She gripped the leash tighter and continued to walk down the path, breathing in and out in rhythm to calm herself down. When they got to the fork on the path, Cupid pulled her in the direction of the dog pool area.
“You think you’re getting rewarded? Guess again. You are going to the dog park to pee and do your business and then you’re going back to the condo.”
She sighed. If she didn’t at least take Cupid for a short walk so she could relieve herself, it meant Tana was going to have to take her out later, most likely while she was deep into working on the proposal request that was dropped on her desk ten minutes before she left work. She didn’t need the dog distracting her.
“I hope there are no other dogs in the park. Just so we’re clear. This is not you winning or getting away with anything. This is me being busy and not wanting to have to deal with this later. Are we clear?” Her cheeks suddenly flamed remembering her mortification during the interview moments earlier. “And you farted right there in front of the condo board. I’m not even convinced they knew it was you and not me!”
Cupid wagged her tail and then howled.
“Shush. You’ve done enough today. Let’s just get this done.”
If she was lucky there wouldn’t be any other dogs and their owners down at the dog park. No matter how much socialization Cupid got it was impossible for her to keep her from doing whatever she wanted. She never listened to her. She was just a little bundle of shedding animal that had taken over her condo two months ago. And not by her choice.
But Tana didn’t have time to think about that right now. She’d call Art later to see when he was finally going to pick up his dog. Until then, she had to get Cupid to stay focused so she could stay focused on the big proposal she needed to get started on for work as soon as they were through at the dog park.
On every walk to the dog park at the condo complex, Tana marveled at how Cupid would stick her nose to the ground and sniff wildly as if she were sniffing for clues in a spy novel. Today was no different, except today Cupid was pulling at her hard, making it nearly impossible for Tana to keep up with her wearing the three-inch pumps she’d worn to work that day. Normally she’d go home and change into her sneakers before taking Cupid out for a quick walk, but she’d had that stupid condo board meeting today. She hadn’t had time to change.
Cupid continued to sniff the ground and move in a meandering pattern on the walkway as if she were hunting a rabbit. Then her tail straightened and she bolted forward so quickly the leash slipped off her wrist and Cupid took off on a run down the path!
“Cupid! Stop!”
Tana ran as fast as she could trying to catch up to the dog. But instead of heading to the dog park like they’d been doing for the past few weeks, Cupid took a turn and ran around the azalea bushes lining the black fence that enclosed the pool. Tana ran as fast as she could in high heels, and when she reached the pool area, she saw that the gate was open.
What kind of irresponsible fool left the gate to an inground pool open where any kid…or dog could run right inside. “Cupid, stop!”
She paused only long enough to bend over and catch her breath. At least if Cupid had gone through the gate, she wouldn’t get far. Her feet were screaming at her and for a split second, she considered flipping off the pumps and running the rest of the way in her stockings even though she knew the concrete path would ruin them. She’s already spent an entire day wearing these foot deforming torture shoes so any bit of grace she had at the beginning of the day was long gone. She decided to go for it and yanked the pumps off her feet. She made her way down the concrete path towards the back of the building. Cupid may be a small beagle but she was fast.
Tana continued to hobble shoeless on the concrete path toward the open gate and heard Cupid howling. Then she heard a big splash. Ditching her shoes by a bush, she ran toward the pool gate. That sound could only mean one thing. There was no way she was fishing the dog out of the pool in her best skirt and blouse.
“Cupid!”
She dashed through the open gate and felt the heat from the concrete bite into the soles of her feet along with remnants of sand and gravel that had kicked up on the path.
“What did you just do?”
She stopped short and gasped when she found Cupid in the center of the pool swimming after a man who was doing laps. Instead of figuring out how to get Cupid out of the water without totally destroying her shirt and blouse, Tana’s mind immediately locked on to how buff the man with dark wet hair was as he swam. With each stroke, his tanned skin rippled as his muscles flexed.
She blew out a quick breath and ran to the side of the pool. But not before Cupid made his move. The beagle reached the man as he turned underwater to do another lap. Before she could stop Cupid, the dog climbed onto the man’s back, wrapping her front paws around his neck, startling him and making him dunk underwater. When he emerged he coughed heavily and looked around with disorientation until he found the culprit who was trying to drown him.
“Oh no! Cupid, get away from him! What are you doing? Get away from him! Oh, my God, are you okay, sir?
She rushed to the side of the pool and knelt down at the edge, ignoring the grit digging into her knees as she bent over. With her hand cupped like a paddle, she began pushing water toward herself as if she were rowing. The man in the pool swam over to the other side of the pool and grabbed onto the edge, coughing up whatever water he’d swallowed when Cupid dunked him.
“What are you doing?” the man asked, gazing at her as if she were a crazy woman. With her body precariously bent over the side of the pool, she couldn’t disagree.
“I’m getting the dog. She probably thought you were drowning.”
“I almost did.”
“Cupid, come here now!” Tana yelled.
Cupid followed the man.
“Cupid!”
