The Dog Designer Ruffles Some Feathers (Moonchuckle Bay Romantic Comedy #8)

by Heather Horrocks

  Teasing, Poppy tossed out the nickname she used for her friend, “Oh, yeah, Owlie?”

  Nalani laughed.

  “I’d love to see you again, and your family, but I have a few puppies I can’t leave behind right now.” She glanced at Blaze, safely in his tightened harness. “I’ve encountered a few … glitches, shall we say … with the training.”

  “I can hardly wait to meet your puppies,” Nalani exclaimed, pushing aside her excuse. “Bring them along.”

  “I’m not sure you know what you’re asking for. One of them breathes fire when he barks.”

  “Like a dragon?” Nalani sounded delighted.

  “Exactly. I can’t leave him behind — and I can hardly bring him along to your parents’ house. What would your mother do if my dog set fire to something?”

  “My mother would just laugh, along with me.” And Nalani started laughing. Hard.

  “It’s not that funny.”

  “No, it’s not that. I just realized — my brother is going to love that dog.”

  “Which of your gazillion brothers would that be? Oh, let me guess. The esteemed fire chief?” Poppy sighed as she thought of Kealoha, on whom she’d had a secret crush since she was a teenager.

  She’d written their names together a few thousand times. Poppy Pueo. Mr. and Mrs. Kea Pueo. And daydreamed about the older brother of her best friend. She’d only confided in Nalani a few hundred times, but other than that, no one else knew about it.

  “That’s the one.” Nalani’s voice grew serious. “Please come, Poppy. Things are changing here and I’m having a rough time adjusting to everything. I could use the distraction that a fire-breathing puppy and my best friend would provide. I’ve even arranged to rent the house next to the old Chaney place.”

  “The haunted house?”

  “Yes.”

  Poppy laughed as she realized she was actually considering making the trip. She’d spent many a happy day in Nalani’s noisy Hawaiian household, and a wave of nostalgia swept over her. It would be nice to spend a little time with her friend and her rambunctious family. “Max isn’t the only dog I’d have to bring. There are two others I’d have to bring with me for sure, maybe more. My brother can keep the rest while I’m gone. I can’t believe I’m considering this.”

  “I’m so glad! You don’t know how much my mom and my sister Aloha have been talking about you lately. They miss you and would love to see you.”

  “It will be nice to see them again, too. Plus the rest of your huge family.”

  “If you want, I’ll order one of those teleporting Ford HEXplorer taxis for you. My treat.”

  “That would be great. Hopefully Blaze won’t be able to stir up too much trouble in the blink of an eye.”

  Eyes So Purple

  THE FORD HEXPLORERS DID MOVE in the blink of an eye — but after a few hours of packing, Poppy decided she’d rather drive her trusty van from Colorado Springs to the haunted rental house. She loved long drives and it would be good relaxation time for her.

  Plus this would give her a chance to spend extra time with her three dogs. They’d done wonderfully so far on the long drive, as long as she had their magical harnesses on — Spell Shell, patent pending. She and her brother had spent many hours perfecting the spells.

  Another plus? She’d have a vehicle to haul her dogs around in while staying in Moonchuckle Bay.

  Are we there yet? Wencheng asked.

  Poppy chuckled and said, out loud, “You’re like having a kid, Wencheng.”

  Only if that child is treated like a princess.

  True that.

  She’d finally decided to bring just the three dogs with her — the three she felt she absolutely couldn’t leave behind — Max the Labracadabrador, Wencheng the Shih Tzam, and of course Blaze. Her only sibling, her brother Rylund, had agreed to keep the other dogs as he worked with her often and his job was flexible enough to allow him to stay at her place most of the day.

  She’d taken the exit into Moonchuckle Bay and then couldn’t resist driving up Mane Street and around Town Square.

  There were old favorites she remembered from growing up here, like the old Monster Mash dance hall, Frankenstein’s 2nd-Hand Shop, Fangs restaurant and bar, the Black Lagoon Saloon, Beans & Boos Coffee, the Woo-Woo Revue theater, and Dorian Gray Photography. She especially had fond memories of A Bite to Eat Café, with food advertised “as good as mummy makes.” She’d waitressed there the summer before her family moved.

