Patience Read online

  “Come on. We’ll go sit on the wall while we wait,” Chad said, looking up Forbes. When the light changed, he stepped out between two cars, and Jamie followed him across the street.

  He wondered at the fact that Chad seemed to assume Jamie understood enough to simply follow. Maybe he’d shown too much intelligence? He didn’t know how to repress that, though, so he didn’t try.

  Chad took a seat on the low wall in front of the Pitt law library and looked down at him.

  Jamie tried to look cute, wagging his tail. He rested his head on Chad’s knee and looked up with his best puppy eyes.

  “There’s no need to try to look cute now. I got you out of animal control, and I’m not about to call them back—unless you turn into a hellhound or something, which I doubt. I noticed you haven’t been neutered yet, so maybe you don’t have an owner.”

  Jamie couldn’t keep himself from whining pitifully.

  “Yeah, right. I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want my balls cut off either. Do you belong to anyone?”

  How could Jamie answer that? Not that Chad really expected an answer. And in truth, there was only one answer he could give. If he belonged to anyone, it was to the man in front of him.

  Chad didn’t say anything more, simply sipped the cup of coffee he’d brought from the donut shop. Jamie hadn’t noticed it in the mess with animal control. It smelled good, and Jamie was reminded he hadn’t had a sip of it yet—and after working for Starbucks back in Oregon, he’d gotten used to drinking coffee pretty much every day.

  When Chad started petting him, Jamie was afraid he’d end up with a wolfy hard-on. It felt really good, especially when Chad scratched him behind the ear. To his complete mortification, his back leg started thumping.

  What the fuck? Get a grip! You’re a wolf, not a dog!

  Chad chuckled and went back to petting him. “Your fur is so soft. What are you? At least part wolf, or my observation skills are for shit.”

  Jamie didn’t make any noise either way. He didn’t have a clue how he was going to eventually tell Chad what he was. Did Chad know shifters existed? His scent didn’t give anything away, and Jamie found himself frustrated by the enigma. But he seemed to accept awfully easily that Jamie was at least part wolf.

  A few moments later, the cab pulled up to the curb and Chad crossed over to it. Jamie heard the driver as soon as the door was open. “I’m not taking a dog that big.”

  Chad looked down at Jamie. “You’re not going to tear anything up, are you?”

  “I’m not worried about that,” the cabbie grumbled before Jamie could do anything. “He’ll shit or piss on my seat.”

  Chad raised an eyebrow, still looking at Jamie. “You won’t, will you?”

  Jamie shook his head, letting Chad interpret that however he would.

  “See?” Chad said to the driver.

  The driver rolled his eyes. “Nice trick. If he pees on the seat, you’re paying for it.”

  “He won’t,” Chad said with a confidence Jamie wondered about as he slid into the cab. Jamie jumped up next to him and rested his head on Chad’s leg after Chad closed the door. Chad’s hand landed on Jamie’s neck.

  “Where to?”

  Chad looked down at Jamie and smirked. “Uh… I need a pet store. What about the PetSmart in ’Sliberty?”

  The driver shrugged. “All right.” He put the car in gear and pulled out onto Forbes Avenue.

  “So help me, if you pee on this seat,” Chad muttered to him, “I’ll let them cut your balls off.”

  Jamie whined and put his paws over his face.

  Chapter 2

  WHEN THE driver turned into the parking lot, he didn’t wait for Chad to pay. He got out and opened their door. And as soon as they’d climbed out, he leaned in, apparently expecting the dog to have peed on the seat.

  Chad smirked when the guy stood and looked almost disappointed. “I guess I’m not paying for a new seat.”

  The driver glared at him. “I’ve had one too many dogs do that to me.”

  Chad held his hands up. “Sorry! Listen, you can see he won’t piss on your seat. We need to go in here for a few.” Chad threw a thumb toward the pet store. “Then we’re going to need a ride back home. I’ll pay you to wait, okay?”

  The driver looked from him to the dog and back again. “Pay me for the ride now.”

