell into a chorus of barking.

"Shhhh," I said, putting my hand on my lips, but none of them stopped. Great. We'd need ear plugs.

Bits shot off from the pack and circled the couch, his white hair flying behind him. The other two followed. I backed away to get out of their roadway and watched, not sure how to intervene. Bacon knocked into the floor lamp on the far side of the couch, and it wobbled.

I jumped over their run zone, hit the couch cushion, and grabbed the lamp before it crashed to the floor.

"I really don't want to know," Broadrick yelled from the kitchen.

The lamp wobbled in my hands, but I got the base back on the floor. "I need assistance in here."

A second later, Broadrick's quick whistle stopped all three dogs in their tracks. "So, this seems like it's going to be fun."

"It will be," I said, trying to sound optimistic. Then the scary truth hit me, and I swallowed the hard lump in my throat. "We can never let Pierce know."

Technically, I wasn't even allowed to have NB in the house, but his girlfriend and my best friend, Katy, approved of NB. The billionaire's girlfriend always got the last say, but even Katy probably couldn't get all three dogs past Pierce.

NB led the two newbies to the kitchen. I presumed to show them where we kept the food bowls.

"You stay here with the house guests, and I'll grab us a pizza for dinner," Broadrick said, already at the front door. He almost looked like he was fleeing the scene of a crime with how quickly he jetted for an exit. What a wuss.

I considered objecting, but cooking involved a massive amount of energy that I did not have. He waved goodbye, and I plopped on the couch, resting my head on the armrest. My cheek hit something wet-probably dog slobber-and I moved two inches away.

My eyes were half closed when a knock at the front door popped them open. NB barked. Bacon barked. Bits barked. I sighed as the three of them tore through the house, almost running into the front door.

This could not be my life.

"Calm it down, you guys." I slid off the couch and pushed my way through the massive bodies to the front door, opening it just a fraction.

Anessa and Pearl hovered on my front porch, trying to see inside at the source of the noise.

"Did you get more dogs?" Pearl asked, pushing her head inside. Her tie-dyed dress swooshed into the house, like getting her foot in the door. "Pierce isn't going to like that."

"We aren't telling Pierce." I grabbed Bits' collar and let the ladies come through the front door. "Use your hips as a shield."

Anessa handed me a small pink box that held four chocolate frosted cupcakes. "Katy said you'd probably need these, but she didn't mention the dogs."

I clutched the cupcakes to my chest like a lifeline and walked to the couch. Where could I hide them so Broadrick never saw the box of goodness? He didn't appreciate the deliciousness of Anessa's food, and I didn't want to share.

Fine, he could have one.

"Why is your house filled with dogs?" Pearl asked as she took the chair on the opposite side of the couch and pushed a dog away from her legs.

I shook my head. "Don't ask."

Anessa straightened her pink T-shirt and sat in the other chair. "I feel like we have to ask about the dogs. They're noticeable." She had to yell over a last few barks.

NB ran into the far bedroom to finish his tour of the house, and both dogs followed. I popped the top of the cupcake container and grabbed the closest one to me. The aroma of chocolate hit my nose, and I tore the wrapper from the cake.

"Vonnie, the dogs." Pearl motioned toward the hallway where they'd scampered off to.

"Oh, right," I said around my first bite of cupcake. "Long story short. I went to Florida with Broadrick. He wants me to move there so he can lead the new security branch. My father uninvited me from my sister's open house so Katy had to sneak me in this afternoon, and the dogs..."

I took another bite of cupcake and chewed.

"Are in the middle of a custody battle, and their mother doesn't want them seeing their father's new hussy, so they're in WITSEC here until they reach a settlement."

Anessa's eyebrows pinched together as she furrowed her expression.

Pearl tipped her head to one side and then the other.

They glanced at each other and returned head nods.

"Yeah, that seems about right for your life," Pearl said as she reached over and stole a cupcake from the container.