Colton didn’t know the first thing about dogs and he actually didn’t care for them. He was a busy man and that didn’t give him time to deal with pets of any kind. After his sister’s passing a few months ago, he would’ve been tempted just to let the dog go to a new home. But he knew how much she’d loved the damn thing and he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He and his sister hadn’t gotten along all the time but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to remember her.

“Yeah, you’re so funny,” Sugar said.

She glanced back down at her cell phone and he saw her roll her eyes.

It had been a long time since he’d dealt with a woman. Work always come first and that still hadn’t changed even though his business was one of the best modeling firms in the country. Still, they were hoping to get a deal with an advertising firm and so far, the company wasn’t budging to even suggest a meet, let alone negotiating terms for advertising.

“That fluffy thing is your dog?” he asked.

“Wow, you’re really not a dog person.”

He wasn’t much of a people person if this was how his first time at the dog run was going to go.

“I’m not used to this,” he said. He held his cell phone up. “My work has been my whole life.”

“Why get a dog then?” She didn’t pay him any attention and he found himself drawn to the dark-skinned woman. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a ponytail and she wore a pair of worn jeans, a shirt, and some sneakers. She looked ready for anything or at least anything that came from walking dogs. He wondered how much dog walking paid. The phone she was using was pretty expensive.

“It’s not actually my dog.”

This made her look up and he hoped she hadn’t caught him checking her out. Even though she was sitting down, he saw she had a smoking hot body. Her tits were nice and big, and she had a small waist with full hips. And his cock hadn’t seen any action in weeks.

He wanted her and yet he’d been such a huge fucking dick to her.

“You stole a dog?”

“I didn’t steal a dog.”

“Then why do you have a dog if it’s not actually yours?” She looked a little nervous now.

“I’m sorry. I mean… He’s mine.” He wasn’t sure anyone would steal a dog but that was his opinion. “He was my sister’s.”

“Was?”

“She, erm, she passed a few months ago. I couldn’t bring myself to let him be put down you know or get rehoused. She loved the damn thing.”

“Oh wow, I’m so sorry for your loss. Does he miss her?” she asked.

“Who?”

“The dog?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s a dog.”

“And they can be known to miss their owners when they’re not there. The poor thing must be completely upset.”

He watched as she reached into her bag to pull out a treat.

“Why are you giving him a treat?” he asked.

“I’m showing him some affection, the poor thing.” Boscoe came running back toward them and completely lapped up the attention. He rolled over, showing her his stomach. She petted him and her little ball of fluff ran over and started to play along. Sugar’s laughter filled the air and he found it a sweet, comforting sound.

“You’re such a good boy. Who’s such a good and clever boy?” She laughed and stood back up, her cell phone once again in her hand. “I love dogs so much. They are amazing creatures. So loving and loyal.”

“Did you train your dog?”

“Yes.”

She was a natural with her dog as her ball of fluff brought her a stick, which she threw but not too far. Of course Boscoe had to interfere and go chasing after it.

“I’m sorry.” He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Don’t worry about it. He’s a dog.”

She threw it again, only this time her dog brought it back.

“I really would love to have your help. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing half the time. Would it be too much of an inconvenience to put me in your schedule or your route?” He didn’t have the first clue of how dog walkers or trainers worked. Were they even called that?

This was all new territory for him.

He wouldn’t ask but he was tired of cleaning up dog shit in his apartment. Not only did Boscoe like to go in every single room, the damn dog liked to rub it into the furniture. The sofa was completely trashed. No cleaning service would touch it. He’d tried to lock the dog out and of course his neighbors complained about the noise. The dog made a mess everywhere he went.

“I know it’s not what you want to do but you may have to consider a home for him. He’s clearly not happy.”

“Thanks for the unsolicited advice,” he grumbled out. “I said that out loud?”

“Yep. If he’s that much of a problem, he’s not happy.”

“Does your dog mess in the house?”

“No. Not since she was a puppy. Happy dogs don’t do that. There’s been a change in his routine. He’s sad and he’s trying to tell you what’s wrong.”

Looking out at the dog, he saw a lot of people standing around chatting. This all seemed totally natural to them. The only reason he’d brought the dog out in the first place was so the cleaners could gut his home and clean up the stench.

He’d walked in and it just stunk. He couldn’t handle this dog stuff. It was getting too tedious and he had this deal at work that he really needed to get off the ground. Without it, his company was screwed. Not completely screwed, but it would be ideal for the models to have work rather than contracting them out.

“I’m willing to double your usual fee.”

“You think I’m a dog walker?”

He wasn’t really listening to her. “Please, I will pay you three times your usual fee. Anything, please. I’ll even throw in health benefits.”

“Wow, I cannot believe this. Fine. I’ll come and walk your dog. What’s the address?”

Without even hesitating, he handed her his card. “Here you go.”

“Wait? What?” she asked.

Along with the card, he dumped the leash in her hand. “I’ve got a lot of stuff to do and seeing as you’re here already with nothing else to do, you can drop him off when you’re done. Oh, he really needs a bath as well. Thanks.”

Without another word, he turned on his heel. Pulling out his cell phone, he hummed to himself as he made his way toward the car. He’d left the windows partially down to air it out.

Dog stink was not attractive.

How could his day get any worse?

“Hello,” Helen, his most trusted PA, said.

“Helen, hi. I want you to put me through to the Carver Advertising Agency.” The sooner he got to speak with Miss Albright the sooner he could fix this deal.

Having models on his books wasn’t a problem. His company was all about trade from food to models, to beauty, to the movie industry. In most cases, their clients were contracted out, and they would only get a portion of the fee. Not only did they have a beauty line coming up along with the models, the only thing they needed was the marketing and advertising. That’s where the Carver Advertising Agency came in. Getting a deal with them that combined their two companies would be life changing for both of them. Now he didn’t have to worry about that stupid dog, he could focus on the real business at hand.

Now, he hoped Miss Albright was as giving as Sugar was.

Just thinking about the dog walker back at the park made Colton pause. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman. Maybe after all this was over, he’d be able to give Sugar a night to remember. She’d saved him today; it would be the least he could do. The thought alone made him smile.

His day was certainly looking up.