by Judy Duarte
She blessed him with a grateful smile. “I really appreciate this.”
“No problem.”
Her expression grew serious, and he watched her for a moment as her brow furrowed. When she looked up, she blew out a little sigh. “I’ll also need to pick up some dog food, chew toys and maybe a couple of pet carriers.”
Hopefully, they’d have enough hours in the day to accomplish everything she needed to do. But she couldn’t very well adopt two puppies without getting the proper supplies.
Carlo had planned to take her to lunch, but since time was of the essence, their eatery options were limited.
“I’ve got an idea,” he said. “Why don’t we pick up sandwiches at a deli and find someplace outdoors where we can eat?”
“A picnic? That sounds fun.”
Carlo chuckled and slowly shook his head. “I think fun is your middle name, Schuyler.”
“It probably should be.”
No doubt. Then he continued the drive, feeling as though he’d just agreed to be her partner in crime.
And hoping he didn’t live to regret it.
Chapter Seven
While Carlo waited in the car, Schuyler dropped off the two pups at The Pampered Fido to be bathed, dipped and groomed.
“My goodness.” Trudy, the shop owner, reached for one of the dirty dogs. “They’re a mess.”
“I found them in an abandoned lot,” Schuyler said. “I couldn’t just leave them there.”
“I’m glad you brought them to me. And that I was able to fit them in. But I can’t groom them unless they’ve had their first round of shots and been seen by a vet.”
“I’d planned to have them examined, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“You know,” Trudy said, “there’s a new veterinary clinic across the street. Dr. Mayfield just opened his practice and isn’t very busy yet. I’m sure he’ll be able to check them out for you today.”
“I wonder how long that’ll take. My friend is in the car and doesn’t have a lot of time.” Schuyler bit down on her bottom lip, wondering if she’d have to take a rain check on that picnic after all.
“You’re in luck,” Trudy said. “The vet has a real heart for strays and people who rescue them. I’m sure I can get him to examine the dogs. He’s probably on his lunch hour and might come right over.”
“That would be awesome.”
Trudy made a phone call, then gave Schuyler a thumbs-up. “Dr. Mayfield will be here in five minutes. He also said their first exam and shots are free.”
Schuyler hadn’t expected to get a deal, but the gesture was nice. And it was a good way for the vet to get new patients.
“You mentioned that your friend was on a time schedule,” Trudy said, “so if you need to go, the vet can examine them here. I’ll give you a call if he has any issues or concerns.”
“That’s really sweet of you. I need to shop for pet supplies, plus I’m moving into a new place this afternoon.”
“I’ll need two hours for their doggie makeovers,” Trudy said. “You won’t recognize these little guys when you come back.”
“How much do I owe you?” Schuyler asked.
“Not a thing. Their first grooming is on me. I’ll even feed them while you’re gone.”
The smallest pup whined as Schuyler walked out the door, but she continued to Carlo’s car, knowing they’d be in loving hands.
Once she climbed in, he started the engine and glanced across the seat. “Are you ready for lunch?”
“I’m hungry, but I think it would be best if we picked up the puppy supplies first.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Before backing out of the parking space, Carlo asked Siri for directions to the nearest pet supply store, which turned out to be a ten-minute drive from the groomer.
Once they arrived and began walking down the aisles, it took Schuyler another ten minutes to find everything on her mental shopping list. Only trouble was, one cart wasn’t enough, and Carlo had to retrieve a second cart to fit everything she wanted to buy.
As they stood at the register, Schuyler turned to Carlo. “I can’t believe you’re being such a good sport about this. If the men in my family had to follow me around a store, especially one like this, they would have moaned and groaned about it.”
“To be honest, I usually avoid going to malls or stores with women. In my experience, they tend to lollygag and ponder their purchases way longer than necessary, which only makes me grumpy. And then afterward, they can’t seem to figure out why I’m in a bad mood.”
“When I go to a store, I don’t mess around. I make quick decisions.” Too quick, if you asked her father.
Schuyler studied Carlo carefully, that dark hair a woman could run her hands through, those sparkling brown eyes, that dazzling smile. No sign of a bad mood there. And he hadn’t uttered a single groan or moan.
She nudged him with her elbow and gave a little wink. “Apparently, going shopping with me doesn’t make you the least bit grumpy.”
“That’s not surprising. I was more in awe than anything. You zoomed through this store like you were on a television game show, competing in a winner-take-all shopping spree.”
She laughed. “See? Like I told you before, you’ve been dating the wrong women.”
He winked back at her. “You might be right about that.”
For a moment, she wondered if they’d stumbled onto a good thing, a special relationship that might last longer than a few weeks. Either way, they seemed to have become friends. Teammates, even. And that realization sent a little thrill right through her.
In the past, she would have been tempted to put on the brakes, but with Carlo... Well, the thought of nurturing whatever it was they’d found struck a chord. She felt almost hopeful.
But just in case her thoughts took a wrong turn, she reminded herself that Carlo had made it very clear that he wasn’t into long-term relationships. And that he didn’t make romantic commitments.
Schuyler didn’t make them, either. Maybe that’s why she felt good about this. About them.
Carlo would make the perfect fling. Yet something else niggled at her, causing her to question her long-held beliefs. He might also be the one man who could change her mind about what she wanted out of a romantic relationship, what she needed. And that might lead to disaster.
As the clerk bagged the last of her purchases—two doggie beds—Schuyler studied the carts loaded with the bagged items and scrunched her brow. “Uh-oh.”
At that, Carlo laughed. “What’s the matter? Now that you’re calculating the cost, are you having a little buyer’s remorse?”