  “Of course,” Chad said, taking out his wallet. He handed the money over, then turned to the dog. He wished he could put his finger on what was so different about the animal, but he couldn’t. Aside from being fucking huge. And intelligent. He was way too intelligent for a regular dog. That didn’t tell him much, though.

  “Come on,” he said and headed for the store. He had no idea how he knew the dog would obey him, but he didn’t even question it. And, sure enough, as they stepped through the sliding door, the dog was right there with him.

  They didn’t get more than a few feet into the store before they were stopped by a waif of a girl with flyaway black hair and a quick smile. “I’m sorry, sir, he needs to be on a leash.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. I don’t have one. He won’t wander off or attack other animals, I promise.” Chad looked down at the dog. “Will you?”

  Yet again, the dog displayed that uncanny intelligence and looked as if he was shaking his head.

  Chad looked up to see the girl staring, wide-eyed, at the dog.

  “Uh, okay. Just… keep him close, okay?”

  “Of course,” Chad assured her, then looked back at the dog. “Let’s go.” He stopped and turned back to her. “Oh, could you direct me to the collars and leashes?”

  She blinked at him but pointed to their left. “Aisle ten.”

  Chad smiled his most disarming smile. “Thanks.” He grinned when she blushed, then waved and started walking toward the aisle. He frowned down at the whine from the dog. “What?”

  The dog didn’t even look at him.

  Chad forgot about it as he looked at the enormous selection of collars. “Holy shit. It’s been a long time since I had a pet. And the last time, Mom was the one to buy this stuff. Uh….” Chad looked down. “I’m guessing the double extra large on the collar, huh?”

  The dog tilted his head and looked up.

  Chad turned to the options, smirked, and picked up a bright pink one. “I know you can’t see color, but I think pink would go great with your fur.”

  The dog sat back and pointedly licked his balls.

  Chad laughed. “Yeah, yeah, you’re a boy. Well, then, purple.”

  In answer, the dog put his head on the floor and his paws over his face.

  “Fine, fine. Which would you pick?” Chad asked, as if he’d really get an answer.

  The dog did, in fact, sit up and look at the collars. He tilted his head, then stood and nosed a big black one with spikes.

  Chad laughed. “You don’t really strike me as a spiked collar kind of guy, though.” The dog huffed in reply, and Chad, remembering he was paying for the cab to wait, turned back to the collars. He spotted a simple brown leather one close to the top and pulled it off. “Hmm. I think this might be good for you, huh?”

  He fitted it around the dog’s neck and realized it was actually a little too big. He went down to just the extra large and saw it fit well, with the requisite two fingers of space underneath. “You’re not going to take it off, are you?” he asked, then rolled his eyes at himself. “Why do I keep asking you questions? You’re not going to answer me.” The dog chuffed and Chad blinked. “Right. Uh, leash.” He picked the longest matching leather one they had, then headed back to the register. “Better get you a tag too,” he muttered.

  The same waif rang up his purchases and gave him the code for the tag machine. After Chad had paid, she came around the counter. “Does he bite?”

  Chad looked down. “You going to bite her?”

  The dog managed to look offended. He huffed, turned to the girl, and nosed under her hand.

  She laughed and petted him. “
He’s huge. What is he? I don’t recognize the breed.”

  “Great American Mutt,” Chad said, figuring it was close enough to true, and she laughed again. “There’s Alaskan malamute in him, but that’s all I’m sure of.”

  “I’ve never seen one. I didn’t know they got this big.”

  Chad shrugged a shoulder. “I’m pretty sure he’s unique in that aspect. Probably has some Great Dane or something to be that big. I, uh, need to get the tag.” He clipped the new leash to the dog’s collar and tugged gently.

  It took him a moment to work through the screens—the touch was either not sensitive enough or it was too sensitive. Never in between. Finally he got to the part where he had to put in the name and he paused, stumped. He looked down. “What am I going to call you?”

  The dog tilted his head again as if he was waiting to see what Chad would suggest.

