Puppy Love, Volumes 1 to 13 Read online

  "What?" She blushed and shook her head. "Oh, no. Sorry. I just…" She shook her head again, her cheeks pulling tight in a nervous smile.

  Sarah fastened the collar around Checkers' neck, her hands brushing against the man's arms as she reached around to make sure it was tight enough Checkers wouldn't be able to pull another disappearing act. As she worked, she babbled about how Checkers' collar was always working itself loose and how he'd backed out of it at the light and almost given her a heart attack and…

  She couldn't stop herself. She desperately wanted to because she just knew this gorgeous, sexy man must think she was a complete airheaded fool, but she just couldn't stop the flow of words pouring out of her mouth.

  Finally, she took Checkers back, struggling to hold his thirty-plus pounds of eager puppy weight. "Thank you so much. I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't saved him."

  "You're welcome." The man smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement, and Sarah blushed again.

  He must think her a fool.

  "Can I? Do you drink coffee by any chance?" she asked, biting her lip.

  "I do." He tilted his head to the side, waiting for what she might say.

  "I'd like to get you a gift card from Starbucks as a thank-you. Is that okay?" She glanced up at him, trying to figure out why this man made her so nervous. Other than being completely gorgeous, of course.

  He shrugged. "Sure. You don't have to, though." He reached out and scratched Checkers' ear.

  "Please. I insist. I have to do something to thank you."

  He opened his mouth and then closed it again. After a slight pause, he said, "That would be nice, thank you. I live in the big brown building over there. Apartment 2B."

  "Apartment 2B," she repeated, trying to force it into her memory. "Okay, then. Thank you again."

  Before she could embarrass herself any further, Sarah fled, Checkers barking and struggling to get free of her arms as she raced across the street and back towards her apartment.

  * * *

  She realized the next day when she stopped at Starbucks to buy the gift card that she hadn't even asked the man's name. He was just the hottie who lived in…

  She stopped so suddenly that a man in a business suit almost ran into the back of her. She'd forgotten what apartment he lived in. She'd been so scared about Checkers and then so thrown by the man's good looks that most of their conversation was a complete blur.

  All she could remember was how embarrassed she'd been by the whole ordeal.

  Oh no.

  He'd think she was a horrible person. She'd said she was going to give him a gift card, but now she didn't even know how to find him.

  At least she still knew which building he lived in. Maybe she could just ask around. He was pretty distinctive after all.

  * * *

  After work, Sarah walked Checkers back to that fateful intersection, retracing their steps in her mind, trying to figure out which apartment building the man lived in. At the time it had seemed so obvious. He'd gestured behind him and she'd thought, "Of course, the tall brown building."

  But there were two tall brown buildings.

  And they both looked exactly the same.

  Had she been standing this close to the corner, which would mean he'd gestured towards the first tall brown building?

  Or had she been a little farther down the block, which meant it was that second tall brown building?

  And why oh why couldn't she remember which unit he lived in?

  She let Checkers nose around at the little grassy area next to the curb and watched men and women enter and exit both buildings, hoping to catch sight of the man. As she waited, the sun burned the back of her neck and her clothes clung to her back from the damp heat.

  She rolled her shoulders, trying to get more comfortable, but it didn't help.

  Maybe she could stop someone? Ask if they knew a tall, good-looking man who smelled all dark and chocolatey and had amazing green eyes?

  Knowing her luck, she'd stop his wife and Sarah would end up causing him a whole world of drama he definitely didn't deserve.

  Because you knew a man like that was in a relationship. Probably with a gorgeous, but slightly high-maintenance woman, who regularly accused him of not caring enough even though he bought her roses every Friday and cooked her breakfast in bed every Sunday.

  The type of man Sarah would give a vital body part to find but had never even come close to.

  Checkers barked, bringing Sarah out of her little reverie. He tugged at his leash, pulling after a squirrel that raced along a thin ledge on the side of the building. It was either go along with him or risk having him try to back out of his collar again, so she followed along, letting Checkers lead her away from the two tall brown buildings and the man of her dreams.

  She felt horrible for not being able to find him and give him the gift card, but what more could she do?

  Stalk him? Stake out the place until he showed?

  Well…

  * * *

  For the next few weeks, Sarah kept her eyes peeled, hoping to see the man leaving one of the two buildings or walking down the street on the way to the bus stop. She carried the Starbucks gift card with her everywhere she went, just in case.

  But she never did see him and soon she forgot about the card tucked away in her wallet.

  She didn't forget about the man. You don't forget a man who catches your attention like that. She often thought about his green eyes and that way he'd smelled so comforting. Especially on those occasional nights when she found herself on a date.

  She'd sigh as she sat across the table from yet another man who didn't have eyes that went straight to her soul, wondering where her puppy rescuer might be.

  But what could she do?

  She thought about going door-to-door like Hugh Grant in Love Actually, but realized that the man would probably think she was a crazy stalker and refuse to open the door.

  That's what she'd do if the roles were reversed.

