Pawfectly In Love

by Stephanie Rowe

  "Yep."

  "Shouldn't it be that I get my money back if he doesn't?"

  "Nope."

  Luke set the contract on the table and folded his arms across his chest. He settled back and studied her, suddenly realizing how close she was. It was a small table, and if he leaned forward, he would be able to kiss her without getting up.

  "What?" Paige eyed him warily. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

  He decided the truth wasn't going to get him the response he wanted, so he shrugged. "Just trying to figure out your business model. Why don't you guarantee your work?"

  She sighed with the patronizing patience of a teacher dealing with a five-year-old. "If you don't put in the time, the dog won't learn. If you do put in the time, he will. So the money is an incentive to make you spend the time with your dog. I don't care about the money. I just want the dog trained. I can't stand seeing dogs hauled about by untrained owners, or chained to a fence because the owner has no control."

  "You don't care about the money?" Luke knew his face was etched with disbelief, but what woman didn't care about money? None that he'd ever met. Even Daisy had cared. Oh, how she'd cared.

  Paige rolled her eyes. "Are you signing it or not? I need to leave in five minutes, and I still need to shower."

  "You can shower in five minutes?" He didn't allow himself the mental image that wanted to appear at that comment, but he couldn’t help but think about it.

  "Yep. It's amazing what happens when I don't have to worry about doing my hair and makeup all the time."

  He studied her. "Did you used to?"

  Her eyes widened in that telltale sign that told him he'd crossed too far past the line, and he prepared himself for her retreat.

  And again, she didn't disappoint "Here." She held up a pen. "Sign it. I need to go." She tossed it at him, but he was too late reacting, and it bounced off his fingers and onto the floor.

  "Nice catch, Luke. Guess that's why you became a lawyer. Obviously, your physical skills weren't going to fund your future."

  He retrieved the pen from the floor and sat up, giving her his most badass manly look. "My physical skills are quite good, let me assure you."

  Her cheeks turned red. "Shut up."

  "No chance, babe." He grinned, and leaned forward. "Be careful what you start, Paige. I'm not going to lie. I am completely intrigued by you and I meant it when I asked you to dinner. I am so going to give back if you start with me."

  Her cheeks turned redder. "I don't date, and I especially don't date lawyers. I actually am pretty hostile in my opposition to both."

  "Believe it or not, I sensed that, but I'm okay with a little challenge. I'm a good guy, and you'd be okay with me." He quickly signed two copies of the contract, and slid them across the table toward her. "It's signed. You've got me now."

  "I don't want you," she said as she signed her name. "My only interest is in making life better for your dog."

  "I believe you." He watched her fold one of the copies over, her fingers sliding along the paper. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction at having signed it. Yeah, he didn't want to get involved with this small town, or a woman who represented it, but there was something immensely satisfying about knowing that he was going to be seeing her again, and again.

  He leaned back in his chair, and clasped his hands behind his head. Now that the Muffin situation was settled, and he had the dog and Paige settled, he was able to set it aside, and focus on the last thing of interest. "So, tell me, Paige. Who wrote the contract? I still want to meet the attorney who wrote it."

  She paused, her finger stilling on the contract. "She doesn't want to work for you."

  He grinned. "I can be very persuasive. It's my job. Introduce us, and let me have a go at her."

  Her eyes flashed. "Yeah, I bet you'd like to have a go at her, wouldn't you? Things a little lonely in New Hampshire for you?"

  "Nah. I've already got my sights set on what I want while I’m here. I just want an attorney—"

  "While you're here?" Her eyes flashed. "Did you just imply that you wanted me in your bed for a year, and then you were planning to leave me behind after your stint here was up?"

  He frowned. "No, I—"

  She leaned forward. "You're flirting with me, very well, I might add. But let's be honest, Luke. I'm a local New Hampshire girl. You're a Boston attorney. You aren't planning on changing that, are you?"

