Pawfectly In Love

by Stephanie Rowe

  She rolled down the windows enough for him to get plenty of air, then walked into the building. The front lobby was sparkling with a thick beige carpet, and polished wooden doorknobs. According to the occupant list, HF&S were the only occupants thus far, and they were on the second floor.

  Trying to ignore the chills that being back in an office building gave her, Paige jogged up the stairs, her sneakers squeaking on the rubber mats designed to keep the clumsy from slipping on the edges of the stairs.

  Just being in an office building again made her feel sloppy in her tee shirt and sneakers. She lifted her chin and walked into the front office of HF&S. It was the first time she'd been in a law firm since her episode. She could feel her blood pressure rising and her head starting to pound, just from being in another firm.

  "Relax Paige, you can walk out of here whenever you want." She took a deep breath, wincing at the tightness in her chest. "You are not going to have another panic attack."

  She grabbed the doorframe and leaned on it, trying to suck oxygen into her lungs.

  "Can I help you?"

  Paige looked across the room at a receptionist. She was an attractive older woman, with her hair swept into a neat bun, a cotton sweater draped over her shoulders. Professional, but not quite perfect, and her jeans and boots gave her an essence of New Hampshire. It was enough to remind Paige that this wasn't the same law firm that had punished her before. The tightness in her chest subsided slightly.

  "Yes, I'd like to see Luke Donovan, please." She expected the receptionist to raise an eyebrow at the casual address, but the woman smiled.

  "Go right in. He's in his office." The woman pointed helpfully down the hall.

  "Oh, right. Okay." Paige straightened up and walked down the carpeted hall. In Boston, the woman would have stopped her without an appointment. Not in New Hampshire. It was different here. Relax.

  But as she walked deeper into the recesses of the firm, the tightness came back, worse than in the lobby. She took a deep breath and stopped, gripping a nearby doorframe tightly. Sweat broke out on her forehead, and a cold chill enveloped her.

  Her lungs constricted, and her breath wheezed. She coughed, trying to clear her chest. She couldn't do this. She had to leave. The room started to spin, and her sweaty hand slipped off the doorframe.

  Then something leapt out at her. Yelping in pretty much raw, debilitating terror, she leapt back, banging into a painting that crashed to the floor.

  Two big paws landed on her chest, and a wet nose shoved against her cheek, a wet nose she knew very well. "Muffin?"

  Luke appeared behind Muffin, a startled look on his face. "Paige? What are you doing here?"

  Paige sank slowly to the carpet, her legs too weak to stand. She rubbed Muffin's ears and welcomed his kisses, pretending she had sat down only to greet him. "Hi."

  Crossing the carpeted hallway until he was next to her, Luke squatted beside her, his tie swaying gently. "You look like you have the flu."

  "Do you woo all the women with such compliments? I can't imagine why you don't have a girlfriend with that charm." Paige rubbed Muffin's ears and closed her eyes, imagining herself outdoors with the dog. Anywhere but in a law firm.

  Luke narrowed his eyes. "You're sweating, and your face is gray. What's wrong?"

  "I'm fine. Go away."

  He laid his hand across her forehead. "Good Lord, Paige, you're ice cold."

  She pushed his hand away. "Let me just sit here for a minute. With Muffin."

  "Let me help you up." Dismissing her protests, he tucked her hand in his and pulled her to her feet, catching her when she started to sway. "You should be in bed."

  She pushed his hands away and stood on her own, focusing on his face rather than the environment. "I just want some money."

  He raised an eyebrow. "Money?"

  "Money."

  He slid his hand under her elbow and started guiding her down the hall toward his office. "You short of cash this week?"

  "No," she said. "I happened to be driving by and I saw your sign. Since I don't usually train without advance payment, I thought I'd pop in and get a check." She couldn't stop herself from leaning on him, accepting his comfort. It was just for a moment, she told herself.

  "Just in the neighborhood, huh?" He turned her through an office door. "In here."

  Paige stopped in the doorway and stared at the office. He chuckled at the startled look on her face. "You don't like it?"

