“We’ve been out here for thirty minutes, what do you mean you can’t pick one?” Luka huffed.

“But look at them. They are so cuddly and sweet. How could I ever tell one of them that they are better than the rest? They all give such good kisses.” I whined, hugging the pile of puppies to my chest.

“I’ve already told you. You’re only getting one.” Luka’s stern look did nothing to deter me from trying to take them all home.

When we pulled up Luka had introduced me to his friend Max. Max was a sweet guy, just shy of fifty. He was a dog breeder with kennels upon kennels of dogs. His sweet demeanor and grandfatherly appearance made me instantly love him.

Max had taken the time to show us around, pointing out the different breeds, each dog more exquisite than the next. When we had reached the final kennel, my eyes landed on the pile of German Shorthaired Pointers.

The pile of sad brown eyes and spotted bodies stole my heart. Each pup had different markings; they varied in shades of brown with varied masks of color and spots of speckled fur. I wanted one of each.

“Max, can’t I have them all?” I begged, turning my own pair of sad puppy dog eyes on him.

“Pumpkin, as much as I would love to say yes, I think Luka is right. You should pick just one.” Max said, his eyes crinkling with silent laughter.

I pouted further, poking out my lower lip.

“That won’t work on me missy. I have a barn full of pups here that have hardened me against a pair of sad doe eyes.” Max said, his voice breaking with laughter.

“Ducky, if I let you have two will that make you choose any faster?” Luka asked, his resolve finally breaking.

“Two is closer to what I had in mind.” I could feel my smile splitting my face as the small victory.

“Remember, you have to get up with the pup every morning, take him out every night, feed him, bathe him, and don’t forget the obedience training and the middle-of-the-night potty breaks.” I knew what he was doing; he was trying to use the responsibility of pet ownership against me.

Little did he know, I had nothing else to do with my time. He was making the prospect of pet ownership all that more desirable. I would finally have something to fill my day.

“I know. I know.” I said, trying to hide the smile that threatened to split my face in two.

“I can make the decision even easier.” Max said, stepping closer to where I sat on the barn floor surrounded by my puppy brigade.

“How so?” I asked quirking a brow in his direction.

“Do you want boys or girls?” Max asked narrowing his eyes at me.

In response, I pulled the puppies tighter against me, shielding them from Max. I had no idea what he planned to do. I wasn’t ready to give up all the sweet puppy breath and wet kisses I was receiving.

”What if I wanted one of each?” I challenged.

“Well, then I would ask you if you planned on having them fixed or if you were planning on raising their babies.” Max replied leveling his stare with mine.

“Eww, no. They would be inbred.” My response pulled a laugh from both Max and Luka’s lips.

“Very well, then pick your poison. Boys or girls?” Max asked again, forcing me to make a decision.

Looking at each of the puppies I tried to take a pick, which one would be my favorite. It was so hard, they all looked so adorable. Their sweet sad eyes begged to be picked.

Closing my eyes, I felt around through the puppy pile, latching my hands around one of them. The puppy squirmed in my grip.

“This one.” I proclaimed, cracking an eye to see which puppy I had chosen. A pair of sad blue eyes looked back at me. The puppy I had chosen had a full chocolate mask; his body was covered in dark spotted fur. He reminded me of a fudge-topped chocolate shake with bits of chocolate chips.

“Looks like you have a boy. I’ll separate these fellas out and let you pick out a friend for him.” Max said as he began to sort the puppies.

Luka crouched down beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder. “He looks like a good one.”

I turned to smile at him only to find my lips pressed against his. The kiss was abrupt, just the brush of lips for a brief moment, yet the feel of his lips pressed to mine sent a zing of electricity through me, leaving my lips tingling in their wake.

“Yeah, he does.” I replied, feeling breathless.

Luka’s eyes stared into mine. I felt as though he could see straight through me, deep down into my soul. The thought should have frightened me; instead it only enticed me further. Licking my lips, I could taste the subtle spice of his lips, a mixture that was all him.

“Alright, here ya go.” Max sang, breaking the moment between me and Luka.

Max had laid out three male puppies, each just as adorable as the one I held in my arms.

“Can’t I take them all?” I whined, unable to pick a second pup.

“No, we had a deal.” Luka reminded me.

“No, I distinctly remember saying I wanted to take them all.” I reminded him, nearly pleading.

“I remember saying you could have one.” Luka’s brow rose challenging me.

“I remember you saying two.” I challenged back.