  "I hadn't thought that far ahead," he admitted. "I was just intrigued by you—"

  "Well, un-intrigue yourself." She finished folding the contract and held it out to him. "I don't deal in job placement for attorneys, so you're on your own with attorney-hunting. I do dogs only."

  He couldn't tell if she was really mad, or just still giving him a hard time. Her mood had shifted the moment he'd asked about who'd written the contract. "What's the harm in passing along her contact info? She might be interested."

  "She's not."

  He ground his jaw. "I need to hire some locals who have contacts. A good lawyer like her, who also knows the locale, would be invaluable to my firm. I'd pay her a Boston salary, which would be a fortune up here."

  She dropped the contract and glared at him. "You think that money will buy you anything, don't you? Wave some greenbacks around and the world will fall at your feet?"

  He frowned. She was definitely mad now, protecting her town against the evil attorney from out of town. "Paige, I'm not the enemy." He'd been chosen for this job because of his past, his experience growing up in a small town. The senior attorneys at his firm had warned him that it might be tricky to win over the trust of the locals, and he was seeing it first hand from Paige. "The region will benefit from this firm."

  "Really?" Paige leaned forward. "I have news for you, Luke. You're in New Hampshire now. People care about quality of life, and being home while the sun still shines. They care about getting out to the lake before sunrise to catch the perfect breakfast. They care about meeting at The Mug at five o'clock on a Friday afternoon to catch up with all their friends. You don't need a lot of money to do that. Money isn't worth the misery to people up here, and that doesn't make them crazy."

  He frowned, not quite able to deny that her description didn't sound half bad…if that was what you were into. Which he wasn't. "What's the Mug?"

  "What?" She appeared to be expecting him to argue about the importance of money and had to shift gears. "Oh. The Mug. It's a local restaurant. Each patron keeps their own mug there, and when they go, they get to use it."

  Luke rubbed his chin. "Where is it?"

  Paige narrowed her eyes. "You want to go trawling for business, don't you? Sorry, I don't pimp my friends to ambulance chasers."

  His frustration began to mount. Yes, he understood that she had some personal baggage when it came to lawyers. Yes, he was definitely intrigued by her. But the bottom line was that he was here to do a job, and he could tolerate only so much intentional interference on her part. He also didn't need her bad-mouthing him to her friend who wrote the contract, because it would be tough enough to get the community on board without her turning them against him. "Listen, Paige. I'm building this office to benefit the community, not to hurt them. And I'm not an ambulance chaser, camping out in a hospital emergency room, giving my business card and a wink to anyone with a splinter, telling them how much money I can win for them."

  She clearly didn't believe him. "What's the difference between that, and marching down to The Mug and trying to worm your way into people's trust so they hand you what little money they have? You get them maybe a little more cash, but also give them a hell of a headache in the process. It's just semantics, and it's incredibly irritating."

  "I'm incredibly irritating, or ambulance chasers are irritating?"

  "You are, because you deny what you are."

  "And what am I?"

  Paige shrugged. "It's up to you to admit it to yourself."

  "What does that mean?" He was getting positively annoyed with her, and with h
imself, because the more irritated he got, the more his hormones were raging. He loved the way she challenged him, even if she was totally off-base with her perceptions of being a lawyer. All of which put him in an even worse mood.

  "You're a lawyer. Think about it."

  Luke balled his fists in frustration. "Think about what? I have no idea what you're talking about."

  Paige sighed. "If you can't look at your life and see what's wrong with it, then that's your choice."

  "My life is fine!"

  "Is it?"

  "Yes." He ground his teeth, cursing under his breath when he bit the inside of his cheek. She was totally getting to him, and it was damned irritating. "I don't need this from you."

  A dimple peeked at him from her cheek. "You aren't used to anyone questioning you, are you?"

  Luke reached across the table and yanked the contract out of her hand, so he had both copies. "You know what? I'm not sure this partnership is going to be what I need. Let's skip it."

  Triumph flashed across her face, but it was quickly followed by regret. "I'm the only good one in town."