  He flipped through his mental files of dog names, but most of them were horribly mundane and this dog was anything but. “Fido? Spot?”

  Yet again, the dog managed to look offended.

  “Rover?”

  The dog huffed.

  Chad was having too much fun with this. “Hmm. Balls. I should call you Balls.”

  The dog dropped down, put his paws over his face again, and whined.

  “Fine, fine,” Chad said, shaking his head. He turned back to the machine when inspiration struck. “Ah-ha!” He typed in the name, hurried through the last couple of screens, and hit the button to make the tag.

  They both watched as it was engraved, and a few moments later, it made a plink as it landed in the tray.

  “There, Murray. What do you think of that?”

  Murray tilted his head, looking slightly confused.

  “Named after the dog in Mad About You,” Chad explained, then rolled his eyes at himself for explaining to a dog.

  Murray ignored him and just lifted his snout as if to say, “Well, put it on, then.”

  “We’ll put it on back home. I’m not paying for any more time with that cabbie. Shit,” he said, when he thought of something. “I didn’t get food.” Chad stared at Murray for a long moment. “Well, you’ll just have to eat what I do tonight.”

  Murray didn’t look even remotely upset at that.

  WHEN THEY got out of the cab at his apartment building, Chad looked down at Murray. “Do you need to go? I’m kind of assuming you’re housebroken, and something tells me I’m right.” He opened the gate in the tiny side yard and waited for Murray to precede him.

  Murray immediately started sniffing around. It didn’t take him nearly as long as Chad expected for him to find a spot before he lifted his leg. When he finished, he shook hard, then trotted back over to where Chad waited by the gate.

  “Okay, then. Let’s get inside. I still have work to do today.”

  Once inside the apartment, Murray immediately went on a sniff-fest, nosing all over.

  “Well,” Chad said, shaking his head. “Guess no matter what you are, you all do the same things, huh?”

  Murray huffed and came back to sit in front of Chad.

  That’s when the smell truly hit him. Murray stank. He had no idea why he didn’t notice it in the cab, but he was kind of glad or the cabbie would have had a fit.

  “Eww. Okay, you need a bath. What did you sit in?” Chad made a face, then laughed at the reply huff. He turned and headed for the bathroom, guessing Murray would follow. When he’d started running the water in the tub and picked up his own shampoo, he looked over and was not surprised to find Murray sitting there waiting. “I’ll have to use this. Are you going to give me trouble?”

  Murray shook his head again in that weird way that made Chad think he was really answering. He walked over to the tub and sat down next to it, lifting his snout, and Chad realized he was waiting for the collar to come off.

  “Yeah, probably shouldn’t get that wet,” Chad muttered, shaking his head. “You’re too smart, boy. Something’s up with you. I just don’t have a single clue what.” Murray didn’t react to that, and Chad pushed the thought away for his subconscious to work on. He set the collar on the sink and checked the water temperature. “Okay, get in. It’s warm.”

  Murray hopped into the tub and stood still while Chad wet him down. He couldn’t resist laughing. Murray’s fluffy fur looked funny and clumpy when it was wet. Murray looked unimpressed with Chad’s attempt at humor.

  Chad focused on getting the soap worked into the mass of fur. It took him a lot longer than he’d expected—even knowing just how big Murray was—but he finally thought he’d gotten it all, with surprisingly little on his clothes. He told himself he was being silly, but he avoided Murray’s dick and balls when cleaning. He figured Murray would take care of them for him, anyway. Instead, he focused on getting the suds off. He spent several more minutes just in the rinsing process to make sure all the suds were gone. Then finally Murray looked clean.

  Chad found his grungiest towel and used it to rub Murray down, and then he looked into the tub and saw all the fur. “Ugh, you shed a lot, boy. Guess it’s a good thing I have a good vacuum cleaner.” He rubbed Murray a little more, then stood.

  Murray looked up at him, then pointedly at the door, then back at him.

