Puppy Love, Volumes 1 to 13

by C. Coal

  He wasn't budging. Even for food.

  This was bad.

  She tried to pick him up but he backed away from her, keeping to the absolute limit of his six-foot leash.

  "Hunter, come on. Quit that."

  A huge bolt of lightning lit the sky and they both jumped. That had been close. Wind whipped at her face, slashing her wet hair against her cheeks like a whip.

  "Come on, Hunter. Let's go. Now."

  But Hunter wouldn't budge. She tugged on his leash and managed to drag him six inches towards the bridge before he dug his paws into the mud enough to stop his forward slide.

  "Hunter!"

  A man shouted at them from across the river. "Hey there! You need to get out of here, now. That bridge is going to flood out at any moment."

  She stared towards the voice and saw someone covered from head to toe in dark green rain gear. He seemed tall, maybe six-three or even six-four, and broad-shouldered.

  "Can you help me?" she called. "My puppy won't cross the bridge and I can't get ahold of him to carry him across."

  The man hesitated a moment as he glanced up the river, but then he raced across the bridge, his heavy boots slapping on the wooden slats.

  Sadie caught a quick glimpse of a dark black beard and intense blue eyes before he scooped down and grabbed Hunter.

  "Follow me. Now." He raced back across the bridge, Sadie on his heels.

  He could've at least glanced at her or smiled or spoken before he just grabbed her puppy and raced away again. And who was he to order her around like that? Follow me. Now.

  But at least he'd helped…

  Still. A bit rude, wasn't he?

  She ran across the bridge, her feet slipping on the water pouring across the surface, glad for the handrails on each side that kept her from falling into the water. Hunter was absolutely still in the man's arms, frozen in panic.

  They reached the other side and Sadie started to reach for Hunter, but before she could ask the man to give her back her puppy there was a deafening boom that made Sadie's teeth ache and a blinding sheet of lightning filled the air around them.

  "Watch out." The man stepped back a few steps and Sadie followed. She turned around just in time to see a giant tree—at least four stories high—fall across the clearing on the other side of the river. It crashed onto the bridge, destroying the handrail on the left side. The shattered pieces of the railing disappeared into the churning waters of the river.

  Sadie stared, her mouth open.

  They'd just been there. Not a minute before, they'd been on that bridge. Right where the tree had fallen. She could smell the stench of the burnt tree even in the pouring rain.

  "Come on. You need to get out of this weather."

  Sadie whirled around. She'd almost forgotten the helpful stranger who'd probably saved her life. Although how she could forget someone so rude, she wasn't really sure. "Thank you. Can you just put Hunter in my car and we'll head home."

  He stared her up and down, his face stony. Under that beard and frown she bet he was actually quite good-looking. "How far away is home?" he asked.

  "Twenty minutes. Twenty-five."

  He shook his head. "No. That's too long to be as wet and cold as you both are. You can come to my place. Get dried off and warmed up and then you can go home."

  Sadie stepped back half a step, her shoulders stiffening in affront. "Excuse me, but I don't actually know you. I'm not just going to go to your house with you. I can turn on the heat in the car and I'll be fine."

  He rolled his eyes. "Look. Your hair is soaking wet. Your clothes are plastered to your body. How long do you think it'll take for you to warm up with the heater from your car?"

  Thunder rolled across the sky and the rain started pouring down harder than ever. It dripped down Sadie's face and down the back of her windbreaker. She tried not to shiver, but it was impossible. Hunter whimpered, burying himself against the man's chest.

  "And what about your dog? He going to dry off so easily? I'm not a mass-murderer or serial killer. I'm just the fool who happened to be around when you needed rescuing. Now, my place is just up the hill. You can come with me and dry off or you can try to drive home, shivering cold and wet, hope the roads are safe and not washed out anywhere, and that your puppy will be okay. But remember, puppies can't take as much as adult dogs. He needs warmth, now."