“There’s nothing wrong with her hearing, ma’am. Just her manners,” the man said. With one swift movement, Mr. Buff pulled himself out of the pool with ease as if the move was nothing at all. No steps, no wading to the shallow end, and no looking like a beached whale as she imagined she’d look if she fell in and tried to climb out the way he did. His muscles flexed and skin glistened under the sun with every movement he made. It took a moment for Tana to realize her jaw had dropped open and she was ogling.
Warmth that had nothing to do with the sun beating down on her back settled in the pit of her stomach and simmered in all places that made her body hum. Tana was glad his attention was focused on Cupid and not her as she clumsily got to her feet again.
“Aren’t you going to get your dog?” he said.
It was only then she realized she’d been staring at him. Cupid was not with him. She glanced around and found Cupid at the opposite side of the pool, climbing the steps.
“Cupid,” she muttered under her breath as she rushed over to her. When she reached the dog’s side, she grabbed the wet leash, and said, “Bad dog. Don’t you run away from me like that again.”
“Oh, that’ll do it. I’m sure she’s learned her lesson,” the man said, shaking his head in obvious irritation.
Tana opened her mouth to apologize when Cupid abruptly shook her whole body and sprayed Tana with pool water and flying wet fur. She tried to step away so she wouldn’t get the full force of it but she was tethered to Cupid by the leash.
“Saw that coming,” the man said, his lips twisting with amusement.
She glanced down at the skirt and blouse she’d worn to work that day, both of which were now covered with water and dog hair.
“Oh, Cupid, look what you—” She glanced at the man. “Excuse me?”
“Lady, she’s a dog. It’s not like she can take off her fur coat. When dogs get wet, shaking is the only way to keep from getting hypothermia after they’ve been soaked.”
She used her free hand to brush off the water that hadn’t soaked into her skirt off the fabric. “Oh. You must have dogs to know so much about them.”
“Yo
u could say that?”
She glanced up at him and was struck by his smooth movements toweling himself off. The man was in perfect form. His dark hair was slicked back on his head and glistened in the sun just as his tanned skin had. The droplets of water still left on his back only made his muscles look more enticing. And when he turned around and she took a good look at him, she sucked in a hot breath of air at how handsome he was.
“I’m a veterinarian,” he said.
“What?”
“A vet. I work with animals all day.”
“Oh.” She looped the leash around her wrist and made her way over to the man. “I am really sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. There may be a few scratches on my back that I’ll have to explain.”
She glanced behind him as if she could actually see what he was talking about. But even if she could, he’d already put a gray sports T-shirt on.
“Well, it would be a good story if anyone sees you naked.”
He darted his head up and his lips stretched into a smile. “Not likely.”
She’d actually said that out loud. “I mean the dog jumping in the water to save you.”
His blue eyes squinted and his brows narrowed. “Is that what you think she did?”
The smell of chlorine and wet dog assaulted her senses. She was thankful for the diversion because the way the man’s blue eyes peered at her with such intensity set her skin on fire more than the sun could ever have.
“Of course. Why else would she have jumped in and swam to you?”
“Lady, you have a lot to learn about dogs.”
“That’s an understatement,” she muttered under her breath.
“I beg your pardon? You’re agreeing with me?”
She put on a brave face and looked straight at him with confidence she didn’t feel. “Yes, I’m agreeing with you.”
“Isn’t this your dog?”
“Technically, no.”
“Someone actually trusted you with this animal?”
Cupid stepped forward and nudged the man’s hand with his nose and barked. Not missing a beat, the man began stroking the dog’s wet fur beneath his chin. Cupid responded by leaning against his leg and rolling her eyes back with a smile. Yes, she was smiling. Why wouldn’t she? The guy was gorgeous.
“She’s getting fur all over you and you’re wet,” Tana said, and then she swallowed at the look of adoration he was giving Cupid.
When he glanced up at Tana, that adoration was gone. “Do you live in this complex?”
“Um, yes. I have a condo here.”
“There are rules about letting your dog run free.”
A fingernail of irritation ran up her spine. “Yes, I know. I just had a meeting with the condo board. And then Cupid decided to break free and run to save you.”
“Oh, so it’s her fault you didn’t control her?”
“Um, why don’t we start over. My name is Tana Reeves.”
“Tana. That’s a different name,” he said.
“It’s short for Montana. I think I was conceived on a ski weekend. Or so the story goes.”
His eyes widened with amusement. “Jett Billings. As far as I know my parents weren’t part of the mile-high club.”
She cocked her head to one side, thinking about his words until realization caught up with her. Her cheeks flamed. “Oh. Well, it was nice to meet you, Jett. I’m sorry about the dog.”
“The dog. That’s a bit chilly for a sweet beagle like this.”
“A few minutes ago you were angry with her.”
He shook his head. “I was angry with you, not the dog. It’s not Cupid’s fault you aren’t trained.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
Of all the… “That’s a bit presumptuous of you. It’s not even my dog.”
His expression registered confusion. “Why did you have a meeting with the condo board if she doesn’t live here?”
“Well, she does. For now.”
“For now.” He stood up, a new level of irritation evident as he stood straight as a board and looked down at her. She hadn’t realized he was this tall. He was probably a good ten inches taller than her as she stood on the concrete in stocking feet.