  "I'll go to another town." Luke crumpled the paper and shoved it in his pocket. Knowing her, she'd probably take that contract to her lawyer friend and force payment of the two thousand dollars. He was definitely taking it with him.

  "Fine."

  Luke shoved his chair away from the table, his anger fueled by the amusement on Paige's face. She wasn't remotely intimidated by him. Didn't even respect him, for that matter, which he wasn't sure how he felt about. A part of him was perversely interested in her for that reason…and another part, the sane part, realized that she was far too complicated for what he could allow into his life. He had one job, to get the office going, and then to get back to Boston and to the clients waiting for him. And he definitely didn't need the complications that went along with his desire to throw himself over the table at her and yank that sweatshirt right off.

  She didn't stop him from leaving. Not that he wanted her to. Okay, yeah, he did, which was why he was definitely leaving. He stood up. "Muffin. Let's go."

  The German Shepherd hopped to his feet, staring up at Luke. See? He was fine with the dog on his own.

  Without a look behind him, he headed toward the door, and stepped outside…just as a duck landed in the water close to shore.

  Muffin didn't even hesitate. He bolted so quickly that he ripped the leash right out of Luke's hand, almost taking half his fingers with him. "Muffin!" He swore under his breath, flexing his fingers.

  The German Shepherd didn't hesitate, sprinting straight across the clearing, and plunging into the water. The duck took off instantly, and Muffin decided to hydrate instead, while standing in chest deep water.

  Luke ground his jaw and headed toward his car. "Muffin. Now. We're leaving." He opened his driver's door. "Muffin!"

  The dog waded out into the water, watching something beneath the surface.

  Paige strolled out onto the porch, her lips parted in mirth. "I think you'd better settle for another trainer within shouting distance," she said. "Doesn't look like you're going to get Muffin to another town."

  Luke ignored her and climbed into his car, sliding over the plush leather seats. He started the ignition, then tooted the horn. "I'm leaving, Muffin. Get in!"

  Muffin ignored him completely.

  "Is that how you're used to getting people to do things for you? Demanding obedience?" The amusement in her voice caught his attention, and he looked over at her.

  She was studying him with a strange expression on her face, one he couldn’t read. He frowned. "What?"

  "Nothing. I just…" Her gaze flicked to his hair. "You just look human now. With your tie askew and your hair messed up, and so frustrated over a dog…" She smiled gently. "It's the first time I feel like I might have seen the real you. No façade. No business agenda. Just a man frustrated with his dog."

  He went still, awareness sizzling between them. "And what façade are you hiding behind, Paige?"

  She tensed. "None."

  "Liar," he said softly.

  She stared at him for another moment, then cleared her throat. "I'll get him for you." Without waiting for a reply, she hurried down to the water, where Bandit was standing beside Muffin. "Want a treat, Bandit?"

  She handed Bandit a small biscuit, which he crunched noisily, loud enough for Muffin to hear. Instantly, Muffin was by Bandit's side, begging to be included in the feast. Paige handed him a treat, then grasped his collar. "Your dad needs a lot of work, Muffin. You make sure to bring him back soon."

  Something tightened in Luke's gut at her words as he got out of the car and watched her retrieve his dog. She'd seemed to work so hard to push him away, and it had worked. So why did she want him to come back? And why the hell did he want to?

  He said nothing as she led Muffin up the leaf-covered bank to Luke's car. Without a word, she opened the back door and put Muffin inside. After shutting the door, she leaned on the side of the car and studied him. "When you decide you're ready for your first lesson, give me a call to schedule it. And I'll accept a check." She patted the Mercedes. "I imagine you're good for it."

  He wanted to come back. He wanted to see her again. Spar with her. Be challenged by her. But as he looked into her eyes, into her riveting, bold eyes, he knew that his desire to return meant there was no way he could. She was a distraction, an obstacle, a challenge, all things he couldn't afford. "I won't be back. This won't work."

