Crazy Puppy Love: Chance Romance with a Canine Helper!

by Tammy Andresen

  The other two girls squealed. “You’re both so lucky. My love life has been non-existent.” Lisa sighed.

  “Maybe you should ask out Steve.” Claire wiggled her eyebrows. “In high school, he thought you were super cute.”

  “Really?” Lisa craned her neck to get a better look at Steve. At that moment he stretched out to catch a ball, showing long lean muscle. “I always thought he was so hot.”

  The guys glanced back over at the ladies.

  ***

  “Do you think they’re talking about us?” Steve grinned as he tossed the ball.

  “Are you going to ask Lisa out?” Caleb raised his eyebrows.

  “I was going to and then I saw Claire. She is so hot. Holy shit. How did you find her again?”

  “I fished her out of the ocean, her and Rufus. Right buddy?” He reached down to pet the dog.

  “I need to start fishing again.” Steve tossed the ball at Mike. “Or maybe I’ll just see if Claire--”

  “Claire is off limits.” Caleb was surprised by the severity of his tone but his friend only smiled broader.

  “Just kidding, bro. I’m going to ask Lisa out.” Steve winked as he caught the ball from Mike and then tossed it to Caleb. “No need to go all caveman.”

  Caleb took a breath. They were taking it slow. At least, he kept repeating that over and over. But, honestly, he wanted her more than anyone in a long time. More than that, he wanted to care for her. He knew she could take care of herself but her big blue eyes called to him much like Rufus’ soulful brown ones. It was crazy, but he wanted to tuck them into his house, stoke up the fire, and watch the snow fall.

  ***

  Claire watched his athletic body move as Caleb came trotting over. “Want to go for a walk before it’s too dark?”

  “Sure.” She smiled letting him pull her up out of the sand. He wrapped his arm around her waist and called to Rufus, who was more than happy to come chasing them down the beach.

  Her calves burned from the effort of walking in the sand but the exercise was invigorating, especially with Caleb’s arm slung around her waist. “Dinner was great. I know my friends really appreciated it.”

  “It was no problem at all.” She meant it. There was so much satisfaction in giving to someone who gave in return.

  He pulled her closer, his lips coming down on hers in a lingering kiss that lit her on fire. It went on and on until Claire lost all track of time.

  “Wow,” she breathed when he finally lifted his head.

  “I didn’t make a promise this time that we would just hang out as friends.” He chuckled.

  “So we’re not friends?” she teased her hand running across his five o’clock shadow.

  His hands skimmed up her back until his fingers had twined in her hair under her ponytail. “Hmmm, we’ll have to hang out a few more times so that I can think out the appropriate label.”

  His lips captured hers again and her retort was promptly forgotten. A longing started in the pit of her stomach as tingling sensations danced between her thighs. Even her nipples grew taught as he continued kissing her. As if he knew, his hand brushed her chest and even her fleece didn’t disguise her arousal.

  He lifted his head but his hand came up to cup her cheek. “We should head back before it’s totally dark.”

  A protest rose to her lips, “Are you sure?” Her lips puckered in a sexy pout.

  He groaned and kissed her again, “No. But I promised someone to take this slow. I don’t want--”

  She ran her hands down his chest and then lightly pushed him away. She didn’t want to. She wanted to stay there forever. Actually, she wanted to curl up in front of his fireplace again, only this time without clothing. But he was right. It was best to build a relationship before they slept together.

  “Come on, Rufus,” she called. He went racing by them back toward the trucks having the time of his life.

  “Did you hear that a hurricane is moving in this weekend?”

  “Yeah, it’s all anyone talked about at the bank today.” She snuggled into him as he wrapped his arm around her again.

  “If you have any trouble, call me OK?” His voice sounded a little worried.

  “I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Part of her wanted to suggest they just hang at his house but she was supposed to go to the beach with Lisa tomorrow and she had just evened the score board. She wasn’t used to a guy being so nice and she didn’t want to take advantage.

  He gave her a small grimace but said nothing as they returned to the group.

  CRAZY PUPPY LOVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  The day on the beach with Lisa had been amazing. The surf had gotten progressively larger as black clouds had rolled in. She and Rufus had played ball as the wind whipped her hair into a frenzy. Lisa had snapped some pics of Ruff Ruff as well and, from what Claire could tell, they looked amazing.

  “I’ll print one for you if want,” Lisa had offered.

  “Thank you so much.” Claire had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards her new friend.

  “I should be thanking you. Steve asked me out last night. We talked for hours after the beach. How weird would it be if ten years after graduation, I end up with a guy from high school?”

  “I don’t think that sounds weird at all. I think it’s romantic.” Claire called Rufus into the Jeep. “I think we’re going to get headed. It looks like the rain is about to start. Have fun on your date! I’ll see you on Monday.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll call you tomorrow to see how you survived your first Cape storm.” Claire gave Lisa a hug.

  She climbed into her car and waited for Lisa to pull out in her sedan before putting her own car in gear. By the time, she left the beach parking lot, waves of rain were pouring down on them.

  It wasn’t a long trip back to the house but she drove slowly. The water was coming down in buckets from the sky and with Rufus sleeping, she sat in her driveway for a full fifteen minutes before she braved the weather to enter her front door.

