Love at First Bark Page 27

  “That sounds like a pretty good start to me. Sorry we missed it.”

  “We’ll try again later,” Taye added.

  After John Ronald was off the course, Tess suggested that Megan and Ollie bring Sam out next since puppies had shorter attention spans.

  When no one else seemed to be in a hurry and Sophie mentioned that Tyson had already gone once as well, Mia agreed and glanced at Ben. “Want to come?”

  “Sure.” He glanced at Taye, whose eyes grew big.

  “Yeah…no thanks. I’ll wait a bit.”

  Mia grabbed the bag of salmon and sweet potato treats the dogs loved, and the flashlight from her purse, and headed out with Ollie and Sam onto the artificial grass. She couldn’t put her finger on why, but Taye was acting even weirder than Ben.

  “So I don’t have any real idea how to do this,” Mia mumbled as they headed out into the course. With just her and Ben and Ollie, this felt like heading on a trip without directions on how to get there. When she’d accepted Tess’s invitation to come tonight, she’d pictured getting some kind of rundown on how to approach an agility course, but that didn’t seem like it would be the case.

  “The email was helpful,” Ben said. “At least I thought it was. Do you have the map?”

  Mia frowned and locked her opposite hand in Ollie’s to keep him from falling behind with Sam. “I didn’t see an email. And what map?”

  “Tess sent an email with directions and a map. Don’t sweat it. I’ve got mine.” Ben pulled a folded piece of paper out of his back jeans pocket.

  “Why do I feel incredibly unprepared for this?” Mia whispered. “And late?”

  Ben gave her an easy nudge with his elbow as he unfolded his map, leash in hand as Sadie trotted along at his side. “You weren’t late. And tonight’s about having fun. While following the map.”

  Mia leaned close to look at the map. “I don’t see why it matters which ramp we try first, but I’m glad it’s an easy one.” She dropped Ollie’s hand and pointed toward a long, low ramp in the back. “Looks like we’re trying that one in the back first, Ol.”

  Ollie followed the direction of her finger and nodded. “Come on, Sam.” In addition to the verbal call that was still habit, Ollie dipped the leash to get Sam’s attention. Once he had it, he fell into a jog, and Sam, as always, was quick to follow suit.

  “Since you read the email and I didn’t, is there anything I missed?” Mia asked Ben.

  Ben pursed his lips, and for a split second it looked as if he was trying not to smile. “Not that I can think of.”

  Sadie whined after Sam but didn’t pull on the leash. The cautious dog looked up at Mia, and she responded with a thumbs-up.

  By the time they reached it, Ollie had walked up the long ramp with Sam and was bouncing in the middle while Sam tried to eat his shoelace. It was only a few feet off the ground, and Sam didn’t seem to mind one bit. “Mom, this one’s got your name.”

  “What do you mean, Ol? And don’t bounce on the ramp.”

  “There.” Ollie pointed behind him. “John Ronald’s bigger than me, and he was up here. And Sam likes it when I bounce.”

  Mia had just opened her mouth in rebuttal when she saw what Ollie was talking about. Centered behind the jump was a thin, waist-high black pedestal sign with MIA hand drawn in a bold, beautiful gold font. She blinked and looked around at the other ramps and jumps and realized about half had similar signposts beside them. She looked at Ben questioningly. “Are we playing a game later or something?”

  Ben furrowed his brows at the sign. It seemed a bit impossible that he’d not spotted it while practicing with Taye, but something about his expression reminded Mia of a B-rated actor who was being dramatic while trying not to laugh.

  “Ben, what’s up?”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “No idea. I didn’t notice it before. All I know is that we’re supposed to follow the map.”

  “Where to? Where to?” Ollie said, still bouncing.

  “Shouldn’t we work with them here first?”

  “This one’s easy. Let’s go to the next one.” Ollie jogged down the ramp, nearly tripping as he half dragged Sam along and the playful puppy continued to attack his shoe.

  What had made her think it wouldn’t be as much work or more to teach a seven-year-old how to train a puppy than to train the puppy? Mia didn’t know.

