Pawfectly In Love

by Stephanie Rowe

  Luke whistled softly and encircled his fingers around her wrist. "You just left the law behind completely? After all you'd invested in it?"

  Paige hesitated, unsettled by the fact he wasn't pulling away, that he was still touching her, that he didn't seem shocked, surprised, or horrified. Didn't he understand what she was telling him? "Yes, I quit. When I was in your firm that day, it was the first time I'd been in a firm since then. I was having a panic attack when you thought I had the flu."

  Empathy flickered in his eyes. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

  She met his gaze. "I'm the one you heard about. The crazy woman who lost her mind."

  He shrugged. "I don't pay much attention to rumors."

  She blinked. "That's it? That's all you have to say? Don't you realize what associating with me would do to your reputation?"

  "I don't particularly care about what anyone else thinks." He twirled his index finger thoughtfully in her hair. "Do you miss practicing law?"

  She took a deep breath, trying desperately to resist the urge to lean into him, to ask him for the hug she needed so desperately. Instead, she focused on the feel of his hands on her wrists, his thumbs tracing circles on the underside of her wrists. "I don't miss anything about my old life," she said firmly, meeting his gaze.

  "I can imagine." He was still studying her thoughtfully, not pulling away.

  She eyed him. "How come you aren't surprised I'm a lawyer?"

  "Because it makes sense. You're obviously smart and witty, and you aren't remotely intimidated by me." He nodded. "Yep, it all makes sense now. I'm impressed as hell that you figured out what you wanted in life, and rebuilt yourself. That's not easy."

  Her heart tightened. "Thank you."

  He nodded, running his hands along her arms. "You've got it all, don't you? The education, the freedom to make a living wherever you want, and the experience to choose what makes you happy. Dog training."

  "It's not perfect."

  "How so?"

  "I sometimes wish I could start a part-time local practice up here. I feel like I could make a difference to people, like how I make their lives better with my dog training. I mean, I love my dog training, and I'd never give it up, but it might be fun to do both." She looked at him. "But I'm scared. I was really a wreck, Luke. I don't want to be like that again. I don't think I could handle it, even up here, but there's no way I could do it in Boston."

  "I understand why you don't want to move back to Boston," he said, resting his hands on her hips. "I'm sure you could handle it if you wanted to, but you have a beautiful life up here." He gave her a smile that held a hint of sadness. "If I'd known what I know now, I wouldn't have asked you to move to Boston. It's not right for you, and I apologize for asking you to do it."

  Her throat tightened at his utter lack of judgement. "I do love you," she whispered. "Would you ever consider moving up here?"

  He was quiet for too long, long enough for her to know the answer in his heart. "It doesn't matter, then," she said. "It just doesn't matter." She held out her hand. "My keys, please."

  "No. We aren't finished."

  "I am." She grabbed the waistband of his suit, and pulled him close, slipping her hand into his trouser pocket before he could stop her. "I love you, but I need to get away from you, Luke. You're breaking my heart, and it's just not healed enough to handle that." She put the key in the ignition. "And I have to go exterminate my house, thanks to you sending Walt Jr. over there."

  Luke said nothing, but he stepped back and let her shut the door. Letting her go. Not fighting for her. "We aren't finished."

  "I'm keeping your dog for now. He's scarier than Bandit and will drive away any intruders that may be lurking at my house. You can come get him tomorrow, if you still want him."

  "I'll be there." But she was gone, out of hearing. Luke stood in the parking lot, watching the pickup disappear down the street, knowing that she wouldn't find Walt Jr. at her house. Luke had made that up just to keep her from rushing off without talking to him. He should have known better than to force Paige into anything. The woman must have been a good lawyer, she was so stubborn.

  And she was better than a good lawyer. She was an incredible woman, courageous, funny, warm, and passionate.

  He could never ask her to move to Boston.

  But could he walk away from her? He closed his eyes. What did he really want? What did his soul really want?

  It took him about three seconds, and he knew.

  Chapter 24

  The next morning, the sun was beating down on Paige's back, and she could feel her hair drying under its heat. A sigh of contentment echoed from the wet German Shepherd on her left, while Bandit dozed by her feet, the three of them basking in the sunshine on her float.

  It had taken a bit of convincing to persuade Muffin to climb onto the step under the water so he could get onto the float, but he had eventually followed Bandit's lead. Now the three of them were snoozing in the sun on her float. It should've been perfect, but it wasn't. All she could do was think about last night with Luke. He'd never look at her again, knowing that she was the woman he'd heard all those rumors about.

  But she'd had to tell him. She couldn't pretend anymore to be anything other than who she was. In a way, the relief was extraordinary. She didn't need to worry anymore about being found out. He knew who she was. It was over—

  Suddenly, there was a loud splash, and cold water sloshed down her back. "Hey!" Her eyes sprung open and she jumped to her knees, but no one was there. The dogs were alert, but relaxed, looking at her as if she were crazy. The water lapped quietly against the float, and no one was around.

  "Who's there?" No one answered, and the water was still. The only sign that she hadn't imagined the attack was her wet bathing suit and the water on the float. "Mom?"