  "The picture. That's my cottage. It's the one from The Mug."

  Luke steered her over to a plush armchair and pushed her down. "It's not the one from The Mug. The artist had another painting of your place that she'd kept. She was happy to sell it. She sold me the other three, too." He waved his arm vaguely around the office.

  "There's one from each season," she said. "It's fabulous. I feel like I'm in the woods, not in a law firm." She was feeling much better now. No office in Boston would have these paintings, a local artist's watercolors that were magical, but definitely had the feel of a real life, instead of highbrow art. "Why did you buy them?"

  "Because I liked them. It made me feel like I was working on your deck, looking out on the lake." Luke scowled. "I mean, it would make my clients feel that way. Make them more comfortable."

  She looked at him skeptically. "You bought them for your clients?"

  "Yes. Definitely." He cleared his throat and strode purposely to his desk. "Let me write you a check."

  Paige walked over to the painting of her cottage and studied it. The artist had painted Bandit, emerging from the trees. Luke had a painting of Bandit in his office? "So, what's up with Muffin in your office? I would never have thought you were the type to bring a dog to work."

  "You told me I needed to train regularly. Well, it's more convenient to train during lunch."

  She raised her eyebrows at him. "Is it, now?"

  "Plus, I have to train with distractions now. Going around town at lunch is the perfect training ground. It's efficient. That's all. It's not like I want him around or anything." He leaned against the desk and folded his arms across his chest defiantly.

  Paige walked toward him, stepping carefully over Muffin, who was sprawled on the carpet. She chuckled at the wary look on Luke's face as she got closer.

  "What?" Luke asked.

  She just smiled and kept walking until she was directly in front of him. Then she stood up on her tiptoes and slid her hand around the back of his neck, tugging on him. "Bend down."

  Luke allowed her to pull him toward her. As soon as he was within reach, Paige kissed him, her lips soft and pliable against his. It was a quick one, and she let go immediately after, but it was enough to make her insides churn. She couldn't even do a quick kiss without having it affect her. It was really annoying.

  "What was that for?" His voice was gruff.

  "For falling in love with your dog and making him a part of your life." She patted Luke's cheek, wanting to hug him. "I knew you'd become a real dog owner."

  "I don't love the dog."

  "Yeah, right." She grinned in obvious disbelief, eliciting a scowl from Luke. His hand suddenly snapped out and grabbed her waistband. He hauled her up against him, wrapping his hands around her lower back. She caught her breath, but she didn't resist.

  It was all the signal he needed.

  He dropped his head and kissed her, but it wasn't the chaste kiss she'd delivered such a short time ago. His lips crushed hers, and his body grew rigid. When a small sigh bubbled from the back of her throat and she slid her hands around his neck, his hesitation disappeared and his kiss became demanding.

  Luke whispered her name while his hands roamed her body, as if he were afraid it was his only chance to touch her. He tore his lips away from her willing ones and grazed her neck with his teeth.

  Paige sighed and snuggled against him, her body absorbing the heat from his. It felt so good to be buried in his arms, his gentle nibbles creating goosebumps down her arms. That first kiss they'd shared, the o
ne she'd worked so hard to forget, was nothing compared to the heat between them now. It was intense, it was delicious, and there was no way she was going to pull away this time—

  A discreet cough nudged at her consciousness, but she pushed it away, as his arms tightened around her, both of them refusing to acknowledge the interruption. If she just kept kissing him, it would go away and—

  "Um, excuse me."

  Paige stiffened, and Luke froze. Reality slammed into him like a baseball bat. Good God. He's been making out with Paige in his office, with the door open.

  And he wanted to keep right on going. He groaned and buried his face in Paige's neck. He hadn't thought to close his office door.

  Paige finally stepped backwards, her face flushed, and he reluctantly let her go. Slowly, Luke turned to the doorway. His receptionist was standing there, with his newest client, a weathered elderly woman wearing faded jeans, boots, and more fire than any twenty-year-old he'd met in Boston. The woman looked thoroughly amused.

