Feisty Heroines Romance Collection of Shorts

by D. F. Jones

  “Well,” Hazel said, lifting her hand from the dog’s fur, “what if we take turns getting to know the dog throughout the next two weeks. We can visit her, and walk her, and at the end of the two weeks we can have her decide who she likes more. Whoever it is she chooses will be the one that gets to adopt her.”

  Lucas laughed loudly. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Is it, though? I mean, it doesn’t seem like either of us are going to budge on this matter.”

  Aly lowered herself to the Samoyed’s level and sighed. “What do you think about that, Snow? You okay with getting walked and played with a few times a week?”

  The dog wagged her tail and nearly jumped on top of Alejandra, which caused Hazel to laugh lightly. She’d always wanted a Samoyed but had never had the opportunity to adopt one. Usually, they were picked up right away because they were popular on social media. This was the best opportunity, and Snow was an adorable ball of fluffiness that she couldn’t wait to take home. That was, of course, if Lucas didn’t show up over the next two weeks at all, as she expected.

  She held her hand out towards Lucas. “Do we have a deal?”

  He crossed his arms, which only made his muscles appear larger. Lucas was more in shape than most baristas she saw. Clearly, walking the dog every other day shouldn’t bother him. In fact, Hazel figured, he’d enjoy it and might consider it part of his workout routine.

  “How do I know you won’t go in every day? This feels like it might be rigged, especially since you’ve known Alejandra longer.”

  Hazel held her fingers up. “Scouts honor.”

  “Were you even a scout?”

  She dropped both her hands. “It’s a saying. C’mon, just agree. I really want to win.”

  Lucas chuckled, seemingly surprised by her words. She preferred having a fellow competitor involved. It would only make it more fun when she won.

  “Fine,” he said, and held out his hand for the handshake. “We’ll see who the dog chooses in the end. No cheating.”

  She took his hand in hers and nodded. “No cheating.”

  “Finally!” Aly said, and began walking away. “I’ll give you both my card at the end of the fundraiser. Call tomorrow and we’ll set up a schedule.”

  Hazel took her hand away quickly, having held Lucas’ for too long. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to pet Snow again. The dog was worth the wager. Hazel met Snow’s brown eyes and scritched behind her ears, excited for the moment when she’d be able to take her new dog home.

  Chapter 4

  Lucas

  A couple of days later, Lucas’s first chance to see Snow came, and he smiled as he approached the shelter. Not only did he want to show that baker that he was committed, but he so wanted to get the dog on his side. Sure, there were plenty of other dogs that he could have chosen. It had been the way the Samoyed ran towards him that he wouldn’t forget. That excitement that had rippled through from his stomach to his fingertips. He’d felt as though he’d been chosen as the owner of the dog right then and there.

  The baker just happened to be standing nearby.

  Snow gravitated towards anyone who showed her attention. The dog had clearly come to him first.

  He considered this as he walked into the shelter. He covered his nose when the overwhelming smell greeted him on the other side of the door. Dogs were known for their odor, but their close proximity really cemented the scent into everything. It was like a punch in the face.

  Alejandra waited at the front desk, alongside one of the volunteers, who was an older woman with a grandmotherly presence about her. They were smiling as he entered, clearly unbothered by the scent that surrounded them.

  He lowered his arm from his nose and smiled. “Hey, Alejandra. Is Snow ready for her walk?”

  Alejandra had a natural prettiness to her face but had strong features. Even when she was in a good mood, Lucas got the impression that she couldn’t be bothered to speak to him. Her tan skin tone glowed, even with the grey weather outside. “She is, but there’s kind of a problem.”

  Lucas’ stomach sank and he clenched the air within his lungs. He exhaled when he felt the pressure in his chest. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m sorry, Lucas. It’s all my fault,” said the older woman behind the desk. “It seems I’ve double booked Snow today.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Her expression was so solemn there was no way he could get mad. She was only a volunteer who was doing her best. The older woman adjusted her glasses and tapped on the tablet in her hand. “Snow is outside with Hazel right now, the other potential adopter. You can go and play with Snow with her if you want. The only other option is to come back another day.”

