Chapter 12

Landon

I press the key fob to unlock my BMW and swing open the backseat door. The little terrors climb in, one at a time. I might have to stop calling them that. They’ve actually been noticeably calmer because of Brooke. And so have I.

The last forty-eight hours, I’ve thought about her more times than I can count. At the most inopportune times, my mind drifts to the taste of her, the smell of her, the feel of her silky skin pressed against mine. I slide into the driver’s seat, remembering every subtle nuance. I can’t wait to see her again today. As soon as she’s done with the training session, I plan to ask her out on a real date.

I would love to take her to Sul Lago and go for a long walk together in Lakefront Park. Then, at the end of the night, indulge in a repeat of the other day where I lick her until she shatters beneath me. That woman put a hypnotic spell on me, and I feel like I’m in withdrawal every single moment we’re apart. I don’t just want her.

I need her.

Despite the electric energy snapping through my body, I shiver. I can only imagine what it’s like to be on the receiving end of Brooke’s talented mouth. Feeling her eyes travel the length of my body, settling on my hard cock was enough to make me crawl out of my skin. I can already feel her lush lips wrapping around me, driving me to the brink. I shake my head to clear it, so I don’t run off the road.

I’m heading to the Cleary Lake dog park feeling kinda guilty. Brooke is right. They don’t get out enough. I make time to take them for a walk in the mornings, but besides that, these guys are homebodies like me. But first, I’m taking a little detour.

A few minutes later, I pull into the parking lot at Bark Buddies. It’s a cute little building with colorful signage. I get out of the car and get the dogs. My heart races as I approach the front door.

You’re really about to see her again, Landon. Play it cool. The doorbell chimes. The dogs bark. Fajita is the loudest, as always. Here we go again…

An attractive blonde sitting behind the counter smiles at me as if we’ve met before. It’s a little weird because I’ve never seen her. “Hi, I’m here for the training session.”

She raises a brow? “Landon?”

“Yes.” Now, I’m starting to freak out a little. What did Brooke tell her about me? Hopefully, only good things. And not that we had mind-blowing sex.

“Of course, Brooke is down the hall to the left.” She points the way with a tapered finger. Normally, I would find her honey gold hair and hard body attractive, but that changed the other day. I now only have eyes for one woman. Every time I see someone else, I’ll continue to remind myself that I’ve always been a one-woman man. Because I’m cursed with bad luck in this thing called life, I don’t want the hissing fangs of reality to poison me before I even get this relationship off the ground.

“Thanks.” I walk to the room.

As soon as I open the door, I see Brooke standing there. She looks gorgeous with her form-fitting yoga pants, a Bark Buddies t-shirt, and just a hint of makeup. Her hair sways from a high ponytail.

She waves at me. “Hi!”

“Hi, sorry I’m a little late.” I want to give Brooke a big hug and a passionate kiss, but I figure she’s trying to keep things professional at her place of business. As I walk inside, I notice an old woman with a poodle. She reminds me a little of Grandma Nancy with her short gray hair. There’s a tween boy with a golden retriever in the back of the room.

“I’m glad you made it, we’re just about to get started,” she says.

Brooke kicks off the training session. She walks the dogs through a variety of exercises. Heeling on leash, sit stays, down stays and my own personal hell, the recall. She shares tips on giving commands. She’s great at what she does, but I’m barely paying attention because I keep picturing myself backing her into a corner and kissing her senseless.

When Brooke completes the training session, she offers everyone coffee and bagels in the breakroom. “Sorry, no loose-leaf tea.” She winks at me. She’s really good at playing it cool. That tugs at my heart, because I wonder if our interlude meant nothing to her. To me, it meant everything.

I smile, remembering how the tea conversation provided a beautiful turning point in our relationship. Shit, I’m already calling it that before either of us has defined it. It’s not like I officially asked her to be my girlfriend, but do people even do that anymore? Dammit, I’ve been out of the dating scene so many years, I have no idea how to behave…what to say.

I’m completely at a loss.

“Can I have coffee too?” the tween boy asks.

“No, you may not, but you can help yourself to the bagels,” Brooke says with a smile.

“Cool!” He heads out of the room with the golden retriever trailing behind him, wagging its silky tail and smiling.

