"Goodness, that is a long time," I reply, squashing the stupid ache inside me that's feeling a little too sympathetic to a dog I've never met. "For Darrow anyway."

It takes me a second or two to realize Jeff is the dog in question and I smile again, desperately hoping my face isn't as red as it feels. Just in case, I turn to start rifling through the rack again in search of another option.

"Also, this entire town thinks you're hot," I tell him over my shoulder. "I'm sure Kate and Jeff are hardly the first to see that. Do you have a preference on tie color? We can start there and work outward."