Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Owen
Last night when I walked into the bar and spotted Daisy in her short little summer dress and her baby blue cowboy boots, I nearly threw her over my shoulder and ran out of the building. And just like last night, when I open the door to the fire station, my heart skips a beat.
She is the sweetest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
Sitting on the floor with one puppy sound asleep in her lap and one in her hands licking her face is the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met. With her chestnut shoulder-length hair pushed behind one of her ears, her face is left exposed, displaying her heart-stopping smile.
I had every intention of avoiding this place today and every day until I had heard all six puppies had found homes.
But as so often happens, Daisy derailed my plans.
I was minding my own business on my way to football practice when I saw her car parked out front, and my Jeep acted of its own accord and parked right next to hers.
Not only do I not have time for a puppy, I don’t have time for a pit stop on my way to round one of the daily doubles I’m coaching today. But seeing her beaming the way she is, time be damned. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
Clearly, the men on duty wouldn't either, because they all sit enamored by her presence, watching her play with puppies.
A pang of jealousy teases my insides, but it’s not because they're watching her; it’s because they’re getting to spend time with her and I’m not.
When she spots me, her smile brightens, as does mine. We don’t exchange pleasantries; we don’t need to. She’s happy as a pig in shit and doesn’t seem surprised to see me here. She knows I’ve been talking about getting a dog for the last few of years, but the timing is never right.
Once I’m on the ground next to her, the yellow pup crawls over her to get to me. She wastes no time picking up what could be its twin, only for it to rest its head on her shoulder, leaving her to pet the one asleep in her lap with her free hand.
“Oh, I wish I could bring one of you sweet babies home. I’d spoil you rotten, and you could sleep with me every night.” She nuzzles the blonde fluff ball against her cheek.
What I wouldn’t give to be your puppy.
Pushing aside the ridiculous thoughts dancing in my head, I focus on the now-sleeping baby in my lap. “What’s stopping you?”
“In reality, it wouldn’t be safe to take a puppy to my work sites, and I would hate to leave her home alone every day.” Daisy kisses the head of the sleeping lab in her arms.
“I didn’t know you were color blind.”
She looks around confused. “Who are you talking to?”
“Clover, the string is blue. You said you didn’t want her to be home alone all the time.”
She covers the ears of the puppy asleep on her shoulder, then nods at the pink-stringed chocolate pup in her lap. “If I could, I’d take this one home.”
Without thinking, I blurt out, “We could co-parent.”
Her eyes widen for a heartbeat before she rolls them. “Yea, okay. Swift. That would go over great with my big brother.”
“I didn’t ask you to have my child. You want a puppy. I want a puppy. We both have busy schedules. It’s the perfect solution.”
She rests the back of her hand against my forehead. “I’m worried about you. Are you feeling okay?”
“Do I feel okay?”
“Actually, a little hot.”
Must be you.
“Must be the puppies,” I say instead.
“Josh said that somebody called in this morning and reserved the yellow boy you’re holding. Bet you an ice cream from The Shack, Knox reserved him for Ryan.”
“I’m not usually a betting man, but win or lose, I get an ice cream with you, so you’ve got yourself a bet.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“And you didn’t say no to my proposal.”
“Because you’re crazy.”
“How many weeks are they?” I ask the guys.
“We’re thinking six,” Tony replies.
“They won’t be ready for adoption until they hit eight weeks,” Josh confirms.
“Perfect, we have two weeks to prepare. We’ll have to have dinner so we can compare our schedules. How about tomorrow night?”
“Swift, you’re nuts. You know that, right?”
“Come on, Dais. You know you want to say yes. Besides, you have to pick up your birthday gift. Why not dinner before?”
She doesn’t reply, but the sparkle in her golden eyes gives her away. She’s thinking about it. And that’s all I can ask for.
She’s skeptical of my having ulterior motives. Which, of course, I do. But two things can be true. It really would be best for both of our busy schedules to co-parent, and it would be my way of getting her into my day-to-day life. More than she’s ever been willing to be.
She picks up the pup in her lap, kissing her on the nose before placing her in the box with her brothers and sisters. “Bye, sweet girl. I’ll come see you again soon.”
She stands and brushes the fur off her T-shirt and jeans. I follow her lead and do the same.
“Thanks, guys. Have a good day,” Daisy says as she exits.
I give them a wave as we make our way out into the summer sun.
“So what should we name her?”
“You really have lost your mind, haven’t you?” I catch her eye roll just before she covers her gorgeous eyes with her sunglasses.
“Just admit you’re contemplating the idea.”
“Stay hydrated at practice, Coach. I think the heat is getting to you.”
She steps around the front of her car, and when she pulls open the driver’s side door; she slides her shades down her nose to look at me and then shakes her head with a smile big enough to bring out her dimples.
A spike of adrenaline jolts through my heart. “Ha! I knew it. You’re thinking about it!”
She groans in frustration, then gets in her car and starts the engine. But when I press my face to her passenger side window, I can see the smile is still on her face.
Oh, this is gonna be so much fun.