Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
ATLAS
T he adoption event is dead. It’s been underway for nearly an hour and we haven’t had a single visitor. I should be disappointed, but Isadora is all smiles as we take turns playing with the puppies. The sight of her experiencing happiness gives me all those warm and fuzzy feelings just like all those years ago. I’ve been obsessed with Isadora for as long as I can remember. It’s impossible to be sad when I finally have her all to myself.
Outside, big heavy flakes of snow are falling. The meteorologist predicted a potential Christmas Eve blizzard earlier this week, but there’s no telling how many inches we’ll actually get. Busy roads are full of people in cars braving the cold for last-minute shopping. A giant vinyl banner advertising the adoption event today is bright and easily visible from the street. I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. Puppies are a great last-minute gift. I feel like a failure.
“What’s wrong, grumpy grinch?” Isadora asks, eyeing me warily as she strokes her fingers over the puppy’s back.
Fuck me. I look at where Isadora is sitting in a nearby pen. The sweet fluffy golden retriever climbed into her lap and settled down for a nap. My jaw clenches. I’m fucking jealous of a dog. It’s nestled against her pussy with its head resting on her thigh. Right where my cock wants to be. I shake my head, focusing back on the image of her with the puppy. It would make an adorable picture for the website. And if, after today, she decides she wants nothing to do with me ever again, then at least I would have a picture to remember her. More like a picture to jerk off to, my conscience reminds me. My eyes narrow into a glare. I’m annoyed with myself. I really am an insufferable, cocky asshole. Fuck it. I’m doing this and giving it my best shot. I clear my voice and she looks over at me.
“I don’t suppose you would let me take a picture of you to post on the website? The little guy all curled up with you is pretty cute.”
She smiles. “Sure. You know if you want to, you can put it on social media and try to drum up some visitors.”
Don’t act like an idiot. “Adding it to social media isn’t a bad idea. Do you really think it would help get people to the rescue today?”
She looks at me, confused. “Did you advertise on social media at all, Atlas?”
“No,” I reply sheepishly. “I put up flyers in all the regular spots around town and sent out a newsletter to my donors.”
Isadora looks at me, surprised. “Did you live under a rock while you were away all these years? No one knows about anything unless you put it on social media.”
So she had noticed I was gone. My cock twitches at the realization that she missed me. Okay, maybe missed is wishful thinking, but she knows I’ve been gone and that’s a step in the right direction. I hope. She’s funny, too. I chuckle at her insult.
“That’s fair. I may as well have been living under a rock. If my eighty-year-old grandfather’s estate in South Carolina counts.” I run my hand over my bearded cheeks, my eyes twinkling with amusement at her reaction.
“You win,” Isadora concedes.
“If you say so. I guess that means you’ll have to help me take some photos for social media and spread the word, since I’m not exactly skilled at it.” It’s cute the way she’s blushing, almost like she’s experiencing the energy building between us too. Holy shit. The realization hits me that it might actually be possible to break the ice queen’s walls down.
Isadora claps her hands together, pulling me out of my head. “How about you take the pictures and then I make them look nice before we post them on social media?”
“Would you help me do that?” I ask.
“Sure, why not?” She looks at me, confused.
Laughing, I reply, “Because I thought you drew the line at spending the day with a lonely man and his puppies.”
Isadora smiles. “I suppose I could be persuaded to help you. I was going to voluntarily assist, but since you’re insisting I’ve already drawn some kind of line—what do you have to offer me?”
“How about if you help me out, I will owe you one free favor?” I reply with a little too much confidence in my voice.
“Ooh, a favor? How generous of you. My hero.” She pretends to swoon.
Fuck. I forgot just how much I enjoy her spicy little attitude.
“Fine. I admit I’m absolutely terrible at this. You tell me what you think a fair trade would be.”
She sighs. “Take a picture of me and Dasher, and then we can do the others.”
“Dasher?” I lift my brow.
“Yeah, I named them after all the reindeer. Didn’t you check any of the name tags you had me hang up earlier?” She’s trying not to laugh at me.
“No,” I confess awkwardly. “I’ve been too busy worrying, and I didn’t actually expect you to name them.”
“Oh, I definitely named them all. I had way too much fun picking them out.” Isadora giggles.
God, she’s fucking adorable. “Hey,” here I go again, unable to help myself, “aren’t there only nine reindeer?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “That’s what made this so perfect.”
I really fucking hate myself. “Um, Isadora. There are ten puppies, not nine.” I say.
“I know,” she shrugs.
“So what did you name the tenth puppy?” I ask.
“You don’t know?” She exclaims with a gasp. “Oh, you really are a Christmas spirit fraud.”
“What?” I say, confused.
“There’s no way you’re the Christmas fan you claim to be if you can’t figure this one out. You’ll have to say it out loud if you want me to tell you,” she teases.
“Say what out loud?” I ask, alarm lacing my tone.
“Say Isadora is the biggest Christmas fan in the world. ” She’s completely serious.
I stare at her, but the look on her face is unwavering. She’s actually waiting for me to say it. I swallow, then repeat what she wants. “Isadora is the biggest Christmas fan in the world. Now tell me the other name.”
“Clarice. Duh. She’s a girl dog, and she’s the girl reindeer from Rudolph . You call yourself a Christmas fan? You, sir, should be ashamed of yourself.”
I’m laughing so hard that I realize I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard. “So you want to play Christmas trivia, little elf? That's fine. Game on.”
Isadora is blushing and, fuck, if it isn’t goddamn adorable in a way that has me hard thinking about it. I imagine the things I’d like to wager as bets with her while she stares at me wide eyed. “What’s wrong, Isadora? Did I leave you speechless?”
She flushes an even deeper pink. I’m on a roll and unable to keep the teasing words from rolling off my tongue. “Or maybe you’d like to solve all of this by agreeing to let me take you out for New Years? We can grab dinner and drinks so I can properly thank you for your help today.”
Her cheeks are flaming red now, giving me all the encouragement I need to remain confident she’s feeling this energy between us, too.
“Dinner? Atlas, are you suggesting I let you take me out on a date? And not just any date, but my first date of the new year?”
“What if I am?” I say, staring her down with what I can only hope to be is an incredibly sexy look. “What would you say?”
She shifts uncomfortably.