  Alejandra brought her hand to the woman’s shoulder and squeezed before looking up at Lucas. “Irene mistook the dates. You can come back another time, but you’re already here, and Hazel is aware of what has happened with the schedule. She said it would be fine if you both walked and played with Snow together today.”

  He was taken aback. What did she have planned? That baker didn’t seem the type too low for something like that. He considered the way she’d been dead set on adopting the dog, and how she wouldn’t budge, despite the situation. Now she was agreeing to walk the dog with him? It didn’t seem right.

  “Are they just out back?”

  “Yes. I can take you back there.”

  Alejandra waited for him to pass the desk before she joined him. The clacks of her heels against the floor echoed in the room as she opened the door to the kennel. The pungent smell was even stronger, and the barking began as they made their way through the shelter.

  He smiled at all the dogs in their kennels, each of them trying to get his attention. Lucas knew that Snow was the dog he wanted, but looking over the faces of the other dogs was enough to have him reconsider his choice.

  His pride was also a factor. He wanted to prove that he was the right choice for the Samoyed. But, if things didn't work out, there were plenty of other dogs that needed a home too.

  “How many dogs got adopted after the fundraiser?”

  The dogs barking around them made it difficult to hear anything. Some dogs hid in the corner of their kennels and laid on their beds with their faces between their paws. He wanted to go pet them and make them feel more comfortable.

  “It was extremely successful,” Alejandra said. She lifted her head to look at him. “We had about thirty-seven adoptions that day, which is a success for us. We still have about forty dogs on the premises, and more coming from a dog mill in Georgia.”

  “A dog mill?”

  “We usually call it a puppy mill. It’s a place where the dogs are kept in horrible conditions, and the dogs are usually sold to pet stores or online. They’re being shipped out here because their shelters are full.”

  “How many dogs?”

  “One of them is pregnant, so we’re thinking altogether about fifteen to twenty.”

  They reached the door that led outside and Alejandra stood on her tiptoes to peer out the window. Lucas saw Snow as she ran through the grass alongside Hazel, who egged the dog on with a rope toy.

  “Does she know I’m coming? For sure?”

  “Yes, of course,” she said, and laughed. “She was fine with it.”

  Lucas inhaled deeply and opened the door. Both the dog and Hazel stopped as he stepped out. He wasn’t expecting that. He stood awkwardly at the back entrance and placed his hands in his pockets. As soon as Snow saw him, the white dog bounded across the grass and rushed towards him. Her pink tongue hung out from her black mouth. She barked excitedly at Lucas and nearly knocked him over when she jumped up on her hind legs, just like the first time.

  “Hey, girlie,” he said as he brought his hands down into her thick white fur. “How are you? Are you a good girl? Who’s a good girl?”

  “Looks like she recognizes you.”

  He kept petting Snow’s head as he heard the crunching of grass under Hazel’s feet. “I guess we know
who should be adopting her then.”

  Hazel stopped a few feet away from them. “We’ll see about that. She’s just like that with everyone.”

  “Are you jealous?”

  She scoffed. “No, I’m not. Why would I be jealous of you? She’s definitely going to be my dog.”

  He met her green eyes. “You’re pretty confident for someone who isn’t petting the dog.”

  She stepped forward and ran her hand along Snow’s back. “Why don’t we just take her for a walk? What do you think?”

  Lucas bit his lip, unable to ignore how beautiful Hazel was in the sunlight. She had the kind of smile that could warm even the coldest of people to their core. He gathered his thoughts and stood up straight. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Hazel pulled the leash from out of her back pocket and attached it to the front of Snow’s pink collar. The dog fell to the ground and began rushing around in circles, obviously excited to get off the shelter property. She barked at them and leapt up towards the path, nearly choking herself with her own collar.