“Good now that that’s settled, pick your second pup.” Luka smirked arrogantly.

That bastard, he tricked me.

I wanted to throw a tantrum right then in the stable but the two pair of eyes on me kept me from doing such.

“I can’t pick. You pick the next one.” I pouted, cuddling my chosen puppy to my chest as I rose from the ground.

Luka’s hands around my waist assisted me as I stood. Though I tried to ignore the sizzling electricity between us, I couldn’t hide the hitch in my breath. The warmth of Luka’s body surrounded me, his hand clamped to my waist as he pulled me back against the broad expanse of his chest.

His arms encircled my waist as he hugged me to him. His chin lowered, resting on my shoulder, such an intimate position. I could feel my heart beating against my ribcage with his nearness.

“You’re absolutely positive you want to raise two pups?” He asked, his breath across my neck caused the fine hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

“Mmhmm.” My words were stolen, leaving me unable to speak.

Laying a chaste kiss to the apex of my neck Luka released me. I felt the loss of his contact deep within my bones, leaving me whimpering.

Luka shot a knowing look over his shoulder before squatting down to inspect the remaining pups.

Avoiding the watchful eyes of Max, I cuddled the puppy in my arms, burying my face in its fur.

“So what exactly are these pups good for?” Luka asked Max as he assessed the pups milling around his feet. 

“They’re good for hunting, tracking, point, and love to take runs. They’re good in the heat out here. The Army has been known to use them for bomb sniffing and such. Like labs, they love the water. Their coats are good for water and dirt repellant. They love to run and play. They’re pretty hyper so they will need a lot of room to grow.”

As Max spoke I watched wide-eyed as Luka took his time inspecting the three remaining pups. He took great care inspecting their paws, looking into their eyes, and scuffing their necks.

I watched with baited breath as he picked up the lightest colored pup. Like the one in my arms, his had a deep chocolate mask, but that’s where the similarities ended. Where my pup looked like a perfectly blended chocolate shake with bits of chips sprinkled about, the pup in Luka’s hands was mostly white with sprinkles of chips.

“This looks like the one, what do ya think Ducky?” Luka stood with the pup in his hands, cuddled up against his chest.

I couldn’t help but to beam up at him. “Perfect choice.” Max said, herding the remaining puppies back in with their mother.

“Now remember everything I told you.” Max said, reminding me of his instructions before he would let us look at the pups.

“Don’t confine them; they don’t like to be left alone. Make sure you give them plenty of exercise, and love.”

“Yes, sir.” I rushed Max, wrapping him into a firm embrace.

Max chuckled hugging me back. “Luka, you take good care of this one, because if you don’t, I’ll be sure to sweep her away.” Max teased, giving me one last squeeze.

Luka chuckled good heartedly, clasping Max on the shoulder. “I’ll do my best.”

Max walked us out, holding the puppies in his arms, while Luka assisted me into the truck. Once seated, Max handed over the two adorable puppies.

“I’ll send the paperwork over once it’s finished. They have all been treated and are good to go for the next few months. Don’t forget to make an appointment with Doc McGregor.” Luka replied to Max with a shake and a promise to make an appointment.

“What was that all about?” I asked once Luka was behind the wheel, the kennel fading in the rearview mirror.

“What do you mean?” He asked perplexed.

“About paperwork and the Doctor.” I replied.

“Oh that, the paperwork is for the dogs, registering them in our name, as far as the Doc, that is for their vet appointment. The pups have already had their first round of shots, but like babies, they will need to have several more rounds to ensure they are healthy and don’t get sick.” He explained.

I sat back in the seat, the two puppies wiggling happily in my lap. I never knew owning a dog could be so much work and we had just got them. I didn’t want to admit it, but Luka was right. There is no way I would have been able to keep up with a pack of puppies. My head hurt just thinking about caring for the two in my arms.

“Relax, we got this.” Luka said, his hand resting on my thigh.

I knew it was a shit time to ask, but I had to know. I needed to have answers.

“Did you ever contact your lawyer about the house and land?”

The skin around Luka’s eyes tightened, his jaw visibly flexing. I immediately wanted to retract my words when his hand lifted from my lap to wrap firmly around the steering wheel.

“I did this morning. He said he would get back with me and let me know. That’s where I had gone this morning.” I could tell I had struck a nerve.

Gone was the carefree sweet voice of the man beside me. In its place was the stern voice of a stranger, someone I didn’t even know.