  Paige crawled over to the edge of the float and laid down on her stomach, scooting over until her upper body was hanging over the end of the float. Gripping the ladder with her left hand to keep from toppling into the water, she leaned until the top of her head touched the water, so she could look under the float. In the ten-inch gap between the surface of the water and the bottom of the flat, she could see the outline of a head, but it was turned away from her. "Who's there?"

  The head turned toward her, and she saw his face. Her heart leapt, and sudden tears filled her eyes. "Luke? What are you doing?"

  "Hey." He swam toward her, until he was a couple feet away. One hand was gripping a beam on the bottom of the float and the other was swirling in the water while he treaded water. "I needed to talk to you."

  The blood was rushing to her head, but Paige didn't feel like inviting Luke out from under the float. God, her heart was breaking just looking at him. When had she fallen so deeply in love with him? "What do you want?"

  "I think I've done a pretty good job training Muffin, don't you think?"

  "Yeah. So?"

  "So, I want you to pass a message on to your lawyer friend who wrote the contract."

  Paige tensed. He must've figured out that she was the one who drafted the document. "That's why you came out here? You're hiding under the float for that?"

  Luke continued to tread water. "I prefer to deal face to face in my business."

  "Business? This is about business? How can you even say that?" Paige's ribs were starting to hurt from pressing into the hard wood, but she didn't feel like moving and letting Luke out from under the float. It was almost like he was in prison, and she rather liked that feeling.

  He swam to the next plank, and Paige could see his face more clearly. "I have a proposal for your lawyer friend," he said, ignoring her question. "Will you pass it on?"

  "Probably not."

  "I need a lawyer to work part-time from home, maybe coming to the office five hours a week or so, as needed."

  She was starting to get a headache from being upside down. "What are you talking about? Since when are you looking for a part-time lawyer? I thought you wanted someone to run the office
?"

  He moved one plank closer. His face was only about twelve inches from Paige's, and she could see his eyes intensely fixed on hers. "I found someone to run the office. We don’t have enough business for more full-time lawyers. I'm just looking for someone with local connections and great skills, especially for the locals without much money. I'd pay her less than the Boston salary rate, so we could charge those clients nominal fees. Give them good legal help, without breaking their bank accounts. I'd service the businesses that could pay the bigger fees."

  She frowned. "You? Did you just say you would serve the businesses?"

  Luke swam closer, and his forehead was just inches from her chin. "Yep. See, here's the thing, Paige. I talked to my office last night about the possibility of me staying up here, but they wouldn't let me. They said I was too valuable. It kind of pissed me off."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "I loved working part-time this summer, Paige. I love my damn dog. I want more kayak rides, and I want time to live life. I can't do that from my firm, even from up here. So, I resigned. I'm opening my own office. I don't have any lawyers, or staff, or anything, so I was really hoping your lawyer friend would come work with me. We could do it together. Dog-friendly offices."

  Paige stared at him, her head beginning to spin, only it wasn't from being upside down. "What are you saying?"

  "I've realized that I missed the small-town atmosphere that I grew up in. I love being a lawyer, but up here, I can do both. It's not like being stuck on the farm I grew up on. It's different, just like how working with me in our own law firm would be different for you. We can both have what we want, Paige. You showed me that last night."

  "You're serious." Paige's breath was getting tighter; she felt like her lungs were collapsing against the hard wood. "You're going to stay here."

  "Yeah. And I really would like your lawyer friend to help me out. Work as much as she wants, train dogs as much as she wants, but knowing that the law option is there for her." He caught the top of her head with his free hand, supporting it as she hung upside down. "And I'd like to marry her." With those words, he grabbed her ponytail and tugged.

  Paige grinned and let go of the ladder, tumbled off the float, and into the water. She came up grinning, her mind reeling. He was still hanging onto the float with one hand, and he was grinning.

  "You want to marry me? Like, really marry me? Husband, father, family man, and all that? Nights and weekends with the family, instead of in the office?" Her legs and arms were moving furiously as she treaded water.

  "The whole nine yards. Will you marry me, Paige? I can't promise I'll be the perfect husband, but I'll try. And I know you'll remind me when I try to stay late at work, or go into the office on a Saturday. You're the only woman I've met who can keep me in line, and I don't want to miss out."

  Paige sank lower in the lake and caught a mouthful of water. She spit it at Luke. "You want to marry me because I keep you in line?"

  He scooped up his own mouthful of water and swam out from under the float. He grabbed the ladder with one hand, then pulled Paige toward him with the other hand. Luke leaned toward her, then dribbled the water over her chest, ending with a quick spray in her face. "I want to marry you because I love you."

  She grinned, and let him pull her against him. "I don't believe you."

  "I've loved you for quite some time, actually. I just couldn't figure out how it all would come together. Until now. You know how lawyers are. We never say anything we can't back up. So, I love you, I want to marry you, and have lots of little kids with you. I do want a bigger house, though. Would you mind if we added on to yours? Kids and dogs just won't fit in there."