  “It wouldn’t hurt to walk the course once, then come back and start them both here,” Ben offered, squeezing her shoulder affectionately.

  “Okay. Where to then?” Whatever this was, Mia figured she should go with it and leaned in to look at the map again. The second practice spot was a pole jump that was set to about six inches off the ground. It also had a sign pole beside it. “That one, Ol.”

  Ollie got there first and went straight to the sign. “Will. This one is Will’s.”

  WILL. Mia didn’t know a Will. She looked at Ben, but he was intently watching Sadie. Mia. Will. Her heart beat a little faster. Back at the waiting area, no one seemed to be paying any attention to them as they hung in small groups talking to one another. Quietly talking, Mia realized, picking up on the tension.

  Rather than jump the pole when Ollie stepped over it, Sam rested his front paws on top and wagged his tail, paused to pull in his haunches, then hopped over the rest of the way.

  “Sweet! Give him a thumbs-up, Ol.” Mia was a few seconds too late with the treats, but after fishing a handful from the bag, she waved to get Sam’s attention. When she had it, she asked him to sit and gave him a treat when he reluctantly sank to his haunches rather than jump in an attempt to reach it. She handed a few extra treats to Ollie. “Keep these in your pocket so you can reward him on the spot, okay?”

  Ollie agreed and asked Ben where to next. Before Mia could suggest they let Sadie give it a try, Ollie was jogging toward the third station. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was another one with a sign.

  Ben took Mia’s hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze as they trailed after Ollie and Sam.

  “Do you know any Wills?”

  Mia noticed Ben seemed to be looking anywhere but at her as he shrugged and said that he didn’t.

  “You!” Ollie said, turning to look at Mia in stunned surprise as he reached the station and read the sign. “Mia. Will. You. Mom, will you what?”

  Ben was finally looking at her, his mouth pulled into a small, crooked smile.

  “Are you going to finish that sentence?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

  “Don’t look at me. Tess sent the map.” His tone was just serious enough that Mia looked across the field at the group. No one was talking anymore. Everyone was watching, and Tess had her hands clamped over her mouth in anticipation.

  “Oh my God, Ben.” Tears stung Mia’s eyes. “Are you going to finish that sentence, or should we follow the map?”

  “Follow the map!” Ollie interjected, pressing in close to look at the map himself. Ben helped him locate the fourth station and then whispered in Ollie’s ear.

  “I didn’t know you were going to do it like this,” Ollie whispered back loud enough that Mia overheard. This time, rather than running ahead, Ollie grabbed Mia’s hand and tugged her along, and Ben kept their pace. Tears were filling Mia’s eyes so much that she had a hard time reading the fourth sign.

  It didn’t matter. She knew what it said even before Ollie fell to his knees, dramatically choking himself. “Ugh! This is so much worse than kissing!”

  MARRY. Mia laughed and swiped away the tears spilling down her cheeks. “Yes, absolutely yes.” She reached up and pressed a kiss against Ben’s lips. She laughed and shook her head. “So much yes.”

  Ben laughed with her. “Uh, I was a little worried about this. You weren’t supposed to answer until you get to the bridge. Right now you could be marrying anyone.”

  “But I only wan
t to marry you.”

  Ben locked her hand in his and headed toward the bridge in the center. “Ollie, check this last one out, will you?”

  Ollie ran ahead and stopped at the sign. “It’s an envelope.”

  “Want to see what’s inside?”

  “A million bucks I know what it is.” Ollie lifted the flap of the square silver envelope that was attached to the sign. “I knew it!” His silly, playful look vanished as he pulled out a ring the sight of which caused Mia to gasp. It was an oval lavender-hued diamond on a smooth platinum band and as elegant as it was simple. It was the kind of ring Mia might have dreamed about but never imagined actually wearing. “Wow.” Ollie held it with the same care he would have shown a baby bird. “This is what Mimi bought for you in Africa?”

  He looked at Ben, and Ben winked, nodding in confirmation and reaching out his hand. “The stone is. Well done, Ol.”