  Sadie wiped the water off her face even though it was still raining and glanced at Hunter once more. He was shivering non-stop and whimpering quietly. She'd never seen him so miserable.

  "Okay, fine. Do you have your own car or should we take mine?"

  "Yours. I walked down here."

  Sadie glared at the man as he walked to the passenger side of the car. At least he hadn't insisted on driving. Control freak.

  * * *

  Five minutes of cool silence and tersely-delivered instructions on where to turn and which puddles to avoid later, they pulled up in front of a small two-story bungalow with an impeccably maintained front yard. Seriously, the man had to spend all his free time on the thing because it looked like something out of a magazine.

  "Here." He handed her a set of keys with one key in particular pinched between his thumb and forefinger. "This key opens the front door. You go, get the door open, and then I'll come right after with the puppy."

  Sadie stared at the keys for a moment.

  "I can't hold the puppy and open the door at the same time. Do you think you can do this?"

  She glared at him. "Yes. And the puppy's name is Hunter, by the way."

  "Good to know. Now, can we get inside where it's warm?"

  Sadie gave him one last glare and ran for the front door, slamming her car door behind her. She pretended it was because of the onslaught of the rain, but she knew it was because her purported rescuer annoyed the hell out of her and she wanted him to know it.

  She was competent. She could take care of herself. She didn't need some man talking to her like she was a two-year-old.

  It took her a second to work the key in the lock, but then it clicked and she pushed open the door and stepped into a blessedly warm and cozy living room.

  It wasn't what she'd expected. It was comforting. A large leather sofa dominated one wall, two large blankets thrown over the back. Across from the sofa was a large fireplace, three logs set on the grill waiting to be lit. Not that they were needed, the room was toasty warm and smelled slightly of cinnamon, cedar, and pine.

  She sighed, savoring the heat against her cold cheeks.

  "Move it." The man shoved past her with Hunter cradled in his arms. He went straight to the rug in front of the fireplace as she closed the door.

  He set Hunter on a large rug spread in front of the fireplace and deftly lit the fire, not a single movement wasted.

  She shivered as she stood in the entryway, dripping water onto his welcome mat.

  "Get changed and dried off. I'll take care of Hunter." He didn't even turn to look at her, his entire attention focused on her puppy.

  What a charmer. No doubt he lived alone.

  Before she could ask what she was supposed to wear, he sighed and pointed down the hallway. "Bathroom on the left, towels in the cupboard. Room on the right should have some sweats that you can put on. I suggest you take a nice hot shower to warm up."

  When she hesitated, he shook his head. "Bathroom door locks."

  He stripped out of his rain pants and jacket and pushed past her to hang them on a hook by the door. She tried not to stare at his incredibly muscular arms and chest, now clearly visible under the t-shirt he wore.

  She bit her lip and started off down the hallway as he grabbed one of the blankets on the couch and took it back over to Hunter.

  The fact that he had a great physique and had saved her and her dog didn't change the fact that he was an arrogant jerk who was too prone to giving orders, but she couldn't help but think about how attractive he was as she found some sweats to wear.

  * * *

  Half an hour
later, Sadie smiled as she walked back down the hallway. She was actually warm for the first time in what felt like forever.

  She'd taken a long, long shower, letting the water heat her skin until it was bright red. Fortunately there was a hair dryer in the bathroom, so she'd been able to thoroughly dry her hair before she threw on the comfortable set of sweats she'd found in the other room. They were big—big enough she'd had to roll up the bottoms of the pants and the arms on the sweatshirt—but she didn't care. They were soft and warm and smelled faintly of the cedar closet where she'd found them.

  The man was seated on the floor with a sleeping Hunter at his side wrapped tight in a new blanket.

  "Feel better?" he asked, glancing up at her and away again.

  "Yes. Thank you." She settled onto the floor on the other side of Hunter. "Is he okay?"

  The man nodded. "Should be. But I wouldn't recommend you leave until the storm's over."

  As if on cue, a violent wind rattled the windows, the branches of a nearby tree beating against the panes.

