Epilogue
Chloe Somerset needed a dog. A precious, loving, needy, adorable, snoring, slobberfest of a dog.
But there were so many to choose from, she was a little overwhelmed.
So for her first month and a half of living and working in Better Bark, when she walked through the Waterford Farm kennels to accompany Shane for morning training sessions, she’d spend some time with the rescues that came and, she was happy to note, went with frequency.
She’d start to connect with one, but something was missing. Shane told her it would happen organically, but the rescues didn’t stay long at Waterford. Garrett would announce he’d found a home, don his sorry-looking canvas fedora, and scoop up the pup to whisk it to happiness.
Today, Shane had awakened early with even more of a gleam in his green-gold gaze and a promise in his kiss. He held Chloe’s hand extra tight as they drove to Waterford just after dawn, quietly watching the sunrise create prisms in the morning mist.
And now, at the kennels, he seemed distracted, checking his phone frequently while she spent some time with the dogs.
At the puppy pen, which was usually empty, they stopped at the sight of a golden ball of fluff bouncing around like a lunatic baby bear. “Oh my word! What kind of dog is that?”
“That’s Cranberry, she’s a Pomeranian who was found in a bog up in Maine, and Garrett got hold of her. And she recently passed an exhaustive battery of behavior tests with flying colors. Didn’t you, Cranberry?” He scooped her up into his arms, her little bubblegum tongue out for a lick in no time.
“Why did she have those tests?”
“Because she’s being adopted to work as a therapy dog at an assisted-living facility in Raleigh.”
“Awww.”
“Yep, she’s going to make the old folks smile.”
Chloe reached over to scratch Cranberry’s head. “You lucky dog. And those lucky folks.” She felt Shane’s gaze on her, somehow more intense. “You okay?” she asked.
“I am now.” Lowering Cranberry back into the pen, he pulled out his phone again. “Yes, very okay. I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?”
“Yep. She’s pulling in the driveway right now. You ready to see an old friend? Brace for some face licking.”
She sucked in a breath, her jaw dropping. “Daisy?”
“Marie is bringing her for a visit. I thought you’d like that.”
She slid her arms around him and squeezed. “I’d love that. I think my problem is that I’m comparing every dog to Daisy, and no one measures up.”
“You’ll find your dog,” he said, returning the embrace with a kiss on the top of her head. “Or your dog will find you. Now let’s go see your girl.”
“I can’t wait.” She tugged him toward the door, her heart actually kicking up a little at the thought of a reunion with Daisy. They stepped into the sunshine just as Marie, Daisy’s real mom and a wonderful woman with spiky gray hair and camo pants, climbed out of a truck, her left foot no longer in the orthopedic boot she’d worn when they’d taken Daisy home to her the day after the town meeting.
But Chloe’s eyes weren’t on Marie Boswell. She waited for the next occupant of that truck, a familiar brown and white barrel-chested dog who came to the door and waited for permission to get out.
“Daisy!” Chloe stretched her arms out, ready to run.
Marie gave a command, and Daisy took off, and they sprinted toward each other, meeting in the middle, where Daisy jumped and Chloe dropped to the ground for a barky, licky, happy reunion.
Chloe laughed, maybe teared up a little, and finally settled cross-legged on the grass with Daisy in her lap. She looked up as Marie came closer, with another dog on a leash. This one was about the same size as Daisy, maybe a little smaller, a dark, dark chocolate color with a snow-white chest and a single white stripe down its nose.
“Hello,” Chloe said, both to the woman and the dog. “I’d get up, but I’m too happy.”
The woman laughed. “And so’s my Daisy. She’s happy and healthy, but I think she needs to come and visit you more often.”
“Anytime,” Chloe said, nuzzling Daisy. “And who’s this?”
“This is Ruby.”
Shane got on his knees in front of the new arrival, greeting Ruby the way he always approached a new dog. Head down, offering his neck for inspection, giving her a chance to know him.
“Hello, Ruby,” he said.
“Ruby?” Chloe studied the dog, knowing immediately she was a Staffordshire terrier like Daisy. “She’s pretty.”
“Gorgeous,” Shane agreed, loving the dog with his two strong hands now, moving them over and around her head with skill and affection.
