I certainly can’t take him to the office, but I can’t keep him trapped in my apartment alone the entire time either. It takes an hour to get back to my apartment from the office. If I have to travel back and forth multiple times a day, then it’s hardly worth going in.
Rosco again thrusts his snout into my hand as though he can tell that we’re speaking about him. I crouch down, letting him press his body against my chest. I know that he’ll get fur all over my suit, but that hardly matters at the moment. When Mrs. Donnell sniffles, dabbing at her eyes again, I climb back to my feet and pull her into a hug.
She clings to me, then clears her throat and withdraws a business card from her pocket. “Here, this is the very best dog walker I know. I believe she also pet sits on occasion but I know she gets booked up very quickly. I’ve been calling her all day but I haven’t heard back. She’s probably with another client. Give her a ring and she’ll get back to you, I’m sure.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Donnell. You take care of yourself and your sister, all right? Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.”
“Thank you, Cooper,” she sighs, wearily waving goodbye before stepping back.
Mrs. Donnell takes one more look at Rosco, tears filling her eyes before the door swings shut and she leaves my dog and me out in the hall alone.
I look at the business card, whipping out my phone and dialing quickly. When there’s no answer, I hang up and inspect the card again for an address.
“Well buddy, looks like we’ll just have to go plead our case.”
Chapter 2
Summer
“Summer, I can’t thank you enough for giving so much attention to Curly for me today,” sighs the woman as she snuggles the poodle up against her chest and presses a big kiss into his white fur. “He was so sick yesterday but I’d already signed up to chaperone my kid’s field trip. I didn’t have a choice. If I couldn’t go they might’ve had to cancel the whole trip.”
“It’s no problem at all. I never took my eyes off him and I kept the vet on call. Curly was a little lethargic, but now he doesn’t seem sick at all. Maybe he got into something in your house. Want me to come look around when I have some free time?”
“No, it’s all right, I’ve already cleaned top to bottom to make sure there’s nothing laying around. I did figure out my kids were hoarding Halloween candy under their beds. Maybe that was it.”
“Either way, if he starts looking ill again, you should take him to the vet.”
“I will,” the woman promises, reaching over to squeeze me tight. “You’re the best dog sitter ever, Summer. You care for my dog like he’s your own.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just how I would want Sadie and Lola treated if they were in someone else’s hands.”
My client nods and sets Curly down, watching as he wags his tail back and forth, happily panting. “We’ll get going. You enjoy your weekend, okay? I bet a pretty young thing like you has so many plans and parties to attend.” She sighs wistfully. “I remember those days. I hope you’re living it up while your hips still let you!”
I give a shallow laugh, walking the woman to the door. “I’m doing my best.”
After she leaves, I shake my head and turn back to where my two pups lounge on an oversized dog bed in my living room. “Yep,” I smirk to my dogs, “we’ve got big plans, don’t we?”
Lola and Sadie, two mutt sisters I’d adopted when they were the size of my palms cupped together, are now close to thirty pounds each. Their brindled fur is thick but smooth, their eyes wise and clear. They’ve become more like sisters, friends, and daughters to me than pets. They’re my whole world.
Though, I guess, dogs in general are my whole world.
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.
Since I was a kid I’ve always had a bond with canine-kind. I was always finding lost pups and guiding them back to their homes, refusing a reward because the joyous reunion was reward enough. I volunteered at a dog shelter all through high school, and finally started my own dog walking business after graduation. I dabbled at college for a bit, getting an associate’s degree in business just so I’d be able to understand and run my company better, but at the end of the day, all that matters to me is being able to spend time with the dogs.
I know being a dog walker isn’t exactly considered an inspiring career choice, but I also know that it’s my reason for being on this planet. Clients love me, my list of customers is endless, and the dog kisses are the best reward.
It’s the perfect life if you ask me.
Okay, life would be more perfect if I had a good man to share it with . . . but maybe there’s no such thing as perfection.
My last relationship ended horribly, so I’m afraid to go down that road again just yet. For now, it’s just me and my dogs—as close to perfect as can be.
Sadie, the bigger of my two girls, gives a bark like she agrees. I waltz over and sit beside my dogs, letting them eagerly snuggle up close and lay their heads in my lap. Sadie rolls over, exposing her soft stomach so I can give her a belly rub.
This weekend, our big plans include a pizza for me, dog treats for them, and a binge-watching session of trashy reality TV . . . when I have time, anyway.
During the summer, my Central Bark Dog Walking service always explodes with appointments and last-minute calls as the wealthy uptowners head to the Hamptons or wherever rich people go for vacation.
I certainly wouldn’t know.
The farthest I ever go for a getaway is the nail salon down the street when I got a coupon in the mail.
I lift up my hand, inspecting the neatly filed nails. I kept them short. There wasn’t much of a point in painting them, it wasn’t like I had anyone but my dogs to impress.
Scratching the dogs’ bellies for a long moment, I finally climb to my feet and hunt around for my phone. I’d misplaced it earlier in the day and had been so distracted with Curly’s health that I’d never found it again. When I do finally track it down, knocked under the couch, most likely by playing dogs, I find a handful of missed calls listed, the most recent being twenty minutes ago.
“I’ll call them back after I shower,” I muse aloud, heading down the hall of my small apartment toward the bathroom.
While I walk, I pop open my emails and thumb through the messages from my clients, making a mental list of who needs what. I also notice an email from a dating app I’d tried last year. My heart stops in surprise. I could’ve sworn I’d disabled that account, though maybe I’m not tech savvy enough to have done it correctly.
Apparently, I have a few new matches.
For a second, I feel the electric flutter of excitement at the idea of meeting a tall, dark and handsome stranger. But that’s the last thing I need. Thanks to Colin, I don’t think I’ll be ready to date anytime soon—if ever.
I don’t even bother opening the email, rolling my eyes instead. “Like I have time for that.”
Not when my taste in men is abysmal and my business is booming. Besides, dogs are the only beings that I truly trust. Their top three traits are sweetness, loyalty, and not playing mind games, which is certainly something I can’t say about the last guy I dated.