  "Oh, hello, Mrs. Hopsman." Paige's voice was tight, and her face was flushed. From embarrassment or passion? He hoped it was the latter. Luke touched her arm in commiseration, but she shrugged him off, holding her chin high in defiant dignity.

  "Is this your new honey, Paige? He's awfully handsome."

  "No, I'm training his dog," Paige said. "I'm on my way out. Nice to see you."

  "Wait." Luke grabbed the check off the desk and handed it to her. "Your training fee."

  "Right. Thanks." She shoved the paper into her front pocket. "Call me to set up the next session."

  Without waiting for Luke's response, Paige darted for the door, squeezing between the two women. In the following silence, Luke could hear Paige's footsteps echoing as she ran down the hall. He straightened his tie and faced the women.

  "Thanks for escorting Mrs. Hopsman to my office, Barbara. I'll take it from here."

  Barbara nodded her head, exchanging winks with Mrs. Hopsman before following Paige down the hall.

  The elderly woman grinned at Luke. "She's not your honey?"

  "No." Internally, Luke cringed. This was why he hated small towns. People prying into the business of others. He knew he should try to explain, but he couldn’t think of a single logical explanation for what Mrs. Hopsman had seen, other than the fact he had missed kissing Paige so damn much, and he'd jumped at the first window she'd given him.

  "Then, is that how I can pay for your legal services?" she asked with a mischievous grin.

  Luke couldn't help but return the smile. He winked. "No, that's how I paid for the dog training." Suddenly, the small town atmosphere didn't feel so claustrophobic. She wasn't judging him. She was enjoying the moment with him. There was a difference, and he could feel it in a way he'd never felt as a kid.

  "Ahh. Guess I better not let my husband pay Paige's bill, then, huh? Unless you've the sole claim on that kind of payment?" She gave Muffin's head an affectionate scratch.

  Luke laughed aloud. "I can only hope."

  Perhaps a small town wasn't so bad. At least the residents had a sense of humor. His Boston clients wouldn't have been nearly so tolerant of his unprofessional display and his dog. There were definitely benefits to living in New Hampshire. He tried not to think about how the most interesting benefit had left his office just a few minutes before.

  Chapter 17

  The next day, Paige was still reeling from the kiss, the law firm, and the fact that Luke had a painting of her cottage and her dog on his office wall. She didn't know what to think, or how to process any of it.

  After a dog walk with her mom, the two women were now sitting on her deck in her Adirondack chairs, their feet propped up on the railing. Their dogs were frolicking in the water, while Paige and Louise sipped strawberry lemonade and waited for the chicken to cook on the grill.

  Finally, Paige couldn't keep it in anymore. "I went into a law firm yesterday."

  Louise choked on her drink, spraying the pink beverage on the deck. "You're kidding."

  "Nope. I was at a stoplight, and I saw a sign for Luke's firm. So I decided to go in and get my check from him. I wasn't really thinking, to be honest."

  Louise pulled her feet off the railing and turned to face her daughter. "And?"

  "I started to have a panic attack walking down the hall toward his office."

  "I'm so sorry." Louise reached out and rubbed her daughter's shoulder. "I was hoping it would be okay after all this time."

  Paige set her drink down and looked at her mom. "I said I started to have a panic attack."

  "Started? What happened?"

  "Muffin charged out of the office at me."

  Her mom's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Muffin? Rigid Luke had his dog at work?"

  Paige grinned. "He denies it, but I think he's fallen in love with Muffin. It was pretty cute actually. He was totally embarrassed at being caught being a softie."

  "Nice." Her mom smiled, but her brow was still furrowed with concern. "Can we go back to the panic attack? Did it really just stop when you saw the dog? Just like that?"

  "Well, it took a few minutes, but when Luke came rushing out to rescue me, well, I kinda forgot to be upset."

  Louise smiled. "I'll bet."

  She ignored her mom's smug look. "And then when I got into the office, he had four paintings of the lake, done by that artist who painted my cottage. He'd seen her painting at The Mug and tracked her down and bought them."