  “I think she’s excited,” Lucas said, and laughed. “It’s like she’s never walked before.”

  “Dogs are weird like that. They always act like they’re experiencing something for the first time. I kind of like that about them.”

  He started towards the path and glanced back at her. “I get what you mean. They’re always having fun, no matter the circumstances. They could be pooping and they come back acting like it was the greatest poop ever.”

  Hazel tried to keep Snow from choking herself as the dog attempted to keep up with Lucas. “You could say that.”

  Hazel managed to catch up with him and the dog bolted ahead, excited to discover the forested path ahead of them, which led out to a small ravine near the road. The warmth of the sun caused the air around them to smell of leaves.

  “Why do you want to adopt a dog?” Lucas asked her.

  The leash handle pressed tightly against Hazel’s hand as Snow pulled her ahead. “I don’t know, actually. I’ve done so many of the fundraisers and it’s never occurred to me to adopt one of them. I guess I was just always so focused on them getting adopted with good families. I mean, my shop is close to home, so I can go visit the dog anytime throughout the day, so time isn’t an issue. I could even bring her to work once she’s trained.”

  “I hadn’t even thought of that. A cafe dog? It would bring attention to the cafe, for sure.”

  “She’ll be a bakery dog.”

  Lucas laughed. “If only she could be both.”

  Hazel’s heart skipped a beat at the thought, but she forced it down. It wasn’t possible for two people to share a dog - especially if the people were two strangers who barely got along. She gripped the leash more tightly as they walked. It was only because he was handsome that she even considered it. Snow would be her dog at the end of it all.

  “So, what made you want to adopt her?” Hazel asked Lucas.

  The sound of the stream next to them reverberated in the silence around them as Lucas considered his next words. The path wove around a corner, and Snow sniffed everything along the path. The leaves shone green against the canopy, and swayed in the breeze as they walked. It was the perfect day to have an adventure.

  “I realized how lonely things were. My home, I mean,” he said, his voice low. “It’s just seemed so empty since my ex left. I guess after experiencing Snow jump on me like that, I had this revelation that she might be the answer to that loneliness. Coming home to an empty house hasn’t felt right for a while.”

  Hazel bit her lip. She didn’t want to say anything rude after that, and there was a pang of guilt forming in her stomach. She understood how he felt. After all the years she’d used dating apps and sites, she’d never met the kind of person she could live with. She couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to walk into an empty house after having shared it with someone.

  “I think you might have a better reason than me.”

  Lucas pushed his hands in his pockets. “So, does that mean I get the dog?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Nope. Still my dog. Isn’t that right, girl?”

  The Samoyed paid no attention to Hazel as she continued forward. The dog had a mind of her own, and Lucas watched as she enjoyed her walk in the wilderness.

  “She seems super excited.”

  Hazel hit him lightly on the arm. “Don’t think you’re going to win. She’s mine.”

  “What’re you going to do? Beat me up?”

  “Maybe I will.”

  He stood taller, making it clear that he’d dominate her if she tried. “You wanna have a go at it, then?”

  Hazel winced. “Maybe not. She’d protect me, though. Wouldn’t you, girl?”

  Snow ignored them again as she dove head first into the nearest brush. Her tail was wagging as she continued onward, still pulling at the leash.

  “Want me to take the leash? Seems like she’s really pulling on it.”

  “Sure,” she said, and placed the handle into his hand. “Thanks.”

  “Let’s try to work on her pulling before the next walk.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Hazel said with a smile as she watched Lucas reeling Snow in by the leash.

  Despite the fact that he was against her for the dog, Hazel hoped that it wouldn’t be their last walk together. With their different schedules, though, she resolved to enjoy the one they were on while it lasted.

  Chapter 5

  Hazel

  She wrapped her fingers around the warm coffee and enjoyed the sensation as it sent shivers up her arms. Lydia admired the latte art on her cup as she buttoned up her pink sweater. Her short blond hair was a mess from the walk, and the rain pattered against the windows, so loud it reminded Hazel of stones.

