Chapter Twenty
Taylor
“Seth, he’s only one dog. He doesn’t need an entire bag of treats and four bones for one afternoon,” I say as Seth drops another beef marrow bone into the basket.
After breakfast, we both handled what we had to, clearing our schedules for the rest of the day, and Seth insisted we go to the pet store before picking up Barney.
“Says the woman who has five dog beds in her house.”
I didn’t realize he noticed. “One never knows which bed a dog will want to sleep in.”
“As if they don’t sleep in your bed?” He tugs me into a kiss, then drags me to another aisle and tosses two balls into the basket. “Let’s find a Frisbee. Dogs love Frisbees.”
“I don’t even know if Barney has seen a Frisbee before.” I secretly love seeing him act like a kid in a candy store for a dog he’s never met.
“All the more reason to get him one.” He plucks a blue Frisbee off the shelf and puts it in the basket. Then we head to the register. “What’s Barney’s story? How old is he?”
“He’s nine, and his story is sad. His owner was older, and he’d raised Barney since he was a puppy, but then he had a stroke and had to go into an assisted living facility.”
He finishes paying and takes my hand as we head out to the parking lot. “What about the guy’s family? Nobody offered to take Barney?”
“Nope. They said their lives were too busy. When Barney first came to the shelter, he was depressed. My friend Joe, who manages the shelter, said Barney whined every night when the lights went out.”
When we reach Seth’s SUV, he draws me closer, his gaze softening, and says, “Well, sweetheart, we both know how much that sucks, so we’ll make today extra special for him.”
Knowing that big heart of his embraces dogs and not just people makes me fall a little harder for him. “That kind of charm will get you everywhere, Mr. Braden.”
Seth
The blond guy behind the counter at the animal shelter lights up as Ellie comes through the door. “Hey, Taylor,” he says enthusiastically, standing so fast his chair skids. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
I bet you have. He’s looking at her like she’s sunshine itself.
“You have?” she asks.
“Yup. I made you something.” He grabs a bag from the desk and comes around the counter.
He is tall and fit in a flannel shirt and jeans and looks closer to Ellie’s age than mine.
“I saw your name on the schedule yesterday, and I happened to be baking sourdough last night.” He holds up a bag and shakes it.
“Your favorites. Cranberry-orange and chocolate-cinnamon.”
She squeals—actually squeals—and hugs him. “Thank you!”
Great. Bread guy returns her embrace like she’s his and starts talking about sourdough like it’s foreplay.
“You’re so sweet! I have been having withdrawals.” Ellie turns to me and says, “Seth, this is Joe, the best sourdough baker in Port Hudson.”
I shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, Joe.”
Joe nods, but he keeps looking at her like she’s hung the fucking moon. “I’ll get Barney. I know he’ll be excited to see you, too.”
“Thanks,” she says.
As the door closes behind him, I slide my arm around Ellie’s waist and say, “Barney’s excited to see you, too? Seems like Joe’s a fan.”
“He’s so nice. Wait until you taste his bread. It’s like heaven on a plate.”
“Guess I’d better up my game.”
Her eyes glint with amusement and surprise. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”
“Maybe,” I admit with annoyance. “I’ve never been jealous before.”
She grins. “Wait, Mr. Wildly Confident who borders on arrogant in the business world, which you’ve totally earned, is jealous over me? That doesn’t even make sense.”
Her words hit as wrong as anything ever has. “Jesus, El. Do you really believe that?” I don’t wait for an answer. “For the record, if your friend tries to butter your bread, he and I are going to have words.”
She laughs.
I hug her against my side. “Are you enjoying my discomfort?”
She whispers, “A little bit,” and gifts me with another sweet laugh.
The kennel door swings open, and a fluffy white dog with brown patches spots Ellie and barks, making a beeline for her like a furry cannonball.
“Barney!” She crouches, and the fluffy pooch barrels into her, all paws and tongue and swatting tail.
Barney’s excitement knocks her off-balance, and I catch her as I lower myself to one knee.
“Hey, buddy,” I say, petting Barney. He unleashes a slobbery assault on me, too.
As if he can’t decide who to lick, Barney goes between me and Ellie, licking one and then the other.
We laugh, loving up the world’s happiest dog.
“He’s always happier when Taylor’s around,” Joe says from the doorway.
I glance at Ellie, pink-cheeked and bright-eyed, and say, “I know the feeling.”
When we get to the park, I fill my pockets with dog treats.
Barney has already claimed the Frisbee and holds it firmly in his mouth as he trots ahead on the walking path through sun-dappled woods.
Ellie’s hand is warm in mine. She squeezes it every now and then, like she’s checking to make sure I’m really here.
“Is this the part where you lure me into the woods and take advantage of me?” I tease.
She flashes a playful smile. “You wish.”
“Yes, I do,” I admit, steering her around a rock sticking up in the dirt.
“This leads to a field where I can let Barney off leash. I like to come here to clear my head. Where do you go to clear your head? Do you have a thinking spot?”
“I’ve never stayed anywhere long enough to designate one.”
“Hm. No safe haven beyond your family and no thinking spot. Sounds like you’re an island.”
“I’ve been called worse. I usually go for a run when I need to clear my head, but I’ve also gotten pretty good at blocking people out so I can analyze my thoughts no matter where I am.”