  So she moved on with her life. Reluctantly, but what other choice did she have? Fliers? Facebook posts?

  No. She wasn't that bold.

  * * *

  A couple months later, Sarah was cleaning out her purse and ran across the Starbucks gift card. She paused, remembering the man and his green eyes. Too bad she'd never been able to find him. Not only did she feel guilty for not being able to properly thank him, but she had this nagging suspicion that she'd missed a vital opportunity.

  Checkers had brought them together and she'd botched it. All because she couldn't remember his apartment number.

  It was crazy how life could pivot on such a small moment. All she'd had to do was remember two numbers. If she'd done that, by now they might be holding hands and talking hesitantly about their future.

  Marriage? Kids? A house in the suburbs? Yes. Yes to all of it.

  But now she'd never know. Because she'd messed it up. Like she always did.

  She decided to console herself with a soy latte. No point in holding onto the gift card any longer.

  "Come on, Checkers. You up for a walk?" she called, shoving the card back into her wallet.

  Checkers jumped off the couch and ran to her side.

  He sat down, his ambers eyes fixed on her face as his tail whipped back and forth and he cried softly.

  "Alright, then. Let's go."

  Checkers spun around in circles, unable to contain his excitement as Sarah walked towards the door. She couldn't help it, she laughed. He always cheered her up even when she realized the perfect man had slipped through her fingers.

  As Sarah and Checkers walked down the crowded sidewalk ,weaving their way between couples out for a weekend stroll and families on their way to buy an ice cream to beat the summer heat, she paused to turn her face up towards the sun. She loved the feel of it against her skin, all toasty warm and peaceful.

  Checkers barked and tugged on his collar. "Patience, Checkers. We'll get there eventually," she said, reaching down to pat
his head.

  But he ducked away from her and started backing up, shaking his head from side-to-side, desperate to free himself from the collar.

  Oh no.

  Not again.

  As she reached for him, she tried to remember the last time she'd tightened his collar. Adjustable collars were great for a growing puppy, but not when they worked loose like his always seemed to do.

  Just as she grabbed hold of the back of his neck, he pulled free of the collar.

  A second later, he broke free of her, too.

  He didn't even hesitate.

  He dashed down the street and straight into traffic.

  Sarah turned her head to the side as she saw a bus bearing down on him, wincing as she waited to hear the sickening thud of impact.

  By some miracle, the driver managed to slam on his brakes just in time. Checkers continued across the street, completely unaware how close he'd come to tragedy.

  Sarah opened her eyes in time to see Checkers leap onto the opposite sidewalk and keep running, barking as he went. She didn't see anyone worth running after, but clearly Checkers was on someone's trail.

  She stood at the corner, her hands clenching and unclenching as she waited for the light to change. It felt like she waited an eternity as Checkers weaved his way through the crowd, finally disappearing around the corner of the next block.

  She was helpless, the intersection too crowded with cars for her to do anything except wait and wait for the light to change.

  Finally, finally, the light turned green and she dashed across the street, not even waiting to let the turning cars go first. She didn't care if they had right away, she just wanted to find her puppy before someone hurt him.

  She ran down the street, shoving through the couples and families, grateful that she was wearing a pair of tennies instead of her summer sandals. Her hair streamed out behind her as she rushed past the people meandering down the street in their happy little oblivion.

  "Checkers," she called, hoping that maybe he'd come back to her, but then she stopped calling. What if he'd already crossed another street and calling for him just made him dart back through traffic to reach her?

  She felt ill as she rounded the corner and saw no sign of him.

  Where was he?

  She swore she'd never again judge someone who'd lost their dog for being a bad puppy parent. She knew now that sometimes life just happened despite your best efforts.

  "Checkers," she called again, her gaze scanning everywhere for some sign of his little white body or perky brown ears.

  She rounded the next corner.

  Up ahead a man was kneeling down, Checkers covering his face with kisses.

  Oh thank you.

  She ran up to them.

  She didn't even hesitate for a second. She immediately clamped Checkers' collar around his neck and tightened it so he couldn't break free again.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself.

  "We have to quit meeting like this," the man said.

  Her eyes flew open. "It's you!"

  She stared at him. It was. It was the man who'd rescued Checkers before.

  She launched into a long, rambling explanation of why she'd never given him the gift card and how she really didn't let her dog go running loose all the time and how it had only been those two times and how weird it was that he'd been there for both of them and…

  "Stop, stop," he said, laughing and holding his hands up against the onslaught of words. "It's okay. I told you I didn't need a thank-you gift. I was happy to help."

  "But…you must think I'm such a horrible person."

  He laughed again. "No. I really don't. I promise. You seem lovely. Really you do. And so does, Checkers, is it?" He scratched Checkers' ears and Checkers leaned into his hand until he was leaning all his weight on the man's hand.

  "Well, I have to thank-you properly this time. And good news is I still have the gift card."

  Sarah started to dig around in her purse, looking for her wallet and the gift card.

  "No. Stop. Please. That's not necessary."

