Three Makes a Family--A Clean Romance Cari Webb (short books for teens txt) 📖

Ella’s animated expressions and their shared laughter. Molly had taken to Ella as quickly and easily as Hazel had. He wanted to tell himself it wasn’t anything unusual. But he’d witnessed the discomfort of strangers around Ella and understood Molly’s reaction was special. She’d never blinked, never hesitated. Never treated the sweet little girl unlike the sweet little girl that she was.

And that made Drew even more captivated by her.

Brad slugged Drew on the shoulder. “You going to help or just stand there staring at Molly?”

“I was watching out for Ella,” Drew argued.

“You were staring.” Brad’s laughter bounced around the alleyway. “Don’t deny it.”

Drew closed his mouth and conceded. Molly intrigued him. It was nothing he couldn’t manage. He followed his brother farther into the alley toward the twin dumpsters behind Tally’s Corner Market.

“Here’s the situation.” Brad knelt and pointed at the two dumpsters. It turned out a black-and-white dog was squeezed against the back wall between the dumpsters. Five tiny dirty puppies huddled near her. “The dumpster that we need to move is too rusted to roll more than an inch.”

“So, we lure the mother out.” Drew watched the mother dog panting. Her intelligent eyes remained fixed on him and his brother. “And the puppies will follow.”

“I think we scoop the puppies out and come back later for the mother.” Brad picked up a long pole with a net on the end.

“Sophie says you can’t leave the mom here,” Molly called out. “Absolutely no dog can be left behind.”

Brad shook his head. “I swear my wife has supersonic hearing.”

Drew glanced over at Molly and Ella. Molly arched an eyebrow at him as if challenging him to argue. She’d lost her earlier apprehension. Determination was etched on her face now.

“On second thought, if we get the puppies out, maybe the mother will come forward to find them.” Drew dropped to his hands and knees on the pavement to look underneath the dumpster. The puppies squirmed. The mother dog, obviously exhausted, laid her head on the ground. Even her panting sounded frail. Only her gaze tracked the brothers’ movements. Drew agreed no dog would be left behind. No matter if he had to crawl between the dumpsters himself.

Drew and Brad worked in tandem to separate the closest puppy from its siblings.

“Using the right tone of voice, make sure you tell the mom that you mean no harm,” Molly suggested. “She should understand.”

Drew peered up at the duo by the car. Ella held on to Molly’s hand, while Molly’s focus was fixed on the dumpsters. They both chewed on their bottom lips.

Drew offered more assurances to the mother dog and wanted to do the same for Molly and Ella. Finally he and Brad scooted the first puppy close enough for Brad to scoop it up. The second puppy proved larger, sturdier on its feet and required less scooping.

Ella and Molly cheered behind them.

Brad wrapped the wriggling puppy in a towel that Sophie had given him earlier and eyed Drew. “Molly find anything yet to help your case?”

“Yes. But I need a last-known residence or location for Gina Hahn.” Drew burrito-rolled the next puppy, thankfully smaller than the last, in another towel and tucked it into Brad’s arms beside its sibling.

Molly intercepted the puppies, kissed each one on its head and promised they were now safe. Then she placed them carefully in the laundry basket beside her before she grinned at Drew. “Sophie wants you to stay within sight of the mother, so she doesn’t get too anxious.”

Drew nodded and marveled at Molly. Ella and she had launched into a puppy name discussion after Molly described each dog’s coloring and personality to Ella. Molly had gone from cautiously reserved to fully invested.

He dropped into view of the mother dog and gave her more encouraging words. He worked to nudge the third puppy, all black except for one white paw, toward him. With the puppy handed off to Brad, he worked on the last two puppies, all the while talking softly to the mother. Behind him, the name debate continued.

The only hold-up in the rescue came from Brad. His brother had wiped his hands on his jeans and pulled out his cell phone. One quick call to his PI office and his request made, he looked at Drew. “Should have the information on Gina Hahn in about fifteen minutes.”

“Thanks.” Drew dropped back onto the pavement and considered the mother dog. “Let’s finish this, okay, mama? So Molly and I can get to work on my case...” he tried.

Drew had to remind himself Molly was his legal counsel, not his dog-rescue partner, or a part of his family, no matter how seamlessly she fit in.

Fifteen minutes later, the smelly dog hadn’t shifted an inch and had even ignored offered food. Since they’d made no progress on moving the mother, Drew and Brad stood shoulder to shoulder and regarded the dumpsters.

Molly stepped up beside them and pointed at the rusted bin. “Good work, guys, but you’ve got no choice. You have to roll the dumpster out of the way to get to the mommy dog. Sophie agrees with me.”

Determination strengthened her words and she lifted her chin. She’d become the dog family’s advocate. Molly was a fighter. She always had been. And Drew knew she’d fight for him too.

Brad’s shoulders dropped. “Why did I know we were headed for this?”

“Because you know Molly is right.” Drew peered inside the old dumpster. “At least it’s empty.”

The brothers managed to pull and shove the dumpster far enough away from the wall for Drew to squeeze in and reach the mother dog. He noticed her injured hind leg immediately and shouted to Brad for advice.

Molly yelled back. “All you can do is move her carefully, Drew. Don’t cause her any more pain, okay?”

Unsure of how he was supposed to accomplish that, Drew only nodded, then crouched onto one knee beside the hurt dog. He set his hand on her ribs, pressing against her too thin skin and matted fur.