As he slid the door closed, she threw her arms around his neck. He gave her a squeeze and their lips met. “What a greeting,” he murmured between kisses.
“I missed you, and I am feeling particularly lucky to have you,” she replied still peppering him with kisses.
“I love you, sweetheart, but if you keep kissing me like that, we’ll never make our reservation.” His hands were sliding down her back and over the swell of her buttocks.
“Mmmm,” she murmured. “Maybe we should just have dinner in.”
Caleb deliberately put space between them, stepping back and holding her firmly at arm’s length. She was concerned for a second until he winked at her. “Now, let’s pack you some clothes.” With that, he headed for the only bedroom in the condo.
“Spare clothes? What?” She followed, growing interested in the night’s agenda.
“It’ll be cold on the water, bring a warm coat.” He threw a grin over his shoulder as he disappeared into the room.
Claire zipped into her favorite black dress, and assessed her appearance. It showed off her hour glass curves perfectly with a hint of cleavage. Her hair was blown out and her lips were just a touch swollen from being kissed.
“Wow,” Caleb whispered from behind her.
She slipped her heels on and grabbed a long coat. “That good?”
Growing serious, he took her hand. “Claire, I’m just so lucky to have you.”
Softly, she stepped closer to him, giving his lips a gentle brush. “I’m the lucky one.”
His hands lightly brushed her hair back. “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”
“Late for what?” Her eyes brows raised in a teasing expression.
“You’ll find out.”
“We won’t be too late tomorrow, will we? I have to look for a new place. All the good ones are filling up fast.”
“I won’t let you go homeless, I promise.”
“All right, I’ll stop asking questions, lead on.” She took his hand.
Entering on to the street, he didn’t lead her to his car but down the street to the docks. As they walked down the giant pier, they veered off to the Boston ferry. “The plot thickens,” she teased as they boarded the fast boat that would take them to the Boston Harbor.
At this time of year, the ferry was nearly empty. In another month it would be crowded with people. She slipped on her coat as they headed for the bow of the boat. As they left Provincetown, Claire giggled to see a group of seals singing on the beach. “We should take the ferry more often, it’s so beautiful.”
“It is.” He held her tight as they moved out to sea. “You know, I’ve been thinking of your housing situation and I think I know the perfect place for you and Rufus to live.”
“Where’s that?” she asked taking her eyes off the beach to look at him.
“With me.” He grinned.
She held her breath. This was the big announcement. She loved Caleb, and honestly, she was never happier than tucked in his house, cuddled up with him. It had been the most amazing winter of her life. “Really? It’s a big step and Rufus is a slobbery pain. I mean, I love him, but I understand if you don’t want him―”
“Of course I want Rufus. Besides, how would he survive a winter without my fireplace?”
A bubble of joyful laughter rose out of her chest. “Yay, we’re moving in together!”
Picking her up, he gave her a little spin. They were moving out to sea, the wind started tossing her hair. “I’m so glad you’re happy about it.” He stepped back and reached in his pocket and then pulled out a small black box. “Claire, I want to be with you every day for the rest of my life. Since you’ll already be living with me, would you do the honor of being my wife?”
She blinked twice. “Yes.” Her hands were shaking as she held out her left one out and he slipped on the ring.
He gave her a long deep kiss that after seven months of dating, still left her breathless. “Phew.” His eyes crinkled with laugh lines as he pulled her closer. “I was thinking that I would wait till the restaurant but it’s so beautiful here and I couldn’t wait any longer.”
“Were you nervous? Of course I would say yes. But I’m curious. Why did you ask me to live with you first?” She leaned against him as she tilted her head back to look in his eyes.
“Well, if you said no to living together, you probably didn’t want to marry me. It seemed like there was less potential for rejection.” His hand came up to rub the back of his neck.
“Oh silly. I love you more than I ever loved anyone. You are so perfect for me.”
“You’re perfect for me too. I love you, sweetheart.” He kissed her forehead. “I know I just asked but where are we going to have the wedding?”
“Definitely on the beach. Rufus can be the ring bearer but you’re in charge of making sure he doesn’t drown.”
“You got it.” He gave her another kiss and she sighed. Who would have thought that moving to a place for some alone time would mean that she would get her happily ever after.
EXCERPT
BARKING MAD LOVE
CHAPTER ONE
You have got to be kidding me.” Kathryn Stewart closed her eyes, counting to ten. Things just kept getting worse. She blamed her mother, really. All growing up, the woman had drilled in her head the importance of being a Good Samaritan. Now she was knee deep in, well… it wasn’t shit, but it was probably worse.
The dog next to her whimpered in pain and Kat automatically made a move to pet her. Poor thing. She put her hand back on the steering wheel. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to pet the dog, it was just that she was a thousand miles from home, travelling to see a man she barely liked. That wasn’t even the worst of her troubles. Her job was in tatters, her landlord hadn’t renewed her lease so she had no place to go back to and…
Lucy whimpered again. “I’m sorry, girl. Hang in there.” She would be so relieved to see Luke’s face even if she did hate his guts. How had her life turned so completely upside down?