“Ruby came into the North Ames shelter yesterday afternoon, and I texted Shane,” Marie said, dropping the dog’s leash. “She’s about three, I think. Has been bounced around a bit. But she’s got a good heart.”
“Hey, Ruby.” Chloe held her gaze, mesmerized by her slightly tilted eyes that held a little fear and a lot of hope.
The dog angled her head, as if she wanted to ask a question or beg for consideration. And Chloe’s heart slid all over her chest with a burst of love.
“Shane mentioned that you might be looking for a sweet Staffy when you had to say goodbye to Daisy,” Marie said. “I really wanted to find you one so I could say thank you for loving my girl so much when I was laid up.”
Chloe looked up at Marie, putting an affectionate hand on Daisy’s head. Which, of course, got a juicy lick. “I should thank you, Marie. Daisy made a dog lover out of me, and I honestly never dreamed that would happen.”
“She’s a dear girl,” Marie agreed. “And so is Ruby.”
Chloe leaned toward the dog, and Daisy climbed off her lap, going to sniff Shane. “C’mere, Ruby. Come.”
She didn’t move except for her tail, which ticktocked hopefully.
“She’s not trained as well as Daisy,” Marie said. “She’s gentle as a mouse but doesn’t know commands.”
“Good thing I know a decent trainer,” Chloe teased, getting on her knees to crawl a little closer. “Hey, Ruby,” she whispered. “Come and see me.”
Ruby took a few steps. Chloe lowered her head to let her sniff, then lifted her face for a sweet, quick lick on the cheek. Except, Ruby picked her mouth, making Chloe laugh a little as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Looks like you know a little about training yourself,” Marie mused.
“I know how to get myself kissed.” She put both hands on Ruby’s head like Shane had taught her, and instantly, the dog sat down. Chloe got down with her, eye to eye. After a moment of staring at each other, Chloe sat up and crossed her legs again, and this time, Ruby climbed right into the nest of her jeans and curled into…her spot.
“Oh,” Chloe sighed, stroking her smooth, brown back slowly. “I think we’re bonding.”
She looked up to catch Marie and Shane sharing a look that told her this little love affair had been planned.
“I’m going to leave her here for a few minutes.” Marie reached over and unhooked Ruby’s leash. “I’ll take Daisy for a little stroll while y’all get acquainted. I don’t want Miss Daisy to get jealous.”
“Thanks, Marie,” Shane said, ruffling Daisy’s coat before guiding her to Marie. “I think you nailed it.”
As Marie and Daisy walked away, Shane scooted closer to Chloe. “You like her.”
“She’s special.” Chloe stroked her some more. “I love her,” she admitted and then looked at him, her eyes misting over. “I want to keep her.”
“Well, now you know exactly how I feel about you.”
She laughed. “Then all you need is a collar and a leash, and I’m yours.”
“Let me go get one.” He pushed up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” She barely noticed he was gone, leaning over to rub her head against Ruby’s. She smelled like the shampoo Chloe had used on Daisy, and the scent of oatmeal gave her the first pang of true love. The way she’d felt when she’d cleaned Daisy after a roll in something disgusting and they’d sit on the sofa together and she’d tell Daisy how much she was falling for Shane.
“We’re going to be good friends,” she promised the dog.
Ruby whimpered and let out a soft, shuddering sigh that somehow expressed exactly how Chloe felt at that moment. Content. Home. Normal. Well, as normal as being this in love could possibly feel.
Across the grass, she spotted Shane in the training area, talking to some of his family. She hadn’t noticed them all out there before, but Liam and his shepherd, Jag, were intently listening to Shane, and Molly came over with their father. Garrett was there, too, with Jessie, and a minute later, Darcy came bounding out from the grooming building, darting to join them all. Marie was right there in the middle, with Daisy watching.
Daniel put a hand on Shane’s shoulder, guiding his son away from the others to talk to him. Chloe watched as the man they called the Dogfather spoke to his son, too far away to know what the subject was, but close enough to see Shane looking into his father’s eyes, and nodding.
After a moment, the two men embraced and Daniel patted Shane’s shoulder, then whispered something in his ear that made them both laugh. Shane turned toward Chloe, grinning, then pointed behind her to the house.