The old woman with the poodle makes her way to the door. “I wish I could stay, but I’ve got to get ready for Wednesday night bingo at the VFW, so wish me luck! The pot for the coverall is over a grand!”

“Good luck, Viola,” Brooke says. “I’ll see you next Saturday.”

“You bet your sweet bippy. Maybe I’ll bring you some goulash. You’re looking kind of piqued.” With a charming smile and a clap of her wrinkled hands, the old woman leaves.

I’ve been waiting patiently for this moment, but now that it’s here, I’m at a loss for words. Brooke and I are finally alone. Technically, Chili, Taco, Fajita, and Burrito are here too, but I don’t count them. They better stay out of my way since I have a woman to woo. I never thought I’d see the day when a day would go by where I didn’t mourn Carla. But ever since I met Brooke, my focus has been on her.

“I think that went pretty well,” she says.

“Yeah.” A wide goofy grin spreads my lips. I can feel it. And she’s the cause. I hope she’s also the cure.

“And Burrito seemed to be the biggest fan.” She kneels and pets him. He barks and wags his tail.

I kneel, my knee brushing against hers. I wait until she meets my gaze before saying, “No, I’m the biggest fan.”

She blushes the same shade of pink as when she comes. “Oh really?”

I nod, imagining her splayed out on the rubber obedience mat. Then she climbs on top of me, riding me until I explode inside her to the rhythm of Fajita’s barks. “Yes, I’ll be needing your autograph soon.”

She chuckles from deep in her throat, but that just makes me wonder what else she can do with it. “You’re too much.”

“Only if you let me be. I was thinking…” I waggle my eyebrows.

“Yeah?” Her eyes sweep me, expectant, which gives me the courage to press ahead. Take a risk for the first time in a very long time.

“Maybe we could–”

“Hey, Brooke!” As my head swings around at the rude interruption, I spot a tall man with short black hair in the doorway. Before I even know his name, I hate his fucking guts.

“Hey!” Brooke gives him a flirty wave as jealousy stabs me in every cell. “Landon Cole, this is Guy Foster, he owns an animal shelter, and he also doubles as Prior Lake’s animal control.” She looks at him as if he hung the fucking moon. It doesn’t go unnoticed that she’s never looked at me that way. “Landon’s a writer, and I’m training his dogs.”

“Nice to meet ya, buddy,” he says, extending his hand. “A writer, huh? Isn’t that a woman’s world?”

“Not at all,” I reply. When we shake hands, the guy has a WWE grip. Seems the feeling of hatred is going to ooze between us even though I’m not sure why. He’s squeezing my fingers like he wants to dislocate them. Damn! I’m a little disappointed by Brooke’s introduction. She didn’t even insinuate that I could have a claim on her.

And in my heart, I already do.

I know I have to be patient, but I don’t like keeping it a secret. I’m really into her. I never thought it could happen after Carla, but for the first time, I feel like I’m open to happiness again.

Guy looks at Fajita, Burrito, Chili, and Taco. “Are these your dogs?”

“Yeah.” I want to ask him why it’s any of his fucking business, but I don’t want to be openly rude to a stranger in front of Brooke. That shit almost got me arrested at Lund’s.

He laughs until he wheezes. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What kind of sissy owns a bunch of yapping Chihuahuas?”

I’m so surprised that I freeze for a moment. Brooke’s mouth falls open as she looks between me and the douche. Stuffing my hands in my pockets so I don’t take a swing, I finally say, “I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”

“Testy, testy,” Guy says with a shit-eating grin.

I turn to Brooke. “I’m headed to Cleary to walk them at your suggestion. We should leave now.”

She looks hurt and surprised and confused all at once. “Okay.”

“Come on, boys!” I push past Guy. The dogs follow me out of the room in a remarkedly behaved fashion.

As I walk away, I hear Brooke’s faint voice, “Wait, Landon…” I also hear Guy’s laughter. I don’t bother to look back as rage snakes up my spine. Why didn’t Brooke say something? I’m also angry at myself. Why didn’t I just tell Guy to fuck off?

I get the dogs in the car and speed out of the parking lot. On the drive to the dog park, I’m so upset that I can’t think straight. What the hell is the matter with me? I can only come up with one explanation. Brooke already means something to me.

And with that emotion, only comes pain.