“I didn’t want her. I am really busy and I don’t really have the time for a dog.”
“You’ve got me curious. How did you end up with a dog you didn’t even want?”
“It’s… my ex’s dog technically. He picked up the dog at a rescue before he got a job offer in Milwaukee. Quite frankly, I think he was trying to butter me up so I wouldn’t be upset that he was leaving.”
“He gave you a rescue dog as a gift?”
“Not exactly. He told the rescue shelter Cupid was going home with him. And then she didn’t. I know this because when I contacted the rescue after he left, the woman there admitted he said that to her. They almost didn’t let them take the dog.”
“I’m missing how exactly you ended up with the dog if he’s no longer here in the picture.”
“I told you. He moved to Milwaukee.”
“He couldn’t take the dog with him?”
She sighed, suddenly feeling ridiculous for being duped by her ex. “His old job required a lot of travel so he said he didn’t want to keep her in a kennel while he was gone. At first it was just for overnight, then it became a few days, and then a few days turned into a few weeks. And then one day he called and told me he got a permanent job in Milwaukee.”
“Milwaukee?”
She nodded and then sighed. It wasn’t the breakup that hurt so much. It was the deception and how much a fool Art had made of her.
“I guess this new company he was working for opened a plant there and this was a chance of a lifetime for him so he left Cupid here. Just until he got settled.”
“That’s what he said?”
She nodded.
“And you believed him?”
She shook her head. “Maybe on some level I did. He’s not a bad guy.”
Jett chuckled with sarcasm and draped his towel over his left shoulder. “A good guy doesn’t pick up a defenseless animal who is waiting for a forever home and casually drops her off with a person who doesn’t want her.”
“I told you. I thought it was only going to be until he got settled because he was staying in a hotel for about a month. And then…”
He kept his eyes glued to her. “Then what?”
She shrugged. “He’s living with someone else who already has a cat.”
He shook his head. “Ain’t that a kick in the…”
“Don’t I know it.”
“You can always give Cupid back to the shelter. In fact, you never should have had her in the first place.”
“No, I can’t. It’s his dog. He should be the one to give Cupid back to the shelter or find her a new home.”
“He’s not here. Cupid is.”
“But it’s his responsibility.”
“It doesn’t look that way, does it? Look, it’s not your dog. You said so yourself. Give this guy an ultimatum. Tell him if he doesn’t pick up his dog, then you’ll take her to a shelter. My guess is it will eventually be a win for Cupid.”
“I can’t do that. Who gives a shelter dog back to the shelter? Can you imagine the separation anxiety she’ll have?”
“I can.”
Her expression collapsed. “See? I was right. I just can’t handle seeing Cupid as one of those dogs staring at the door waiting for me to come back. Art should be the one to take care of this.”
“She’s not your dog.”
“I know that. You keep saying it, but I know that. And the terms of the shelter agreement state she must be given back to the shelter if things don’t work out.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because when Art said he was staying in Milwaukee, I called. I didn’t tell them who I was or which dog I had. It was more informational.”
“There you go. Problem solved. You’re not the rightful owner.�
��
She thought a minute. Jett said the words so matter of factly that Tana began to wonder why it was so hard for her to comply. After all, Jett was a veterinarian. He would know what was best.
“Yes, I guess.”
“So you’ll return the dog and you’ll make your problem someone else’s problem.”
She leveled him with a stare. “Oh, you’re good. This is that reverse psychology, isn’t it?”
“You tell me.”
“No. I can’t keep her. She’s not my dog. Besides, you just saw the way she introduces herself. My neighbors are already complaining to the condo board about Cupid. And…they said she was too fat.”
Jett glanced down at the dog and ran his hand across Cupid’s back and then stomach. “She looks healthy. She could probably use a little more exercise. As for her weight, I’d have to put her on a scale to be sure. I’m a little surprised they called her obese.”
“They didn’t call her obese. They said she is over the limit for ‘association’ rules.” She rolled her eyes as she said the words because it aggravated her so much they made a big deal about it during the meeting.
“Oh, I get it. She’s over their weight limit.”
“By three pounds. Three. Pounds. They actually did put her on a scale. Three pounds is like a steak dinner and salad. I half expected them to put me on the scale.”
His eyebrows stretched on his forehead.
“When was the last time you spoke to your ex about this?”
She sighed. “Last week. He said he’s working on things and he’d give me an update this week.”
“Uh, huh.”
“I am not getting another fine for having Cupid because he can’t get his act together.”
“Him.”
“Yes. Of course, him. It’s his dog.”
“Who is living with you in your condo.”
She shrugged. “Well, yes.” Cupid barked and then laid down on the concrete as if settling in for a nap.
“And this guy is living where?”
“Not with me.” She kicked the concrete like a two-year-old about to have a tantrum and immediately regretted doing it without shoes on.
It had been a long day. She had a mountain of work ahead of her tonight and she was standing in the scorching sun covered with wet dog spray talking to a very hot guy who for some reason was still talking to her despite how crazy she sounded. And she did sound crazy. Why was he even still standing there?
Cupid to the Rescue: A Tail-Wagging Valentine's Day Anthology Page 2