  Ben took the ring before handing Ollie Sadie’s leash. He turned to Mia, an easy smile on his face. “I know you answered this already, but Mia, will you marry me?”

  Mia laughed and sniffed at the same time. “Oh, heck yeah. I’ll marry you, Ben Thomas.”

  She held her breath as Ben slipped the perfectly fitting ring onto her finger. Soon afterward, she found herself lifted into Ben’s arms among a chorus of cheers and whoops and hollers and Ollie falling dramatically to the turf, as if trying to prove that romance was in fact his kryptonite.

  In the midst of the chaos, Sam hopped up on Ollie’s back and let out a single sharp, loud bark, one that was distinct enough it caught everyone’s attention.

  No longer playing dead, Ollie turned his face to the side and said, “Mom, I think Sam’s found his bark!”

  Mia laughed. “I think he did, Ollie. You know what? I think we all did.”

  Acknowledgments

  As I recognize the people who’ve helped make the Rescue Me stories stronger, I’d first like to thank my dedicated readers. The passion you have for the dynamic group of fictional characters at the High Grove Animal Shelter—human, canine, and feline—keeps the ideas flowing. I hope you’ve enjoyed Ben and Mia’s story as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Their love story may be a complicated one, but it’s dear to my heart. The idea for it blossomed into life many years ago but demanded a bit of evolution before reaching your hands.

  I’m blessed to be able to help shed light on the plight of homeless animals while writing romance. Although I have rescue animals of my own, the everyday stories I’ve encountered while researching the lives of shelter dogs and cats have made me an even stronger proponent of the remarkable work done by shelters and foster agencies across the country.

  I’d like to thank Deb Werksman, my editor at Sourcebooks Casablanca, for continuing to make this series ever stronger with her insight and guidance. I’m thankful for the myriad of support from the entire team at Sourcebooks and Sourcebooks Casablanca who’ve played a part in bringing Love at First Bark to life. From cover to copywriting, many hands have helped shape this book. I’d be remiss not to mention Susie Benton, Ashlyn Keil, Diane Dannenfeldt, and Kirsten Wenum by name. Then there’s Stefani Sloma, marketer extraordinaire. Stef, you’re amazing. Nor can I forget to thank my agent, Jess Watterson, at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Jess, thanks for always being there when I need you.

  My thanks also goes out to my family and friends for their tireless support and cheerleading throughout this journey. I want to thank Ciara Brewer and Bree Liddell for helping to keep me accountable in so many ways. Love you, ladies. Thanks to Saadia Walton for giving me the idea of the shelter reading program and to Theresa Schmidt for sharing information on deaf dogs. Lastly, I thank Ryan and Emily, my amazing kids who are growing into adults faster than I can process. Thanks for your patience and support…and for digging through the laundry basket for a pair of matching socks as often as you reheat cold pizza when I’m closing in on a deadline.

  About the Author

  Debbie Burns lives in St. Louis with her family, two phenomenal rescue dogs, and a somewhat tetchy Maine coon cat who everyone loves anyway. Her hobbies include hiking, gardening, and daydreaming, which, of course, always lead to new story ideas.

  Debbie’s writing commendations include a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews for A New Leash on Love, an Amazon Best Book of the Month for My Forever Home, as well as first-place awards for short stories, flash fiction, and longer selections.

  Connect online:

  twitter.com/_debbieburns

  facebook.com/authordebbieburns

  instagram.com/_debbieburns

  authordebbieburns.com

  If you love sweet, sparkling romance like Debbie Burns’s Love at First Bark, you won’t want to miss this heartwarming new series from author Lucy Gilmore, featuring adorable service puppies and the people they bring together. Read on for a sneak peek at Puppy Love.

  Chapter 1

  Now that was a dog.

  Harrison Parks stood in front of the Great Dane puppy, watching as he stumbled over his feet and struggled with the weight of his oversize head. Already, the animal’s sleek gray fur was something to behold, those beautiful eyes like the sky after a rainstorm. It was easy to see what he would someday become—majestic and muscled and massive, more like a trusty steed than a canine.