  She had to beg the dog to get off his warm perch on her back seat before they could race to the door so she was thoroughly soaked by the time she inserted her key in the lock. She might have noticed that the roof looked strange if hadn’t been raining so hard.

  As she walked in the door, she was met by a giant puddle in the small area between the kitchen and living room. Looking up, water was pouring through the can lights on the ceiling. “Oh my God,” she cried racing around the house to discover two more leaks. She grabbed buckets and stuck them under but the entire house had that damp feeling of everything being wet.

  Standing dazed, she attempted to decide what she should do, who she could call. There was nothing her parents could do and at nearly thirty, she needed to solve her own problems. Caleb flashed in her mind but she didn’t want to bother him. He had already done so much. Grabbing her phone, she decided the landlord would be her first call.

  After trying to call four times, John still hadn’t answered. Rufus whimpered next to her. He was right, it was wet and cold in the house. Racing to the bedroom, she packed up a bag of clothes and then grabbed the dog’s bag of food. “We’ll find a hotel that takes dogs.”

  She loaded everything in the Jeep and Rufus jumped happily into the dry car. As she was about to try the landlord one more time, her phone rang. Claire didn’t need to look at the screen to know that Caleb was calling to check on her.

  Holding the phone for a few seconds, she contemplated what to do. I seemed unfair to bother him with her problems but she knew without a doubt, he would be there for her.

  “Hey,” she answered breathlessly.

  “What’s wrong?” his voice was filled with concern.

  The whole story came spilling out. “Rufus and I are sitting in the Jeep and I am about to look for pet friendly hotels. No wonder this place was available.”

  “I’ll try John, are you all right to drive over?”

  “We don’t have to invade your house again. Honestly, I can f
ind somewhere--”

  “Claire, I love having you and Rufus here and I’d love some company during the storm. I would have invited you but we’re taking it slow. You know?”

  “Yeah, I know.” She didn’t want to take it slow. She wanted to do naughty things to him first in front of the fire and then again up in his rather cozy looking bed. “We’ll be over in fifteen.”

  As she pulled into his driveway, the garage door for the empty stall started going up. She slid her Jeep into the spot, thinking it was a perfect fit, just like Caleb. As the garage door went down, she opened her car door and Rufus jumped to life in the back, making a dash out of the car and into the mudroom. “He missed you.” She grinned at Caleb. The rain continued to pour outside but she climbed out of her seat in his nice dry garage.

  “He missed my fireplace.” He returned the grin but it soon slid off his face. “You’re soaked, again.”

  “I always seem to be wet around you.” She blurted out before the innuendo occurred to her. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.

  His response was to take her wet coat off her shoulders and toss it on the mudroom floor. In an instant, she was in his arms, the heat of his kiss warming her completely.

  She was only dimly aware that he had picked her up and was carrying her and only noticed when her feet touched the ground and his head lifted from hers. “I thought you might like a hot shower.” He released her from his arms and running an unsteady hand through his hair, started backing out of the bedroom.

  In response, she pulled her shirt over her head. “Where are you going?” she quirked an eyebrow, undoing her bra and letting it fall to the floor. Then she kicked off her wet shoes, so that she was standing in soaking, skin tight jeans as she turned to face him.

  His voice shook slightly as he answered. “We’re taking it slow.”

  “I’m rather lonely, standing over here by myself.” Her lips puckered. “And it feels like we’ve been taking forever.”

  He stood for one more second before he peeled his shirt off and pressed her back into his arms. She didn’t have long to note his sculpted set of abs before his warm skin was pressed against hers.

  His hands were all over her body and she grew even hotter at his touch. When his fingers hit the button on her jeans, she wiggled to help him get the stuck fabric over her hips. “Jesus, you’re gorgeous,” he murmured as he pushed his own pants off, starting up the shower.

  He picked her up as he slid open the glass door. She locked her legs around him as the warm water hit her back. With barely a nudge, he slid inside her, filling her up and she groaned at the sensation.

  “Oh Claire.” His guttural moan only heightened her pleasure as they were both swept away by their heightening passion.

  She could feel she was close. “Taking it slow has made me…” Her breath was coming out in short pants. “I’m going to--” She cried out as she climaxed.

  He seemed to lose any control he had, climaxing with her.

  His lips sought hers again. “Spectacular.”

  They were still joined together, her legs locked around him, while he supported her weight by holding her ass.

  “I hope I didn’t rush―“ She gasped as he grabbed a bar of soap and started soaping her body, starting with her chest. “You,” she managed to push out, her body responding to his touch.

  He trailed kisses down her collarbone letting the warm spray rinse off the soap. “We’ve got all night to go slow.” He brought his mouth to her nipple, giving it a long slow kiss. “You may have the most perfect breasts I have ever seen. But I’ll check the other just to be sure.”

  He pulled out of her, only to set her down and continue soaping, rinsing, and kissing her. He was oh so slow and methodical as he slid his hands and lips along every inch of her body. Within minutes, she was breathless and near out of her mind.

  When his fingers brushed the hair between her legs, she gasped again, her head lulling backwards. “Caleb.”

