“I also stole a small yellow doughnut from the box of Duncan's doughnuts in the rec room and fed it to the attack poodle in my office. He made a great production of it. First, he growled at the doughnut, just to show it who was boss. Then he nudged it with his nose. Then he licked it, until finally he snagged it into his mouth and chomped it with great pleasure, dropping crumbs all over the carpet.”

“Hard to protect your food, with your ass anchored." He saluted me with the doughnut. "When you're ready to talk, call me. You know the number."He walked out.”

“Andrea: "....I think a dog is a great idea. I just never pictured you with a mutant poodle.” Kate: “He isn’t a poodle. He’s a Doberman mix."Andrea: “Aha. Keep telling yourself that.”

“Some people got vicious Dobermans. I got a shaved attack poodle in a black sweater. His tough, spawn-of-hell image had taken a fatal blow, but at least he would be warm.”

“What is he doing here?" Curran growled."He's Roland's Warlord. He's here for me." He was here for the woman who had broken his master's blade."Tough luck. You're mine.”

“Rene looked at Grendel. “What in the world is that?”“That’s our mutant attack poodle,” I told her.“Is he chewing on a gun?”

“He grinned. "You're jealous."I considered it. "No. But when you stared at that woman like she was made of diamonds, it didn't feel very good.""I stared at her because she smelled strange.""Strange how?""She smelled like rock dust. Very strong dry smell." Curran put his arms around me. "I love it when you get all fussy and possessive.""I never get fussy and possessive."He grinned, showing his teeth. His face was practically glowing. "So you're cool if I go over and chat her up?""Sure. Are you cool if I go and chat up that sexy werewolf on the third floor?"He went from casual and funny to deadly serious in half a blink. "What sexy werewolf?"I laughed.Curran's eyes focused. He was concentrating on something."You're taking a mental inventory of all people working on the third floor, aren't you?"His expression went blank. I'd hit the nail on the head.I slid off him and put my head on his biceps. The shaggy carpet was nice and comfortable under my back."Is it Jordan?""I just picked a random floor," I told him. "You're nuts, you know that?"He put his arm around me. "Look who is talking.”