  “He’s perfect. Where do I sign?”

  A cough sounded at his back. “Um, that’s a Great Dane.”

  Harrison turned to find the slight, well-dressed woman who’d greeted him at the door. She looked apologetic and hesitant and, well, the same way most people looked when they met him for the first time.

  In other words, like this was the last place in the world she wanted to be—and he the last man she wanted there with her.

  “I thought he might be.” He attempted a smile. “What’s his name?”

  “Rock.”

  Yes. Rock—durable and solid, the kind of dog a man could count on. Harrison crouched and put a hand out to the animal, his fingers closed in a fist the way the woman, Sophie Vasquez, had shown him. It seemed like overkill, this careful approach to an animal who hadn’t yet reached six months of age, but what did he know? The closest he’d come to having a pet was the raccoon that lived under his back porch.

  “I think he likes me.”

  Sophie coughed again, louder this time. “Rock is great, but he’s a stability dog, I’m afraid.”

  Harrison turned to look up at her, struck again by how out of place she seemed among this room of scurrying puppies. It wasn’t just her air of fragility, which made it seem as though a strong wind would topple her over. It wasn’t her age either, although her short crop of dark brown hair and her round, sweet face made him suspect she was still in the youthful flush of her twenties.

  No, it was the ruffled dress she wore, which seemed better suited for a tea party than a dog kennel.

  He did his best to smile again. He was trying not to scare her away within the first ten minutes. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d done that to a woman. Or a man. Or, if he was being honest, any living creature with a heart in its chest and eyes in its head. He wasn’t saying he was a bad-looking man—a bit rough around the edges, maybe—but he did have a tendency to come across more forcefully than he intended. His friends blamed it on what they called his “resting brick face.” Like you’re going to throw the next man who crosses you into a brick wall, they laughed.

  Which was all well and good after a long day of work, but it wasn’t the least bit helpful here.

  Just smile and relax, they said. Be yourself. And for God’s sake, lower your guard an inch or two to let in some air.

  Well, he’d tried. The smile—both of them—had already fallen flat, and the idea of relaxing under that woman’s wide-eyed stare was impossible. No one had warned him that the puppy trainer was going to be a delicate, fragile wisp of feminine perf
ection. One of those things he might have been able to handle, but all of them?

  Yeah, his guard was going to stay right where it was. It gave him someplace to hide.

  “What’s a stability dog?” he managed to ask.

  “Well,” she began, “some of our clients need dogs that can provide physical support.”

  When he didn’t do more than nod encouragingly, she added, “As he grows up, Rock will be great at leading someone with vision issues or providing a safe landing for someone prone to seizures. You know—for stability.”

  “Oh.” Harrison blinked. “I don’t need that.”

  “Not really, no.”

  “Well, what about that one, then? He looks like he knows his way around a back alley or two.”

  He nodded toward the bulldog in the next slot over. Like Rock the Great Dane, this one was prancing about in one of a dozen half-walled pens built in an extension off the back of Sophie’s house. Unlike other dog kennels, Puppy Promise kept none of their animals fully caged in. They had room to climb and jump and pop their heads up to say a friendly hello to their neighbors. And they did too, wet noses being pressed and kissed from one animal to another. When added to the bright-blue walls and not-unpleasant smell of organic cleaning solutions and puppy breath, the result was strangely inviting.

  “Rusty?” Sophie asked as the wriggling, wrinkly puppy came bounding forward. His expression held a belligerence that appealed to Harrison on a visceral level. This dog might not be as physically intimidating as a Great Dane, but he sensed a kindred spirit. Grump and grumpier. “No, you don’t want him. He’ll be a nice emotional support dog someday, but he can’t smell worth anything.”

  Harrison bit back his disappointment and allowed his gaze to skim over the other options. He immediately bypassed a tall white poodle that looked as if it had been recently permed and a tiny, yappy thing with eyes like raisins. A soft golden retriever with a mournful expression peeped up at him from the corner. “How about—”