  The man touched her wrist to stop her and she felt a thrill down her spine at the way his hand rested against hers, so warm, so strong, so comforting.

  "But…I want to thank you. You've saved Checkers twice."

  He nodded. "And I want to do what I should've done the first time."

  He stared deep into Sarah's eyes and she felt her breath catch in her throat as he continued, "Have dinner with me tonight."

  "Dinner with you?" she repeated, too stunned to process what he'd said.

  "Yes. Dinner. Will you?"

  "I…"

  "Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, frowning slightly. "If so, I'm sorry, I…" He started to stand up.

  "No, no, no." She gripped his arm before jerking her hand back at how forward that must seem. "No boyfriend. So, dinner?"

  "Dinner." His eyes wrinkled in amusement.

  Sarah's mouth hung open slightly as she nodded. "Okay. Yeah. Okay, I can do that. When? Where?"

  The man narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied her. He glanced at his watch. "On second thought, I'm not willing to risk losing this chance a second time. What do you say to a late lunch/early dinner, whatever meal it would be, right now?"

  Checkers barked, clearly unhappy that the adults weren't focused on him, and the man laughed, ruffling his fur and rolling Checkers over on his back so he could pet the pup's tummy.

  "Okay," Sarah said, as Checkers closed his eyes and sighed in pure bliss.

  * * *

  Sarah and Leo—that was the man's name—spent the rest of the afternoon on the shaded patio of a local Italian place, sipping glasses of crisp, white wine, eating delicious food, and talking about anything and everything. Checkers slept contentedly as they talked, his head resting against Leo's foot the whole time.

  Only when the sun finally set did Sarah realize that they'd been there for hours. The conversation had flowed so easily that it felt like mere minutes.

  "I guess we should go home," she said, glancing down at Checkers where he was starting to awaken. "Checkers' bound to get hungry soon."

  She didn't want to leave. The afternoon had been so magic, so perfect, she couldn't imagine ever feeling so at ease with someone ever again.

  "Can't keep you here forever, can I?" Leo said, staring into her eyes. Sarah's heart gave a little flip at the intensity she saw there.

  She wanted to stay forever. She did.

  But Checkers had heard that magic word and he jumped to his feet and started barking at her, forcing the entire table sideways a few inches, the metal loud as it scraped across the concrete.

  She stood slowly, reaching for her wallet to pay the bill.

  "What are you doing?" Leo asked.

  "Paying. This was your thank-you."

  He shook his head. "No. My thank-you was sharing the pleasure of a beautiful woman's company for an afternoon." He grabbed her hand and kissed it, his eyes fixed on her face.

  Sarah trembled under that kiss and that gaze, wanting the moment to continue, but Checkers tugged at his leash once more, insistent that now that he was awake it was time to leave.

  Leo laughed. "He definitely knows what he wants."

  "That he does."

  "So do I." Leo stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "Can I see you again?" he said softly.

  Sarah nodded, too stunned to form words as she inhaled that warm, comforting scent that was so unique to him.

  "Good." He leaned down, kissing her softly, his lips just barely touching hers. "How about tomorrow at Casa de Sol at four?"

  "Okay." Sarah wanted him to kiss her again.

  Leo stared deeply into her eyes for another moment before stepping back as Checkers barked once more. "We better get this guy home before he runs away from both of us," he said.

  They left the restaurant, fingers interlaced, walking side-by-side like they'd been together for years, completely at ease, complete
ly comfortable with one another. Sarah rested her head against his shoulder as they strolled along together, enjoying the butterflies dancing in her belly at the thrill of being so close to such a perfect man. It had been too long since she felt this way.

  To think she'd almost missed this because she couldn't remember one silly little apartment number…

  They parted at the street corner where they'd first met. Sarah gave Leo her number. She wanted his, too, but she'd forgotten her phone at home and didn't have anything to write his number down with.

  It was okay. They'd see each other again the next day and she'd get it from him then.

  Sarah walked Checkers home in a cloud of happiness, barely even noticing all the cars and the people crowded around her.

  * * *

  She poured Checkers' food into his bowl and plopped down on the couch, still smiling to herself.

  What a perfect day.

  What a perfect man.

  And he wanted to see her again.

  Tomorrow.

  They'd share margaritas and maybe he'd kiss her again. For real this time.

  She closed her eyes, imagining what it would be like when they met at…

  She sat up, her eyes wild with panic.

  She didn't know what the restaurant was called. He'd told her, but now she couldn't remember.

  Her mind raced around and around as she tried out various Mexican names, but none seemed to be the right one.

  Not again.

  What was she going to do?

  She couldn't lose him.

  Not this time. Not when she knew how amazing he really was.

  But she didn't even have his number.

  And she never had figured out which building he lived in.

  Oh no…

  Before Sarah could have a complete and total meltdown, her phone rang.

  "Hello?" She closed her eyes, praying it was him.

  "Sarah? It's Leo. Just wanted to make sure you got home safe."

  She sank back against the couch cushions, more relieved than she'd ever been in her entire life. "Oh, thank you…"