We're One: Two wrongs always make a right

Chapter Six

Sia

There’s nothing like a cool, crisp Sunday morning at the park. I’m not a fan of the city, but the park near our apartment makes it more bearable. Mornings without rain make me grateful to be alive and able to move freely outside. If I could drown out the sound of traffic and honking horns, it would be ideal.

Many times as I take a morning walk with a hot cup of coffee in my hands, I become terribly homesick. I used to do these morning walks along the beach when I was back in my hometown. Our little piece of paradise on the California Coast is a true treasure. The town is small and intimate, and you can’t get away with anything since everyone knows your business as soon as something happens, but it also has very low crime, and a sense of safety and serenity that I’ve yet to find anywhere else.

My goal is to one day return home. Until I do, I’ll take my morning park walks and let the fresh air clear my mind from stress, and especially from thoughts pertaining to Zach Callahan. I went to bed the last two nights thinking about him, then woke up this morning with him on my mind after dreaming about him all night. I’ve gotten no peace from the moment his email arrived through my website.

Instead of thinking about Zach, I focus on the grass sparkling in the sunlight from the morning dew still clinging to it. I hear the birds singing when I’m able to tune out the traffic noise. If I close my eyes I can almost imagine I’m no longer in the busy city. Something I tell myself every morning is that today is the start of something wonderful. Each day is a fresh start with a clean slate.

I continue moving along the path when out of nowhere a blur of silver fur bounds toward me. Before I have time to react, the most adorable puppy jumps up against my legs and barks, her tongue hanging out, and her tail wagging a mile a minute. The little thing can’t be more than ten pounds. I look around but don’t see an owner. I quickly drop to the ground and laugh as she gazes at me with big, soulful eyes, her tail whipping so hard my heart’s instantly melted.

“Where did you come from?”

She jumps into my lap, reaches up with her tiny puppy paws against my chest, and licks my chin, causing me to laugh in delight. I’d give anything to have a puppy, but it’s not feasible in our tiny apartment. Nikki and I both work too much to have a needy puppy anyway. We’ve discussed getting a cat, but our current apartment is a strict no-animal unit. Maybe when we move we can get something. Pets bring magic to lives in a rushed world. They force us to slow down and do nothing but love on them. I’ve never had a dog before but I’m determined to one day soon.

I continue petting the puppy knowing there’s a frantic pet owner out there looking for her. She’s wearing a cute little pink collar; she must’ve escaped from the dog park. I’m surprised no one is calling out for her. I’m petting the puppy when I hear someone running. I look up to see an all too familiar face and my smile instantly fades away.

“Hi, Sia,” Zach says as he halts in front of me, not even out of breath after a nice jog. The puppy doesn’t move from my lap, but dutifully looks at Zach. This can’t be happening.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, then a bit of horror fills me. “Are you following me?” I’ve never been stalked by a client before, but this man’s determined.

He holds up his hands in surrender, looking slightly affronted by my question. “No stalking going on here. I somehow managed to let Callan talk me into adopting this terror dog yesterday. I did a search and found the dog park here. They told me to socialize her as much as possible as a puppy so she’s friendly. The ranch isn’t exactly in walking distance to neighbors, so I thought at least a few days a week I’d take her to a puppy park.”

“You adopted her?” I ask, wanting to hold on to the dog. I’m not sure he’d make the best pet owner. Everyone thinks they can have an animal, but they don’t realize the amount of time it takes. Sure, Zach has the money to take care of her, but they need love and attention too. Their feelings are hurt when they’re left alone for too long.

“Yep, and I’m already regretting it. This little terror is a master at escaping. I’ve been searching for her for ten minutes now. She got out of the park when someone else left and took off like an Olympic sprinter.”

I chuckle as the sweet angel once again licks my chin. I look at her. “You’re not a terror, are you?” She yips and licks me again as if confirming she’s perfect. “She hasn’t tried to get away from me,” I point out.

Zach grumbles as he reaches down and snaps a leash onto her collar. The puppy immediately tugs against his hold but doesn’t leave my lap. I probably should get up. I don’t like being down this low with Zach towering over me. I’m having a difficult time letting go of the puppy though. She’s so dang soft and loveable.

“What’s her name?” I ask.

He gives me a sheepish smile and shrugs. “I haven’t named her yet. Nothing seems to fit.” The puppy lies down and begins chewing on the sleeve of my sweater. She’s going to damage it, but I don’t care. I begin playing tug-of-war with her, which she really seems to enjoy. She even manages a sweet little growl as she whips her head back and forth.

I look at the puppy then start throwing out names before I can stop myself. “How about Bella, Daisy, Luna, Princess?”

Zach is shaking his head as he laughs. “No, I don’t want anything cheesy,” he says. “She needs a terrifying name since she’s a fierce protector.”

As if to prove this point, the puppy lets out another growl that makes me chuckle as she tugs hard on the sleeve of my sweatshirt. I tug back and she really likes this game.

“You’re going to need to get her a rope. She loves tug-of-war,” I tell him.

“I can see that. I’m going to owe you a new sweatshirt.”

I shake my head. “This thing is old and made for puppy games.”

“Do you have a dog?”