There, she saw Gramma Finnie standing on the back patio, gazing out at the big yard.
They must have all come out to see if she’d fall in love with the new dog, she thought with another jolt of love and joy. No family had ever cared about her happiness like that, and she was suddenly a little overwhelmed by it, folding over again to transfer that happiness to Ruby.
“We’re kind of both being adopted,” she whispered into a silky ear.
Shane left his family, carrying a long red leash, and Chloe finally stood. She curled her hand around Ruby’s collar, not certain how she’d act if another dog came bounding out.
“Here you go.” He handed her the leash, and when she took it, he snagged her hand. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Oh, completely. I am one hundred percent positive this is love.”
“So am I.” He pulled her closer. “This is definitely a forever, once-in-a-lifetime, lightning in a bottle love.”
She kissed him, used to the exchange now, but not completely used to the thrill of the feelings they shared. “Yes, it is.”
“Leash her up,” he said.
She bent over to flick the clasp of the leash on to the collar…and her whole body stilled. There was something hanging on that leash. Something small and silver…no, that was platinum. And sparkling in the sun.
“Shane.” She simply breathed his name, slowly standing up, holding the clasp in her hand.
“Oh, look at that. Ruby comes with a diamond.” He took the leash from her shaking hands. “What do you think of that?”
“I think…” She pressed her hand to her chest, unable to speak. It was so unexpected, but not. It was so Shane. It was so perfect.
Behind her, someone hooted, and Molly hollered, “Do it right, Shane.”
“On one knee, laddie!” Gramma called from the patio.
“Just like I told you, Son.”
He laughed. “It’s kind of a package deal with Kilcannons.”
“I love that package,” she whispered.
“Good, because they love you. And so do I.”
Chloe’s next breath caught as Shane followed Gramma’s order and got down on one knee.
“Chloe Somerset,” Shane said softly. “You really are perfect. I knew it the first time I saw you, and I know it today, and I’ll know it when I breathe my last breath. I love you with my whole heart and soul. Will you marry me and raise a family of many two- and four-legged babies we can love forever?”
“Oh, Shane.” Tears welled up and fell as she blinked. “I love you, too.”
He took the ring off the clasp of the leash and held it up like an offering. “Please say yes.”
“Yes,” she breathed the word. “Yes, I will marry you. Yes, yes, yes.”
He slid the ring on her finger and stood, not taking his eyes from hers as he kissed her. She heard the dogs barking and the family clapping and the beautiful, glorious sound of her heart beating with joy.
“Shane, how many times do I have to tell you I’m not perfect?”
He laughed and kissed her again. “But you are perfect for me.”
DON’T MISS THE NEXT BOOK IN THE DOGFATHER SERIES:
Leader of the Pack
Very few things ruffle law enforcement dog training specialist Liam Kilcannon. Stoic and steady, he has the patience and skill to transform a harmless puppy into a protective K-9, and the quiet strength to lead his five younger siblings through the storms of life. He’s a former marine who doesn’t waste words or squander emotions, and he’s also a man who very much wanted to spend his life with one special woman by his side. He found her…and lost her. And won’t ever let himself be hurt by her again.
Architect and single mom Andi Rivers knows she made a big mistake when she let Liam slip through her fingers two years ago. Like every decision she’s made for the past six years, Andi chose what she thought was best for her young son, and has vowed to stay single and unattached no matter how long and lonely her nights might be. But when Liam’s father learns Andi’s house has been broken into, he suggests she take Jag, a German shepherd watchdog Liam has been training. Andi sees the sense of getting a protection dog, especially when Jag seems to bring her son out of his shell.
But having Liam’s specially trained dog puts her in close and constant contact with a man who is a sexy reminder that she’s been sleeping by herself for far too long. Jag might be able to protect her home and family, but what will protect their hearts when Andi and Liam risk falling in love one more time?
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Watch for the whole Dogfather series coming in 2017 and 2018! Sign up for the newsletter for the next release date!
Sit…Stay…Beg (Book 1)
New Leash on Life (Book 2)
Leader of The Pack (Book 3)
Bad to the Bone (Book 4)
Ruff Around the Edges (Book 5)
Double Dog Dare (Book 6)
Old Dog New Tricks (Book 7)