It had started a month ago, on a warm June day, when she had come across a stray dog in the park on her morning run. The mangy thing had looked so pathetic. It whimpered and crawled towards her, pulling on those heart strings her mother had carefully instilled in her chest. The ones she always tried to cover. Unable to refuse, she had loaded the animal in her car and brought it to her friend’s veterinary clinic.
Carl was her best friend, they had graduated from Boston University together. Sophomore year, they had lived on the same floor, and had flirted incessantly but, somehow, never dated. Then, they had both stayed near Boston. He went to Tuft’s Veterinary School and she got a Master’s in Education.
They saw each other less since he had gotten married but they were still close enough that she could call him without thinking. “Carl, I need your help. I found a stray and I don’t know what to do with it.”
“You can call animal control, if you want. They’ll come take the dog,” he replied too neutrally into the phone. There must have been something he wasn’t telling her.
“Where would the dog go after that? Would it be taken care of? Would they find it a home?” She glanced in the rearview mirror again. The dog had stretched out on the seat looking completely at home.
“They’ll try, if they think it’s healthy enough or if they’re not too full.”
“And if they are full or the dog isn’t healthy?” A little panic crept in her voice.
Carl, on the other hand, had that soothing, tone that doctors used to calm their patients. “Why don’t I open the clinic for you? You can bring him in and I can have a look.” That tone helped Kat, too.
“Her, I think it’s a her. I’ll be there in forty-five.” She hung up the phone looking at the mangy animal in her back seat. Its soulful eyes stared pathetically back.
Under the layers of dirt, she looked like she could be beautiful. A short snout and floppy ears that begged to be pet.
Kat climbed out of her Accord and crossed the sm
all parking lot to Carl’s Mendon Clinic. He stood on the front step waiting for her. It was a small building in a rural town but it was getting a reputation for excellent small animal care.
“You look fantastic,” he said by way of greeting, along with a peck on the cheek and a big bear hug.
“You’re full of shit,” she replied in return. She had been running when she found the dog. Now her hair was limp and her clothes crumpled and damp from sweat. But she still knew what he meant. She had finally lost the nagging ten pounds that had been plaguing her since college.
“Seriously, you’re taking good care of yourself. You should be proud.” Carl wiggled his eyebrows at her.
She chuckled. “Thanks. You look great too. Married life agrees with you.”
“That it does. You ought to think about getting married. It does a body good.” He flexed, wiggling his eyebrows again. He had always been a ham. It made him a great doctor and a fun friend but Kat had always had trouble taking him seriously. Maybe that was why they had never dated.
“Let’s not start that!” She gave an exaggerated sigh. She didn’t mind his ribbing but today it struck a cord. She had been feeling the same way lately. It would be nice to have someone to share her life with. She had watched as all her friends, including Carl, had gotten married. They were all busy with their own lives. “Want to meet my new friend?”
“Absolutely. Have you given her a name yet?” He craned his neck to see in the back seat.
“God no! I’m not keeping her. I just didn’t want to turn her over to strangers. Especially not knowing what they might do with her. I thought maybe you could help me find her a home.”
“Maybe,” he replied evasively. “Let’s have a look.”
“How come the clinic is closed?”
“It’s my day to open late. I did surgery well into the evening last night. Peggy is already here, feeding and walking the dogs that had to stay over.” He opened her door and out came the mangy girl. It had short brown hair with a streak of white between its nose but it was matted and dirty. Her short nose sniffed the air with hesitation. The poor thing was rail thin but its back stood taller than her knee.
“She looks like a boxer, pure bred no less.” Carl reached his hand out for the dog to sniff. “Come on, girl,” Carl’s voice was soft and he made no sudden movements but the dog pressed its dirty body up against Kat, giving a small whimper.
“It’s all right, now. Carl isn’t going to hurt you. Come on.” Kat gently touched the dog who immediately obeyed.
“Are you sure you’re not keeping her?” Carl wrapped a temporary leash around her neck. “She likes you and in all honesty, I worry about you. You could do with a little companion―”
“Carl, I’m gone too much to take care of a dog like that. You know that.” Her mouth pinched together. She knew what he was about to say.
“You could put a little less into teaching. What they ask of you versus what they pay…it’s crazy. And having a dog around when you’re dating wouldn’t be bad either.” Even his best super calm doctor voice didn’t keep her from prickling.
“You’re giving me advice about working less.” Irritation laced her voice. She took a deep breath. She had this tendency to bite people’s heads off or hit them with sharp words. She used it to hide what a softy she really was. But Carl didn’t deserve it. He was trying to help her.
And he had a point. She had been working too much lately, but that came with the territory in a high performing district. It had been all right for the first few years, but lately she had been wondering if it was the right fit for her. And in terms of dating, she didn’t want to admit she hadn’t been doing very much of it. She was tired of the scene. None of this was Carl’s fault, however, so she tried to dial back her anger. “Let’s just focus on the dog, okay?”
“Fine.” He sounded a little irritated and Kat winced. “Let’s start by feeding her and then maybe giving her a bath. With her comfortable and clean, I can really assess her health.” Carl gently guided the dog up the steps.
