Hounding Hank (Matchmaking in Granville #2)

Chapter 1

“You’ve got to kiss a few horny toads to find your prince!”

— MATCHMAKING MAMAS

Hank

Scarlett quivered on my grooming table, her long luxurious fur glowing under the overhead lights after a bath she did not enjoy and a blow-drying she enjoyed even less.

We’d come to an understanding partway through her BowWow journey that she would allow it in exchange for treats. As I ran the slicker brush through her undercoat, though, it became clear that I wouldn’t have to bribe her anymore. The brushing turned her to doggy goo.

“See?” I murmured. “It was all worth it.”

Her ears twitched, but her eyes remained half-closed. Yeah, this girl was in her happy place. Sadly, the only women I’d impressed lately were the four-legged kind.

The door to the grooming room opened and my boss, Sammi, slipped inside. She slumped against the wall with a sigh.

She held Ricky, a hyperactive Jack Russell, in her arms.

Scarlett stiffened at the intrusion, brown eyes darting to Ricky. A rumble started in her throat.

“You’re okay,” I soothed, taking a quick step back and grabbing a treat. I held it up so Scarlett would see it, then let her nibble it from my palm. “Yeah, you’re almost done now. You’ve been a good girl for your first time.”

“Sorry,” Sammi said. “Ricky was being a holy terror in there. I had to give the other poochies a break.”

I glanced through the window to the doggy day care portion of BowWow—a large room that included a few obstacles for the dogs to run over and through, as well as toys that got truly abused: balls in five different sizes, ropes for tug-of-war, and some sad-looking stuffies, too.

Most of the pets came with their own toys, but we provided a few extras for when they got bored.

The room was packed today. A little shih tzu was losing at tug-of-war with a golden retriever. A poodle and beagle were getting cozy with butt-sniffing. A husky named Diva was in the corner, crying dramatically, while a couple of mixed-breed mutts chased each other through a tunnel.

“Ricky was mean to Diva again?” I guessed.

Sammi chuckled. “Yep. Though to be fair, Diva’s a…well, diva.”

“Most appropriately named dog ever,” I agreed.

All huskies were divas, in my experience.

“Want a break?” I asked. “Scarlett is pretty much done.”

“Yeah, Ricky’s mommy is on her way. Things should quiet down soon.” Sammi came close enough for Scarlett and Ricky to sniff at each other. “We’ve gotten so busy lately. I can’t wait for this weekend.”

Sammi came about as high as my elbow. Even her hair was shorter than mine. She sported a bunch of clips in it, but they were for sticking on the dogs she groomed. Sammi was more of a butch chick who favored baggy T-shirts and sweats over dresses or bows.

“You got plans?” I asked.

“Taking Abby to a B&B. We have to board our own babies in Omaha. The irony, right?”

“I could watch them at my place.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really? Don’t tease me.”

“Bruno would love the company.”

My French bulldog loved other dogs. We regularly went to the dog park so he could meet up with his friends. I swear, the guy was more popular than me these days.

That was the cost of moving towns, I supposed. I’d only been here about three months, and I hadn’t gotten out to meet many people yet. But then, I liked dogs more than people, so that wasn’t a total surprise.

“Thanks, Hank. I really appreciate it.”

“No worries. I don’t have any plans, anyway.”

The door chimed, and Ricky’s mommy came in. Iola Fletcher was a small lady, but she walked as if she were the queen of this town. From what Sammi had told me, she kind of was. The gossip queen, anyway.

“Oh, there’s my handsome guy,” she crooned before glancing at me. “I mean the dog. But you’re not bad yourself.”

I chuckled. “Thank you, Ms. Fletcher.”

“Oh, call me Iola or Nana,” she said. “Everyone else does.”

I got Scarlett down from the grooming table and ushered her into doggy day care until her owner arrived. When I returned, Iola was exchanging doggy French kisses with Ricky.

Blech. I loved dogs, but I drew the line there.

“So, Hank,” Iola said with a gleam in her eye. “Sammi was just telling me you haven’t met a lot of people in town yet.”

“I’m still getting the lay of the land.”

She nodded. “Must get lonely, though.”

“Sometimes…” I sensed a trap coming. I glanced at Sammi, and judging by her smirk, yep, trouble lay ahead. “I’m fine though. I’ve got all these lovely dogs to play with every day.”

“I bet they love you.” Iola dug into her giant purse. “Which is why I want you to sign up for Matchmaking Mamas. Men who love dogs are an instant hit!”

I took the business card and read: Matchmaking Mamas: We’ve been lovin’ longer than you’ve been livin’!

“Oh, wow,” I said. “Matchmaking. I didn’t know this sort of thing still existed with all the dating apps out there.”

Iola harrumphed. “Dating apps. More like fucking around apps.”

I did a double-take at the swearing. Iola looked like such a sweet lady.

Sammi snorted a laugh. “She’s not wrong.”

“Matchmaking Mamas make you a match with the right person. We do a personality profile on every client, and we use our many years of experience to match folks up. We have a high rate of success! Why just a few weeks ago, Damon Cassidy professed his love to Maverick Parks in front of a big crowd!”

I didn’t know who any of those people were, but I tried to look suitably impressed. “Wow.”

“Yes! We don’t discriminate, dear. We can match you with men or women. What do you prefer? Oh! If you like both, we can do that too.”

She beamed at me, looking proud.

Sammi chuckled. “Hank is a boring hetero.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” I said.