  “What a day to go out for coffee, huh?” Hazel said and brought the mug to her lips. The savory bitterness of the coffee rolled over her tongue. She blew against the surface to cool it before taking another sip. “Kind of the perfect summer day for it, though.”

  Lydia leaned her head against her hand as she shifted forward. “I still think we should’ve canceled.”

  “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad.”

  “It’s bad enough that I want to go back home and crawl into bed.”

  Hazel chuckled and set her mug on the table. “Well, thank you for making it. I seriously needed this.”

  “I’ve always said that you should change the hours of the bakery. Having only one day off is just not enough.”

  “It’s not that bad,” she said, and raised her eyebrows. “Besides, I enjoy the early mornings.”

  “No one needs a croissant at six in the morning.”

  Hazel sighed, enjoying the soft folk music playing in the background. The cafe was nearly empty, as expected on a day when it was basically storming outside. “Maybe I need a croissant at six in the morning.”

  “Then you can eat it at home,” Lydia said sarcastically, lifting her own mug and finally taking a sip. “So, you were mentioning that you’re getting a dog. Do you have any pics?”

  “Ugh, if only it were that easy.”

  Lydia tilted her head as Hazel pulled her phone from the front pocket of her jeans. She tapped along the screen, scouring her photos for the perfect one. She smiled softly at her phone, enjoying the silly expressions of Snow in each one. It didn’t matter what angle you got of her, the dog was always cute.

  “Here,” she said and turned the phone over to Lydia. “This is Snow.”

  “Oh my God. She’s adorable.”

  “Isn’t she, though? She’s a three year old purebred Samoyed. You know how I follow all those fluffy cloud boys on Instagram? Well, I finally have the opportunity to adopt one of my own,” Hazel said, her voice rising in excitement. “And she ran right up to me at the fundraiser. It was like fate.”

  “So, then, what’s the problem?”

  Hazel pursed her lips. “What’s not the problem? There’s this guy that thinks he’s entitled to adop
t the dog, so we’ve made a deal.”

  “Wait, what? A deal? Do you even know who this guy is?”

  “Nope. Had no idea who he was until a week ago,” she replied as she placed her phone down onto the table. “The deal is that we let the dog choose at the end of two weeks. If the dog chooses him, he gets to adopt her and vice versa. We take turns walking her and playing with her over the two weeks and then we have the test at the end.”

  “Are you kidding?” Lydia asked as she grabbed a sugar packet. “The shelter’s letting you do that?”

  “You haven’t met her, but I’ve known Alejandra for a few years. She was initially going to take the dog away from both of us, so I came up with this idea of a deal instead. It was the only way I could think of having it work out.”

  “Who’s the guy?”

  “His name’s Lucas, and he’s a barista.”

  “Wait,” Lydia said, and poured the sugar into her latte. “He’s a barista? At Starbucks or something?”

  “I think he owns his own coffee shop.”

  “Oh, well, that’s different, then.”

  “How?”

  Lydia shrugged and leaned back in her chair. “I don’t know. I guess because he’s kind of in the same position as you. Owns his own business. I wouldn’t take him so seriously if he was just a barista at a coffee shop somewhere, honestly.”

  “That’s because you’re elitist.”

  “Not my fault.”

  Hazel sighed and took another sip of her coffee. She wondered if his coffee was even better than this place’s. The cafe they always went to had a self-pour option. It was true what he had said - it felt more personal to have the barista pour and prepare the coffee for you. She hated admitting he was right about something.

  “What’s he like?”

  “Hmm? Who?”

  Lydia narrowed her eyes. “The barista. Obviously. Or cafe owner, whatever.”

  “He’s, I don’t know, nice.”

  “Come on,” she said, and rolled her eyes. “That’s it? He’s nice? What’s he look like? I want to know all the details. He might have your dog soon, you know.”