  But she was surprised at the number of new stores that had opened up. The Blue Moon Sports Bar, The Bubbling Cauldron, and Cake & ‘Scream were just a few.

  The Wild Things Gift Shop and Carpe Noctem News had been there before, but Elvis Sightings had not. She’d heard that Elvis — the real, actual Elvis — lived in Moonchuckle Bay, but she’d never met him. Could this possibly be his shop? Or maybe someone else had opened it? She’d make sure to find out while she was here.

  And there were a couple of new food stands in the Square, too, though she couldn’t tell what they were called as she drove past.

  Nostalgia swept through her, as well as fond memories. She’d forgotten how much she loved this town. The whimsy of it. The being able to just be her witchy self without being afraid of scaring humans. She liked that she wasn’t even the scariest creature wandering around this town, not by a long shot. Werewolves. Vampires. Occasional trolls. Even the Monster from the Black Lagoon.

  As she turned her van off the Square and back onto Mane Street, her phone rang. She pulled onto a side road and into a parking spot along the curb. Since she had dog buyers calling often, she tried to answer her phone every time — even when she didn’t recognize the number, as with this call. And she knew it was a buyer, or at least somebody involved with her dog business, because her phone had a special setup to notify her with a paw print when a call was placed to her business number. “Sleight of Hound,” she said, “Where you get magical dogs by design. This is Poppy.”

  “Ahh. You are the person who has designer dogs,” a man’s raspy voice said, and just the sound of it kind of gave her the creeps.

  Literally. A creeping feeling itched its way up her back and rose the hairs on the back of her neck. Warily, she said, “I am.”

  “Good, good, because I’m on the market for a good hybrid. My hellhound was hunted down and killed this last month. I need one that resembles an earth dog so hunters don’t recognize it. I understand you’re working with a half-hellhound designer dog and I’d like to buy one.”

  A demon. No wonder his voice had given her the creeps.

  Her first rule of business? Never, never, never — ever! — have dealings with demons. That was a sure way to lose your soul, because demons were notoriously famous for lying and twisting your words. “The breed is not perfected yet.”

  “But you do have one, if I am not misinformed.”

  “I do. Just one, and he’s not for sale. He’s not very stable and I’m not sure I’m going to continue the experiment.”

  He made a frustrated sound. “If you change your mind, I’m willing to pay top dollar. Top dollar.”

  “I’ll keep you in mind.”

  The line went dead and Poppy exhaled in relief as her heart rate returned to normal. Demons. She hated ’em.

  She turned back toward the dogs, who were all three staring at her. “Blaze, I was exaggerating your problems because … well, demon. You’re a good boy and you’re getting better every day.”

  Max barked.

  “Yes, Maxie,” she said with a smile. “You’re a good boy, too.”

  I can’t believe these peasants are so pathetic in needing your attention.

  Princess Wencheng, I understand how frustrating it must be to have to deal with us mere peasants.

  Don’t petronize me.

  Poppy answered out loud. “Don’t you mean patronize you?”

  You heard what I said and I meant it. You think just because we live with you that we’re your pets, and you petronize us.


  “I love you, Wencheng. I love all you silly dogs.” With a laugh, Poppy turned back to the front, and started driving again. Her heart rate had finally settled back down from that unfortunate brush with the dark side. She was going to have to get the witches in town to help her put another spell on her phone so she never, never, never — ever! — got another phone call from a demon. She’d go to spell and back for that one.

  A few twists and turns later, and the houses began to spread apart a little more, with pastures between them.

  Finally, she turned a corner and the haunted house came into view. She drove past it to the big house next door — where Nalani waited on the front porch.

  Her heart was happy as she parked and her best friend from childhood rushed across the lawn toward her. Poppy hopped out and pulled Nalani into a fierce hug. “It is so good to see you again!”

  “I knew you needed to come for a visit, haole.”

  “Whatever, owlie.” Poppy beamed in happiness.

  “And where are your dogs?”

