Part 63 (1/2)
”I don't want to get them into trouble or anything, but they came in some late last night and I thought I heard it then, I just wasn't sure.”
”Thought you heard what?”
”A dog.”
”A dog?” Moving quickly to the counter, Claire swept Austin up into her arms before he could say anything.
”Yeah. And just now, I'm pretty sure I saw half a muddy paw print. I mean, if they're smuggling a dog into their room...”
Austin started to snicker.
”... we ought to say something when they come back tonight because it's not necessary.”
”What isn't necessary?” She s.h.i.+fted the cat's weight. He was laughing so hard he was becoming difficult to hold.
”Hiding the dog. You don't mind if they bring in a pet, do you?”
”No. I don't.” Which was as much as she could manage with a straight face.
”A dog?” The twins exchanged identical smiles. ”No,” Ron continued, ”we don't have a dog.”
Dean frowned. ”But I heard...” He faltered, caught and held by two pairs of frank gray eyes. They were telling the truth, he'd bet his life on it. ”I guess maybe I didn't.”
”You're welcome to come up and search the room,” Reg offered.
”Any time,” Ron added suggestively, brows rising and falling.
”No, that's okay.” Feeling a little like he'd missed the punch line of a joke everyone else found incredibly funny. Dean shrugged. ”I, well, we, that is the hotel, wanted you to know we don't mind animals in the rooms, that's all.”
”Nice to hear. We'll remember that...”
”... if we're by this way again.”
”What's the lovely young man going to think of you when he finds out you've been lying to him?” Claire's reflection asked.
”I haven't been lying.” She'd switched to a clear lip gloss on those days she wasn't able to use the mirror. It was faster than waiting to see what she was doing.
”You didn't tell him about the vampire, you're not telling him about the werewolves...” The reflection traced a dark red clown frown a quarter inch from her lips.
”But I'm not lying. If he asks...”
”And he's so likely to ask, isn't he? You promised, no more secrets.”
”These aren't my secrets.”
”We think it's sweet that you're trying to protect him.”
Claire blinked, a little confused by the sudden change of topic. ”What are you talking about?”
”You know. He's just a kid. Let's keep him safe. He'll thank you for it later.”