“No, I wish. My apartment doesn’t allow them. Besides that, I work too much, and puppies need a lot of attention. I watch them at the dog park every morning I walk, and I volunteer at the shelter once in a while and get some play time in. I have a hard time there though, because I want to take every single one of them home with me.”

“I can see that,” Zach says. “We always had dogs at the ranch, but none were mine alone. I might have to get her a companion so she doesn’t feel lonely.”

“Or you can give her lots of love and attention,” I suggest, sounding a bit judgy.

“Hey, I might be the best pet owner alive.”

“We’ll see,” I say. “At least I’ll get to see her while the decorating is happening. She’s going to grow fast.”

“Yes, she will.”

“How about Honey?” I suggest as a name. The puppy stops tugging on my sweatshirt and jumps up to lick my chin again. “I think she likes it.”

Zach laughs as he shakes his head. Then he looks at the dog. “Honey?” he questions, not sounding thrilled with the name. The puppy immediately looks at him and barks. “Dang it, that’s not a fierce name at all, but it looks like she wants it. “Dozer,” he says in the same sweet voice. The dog tilts her head and looks at him with question. “Honey,” he repeats, and she barks again. “I guess Honey it is.”

I beam at the puppy. “Honey is perfect. You’re the sweetest thing ever.” The puppy licks my chin again, then sees a squirrel and bounds off of my lap, tugging on the retractable leash as she chases it. I guess this is my cue to get up. Zach holds out a hand to help me, but I ignore it and push against the ground with one hand while holding my coffee cup with the other.

“Well, I better get going. I want to finish my walk, and I have a lot of work to do,” I tell him. I can’t stay here having a friendly chat with this man. My days are already filled with thoughts of him. I absolutely can’t bond with him over a dang dog.

I take a step to leave when Honey runs back to us, tangles between my legs, and makes me trip. I stumble forward, straight into Zach’s arms, my nearly full cup of hot coffee splashing out and soaking the front of both of us before the cup tumbles to the ground.

We both jump back, the hot liquid making me wince. Then I look over at Zach’s shocked expression as his white shirt is plastered to his chest with an ugly brown stain all over it. I can’t help it when my lips twitch and then a giggle bursts from me. He glares at the puppy, making me want to scoop her up to protect her. The poor little thing is wagging her tail, wondering what this new game is all about. She seems proud of her handiwork.

“Well, that wasn’t pleasant,” I finally say when the giggles die down. I begin to shiver as the liquid cools. I see goosebumps on Zach’s neck as well. It’s way too cold out to be wet right now.

“No, doesn’t feel too good,” he says with a little clatter of his teeth.

“I better get home and clean up.”

His gaze zeroes in on me. “Do you live close by?”

Mayday! Mayday! I should lie, should tell him I have to jump in my car and drive miles. I’ve never been good at lying though. I don’t want him to know where I live, but all he has to do is watch me exit the park to see that I live on the other side of the road.

“Um, yeah, next to the park,” I mumble. He gives me the same puppy-dog eyes as Honey’s giving me, and I relent. This is stupid. Don’t do it. Don’t do it, I command myself. But somehow, the words spill from my traitorous lips.

“Would you like to come over and dry off?” What in the actual hell am I doing? If I could kick my own ass I would. This nearly makes me grin as I think about the movie Liar, Liar and the scene with Jim Carey doing just that.

“Are you sure it won’t be an inconvenience?” Zach asks, but as I start walking, he’s right at my side with Honey happily walking next to me, her tail still wagging away.

Yes, it’s an absolute inconvenience, but I can’t take the offer back now. “It will be fine,” I tell him, though I’m not so sure it will be fine. I can’t have this man in my private sanctuary. I look at Honey and decide my bad decision-making is all her fault. I’ve been melted by her sweet puppy essence.

We walk in silence as I internally berate myself for the invitation. Thankfully Nikki will be home, so it isn’t like we’re going to be at my apartment alone. We stop when Honey makes a detour to go potty. I’m pleased when Zach pulls out a puppy bag and cleans up after her without looking the least bit put out. He tosses the bag in the garbage at the exit of the park, and the two of us cross the street to my place. I grow more nervous. I hope Nikki’s dressed. She tends to take a while in the mornings.

We enter my building and thankfully no one’s around to rat on me for letting a puppy inside. The policy says we can’t own pets, but it doesn’t say anything about them visiting us once in a blue moon. I move to the staircase and begin my assent to the third floor without even thinking about it. The only time I use the elevator is when my arms are full of things. Otherwise I like the exercise of the stairs. I don’t get enough movement with my job when I’m on my computer so much.

Zach doesn’t say a word as we reach the third floor, and though I’m breathing a bit heavy, he doesn’t look like it raised his heartbeat. The man’s in ridiculously good shape. It’s not fair that some people look like him, while people like me have to watch our diets and force exercise or else look like a blob.

I open the door and am greeted with silence. I move over to the kitchen counter and find a note: Had to run out. I’ll be back in three hours. I’ll bring lunch. Love you.

My heart sinks as I realize I’m all alone with Zach in my tiny apartment. I turn to see him pulling off his jacket and reaching for the hem of his shirt. Holy hell, I’m in trouble, I’m in big-ass trouble.