  Poppy put an arm around Nalani’s shoulder and motioned to the back of the van, where she opened the door.

  Nalani peered inside and made an ahhhh sound. “They’re so adorable.”

  Poppy climbed in and unhooked their doggie seat belts, leaving their Spell Shells in place. Her four-footed friends ran to the back where Nalani stood ready to pet them, tongues licking and tails wagging — except for Princess Wencheng, of course, who remained aloof as she delicately sniffed the air.

  “I wish Cara could be here to see these dogs,” Nalani said.

  “Who’s Cara?”

  “Oh, that’s right. You wouldn’t know her. Cara O’Sullivan — now Murphy. She was the contestant from Ireland for the Miss Paranormal Universe Pageant last month. She is also a unicorn whisperer and probably could have helped with your dogs. But she’s currently in Ireland and married, and I heard she’s going on a cruise on Transylvania Cruise Line, so she wouldn’t be able to come even if she wanted to.”

  “A supernatural cruise sounds fun. We ought to do that sometime. And I hear they have singles cruises,” Poppy sing-songed, nudging her friend on the shoulder. Nalani just scowled at her and wrinkled her nose.

  Poppy hefted the dogs off the van and onto the ground with the admonition to, “Stay close.”

  She and Nalani walked the dogs into the fenced backyard. Fortunately, it was relatively private there, especially with the houses so far apart. No people meant no barking, which was excellent for all three dogs, but especially considering Blaze’s … issue.

  The houses on this street were a football field length from each other, but sound carried well and, when something rattled over at the Chaney House, the dogs made a mad dash for the fence, barking like crazy.

  “Oh, great,” Poppy muttered as she chased them.

  Blaze barked — and sure enough, fire erupted from his muzzle. Since Max was in front of him, he yelped, turning around and staring in shock at the littler dog.

  “Yeah, Max, you’d better learn to stay on the back end of this one. For your own good.” She scooped Blaze up in her arms. “Shhh, Blaze. Don’t want you getting all fired up.”

  Blaze looked at her and instantly settled into her arms and quieted. She looked back and found his harness on the ground, and retrieved it. Nalani opened the back door and Poppy carried Blaze into the house, scratching him behind the ears. “How’d you get out of your magical harness, you little Houdini Hound?”

  “What does that thing do?” Nalani asked, pointing to the harness.

  “Keeps him from setting fires.”

  “Good plan,” Nalani said, faintly, shaking her head. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. A fire-breathing dog. What will you come up with next?”

  “As it were,” Nalani said, staring at the little dog. “Kealoha is really going to love meeting this dog.”

  Poppy shook her head. “Oh, no, no, no. We will keep the two of them apart at all costs.”

  As they walked inside the house, Nalani started to laugh.

  Poppy looked at her. “What’s so funny?”

  “I’m just thinking about what Kea’s going to say when he finds out you have a fire-breathing dog.”

  “Like I said, he’s not going to find out. And we’re not going to tell him.” Poppy slipped the harness back on Blaze, tightening the clasp that had loosened, and putting a spell on it to keep it from loosening again. “So he’s not going to say anything about it.”

  “How’d you get the harness to work?”

  “They’re bespelled to quench his fire before it erupts. Max’s keeps him visible.”

  “Ahh. That ought to come in handy.”

  “It does.”

  “So what do you think?” Nalani asked as she led the way from the back door through the large, old-fashioned kitchen and into the main living area. “Will this house work for the week?”

  Poppy looked at the dogs. Max jumped on the couch, turned twice, and sank down with a sigh. Blaze wanted down, and jumped up by Max. Wencheng settled herself regally onto an old rag rug. “Oh, yeah. This will work just great.”

  “I made some sandwiches for you. I put them in the fridge so whenever you get hungry. And I bought some treats for the dogs.”

  “Thanks.” The thoughtfulness hit her straight in the heart. Her own parents had pretty much neglected her and her brother, and it had been a long time since someone had taken care of her in any way. Her brother did somewhat, but he was a guy, so there was that.

  “My family’s going to want to see you tomorrow. My mother’s invited us to a big family dinner.”

