Read Heather Horrocks - Who-Dun-Him Inn 02 - Inn the Doghouse for Free Online Page B

walking,” Zach said before the two of them laughed.
    I looked down. I tripped over a bowl half-filled with water beside the edge of the fridge. “What is this for?” I asked, grabbing some paper towels to mop up the mess.
    “That’s for my new dog,” Zach announced.
    I looked around the room. “You’d better be joking.”
    “I’m not. It’s for the one you said you’d let me get. And we pulled the old doghouse around where I can see it, too, so my new dog won’t get lonely,” Zach said as if I were a bit slow. “David’s teaching me how to visualize ”—he stumbled over the word much like I did over the dish—“having a dog.”
    “Oh, he is, is he?” I asked, shooting David a glare of death. David’s response with a grin ramped up my heart rate more than it should have. “And what else is David teaching you?” I motioned to the steaming pot.
    “How to cook spaghetti sauce for dinner.”
    “You can teach your mother now,” David said with a smirk.
    I nodded. “And I want to take this moment to seriously thank you for the cooking lessons, David.”
    He shrugged. “I was thinking of your poor guests.”
    Zach said, “I can be a Bear in Cub Scouts now.”
    “A rank advancement?” I asked, raising a questioning eyebrow at David. “That’s great.”
    David nodded and grinned. Very cute. Indeed.
    “Okay, chief,” David said. “You’re all done here. It just has to finish cooking now.”
    Zach jumped down. “Thanks, David.”
    They high-fived and Zach took off, calling back to me. “Is it okay if I watch my movie?”
    “Sure,” I said as he raced toward the door under the main staircase that led to our rooms. He’d watched 101 Dalmatians so many times, we all had the lines memorized.
    In the quiet following his departure, I leaned against the counter. “Thanks for helping him with the rank advancement.”
    “But…?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
    I paused, not sure how to proceed. “A couple of buts, actually. First, why are you so willing to help Zach like this?”
    “Because he’s a good kid.”
    “And…?” I asked.
    “And he doesn’t have a dad around to help him. And he told me he doesn’t like the cubmaster very much.” He must have seen the impact his words had on me—they cut deep—because he softened his voice. “My dad died when I was ten, so I get it.”
    “I’m sorry about your father.” I nodded. “And you’re right. On all counts.”
    “But…?” he asked again.
    “I’m just wondering what will happen when the international reporter male role model gets tired of small town life and moves away. What happens to my son then?” I had to think that one through.
    “Your son will continue to spend time with an international reporter who has become quite fond of small town life.” He lowered the flame, gave the pot another stir, and covered it. “I understand your concern. He’s your son. I just wanted to help him, like Curt Bennett, the guy who stepped in and helped me. I was determined to do the same as he did for me, if I ever could, by helping another little boy in need.”
    “That’s very nice of you.”
    “I am an Eagle Scout, you know. Trustworthy and filled with merit.” He grinned. “Reporters aren’t all bad, you know.”
    “I guess not.” Though I certainly didn’t think much of him when we first met, I found him growing on me. “Speaking of the reporting that you probably are anxious to get back to, I called and placed an ad in the paper for a new cook.”
    He shrugged. “Schedule the prospective applicants to come in on a Saturday and I’ll interview them.”
    “Are you sure? Don’t you have more important things to do instead?”
    He chuckled. “According to most of the people who know you best, you wouldn’t have a clue what questions to ask a chef.”
    I tossed the nearest dry dishcloth at him.
    He snatched it from the air and laughed.
    I pushed away from the counter and walked over to the pot, sniffing the aroma