Within minutes, the dog had water and was now delicately taking bites of food from Kat’s hand. Carl said she needed to eat slowly, which was why they couldn’t just give her a bowl. The dog was clearly ravenous but she gently took each bite and Kat’s heart melted a little more with each nudge of the dog’s nose.
“We’ll feed her more in a little bit.” Carl patted the dog’s head. “Let’s give her a bath.” He stepped around the corner and came back out with a kiddie pool.
“Really? That’s what we’re bathing her in?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Even thin, she’s got to weigh sixty pounds. What would you bathe her in? She’s not going to fit in my sink.”
Laughter bubbled out of her lips. “Can I get in there too? I could use a soak.”
“You wouldn’t be saying that if you had seen some of the dogs that were bathed in this thing.” He scrunched up his face like he had smelled something bad.
“Yuck.” She gave a mock shiver as she petted the dog’s head. “Let’s call her Lucy for now. It isn’t right for her to not have a name.”
He gave her a long look. “Lucy it is.” He reached for a hose and began filling up the tub, adding a generous squirt of soap.
Lucy sniffed twice and made a dash for the pool. Carl looked slightly surprised but gave her a pat on the head. “She trusts you so why don’t you wash around her head and I’ll take the business end.”
Kat laughed again. She had missed her friend―when he wasn’t giving her a lecture about her life choices.
Carl handed her a cloth and she started washing around Lucy’s head. The water quickly turned brown but Lucy looked like she was in absolute heaven. Carl began working on her back legs and then moved up towards her midsection. Suddenly, he stopped. Kat stopped too and watched as his hands moved deliberately over the dog. His eyes were narrowed and his eyes fixed pointedly on the pool of water.
As he was rarely this serious, Kat held her breath, watching him work. “What is it?”
A grimace passed over his face. “I’ll have to do an ultrasound but I believe Lucy is pregnant.”
Relief, washed through her. She was worried it was more serious. “That’s not so bad, right?”
“Honestly, it isn’t good. It was going to be tough to place Lucy in a shelter that wouldn’t kill her. But a whole litter of puppies? They would have to feed and provide medical care for Lucy twelve weeks or longer. Most aren’t willing to do it.”
Kat sucked in her breath. She looked down at Lucy’s gentle eyes, half closed in the ecstasy of the bath. How could she send Lucy off knowing she would likely die? “I couldn’t possibly.”
Carl gave her a grin. “I was hoping you would say that, Kat. That’s what I have always liked about you, you have a good heart.”
“Don’t let people hear you say that. But, Carl, I can’t keep her and a whole litter of puppies.” Her voice rose with every word as her soapy hands came to her cheeks.
“Just take her for now. It’s almost summer vacation. Give me some time to find her a new home.” He gave Lucy a pat. “It’ll all work out, won’t it, girl? Yes it will.” He talked to her in a baby voice and her short little tail started wagging in the water.
“All right. I’ll take her home for now but you have to promise me you will find her a new home. I cannot have an entire litter of puppies. My landlord is probably going to kick me out for having one dog.” She brushed her hair away from her face as she spoke, effectively smearing bubbles all through her blonde tresses.
“Fair enough. Let me make some calls and see what I can figure out.” He brushed the bubbles out of her hair.
“Thanks, Carl. I really appreciate you helping me with this,” she said as she patted Lucy’s head. The dog’s warm brown eyes stared back at her and Kat’s insides melted. Lucy needed someone to look out for her. She didn’t want to admit it, but Carl was right. Kat was lonely and Lucy was already filling that gap.
***
The phone jarred Kat awake. It was the first day of summer vacation so Kat and Lucy were doing vacation right. They had curled up on the couch and fallen sound asleep.
“Sheeelllooo,” her slurred voice barely pushed out into the phone.
“Kat?” It took Kat a full three seconds to register Carl’s voice.
“Carl?” She returned the question.
“Were you sleeping?” he asked incredulously. “It’s three o’clock on a Wednesday.”
“Don’t judge me. I was up half the night packing,” she grumped as she reached out to pet the still sleeping dog.
“You’re moving?” there was a note of wariness in his voice.
Kat caught herself. This was not Carl’s fault. She had made the decision not to send Lucy to a shelter and therefor it was her own doing that the landlord was kicking her out. “It’s time to get a bigger place. Did you find anyone to take Lucy?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I did. It’s going to require a little work from you but it will be great for Lucy and the pups.”
“Really, that’s amazing, who is it?”
“It’s my brother… Luke.” Carl hesitated before he said Luke’s name.
She knew why. Kat and Luke didn’t exactly get along. He was arrogant and self-assured in a way that seemed to throw her off her game and ultimately annoy her. She retaliated by yelling at him. First of all, he was way too handsome. And unlike Carl, who was always joking, he was serious all the time with a penetrating glare that made Kat feel judged.
They had met a few times when she and Carl were in school and then again at Carl’s wedding. The negative energy between them was palpable, though they managed to keep the peace. But people noticed anyway. Carl’s mother had given them several long glances over the course of the evening.
“Okay,” she responded with a wary tone. “So what work will I need to do?”
Crazy Puppy Love: Chance Romance with a Canine Helper! Page 5