  "I can't believe this." She held up her hand. "My hand's shaking."

  Luke caught her hand and held it to his lips. "I love you, Paige Turner. Just don't leave me for a lumberjack, okay?"

  Paige draped her arms around his neck and let him keep her from sinking. "I wouldn't leave you for anyone."

  "Is that a yes?"

  "As long as you adopt my dog."

  Luke let out a small whoop. "Actually, I'm marrying you so I can adopt him. That was my real goal."

  She rolled her eyes, but before she could rib him, his hand shot to her shoulder and he shoved her under the water. When she came up, he was grinning, and his eyes were sparkling.

  "Since when did you have a sense of humor?" She spit a mouthful of water at him, grinning at his two dimples.

  "It's been there all along. I just buried it for a couple decades."

  "You're going to be a pain, aren't you?"

  "Not 'til after the wedding. I don't want you to discover the real me until it's too late. So, shall we make it for next Saturday? Is that enough time?" He accentuated his words with a sensuous kiss. "You'll never get rid of me. You realize that, don't you? Except maybe for a few trips to Boston, but that's it."

  One question still lurked in her mind. She rubbed her thumb across his jaw. "Do you love me because I'm a lawyer? What if I was just a dog trainer? Would that be enough for you?"

  "I knew I was a goner the minute you fell to the ground laughing when my dog tore a chunk out of my butt. It just took me a while to figure out how it was all supposed to work together." He kissed the tip of her nose. "There's no pressure to come work with me. I'll love you regardless. I just want you to know that it's an option. It's in your blood, the way you help the townspeople. With no pressure, maybe you'll find joy in it again. If not, if you want to train dogs forever, that's fine too. The door is open for you."

  She stared at him. "So you don't care that I had an emotional collapse?"

  Luke shifted her to his other arm, so he could switch arms holding the ladder. "Why would I care? I'm sure I would've had one eventually if you hadn't jumped into my life and shown me what I was missing."

  Paige wound her arms around his waist. "It certainly took you long enough to figure that out."

  "Hey, it's tough to overcome the harsh lessons learned in your teenage years." He kissed her forehead, then let go of the ladder. "What do you say we go tell your mom that she's about to have a son-in-law? After that, we have to visit my sister, and then we need to head to upstate Maine."

  She allowed him to pull her away from the float. "To a certain potato farm?"

  "You're going to love my parents. I hope you can train Bandit and Muffin not to chase the chickens on the drive up though. I don't want my dad to shoot them."

  "Luke!"

  He grinned, his eyes gleaming. "Just kidding. He won't shoot them. Probably."

  Paige rolled her eyes while he glanced over her shoulder. The man was going to be a trial now that he'd rediscovered the lighter side of life. "Okay, I'll marry you."

  Luke let out a loud whoop and dragged her over to him, but as he did so, they both heard the scramble of toenails on the float. They both shouted "No," as the two dogs sprinted toward them, but it was too late. Two loud splashes echoed across the still water, and sharp toenails raked down Paige's back. "Yeow!"

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  Sneak Peek: Paws Up for Love

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  "You want to kiss me?" She sounded more than little surprised, and Evan immediately cursed and took a step back.

  He had so not meant for her to realize that. "No. Of course not." Total lie.

  She pursed her lips. "Wow. You really were."

  "I was thinking about Buddy," he growled. It was close to the truth. He should have been thinking about Buddy, his long-lost brother who apparently loved the woman standing in front of him, despite the fact Josie was more tha
n slightly disenchanted with Buddy. Honestly, knowing Buddy, Evan was pretty sure she had a good reason to be not-so-delighted to be associated with his brother, but that didn't change the fact that Buddy loved her, which meant hands off for Evan.

  "I wasn't thinking about Buddy. I was thinking about you kissing me," she said.

  "Stop it." God, the idea was far too tempting.

  "Don't worry. I'm not interested in you." She sounded just a little too forceful, and he contemplated proving to her that she actually did want him. Just drop a kiss on her and...

  Think about Buddy. "Those poems about you are in Buddy's hand writing, which means you were involved with him."

  "And...what's your point?"

  "That's it." He closed the distance between them, stopping when he was only six inches away. Interesting, but the air actually felt warmer over here. And he could sense the faint scent of roses. He leaned forward. "Is that you?"

  "Is what me?" She leaned back.

  "Roses."

  "Um..." She frowned. "Yeah. It's my body lotion."

  "I bet Buddy liked it." Had his brother had the chance to bask in that glorious scent? Damn. How had his brother not done everything possible not to lose Josie? She was entrancing as hell.

  She lifted her chin. "Buddy didn't like it, and it doesn't matter what he thought of it!"

  He grinned at the fire in her eyes. Feisty even after her life had tumbled down around her? She was a fighter, and he liked that. It was a trait he'd like in his own woman... someday. Not now, and not Josie.

  Josie was Buddy's.

  End of story.

  "Well, if it's any consolation, I think Buddy was wrong. That scent is perfect for you. It'd be enough to make any man tremble." Crap. Had he really just said that? He had to pull himself together, and fast.