Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 46

The moment he stepped into the back garden, Victor froze in his tracks. Across the lawn, he immediately spotted that familiar, graceful silhouette.

So that's why Pudding had been acting out of sorts, he realized.

And the woman responsible? None other than Isadora.

She wore a fitted, gray one-shoulder business dress-professional but flattering, hugging every elegant curve. The hem brushed just above her knees, showing off a pair of perfectly sculpted, porcelain legs.

Isadora had her back to him, so Victor couldn't see her face. But her light, ringing laughter, mingled with Pudding's excited barking, filled the entire garden.

"Ready? One, two, three-go fetch, Pudding!" she called.

She was teasing Pudding with a dog toy, tossing it across the lawn. No matter how far she threw it, Pudding dashed after it and brought it right back, tail wagging, eyes shining with joy.

They repeated this three or four times, each time ending with Isadora offering him a handful of treats. Pudding gobbled them up, jaws working noisily.

kibble—even the finest cuts of meat couldn't tempt him

see if something was wrong. The idea of

eating with

took-just seeing your beloved "mom" again, and suddenly

it made sense. Nearly thirteen years had gone

Pudding, the two of them lost in their own world. At first, she'd only planned to use Pudding as an excuse to get into the house and find Victor. But somewhere along the way, she'd gotten swept up

He was adorable and clever, despite his size. And for such a sturdy

ears, he'd wag his tail in

she'd raised him herself, the

of the treats

huh? You don't look like a pudding at all. Did Victor give you that name?" she asked, her

Woof! Woof!

a familiar scent and bounded past her,