Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“I wish I could take him,” Jay said ruefully, “but I travel too much.”
All Erin said was, “Jay. . . ” and let the rest hang in the air.
Jay stared into the dog’s soulful brown eyes. Then the dog put out his paws and lowered his body, his eyes never leaving Jay’s. She practically felt the dog saying, Come on, give me a break, please.
Jay let out a sigh. “Somebody gave me a chance when I had no hope,” he told the dog, “and it turned out pretty well. Let’s you and me take a chance on each other.” The dog licked his face and let out a little yip. Jay laughed and said, “I’ll take him.”
Erin watched as Jay paid the fee and filled out the forms to adopt a mongrel of unspecified origin that Emilia told him was mostly border terrier.
Emilia was pretty matter of fact through the whole process—she did, after all, do this every day—but Erin was impressed and wasn’t going to hold back. As they were leaving, she said, “Jay, you saved his life.”
But Jay only looked worried. He turned to her. “You have to help me. I don’t know how I’m going to find the time this little guy deserves.”
As though she could sense his buyer’s remorse, she said, “You know I will. It’s going to be okay.”
Jay seemed to relax a little. A warm feeling suffused her body and she realized that he trusted her. Really, truly trusted her. It felt good.
He said, “I guess living with me can’t be worse than getting yapped at by a hundred other homeless dogs every day.”
She laughed. “Definitely not. He’ll be living in the finest house in all of Carmel-by-the-Sea.” Without thinking, she added, “I’m jealous.”
Jay gave her a look she couldn’t read and she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She hoped he didn’t think she wanted to live with him. It was just that his house was incredible. She decided to say nothing further, in case she dug an even deeper hole for herself.
Jay lifted the dog and tucked him under one arm. One well-muscled arm, she couldn’t help but notice, and while he was searching his pockets for his car keys, the dog licked his neck and then his ear. Her heart melted. Just melted.
“Are you going to keep his name?” Erin asked. Secretly, she thought Rocco didn’t suit the poor dog at all. “The shelter people give the dogs names if they come in as strays.”
“I don’t think so,” Jay replied. “It doesn’t suit him.” He looked down at the dog. “Is your name Rocco?” The dog sneezed.
Glad they were on the same page, Erin helped put the dog in the car. He immediately pushed his head between the seats. A little dog drool dripped on the butter-soft leather and there were a few strands of hair left behind on Jay’s designer polo shirt. He didn’t seem to mind, and she suspected that both these things would do him good.
“We need to pick up supplies,” Erin said as she settled into the passenger seat with the dog now on her lap. She directed him to her favorite pet store and he bought the fanciest dog food, the fanciest bed, the most ridiculously expensive leash and harness, and some complicated gizmo that kept the dog safely strapped in the car, as well as some chew toys and treats. This dog’s life was about to get a whole lot better—all his doggie dreams were coming true.
With the car fully loaded, Jay turned to Erin. “Will you come with me while I take him for his first walk?”
She’d been having a hard time keeping herself from turning into a puddle of goo watching Jay spoil his new pet, and this request didn’t help matters. He seemed surprisingly nervous, a quality she’d never encountered in him before. Frankly, it was endearing. As tactfully as possible, she asked whether he’d ever had a dog before. He shook his head and looked a little ashamed. She found it adorable, but wasn’t about to let him know. Instead, she agreed to accompany the two new best friends on their first walk. She didn’t even suggest that they pick up Buzzy first, who was waiting patiently for her at home. She suspected that for this first walk, it was important that Jay and the dog have some time to bond without distraction. She could stand well back.
Jay parked in his drive and as soon as he opened the car’s door, the dog bounded straight out and Jay had to chase him.
“He might need a bit of training,” Erin called, trying not to laugh. She watched Jay as he quickly caught up. It was turning out to be the cutest—and most unexpected—evening with Jay. He’d been a goner as soon as the dog leaned against him, as if he were saying, “I’m yours. And you’re mine.”