  Poppy sighed. “That means there’ll be lots of delicious food, then. And maybe the men will do a haka.” Poppy loved watching them do the intense, traditional dance, though it was rarely used for its original purpose as a war dance any more.

  “That would be nice.” Nalani pulled out a DVD case. “I have a movie for us to watch, too. The one we watched over and over that one summer.”

  Poppy’s eyes widened as she guessed, “The Goonies?”

  “That’s the one.”

  Sitting across from Lizzie at Incognito, one of the more exclusive restaurants in Moonchuckle Bay situated in an old Queen Anne mansion, Kea was mesmerized.

  He couldn’t remember ever being so caught up in a woman; he could barely drag his gaze away from her purple eyes. He’d never met anyone with purple eyes, and hers were fascinating. Alluring. Magnetic.

  Something buzzed, but he continued to smile at Lizzie.

  She motioned toward his hip. “Aren’t you going to answer your phone?”

  “Oh. Yes. Of course.” Feeling kind of silly, he pulled out his phone. “Makuahine?” he answered, using the Hawaiian word for Mother.

  “Kealoha, we are having a big family dinner tomorrow, and I want you to come. We’ll have some of the aunties and uncles and some friends.”

  He glanced across the table. When Lizzie’s hand wasn’t on his wrist, he could look away from her and he didn’t feel quite as caught up in her. Still, this was his fiancé. How strange, to have an instant, unexpected fiancée. “Hold on, Makuahine.”

  Pulling the phone away from his ear, he lowered his voice as he told Lizzie, “My mother has invited us to a family dinner tomorrow.”

  She smiled prettily. “I’d love to go. Thank her for her kindness.”

  He nodded, satisfied, and told his mother, “I’ll come, and I’ll bring Lizzie with me. She says to thank you for your kindness.”

  There was the slightest of pauses before his mother said, “All right, Son. Be here at five.”

  “Now where were we?” Lizzie asked, scooting closer and putting her hand back on his arm. “Tell me about how you became a fireman.”

  All he could think was that he’d never seen eyes so purple!

  Nalani yawned. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for bed. Let’s get up early and start playing.”

  They carried
Poppy’s two bags up the large, Victorian-style staircase to the second floor, the three dogs trotting along behind them.

  Nalani stopped at a door and set down the bag she’d carried. “I figured this room can be yours because it’s a little larger and you have the dogs with you.” She sounded wistful, as if she would have liked a dog or two sleeping in her room. She motioned to the next room. “I’ll be right next door. The two rooms on the other side of the hall are also bedrooms, and we can use them for anything we want. A crazy fingernail painting party, an impromptu bouncing-on-the-bed party, whatever.”

  “You’re still a wild woman, I see.” Poppy grinned.

  “That’s me. A wild woman.” She sighed deeply. “A wild woman with no love life, though.”

  “Sorry. I can’t help you there.”

  Wencheng paused, looked between the two women — and followed after Nalani.

  Surprised, because Wencheng didn’t go with other people, Poppy sent a message to her tiny dog: You’re being very nice.

  If she turns into a wereowl in the middle of the night and eats me, I want you to feel guilty forever.

  Oh, I will.

  Good.

  Poppy rolled her eyes, and Wencheng sniffed and, despite her snark mere seconds before, proceeded to follow Nalani.

  “Aww, the Shih Tzam is coming with me!” Nalani scooped up Wencheng and kissed the top of her head. “Come on in and I’ll spoil you.”

  That’s more like it. I didn’t know Nalani was a peasant.

  Stop petronizing her. Poppy chuckled.

  Don’t be jealous. You’ll always be my favorite peasant.

  “Oh, thank you, Princess. I feel honored. Truly, I do. Out loud, she said. “Night, Nalani. Night, Wencheng.”

  “See you early in the morning, haole.”

  “Night, owlie.”

  That will get old in a hurry, sent Wencheng.

  She shook her head as her littlest dog disappeared into Nalani’s room. Poppy opened the door to her bedroom, carried her two bags inside the door and set them down, closed the door — and stared.