Chapter 11
“Ithink you’re ready for a stroll around town,” I announce to Bear as I work to free a treat from my pocket. “What do you think?”
He tips his nose up to look at me with bright, shining eyes and a wide smile. Not to mention the lopsided way his tongue is hanging from his mouth. My heart melts as I hold my palm out flat to him and watch him gently take the treat.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Wiping my hands together to brush off the Milk-Bone crumbs, I collect the leash from the ground and clip it onto his collar. Like last time, he waits patiently for me to do so and then lets me take the lead as we go inside.
He’s doing so well, not pulling or fighting me. I wonder if I should have taken him into town before now. If maybe I’m not moving slower than usual on his training.
Sam is just past the door, cleaning a kennel, and he looks up to wave when we pass by. He won’t be alone here without me—my dad is in his office, and I can see Ellie cuddling a kitten through the plexiglass. Besides, weekday mornings are historically light around here.
And it’s the perfect day for a walk, with large, fluffy clouds peppering the brilliant blue sky and the first signs of autumn color gracing the trees.
We head up the drive and turn left for town.
I know for a fact that there is a large grassy space behind Monroe Books, the perfect place to lead Bear and give him a break before a stop inside Jenny’s.
She always welcomes dogs at Jitters and even has a ‘pupachino’ on the menu.
I have a feeling Bear is ready to go in and get one. Which means he’s ready to be featured for adoption. It should be good news, but my heart feels heavy at the idea of not seeing him every day.
While I always cherish my time with the animals coming through the shelter, I’ve never quite connected with one like this. Whatever makes up his soul, I think it’s got some of the same bits as mine.
I push aside the way my heart constricts and instead focus on the gentle patter of his paws along the sidewalk. He’s doing so good, I stop at the corner of Monroe and Washington and contemplate skipping the break behind the bookstore all together.
That is, until he sees a tennis ball bouncing across the yard and starts to tug me towards it.
“Bear, heel,” I say sternly.
He doesn’t abide so I repeat the command again and give a single tug back on the leash. He again ignores me, being driven by the sole focus of reaching the ball.
I tug the leash once more, letting out my most serious demand for him to heel.
Instead, the leather slips from my grip.
“Bear!” I shout as the distance between us grows. He’s reaching the edge of the yard now, reaching the ball the same time another dog does.
Please don’t be reactive, I plead silently, watching my well-intentioned German shepherd pounce on the prize.
I hold my breath, watching him seemingly oblivious to the other dog approaching now that he’s captured the ball. Then to my relief, the other dog, a red golden retriever, passes right on by—headed toward me.
“Hi, you handsome man,” I say on an exhale. Reaching the yard, I kneel down to scratch him with both hands. “I’m sorry we’ve invaded your play time.”
He leans into my embrace, sending us both toppling over as Bear watches from where he’s now laying contently with the tennis ball. A laugh escapes me at the same time I hear, “Wow, he really likes you.”
Stepping out from the shadows of the bookstore, is none other than Jake Carpenter. And he’s wearing his smile that goes straight to my head.
“Charlie has good taste,” he adds, his resonant voice washing over me and sending color to cheeks.
When Charlie tips up to lick my heated face, Jake sighs. “And apparently he’s a terrible flirt.”
“Looking like this, how could he not be?” I say, my attention returning to my new four-legged love. I wrap my arm around his neck to brace for the way his whole body comes in for another lick up my neck and let out a laugh.
“He’s apparently poorly trained though.” Reaching us, he tugs the dog’s collar with his left hand and holds out his right to help me up.
His touch is familiar, and my mind flashes back to the way these hands wrapped around me and gripped for dear life. The way they kept me safe.
“Actually,” I rasp, overwhelmed by the sensation, “I’m the one with the untrained dog.”
His fingers curl protectively around my hand, remaining that way even after I’m up on my feet. I look down at where we’re embracing, studying the sheer size of his grip engulfing mine. I shouldn’t enjoy the sight. And yet…
Clearing my throat, I slowly slide my hand from his.
“So,” Jake starts, following my lead to turn towards the dogs. “What’s his name?”
“Bear.”
He pats his leg and lets out a sharp whistle. “Bring it here, I’ll throw it, bud,” he says as if the two of them do this regularly.
But to my surprise, there is no hesitation as the dog jumps up and trots over, dropping the now soggy ball into his waiting hand. As promised, he chucks it clear to the end of the yard, much further than I’ve ever been able to for Bear, and we watch as both dogs hurry happily behind it.
“I guess I can put plays well with others on his resume,” I say, mostly to myself, as they don’t seem to fight over the single ball at all.
“Resume?”
“Oh”—I turn to look up at him—“he’s not actually mine. He’s one of the dogs at the shelter.”
Bear charges back over, throwing himself against his legs to stop.
To Jake’s credit, he doesn’t move an inch, instead he bends over to pet the eager blur of fur wiggling before him.
Lifting his gaze to me, he peeks past the bill of his baseball hat and says, “I have a feeling this guy will get adopted fast.”
“Yeah, me too.”
My voice is laced with disappointment. It doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Do you ever adopt any of the animals that come through?” he asks gently.
I shouldn’t feel so pleased that he’s paying such attention to my little nuances. This is a man I aim to dislike. And yet his tone is genuine and kind. And my wits are nowhere to be found.
“I haven’t—my roommate is pretty allergic. I’m really having a hard time thinking about letting this one go, though.”
“Sometimes two people that belong manage to find each other, even when it shouldn’t make sense.”
I narrow my eyes at him as my stomach tumbles over itself. “People?”
“People, animals, you know what I mean,” he says with an innocent grin.
“Mmm, of course. Anyway, I should be getting back to the shelter.” I take advantage of Bear returning the ball to Jake, reaching out and snatching up his leash.
“It was a pleasure running into you, as always.”
I nod, fighting a smile, and turn to go. After a beat, he calls after me. “Hey, Lucy? What would you say if I asked you to do something with me?”
“You mean spending time with you completely on purpose?” I shout back.
“No motorcycle drive-by, no surprise appearances, and no angry public forums.”
I tilt my head at him. “I’ll let you know… if the opportunity ever arises.”
And then I leave before he can create a circumstance where I have to give him a real answer.