  Paige grinned. "You'll be back by the end of the week." Then she looked at her watch, and grimaced. "I gotta go. We can debate this later." She stepped back to let him go—

  But he couldn't leave. Not yet. "One more question."

  She was already turning to head back into the cottage? "Yes?"

  "Where are you going in such a hurry? Are you going to see your lawyer friend?"

  She hesitated, then she lifted her chin, and he knew he was going to get anything but the truth. She marched back over to him and leaned on his door, invading his space so purposefully that awareness surged through him. "For your information, I have a very hot date," she announced. "With a lumberjack. Have you ever seen a lumberjack with his shirt off? Talk about muscles...and not from a gym either. Real muscles."

  Jealousy slammed into his gut so fast that he didn't even have time to shield against it. He swore under his breath. "A lumberjack? Why would you date a lumberjack? You don't seem the type shallow enough to care about muscles."

  "You're right. I don't." She paused. "I care about humanity, Luke. That's it. Just humanity." Her voice was soft, but he knew what she was saying. "A man who won't ever put work above family, who's driven by things that matter, not money or wealth or power. It's simple. Basic. What life is about."

  He knew that she didn't believe he represented any of those things, including humanity…and that bit deep. He knew she hadn't been that far off in her descriptions of firm life, but he truly believed he didn't fit into that mold…but she did…and he didn't like how that felt, even though he'd spent the last couple decades trying to accomplish exactly that.

  What the hell? She was completely messing with his equilibrium, making him question what he knew mattered to him. Scowling, he fished a business card out of his wallet. "Here's my contact info. Give your lawyer friend a chance to make a choice for herself, and give it to her."

  Paige didn't take the card, but he didn't withdraw it. Finally, she took it, feeling a deep sense of foreboding as her fingers closed around the fine cardstock. "She doesn't want it," she repeated.

  "Maybe she does, and you just don't know it."

  Paige's heart ached. There was a time when she would have leapt at that, a time when she'd fought so hard for the career that Luke seemed to fit so well. And now…God, how her dreams had betrayed her, and left her chewed-up by the side of the road.

  Luke was a temptation, a reminder of what she'd been too weak to handle, a dream that she'd been too sensitive to flourish in. She was much too enr
aptured by his charm, his good looks, and his intelligence. This was her world now, the only one she was capable of living, and she loved it.

  She could not allow him to upset the fragile oasis that she'd created.

  It was good he was leaving. Good he didn't plan to call her. Good that she'd finally driven him off. "She doesn't want the job, Luke."

  "Let her decide." Luke got back into the car. "Do your lawyer friend a favor and give it to her." He paused for a moment, and she wanted to say something, to stop him from leaving, to apologize for driving him away.

  But she said nothing, and after a moment, he started the car, and let it roll away from her.

  Paige watched him until his car disappeared down the woodsy driveway, his card clutched in her hand. "Never, Luke Donovan," she whispered. "I would never let anyone I love cross that path into your world again." Including herself.

  He seemed nice.

  But he couldn't be.

  At some point, the truth would come out, and then she would be lost forever.

  Her life here was what she wanted, what had saved her. Luke could do nothing but ruin it. So, reluctantly, but emphatically, she crumpled up his business card and tossed it in the compost bin as she headed inside to change her clothes and grab her car keys.

  No time for a shower.

  And there was no time to recall the expression on his face when she'd mentioned a shower to Luke. An expression of such heat that it had almost melted her to her toes instantly.

  "Damn you, Luke," she muttered as she held the door for Bandit.

  She knew forgetting him was going to be more difficult than she wanted it to be.

  But she was going to do it.

  By the time she went to bed tonight, she wouldn’t even remember his name.

  Chapter 6

  Paige tooted her horn as she pulled into the gravel driveway a few miles from her cottage. Three wet dogs rushed around the side of the house, barking at each other, at the car, at invisible enemies, and at random shadows, all of which was done with great delight. As soon as Paige opened the door, Bandit leapt down and disappeared around the house with his friends, joining in the joyous chorus as they bolted for the water.