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Reese put his hands on his thighs in sudden decision "Here we go I found Cash in a box in the middle of a street The box was taped shut, so I know someone put him there on purpose"

"Dear God!"

He liked that reaction because it mirrored his own "It was sheer luck that he hadn’t already been hit by the traffic I saw the box ot suspicious and stopped The second I lifted it, I knew there was a dog inside, so I put him inher mouth, Alice looked at Cash with a wealth of e her deep sy

"I didn’t really think it through," Reese explained "I just took hi him a flea dip, his ears cleaned, his blood checked…the whole shebang Thus his name, Cash"

"That was so kind of you"

Great Melodrama Just what he didn’t need "That was hu humanity" And should be beaten, at the very least "But the point is, now I have a dog, and I’m fond of him and he of me, but unfortunately I sometimes have to eird ti sitter?"

In case she thought to refuse, Reese went about convincing her "He’s s up stuff and waiting to go outside Of course I’ll supply all his food and anything else you’d need And--"

"I’d love to"

"I’ll pay you," he said at almost the same time

They stared at each other

Reese --and to Alice "I’e, and I could even pay overtiet too screwy" Like they were bound to be again today

"I like Cash" She held the dog protectively to her chest Cash’s eyebroent up and down as he looked at Reese with uncertainty "I don’tyou" He patted his thigh "Co bolted over to him, crawled into his lap but then stretched out to lick at Alice’s hand

A diplo--Reese wasn’t sure which

Alice looked ready to melt "Okay"

On to the next hurdle "You can’t watch Cash and ban aze shot up to his "I wasn’t banning, exactly…"

Before she could get too worked up, he said fast, "It’s okay I’ to pry" Yet "But I’m a cop, you know I’e put her shoulders back and stiffened her neck "If you’re suggesting--"

"Not suggesting a thing" More like setting up the rules "I’ement, and there’s no reason for you to worry about , in any way" Just because he suddenly wanted to kiss her silly…no reason at all "I want everything clear up front"

"Everything?"