“That’s where we differ.” She leans into me. “You analyze, and I overthink. Being here gives me something else to focus on.”
“Ah, I get it. A pretty enough canvas to distract you from your thoughts.”
“Exactly.”
The trees give way to sunlight spilling over a grassy field. Barney bolts forward, snapping the leash from Ellie’s hand. She gasps, but I’m already sprinting after him. I catch the leash, and the second I unclip it, Barney runs like it’s his first taste of freedom.
“Thank you,” Ellie calls out as I jog back to her. “He knows this is his place to run free, but he usually waits until I take the leash off.”
“No worries.” I steal a quick kiss as Barney races back, the Frisbee still clamped in his mouth. He drops it at my feet, tail wagging. “Ready, buddy?”
“Such a good boy,” Ellie says, showering him with attention.
As she pushes to her feet, I offer her the Frisbee. “Want to take the first throw?”
“No.” She waves me off. “You go ahead. Show me what you’ve got.”
“A’right. Come on, Barn.” I step away and launch the Frisbee across the field. It cuts through the air, and Barney races after it. I toss Ellie an arrogant smirk.
“Show-off,” she teases.
“I can’t bake bread, but I can throw a hell of a Frisbee.”
“Maybe that can be your fallback career if the whole entrepreneur thing tanks.”
God, this woman. “Maybe.”
Barney bounds back to us and drops the Frisbee at Ellie’s feet. “Good boy,” I say, giving him a treat.
Ellie picks up the Frisbee, squares her shoulders, and sends it flying—straight into a bush. Barney dashes after it.
“Impressive,” I say, biting back a laugh.
“Shut up,” she says playfully. “I haven’t played since college.”
Barney trots back with the Frisbee, and she takes it from him, ruffling his fur. “Good boy.”
“Want me to teach you how to throw?”
“Are you willing to risk getting close to a woman holding a projectile?” She waves the Frisbee, and Barney’s head tracks every move.
“I very much enjoyed being close to you when you were holding my projectile.”
“Seth!” The blush rising on her cheeks is worth the scolding.
“You asked,” I say innocently, and glance at Barney, who is eagerly awaiting the throw. “Hold tight, bud. This won’t take long.”
I move behind Ellie, sliding my arms around her waist. “Relax, sweetheart.”
“Easy for you to say. You don’t have a deliciously hard-bodied man pressed against your back.”
I grin against her ear. “Focus, Nunnally.”
“I am,” she insists, then quieter, “Just not on the Frisbee.”
Barney barks like he’s calling her out.
I give her a squeeze and say, “Barney says stop thinking about getting me naked and pay attention.”
“Fine. What did I do wrong?”
I wrap my hand around hers and say, “Unlike this morning, you let go too soon.”
“That’s really helping me focus.”
We both laugh.
Barney’s tracking the disc in our hands with bated breath, so I force myself to be serious.
“You’ve got a good grip, but put your index finger along the edge of the disc.
” I show her how to choose a target, set her feet, and the mechanics of throwing, and then step back and say, “Okay, give it a try.”
“Proper stance? You really do analyze everything,” she says.
“I like to master things.”
Mischief sparks in her eyes. “Well, you’ve done a good job in the bedroom.”
I chuckle as she takes aim and lets the Frisbee fly. It cuts to the right. Barney takes off after it like a rocket, and my beautiful girl laughs at herself.
She throws it a few more times, and Barney is happy to go after each of her failed attempts. Then we take turns, throwing and running with Barney, stealing breathless kisses in between, and laughing more than I ever have.
When Ellie takes her next turn, I whip out my phone, wanting to remember everything about our day, and move farther out in the field.
“Planning on selling that to a blooper show?” she hollers, petting Barney.
“I have a feeling you do better under pressure! Go on. Show me what you’ve got.”
“See that tree out there?” She points to a tree straight down the field. “It’s mine.” She winds up and lets the Frisbee fly. It sails straight toward the tree. Barney barrels after it, and Ellie squeals, jumping up and down like she’s won the Olympics.
“Attagirl!” I cheer.
She runs toward me, hollering, “I did i—” Her foot slips on the grass, and she goes down with a yelp.
“Ellie!” I run to her, my heart lurching.
She rolls onto her back, cracking up, as I reach her. Barney blows past me and pounces on her, his tail thrashing as he licks her face. Ellie laughs hysterically, trying to fend off his sloppy kisses.
“He likes to kiss you as much as I do,” I say, offering her a hand.
She grabs my hand and yanks me down with them. I land half on her, half off, both of us cracking up. Barney circles us, barking like it’s the best day of his life, before piling on, tail whipping, tongue licking. Ellie curls against me, using me as her shield, which only makes us laugh harder.
“A’right, buddy, settle down,” I manage. Barney flops into the grass beside us, panting happily.
Ellie lifts her face from the safety of her human cocoon, her eyes bright, her smile even brighter. “Am I safe from the furriest licker?”
“You mean the best wingman ever? He pounces, and I reap the benefits.” I ruffle Barney’s fur. “Good boy.”
“Suddenly I feel outnumbered.”
“Get used to it, sweetheart. If this is what a furry friend gets me, I’m stacking the deck in my favor from now on.”