“No worries. We have a lot of women signed up. In fact…” Her eyes lit up. “I know just the perfect one for you without even doing your profile. What do you say, Hank?”

“I don’t know. I’ve got Sammi’s dogs this weekend, so…”

“Then next weekend,” Iola said, patting my arm. “Give me your phone number. I’ll text you the details.”

I sent Sammi a pleading look, but there was no help in that quarter.

“Don’t look at me,” she said. “You need to get out and meet people. Since you won’t do it on your own, why not let the Matchmaking Mamas help?”

I wanted to refuse. A bunch of old ladies choosing my dates? But I hadn’t been out since my last breakup, and it’d been a messy one. Clara and I had never really been right for each other. That was obvious now. I’d just gone through the motions while the red flags zipped right over my head.

When my younger brother called to tell me he was on the verge of being evicted, it’d been a perfect time to get out of Riverton and start fresh.

Maybe this was a chance to start over, too. Could the Matchmaking Mamas really do any worse than I had when left to my own devices?

“I guess it couldn’t hurt to try it once,” I said hesitantly.

Iola squealed like a preteen, then pulled out her phone, which had text large enough to be seen from space. “Okay, give me your number.”

I rattled off my digits, feeling a weird sense of deja vu. The last time I’d done this, it’d been the night I picked up Clara over drinks in a bar. Never thought I’d be giving my number to an old gal who frenched dogs, but oh, how times changed.

Iola set Ricky on the counter while she typed in my number. I scratched him behind the ears, and he panted happily, scraggly tail wagging.

“Okay, Iola, you should be set to bring Ricky back next week. Same time as usual?” Sammi checked.

“Yep. I’m too old to play with him enough. He just loves this doggy daycare. I’m so glad you’re here for us!”

Sammi gave a tired smile. “Me too.”

Iola gathered up Ricky once more and turned for the door. “I’ll be in touch, Hank! Don’t worry. We’ll find you that perfect princess, even if you have to kiss a few horny toads!”

“Uh… thanks?”

As soon as Iola went out the door, I whirled on Sammi. “What the hell was that? I do you a favor, and you entrap me?”

She busted out laughing.

“Sorry,” she choked, gasping breaths between laughs. “It’s just… Your face is so—” She laughed again, unable to finish her sentence.

I glared until she’d gotten control of herself and wiped the corner of her eyes. “Oh, boy. Whew. I needed that.”

I crossed my arms, eyes narrowing in a glare. “Glad I amuse you.”

“No, I’m sorry! It’s just that this is Granville, and you clearly don’t know how things work.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Iola is tough to resist. You see how she is!”

“Uh-huh.”

And maybe she’s just some old lady to you, but she’s Nana, you know?”

“Not really?”

“She’s like a grandma to me. To everyone around here. You just don’t tell Iola no. Even if you try, she eventually gets you. Might as well make it easy on yourself.”

“I guess I do need to get out more,” I said reluctantly.

“You really do.” She paused. “But not this weekend. You’ve got a date with my fur babies.”

I laughed. “I see how it is.”

“Seriously, I’ll feel so much better leaving them with you than some doggy day care in the city.”

“Shouldn’t you trust in doggy day care services since you run one?” I teased.

She shrugged. “Not every place can be as great as BowWow.” She patted my arm. “That’s partially thanks to you.”

I couldn’t really take the credit. I’d come aboard because Sammi had more business than she could handle. Running both a grooming service and a doggy day care was great in theory, but she couldn’t be in two places at once. Even with two of us and a part-timer, we were run off our feet.

Scarlett’s owner, Karen Myers, came inside. Sammi dashed into the doggy playroom to collect the Irish setter.

When she walked her out, Karen lit up.

“Aw, just look at my girl! She looks absolutely stunning.”

“Hank worked his magic on her,” Sammi said. “Do you want a bow for your pretty girl?”

“I sure do!”

I thought it was a little ironic that a butch lesbian like Sammi put pretty bows on the girl dogs. I’d mentioned it once, and she’d shrugged and said she was just keeping her cis-het clients happy.

She’d added rainbow-colored ones to the selection the next week, though, and started offering them for both males and females. Kinda funny that a hopelessly straight dude had inspired Sammi to queer up her dog accessories.

Sammi affixed a bow just behind Scarlett’s ear, then led her around the counter. Karen clipped on her leash and happily handed over her card to Sammi.

“I’m so glad I did this,” Karen said. “Did she behave?”

“Scarlett wasn’t so sure about me at first, but she let me persuade her with presents. It went fine.”

“Ahh, bribery. Yes. I’m familiar with that tactic.”

“Would you like to schedule your next appointment?”

A round of vigorous barking started up in the playroom, and Sammi gave me a distracted look.

“I’ll go,” I said, happy to escape the small talk of checking out customers.

We had a relatively new assistant watching the dogs, but she didn’t yet know how to manage them when they got wound up.

I slipped through the door, and half the dogs came running over with their big doggy grins.

Bruno was at the front of the pack, eager to see Daddy. I scooped him up and peppered kisses on his head. One of the perks of being employed by a doggy day care was that I could bring him to work every day.

I gave Bruno a few scratches and put him down. Then I said the magic words.

“Who wants to play?”

A chorus of barks gleefully answered.

I picked up three balls and hurled them across the room. The crowd went wild.

If only I was as good with people as I was with these dogs. Then I might not need matchmaking services just to get out of the house.