  “I don’t know if I ever heard anything sexier than you saying my name.” He stood wrapping his arms around her. “What would you think about continuing this somewhere else?”

  “Yes,” she gasped out. “Fire.”

  He gave a masculine growl deep in his throat. “Perfect.”

  Turning off the water, he stepped out and grabbed two fluffy white towels. He wrapped one around her, and began drying her off.

  “Caleb, you don’t have to do that. You’re so good to me. I don’t…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t know how to tell him how much she appreciated all the care he gave her. She had come here to be on her own but had discovered that what she had really wanted for someone to love and cherish her. And she’d give it all back and more if he’d give her the chance.

  “Claire, I’ve only started.” And then his lips covered hers again.

  The storm raged outside, she could hear the waves crashing onto the bluff as rain poured down but she paid it little mind. She had never been warmer in her entire life. They made love late into the night when the rain finally calmed to a steady patter on the roof.

  They lay snuggled together on his bed. It was as cozy as she imagined, when the noise was interrupted by the growling of his stomach. She giggled.

  He gave a lazy chuckle, “I think I missed dinner.”

  “I’ll cook you something. I could eat too.”

  He rolled away. “That would be amazing. I’ll get you a t-shirt.”

  “I brought clothes this time.” She gave him a wink.

  “Oh, but it’s so much more fun when you wear my stuff.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “I suppose it is.” And she slipped the shirt on that he brought for her. Glancing down, she nearly choked. “You went to Harvard Medical School?”

  “I know right? Had I realized I would only be opening a Truro office, I might not have bothered. Where did you go to school?”

  “BU. I studied finance. And now, I am a bank assistant manager in that same town.”

  “ So does it make you better with money? Studying finance?”

  “I think so. I’ve made quite a bit on the stock market. I only rented that place from John because not much was available but maybe I’ll use my savings to buy something.”

  They headed down the stairs to the kitchen. She started rummaging through the fridge pulling out eggs, bacon, peppers to make a quick omelet. He watched her efficient movements.

  “I’m just going to say it. You cooking in my kitchen, in my t-shirt, may be the sexiest thing you’ve done all night and it has been the hottest night of my life.”

  “Mine too.” She came around the island to give him a kiss.

  “So, I have a friend that has a P-Town condo that sits empty all winter. I bet you could rent it cheap.”

  “What about Rufus?” She held her breath. That would be too good to be true.

  “He’s got two dogs of his own so I doubt he’d mind. That way you can take your time finding something more permanent.”

  “Caleb, I don’t even know how to begin thanking you.” She stirred the eggs into meat and veggies.

  “That smells fantastic. I’ll tell you what, you can promise to come cook often. How about that?”

  “It’s a deal.” He came behind her at the stove and she turned to kiss him. “The only problem will be getting Rufus to leave.”

  “Well, we’ll have to see what we can do about that.”

  CRAZY PUPPY LOVE

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Six blissful months passed. Claire had never been happier. Caleb’s friend had given her a short term lease and Caleb had convinced John to give her full deposit back. It hadn’t been hard. The place needed serious repairs.

  Claire had checked out some condos. With the money she had saved, she couldn’t afford a house. It was just too much on her bank salary. She had looked at a couple of condos but they were small and outdated. Not that it mattered that much, she spent most of her time at Caleb’s anyway. Maybe that was the problem. His house made her fee
l at home. No other place could compare.

  On a Friday late in April, he called her at work. “I have a surprise for you. Can I pick you up at five? I’ll meet you at your place.”

  “I’ll have to ask--”

  “Your boss already agreed and Lisa’s going to take Rufus. Oh, and wear a dress.”

  “What kind of dress?” she asked, anticipation filling her.

  “Nice dinner kind. See you at five?” His voice held a note of hesitation like he was worried she would say no.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Great. I love you, sweetheart.”

  “I love you too.” She hung up the phone. Standing from her desk she wandered out to the front. Lisa had been promoted to loan officer.

  “Hey,” her friend called.

  “Hey, any idea what Caleb is up to?”

  “No clue, what did he say?”

  “Dress for dinner, meet him at the docks.”

  “Maybe it’s the dinner.”

  “Which one is that?” Claire looked at Lisa perplexed.

  Lisa sighed. “Steve and Caleb went shopping last weekend. What else do you think they’re shopping for but jewelry? A special kind.” Her friend gave her isn’t this obvious look.

  “But we’ve only been dating six months and…” Her voice trailed off.

  “And you practically live at his house. The two of you are inseparable and he can’t take his eyes off you.”

  She could barely drive home, as her mind turned over the possibility that he could be asking her to marry him. Calm down she chided herself. It wasn’t unlike Caleb to plan a surprise for her just to show that he cared. It was one of the many things she loved about him.

  Love, it was amazing to have actually and completely fallen in love with a man who loved her with the same conviction back. She didn’t need a ring to tell her that.

  With that in mind, Claire jumped into the shower. She dried her hair and applied a little makeup. As she was about to slip into her dress, the doorbell rang. Tossing on a silky robe, she ran to the door. She took a quick peek through the peephole and then opened the door for Caleb.