  Chad raised an eyebrow but stepped back to the door. When he got there, Murray shook hard. Water flew everywhere, but not on Chad, who was out of range. “Huh,” Chad said, staring at his new dog. “That was awfully polite of you.”

  Murray jumped out of the tub, and nosed at Chad’s hand when he’d crossed the room.

  Chad tossed the towel into the hamper and squatted in front of the dog, petting him a little on the top of his head. “I wish you could talk. I bet there’s a really interesting story here.” His answer was a lick on the face. He laughed, rubbing the top of Murray’s head again, then got the collar and put it back around Murray’s neck. “Yeah, okay. Uh, go on, let me clean up in here. Then I’ll find you a dish for your water.”

  Murray padded down the hall, and Chad watched him go. Yeah, something was going on there, but for all Chad had a good imagination and had seen all sorts of things, he couldn’t put his finger on what. He shook his head and went in to clean up the mountain of fur in the tub.

  CHAD RUBBED his face and sighed. He glared at the computer, but it wasn’t the computer’s fault. The information was out there. He knew it. He just hadn’t looked in the right place. It was time to call in someone else.

  He picked up his phone, woke it, and paged through his contacts until he found the one he was looking for and hit the call button.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not able to take your call right now,” the soft male voice said. “But if you’ll leave a message, I’ll think about returning it.”

  Chad rolled his eyes. The man he’d called—known only as Panther—had a slightly overblown sense of self-importance. He rarely answered the phone directly. Chad rattled off the little bit of information he had on his latest job and hoped Panther could make some sort of sense of it, dig up something he couldn’t. When he hung up, he looked over his pathetic notes again.

  Quincy Archer. Chad suspected Mr. Archer didn’t want to be found. He’d disappeared some four weeks ago into thin air. From what Chad had put together, Quincy had lived a rather solitary, though comfortable, life. He had a nice loft in the Strip District he paid a pretty penny for. More than a graphic designer should be able to pay, if the current rental prices were anything to go by. He’d graduated from the Art Institute with a dual major in fine art and graphic design. All his work was freelance, which told Chad there was something even more fishy going on.

  How could a freelance graphic artist only a few years out of school afford a loft that cost so damned much? And why would he abandon it and disappear into thin air? There were more things not adding up than things that made sense.

  The man who’d called had identified himself as Quincy’s father and insisted he hadn’t given Quincy any money since his son left for school. Quincy obviously did mo
re than draw logos and paint pictures for a living, and Chad suspected Quincy’s reasons for disappearing had something to do with whatever else it was he did to make money—money the IRS didn’t know about, money Quincy didn’t keep in any US bank.

  Chad yawned and turned away from his computer, almost tripping over Murray. He’d nearly forgotten about his new dog. Only almost, because Murray took up way too much space for that. “Hey, boy, I’m sorry. I get into my work and completely forget everything else. Do you need to go out?”

  Murray sat up and yawned, then stretched. He shook himself and looked up at Chad before heading to the door.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Chad said, chuckling. He snatched up the leash, though he didn’t bother to hook it to Murray’s collar, then opened the door.

  Despite only having been there once, Murray went straight down the stairs to the outside door.

  Chad was going to have to figure out what was up with this… dog… or it’d drive him nuts. He opened the door and let Murray out, then followed his dog to the fence gate and opened it.

  Murray went in, sniffed around, found a spot to pee, then was back in only a minute or two.

  “You’re going to spoil for me every future pet, you know that?” Chad asked.

  Murray chuffed as he passed Chad and headed back to the building’s door. Yet again Murray went straight to the apartment without going the wrong way once.

  When they got back inside, Chad went into the kitchen. He glanced down at Murray. “Need to make some dinner. What do you think, hmm?”

  Murray tilted his head.

  Chad rolled his eyes at himself. Maybe he’d been alone a little too long. Talking to his dog had to be a sign of insanity, even if Murray was so intelligent. Maybe he needed to get out and date or something. It’d been a long time since he’d had a boyfriend, and an even longer time since he’d gone down to the basement at Donny’s in Lawrenceville.