  Hunter slept on, oblivious.

  "Wow, he's really out of it, isn't he?" She leaned in to check on him.

  "He's a puppy. They do that."

  He jumped up and walked out of the room. Sadie stared after him shocked. Did the man have no social skills whatsoever?

  He was back a few minutes later, two steaming mugs in his hands. "Hope you like hot cocoa." He set one of the mugs down next to her and sat back down on Hunter's other side.

  "Yes, thanks." She took a sip, relishing the taste of dark chocolate and the feel of warmth that spread through her chest. "No coffee?" she asked, trying to make conversation.

  He glared at her. "Sorry this isn't Starbucks."

  She laughed, shocked by his rude response. "Just a question. I don't drink coffee anyway. I was just curious why you chose hot chocolate."

  He shrugged. "My kids like it."

  She blinked, startled. "You have kids?" She glanced around the immaculate living room. This did not look like a place that kids had ever visited.

  "Shared custody. I get 'em in the summer." He stared into his cup of cocoa, his glare so intense she was surprised that the fluid didn't start boiling and overflowing.

  "Oh. Sorry."

  He turned his attention to Hunter, acting for all the world like she wasn't even there.

  "Thanks, by the way. For the clothes and rescuing us."

  He nodded. "You'll want to wash those clothes. Washing machine is at the top of the stairs on the right. I'll make some soup."

  He left again.

  She stared after him for a long moment, too shocked to move, wondering how a man like that had ever managed to convince a woman to marry him.

  * * *

  They ate their soup—a nice tasty beef stew served with a hunk of fresh Italian bread and a thick slice of sharp cheddar cheese—on the floor in front of the fire. Neither one had to suggest it, they just both gravitated to Hunter's side.

  Hunter continued to sleep on, oblivious to the storm raging outside or the two awkward strangers seated on either side of his little puppy form.

  "Do you think he's going to get too hot wrapped in that blanket?" Sadie finally asked, leaning in to study Hunter.

  The man shrugged.

  She glanced up at him, surprised. "You know…I don't even know you're name."

  He stared at her for a long moment like he didn't want to tell her and then looked away. "Paul."

  "I'm Sadie."

  He nodded. No nice to meet you, no smile, no hand to shake. He just nodded.

  Sadie narrowed her eyes. "Why don't you like me?"

  He glared at her, but he didn't deny it. "You were out in the middle of a rainstorm, next to a raging river that was at flood stage, with a, what? Six-month-old puppy? And you think I should like you? Why? You could've been killed. Or, more likely, your puppy could've."

  She crossed her arms tight across her chest. He was right, but that didn't mean he had to dislike her for it. "We would've been fine. We almost left a few minutes before you arrived but Hunter was too scared to cross the bridge again after the first time. And how was I supposed to know lightning was going to destroy a tree that would then fall on the bridge?"

  "You should've never been there."

  "Well, thanks for that, Mr. Perfect. I'm sure you've never made a mistake before?"

  He stared at her for a long moment and then said softly. "I'm divorced and I only get to see my kids every summer. I've made plenty of mistakes. But I never made one that would endanger them. Or my dog."

  "Your dog?"

  He stared down at Hunter, his jaw twitching as he struggled to master his emotions. He jumped up and walked over to a desk in the corner, opened the drawer, grabbed something the size of a slim book, came back, and threw it in her lap.

  It was a photo album. Sadie flipped it open to the first page and saw a picture of two cute little kids, their hair as black as their father's, their eyes the same shade of blue. The girl was maybe four or five, the boy a little older. They had their faces painted and each had a balloon tied to their wrists. They were smiling the way only children can—their faces lit with pure joy.

  The next photo was of the two kids with a puppy—a golden retriever that looked just like Hunter had when he was younger.

  The one after that was of just the puppy, covered in mud the way Hunter currently was, his soft brown gaze staring into the camera with absolute adoration.

  She flipped through the rest of the album, looking at picture after picture of the cute kids and their fluffy little puppy.