  "So it wasn't like your old law firm, with the paintings, and the dog, and Luke. It was different."

  Paige nodded. "I wouldn't say I want to go back to being a lawyer, but I was okay in there. It wasn't the same thing as my old firm. If I could bring Bandit to work with me every day, it might not even feel like work."

  Louise squeezed her daughter's shoulder. "It's a great first step."

  "I have to admit that it helped having Luke there. He took care of me." He hadn't been like Howard, ditching her at the first sign of weakness. He'd come right over to her, helped her up, and then kissed her senseless. She smiled. "I think you're right. He's not like Dad, or Howard. Not in the bad ways." The thought had been percolating inside her mind for a while, but she hadn't dared articulate it. She was too afraid of being wrong. But after her experience in Luke's office, she'd finally understood the difference. "Dad wouldn't have kissed you in his office, would he?"

  "Did you get kissed in Luke's office?" Louise looked pleased.

  "You didn't answer my question. Would Dad have had a dog at work? Would he have put up local paintings of a lake because it made him feel like he was outside? I know Howard wouldn't have." Paige had to know whether she was right, whether the signs were really there.

  Her mom met Paige's gaze. "Even when we were first married, Dad forbade me to even touch him in public. Never on earth would he have kissed me in his office. And no dog or paintings by unknown artists. He never wavered from portraying the ultimate professional image, even if that meant buying suits and paintings he couldn’t afford, just so people would think he could."

  Paige felt tension seep from her shoulders, tension she hadn't even known she was carrying. Suddenly, her throat tightened. Luke really was different. "I didn't think so." She flopped back in her chair and closed her eyes, a small smile on her face. Sometimes, it was nice to be right.

  "So, it was a good day, huh? You were able to be in a law firm without a panic attack, and your Muffin Man kissed you."

  She opened one eye and looked at her mom. "The magic of the kiss kinda dissipated when we realized Mrs. Hopsman was standing in the doorway watching us."

  "Ethel saw you kissing?" Louise started to laugh. "She's going to send her preacher husband over to marry you. I might have grandkids after all."

  She rolled her eyes, her heart tightening. Marry him? Marry Luke? Her heart leapt, and excitement rushed through her, but she quickly squashed it with reality. "Please don't say that, Mom. Luke is going back to Boston, and there's no way I'm moving back there. If I ever st
arted practicing law again, it would have to be in a place like his office, in this town. So, there's no chance that we could work out. I can't afford to think like that, and I definitely can't afford to kiss him again." She nodded, hating the ache she felt in her heart as she spoke. "It's going to stay purely professional from now on. The fact he might actually be a good guy means nothing, other than to give me hope that there might be the right guy for me out there somewhere."

  "Mmm hmm." The smug disbelief was apparent in Louise's voice.

  "I'm serious. The man will break my heart if I let him in. I can't give him the chance." But even as she said it, Paige wondered if it was too late.

  Chapter 18

  One week later, Paige peered out her sliding glass door, inspecting the dark clouds rolling in across the lake. The sky looked black to the west, indicating heavy rain was on its way, and maybe even a thunderstorm. The water's surface rippled with the steadily increasing breeze. They'd be training in the rain if Luke and Muffin didn't arrive soon.

  The thought of Luke's imminent arrival sent a shiver through her. Ever since their encounter in his office, she'd been careful to keep their relationship strictly platonic, as she'd told her mom. He'd made some moves to start things, and she'd sidestepped them with an awkwardness that had elicited some raised eyebrows from Luke, but he hadn't asked questions.

  He'd given her space, but she knew he wasn't giving up. He kept making sure his hand stayed on her shoulder a little too long, or he'd tuck her wayward hair behind her ear, or pay for dinner at The Mug…and she'd loved every bit of it. Every. Last. Bit.

  If he was trying to break down her walls, he was succeeding. She supposed she could have told him that Muffin was well-enough trained that they didn't need to keep working together, but there was no chance she could say that. She looked forward to time with him so much, so much that she knew she was in trouble.