  "When were these taken?"

  "Last summer." He took the album back from her. "The kids live with their mom in Canada now. The dog, too."

  "So you share custody of the dog?"

  He shrugged. "I bought the dog for them last summer, thinking she could stay here with me while they were away, but by the end of summer they were completely attached, so…"

  "So you let them take the dog back with them."

  And now he was here all alone. No kids. No dog.

  He stared down at the photo album in his hands. "Yeah."

  She bit her lip. Maybe she'd misjudged him. He wasn't an arrogant jerk, he was just a man who'd been hurt and was scared to be hurt again. But his heart was too big to let him just watch her and Hunter struggle without stepping in to help them no matter the cost to him personally.

  Hunter woke up, stretched, nuzzled against the man's leg, and went back to sleep.

  "If the way you've been with Hunter's any indication, I bet you're probably really good with that dog. And your kids."

  His jaw twitched, but he didn't look at her as he softly pet Hunter, his large hands gentle against the puppy's soft fur.

  She nodded to herself. She was right. He was a good man. A man who cared about those around him. Isn't that what she said she wanted every time her friends asked why she hadn't found a man yet?

  Sadie leaned forward. "You know…This park is Hunter's favorite place to go in the whole world. I bring him at least three times a week, sometimes more. And he seems to adore you. Do you think…maybe next time I bring him I can call you and let you know and you can join us?"

  He stared at her. "I don't need your pity."

  "It's not pity. He loves men. It'd be good for him."

  She didn't add that she thought it would be good for Paul, too.

  He stared at her for a long, long moment and she wondered if she'd done something wrong, but then he finally nodded slightly. "Fine." He nodded towards the window. "Storm seems to have passed and Hunter's mostly dry. I'll help carry him out to the car for you."

  Sadie shook her head as she followed him out to the car, but she swore to herself that she was going to crack Paul's reserved demeanor even if it took her all summer to do it.

  * * *

  For the next five weeks, Sadie was true to her word. Every single time she brought Hunter to the park she called Paul so he could join them. Hunter loved P
aul. Every time he saw the big lumber-jack of a man, he started barking and wiggling with such excitement that he could barely contain himself.

  And Paul loved Hunter. He tried to keep his expression stoic and stick to issuing orders and making terse comments, but he couldn't, not with Hunter around. Turned out Paul had an amazing smile that lit up his entire face when he wasn't holding himself back. And a wicked sense of humor.

  Once Paul loosened up after the first few tense walks together where they barely spoke, she found herself looking forward to each visit to the park as much as Hunter. She loved the time she got to spend with Paul as Hunter ran through the trees.

  They talked about everything and Sadie realized she'd been right. Paul was a gentle soul when he wasn't trying to protect himself from being hurt again.

  She didn't know what to do though. Should she tell him? Confess that she was falling in love with him on their now almost daily walks with Hunter?

  And then one early May night as they walked back to their cars, their steps slowing as they got closer and closer to their cars, Paul turned to her, biting on his lip. "I guess this is our last walk."

  "What?"

  He looked down. "My kids arrive tomorrow. I'm sure you don't want two kids and another puppy along on your trips to the dog park."

  She stared at him. "Yes, I do."

  He laughed, shaking his head. "No. That's kind of you to say, but…"

  "Paul. Hunter adores you. I adore you."

  He blinked, startled. "You do?"

  She nodded. "Yes."

  "Really?"

  "Yes, really."

  His face broke into a grin and he pulled her into an embrace as he shook his head. "All this time I've thought my feelings were one-sided, that you were just taking pity on the guy who lost his dog. But, you like me, too?"

  "Yes. How many times do I have to say it? Yes, yes, yes."

  He laughed. "That's the best news I've had all year." He ran one of his large, strong hands along the side of her face. "Can I kiss you?" he whispered, his fingers trembling against her skin.

  "I thought you'd never ask." She stepped up on tiptoe and put her lips to his.