“No, it’s not that. I’m just worried that we can’t fit all of this stuff in your car.”
“I have a good-size trunk. And a backseat.”
“Oh, good. That’s a relief. I didn’t want to have to put anything back.”
He laughed. “Those two strays must think they died and went to doggie heaven. They’ve gone from rags to riches in one lucky day. Now they’ll have everything a mutt could ever want.”
Schuyler handed her credit card to the clerk, then turned to Carlo and slapped her hands on her hips. “Are you making fun of me and my new pets?”
“No, not at all. In fact, I’m enjoying this more than I’d expected. But for a while, I thought we’d need a third cart. And I wondered if we’d have to make two trips to lug all this loot back to the Monarch.”
“Um... You know what?” She looked up at him and smiled. “We might have to make two trips to my new place, though. I’ve done some shopping, and my new suitcases alone are going to fill my trunk.”
He glanced at his wristwatch. “Unless your studio apartment is clear across town, and you drag your feet until we have to deal with rush-hour traffic, I should be able to make it back to the winery before the dinner hour—and with time
to spare.”
If they’d been in Houston, Schuyler would have known the best route to take, but she wasn’t the least bit familiar with Austin and could only relate what she’d been told. “According to my dad’s intern, my new place is about ten minutes from the hotel.”
“Then we should be fine.”
That was good to know. She didn’t want him to be late for work.
When the clerk returned her credit card, Schuyler pushed one cart out of the store, while Carlo pushed the other.
“If we run late,” she said, “and it looks like you can’t get back to the winery on time, I’ll take a rain check on that picnic in the park.”
“We’ll see how things work out. But if we can’t find time to eat, then maybe we can have that picnic at the winery tomorrow or the next day.”
“That would be awesome. But can I bring the dogs?”
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely. I’m not going to be an irresponsible pet owner.”
Carlo froze in his steps and studied her as if she’d placed a bird’s nest on her head.
“Uh-oh,” she said. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’ve just lumped me in with all the women you date—the boring and predictable ones.”
A slow smile slid across his face, and he reached out and cupped her jaw. “No way, Schuyler. You might surprise me at times, and maybe even exasperate me, but I’d never lump you in with anyone. You’re in a class all by yourself.”
She’d never had a compliment like that, one that praised her uniqueness. A gush of warmth filled her chest.
“I’m touched,” she said. More than he could possibly know. But the years she’d spent trying to explain and defend herself and her uniqueness brought out the skeptic in her. Rather than question him or herself, she nodded toward his car. “Let’s get out of here. I’d like to squeeze in that picnic with you today. And as my hero, John Wayne, would say, ‘We’re burning daylight.’”
“So you’re a John Wayne fan?” he asked, falling into step beside her.
“Glammy was. And since I used to watch a lot of Westerns with her, I liked him, too.”
“The Duke was definitely a hero,” he said.
That was true, but right now, Carlo seemed to be Schuyler’s hero. And she wasn’t sure if she should embrace that thought or run for the hills.
* * *
While Carlo waited for Schuyler to check out of the Monarch Hotel, he talked to the valet who’d brought up her Beamer from the garage and asked about their pet policy.
“Service dogs are okay,” the young man said. “But the management really frowns on pets.”
That’s what Carlo had thought. But since Schuyler had already found another place to stay that would allow her to keep those puppies, she’d managed to circumvent the problem. And he found that to be interesting. She might be quirky, fun-loving and a bit impulsive at times, but she also seemed to think things through.
Just as the valet brought up her car, Schuyler exited the hotel, along with a bellman pushing a loaded luggage cart. While she tipped both men, Carlo helped them put everything in her trunk. Then he followed behind her car on the drive to her new, temporary residence, which was located on a tree-lined street in what appeared to be a quiet neighborhood.
He parked behind her along the curb in front of an older two-story brick home. They both got out of their cars, and he followed her to the front door.
“My place is in back,” she said, as she rang the bell.
Moments later, a gray-haired woman wearing a blue-and-green muumuu and pink slippers answered the door. All the while, a big orange tabby cat threaded in and out of the woman’s legs.
Schuyler introduced herself, and the woman reached out her hand in greeting. “I’m Dorothy Coggins, but you can call me Dottie.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Schuyler said. Then she turned and introduced Carlo as her friend. “He’s helping me move in.”
“Isn’t that nice? And he’s a good-lookin’ fella to boot.”
Schuyler glanced at Carlo and gave him a little wink. “That he is. Lucky me.”
“That nice young man I talked to from the real estate office transferred the deposit and the first month’s rent into my bank account. He looked over the lease I emailed him and said you’d sign it when you got here.”
Once the paperwork was taken care of, Dottie lifted her arm, which sported a key connected to a red stretchy band around her wrist. She removed it and handed it to Schuyler. “Here you go.” Then she stooped down and lifted the fat cat into her arms. “This is Rusty, our resident mouser.”
“Aren’t you a sweetie,” Schuyler said, as she stroked the feline’s head.
Dottie smiled, clearly pleased by the affectionate gesture, then she scanned their parked cars, her brow furrowed. “Where are the puppies?”
“They’re at the groomer,” Schuyler said. “As soon as I bring them home, I’ll ring your bell so you can meet them.”
A smile tugged at one side of Carlo’s lips, and he slowly shook his head. He liked animals, but he doubted he’d ever become so attached to one that he’d introduce it to the people he’d just met. But it was nice to think that Schuyler and her new landlady had something in common.
Dottie seemed to be a real character, a bit like he’d imagined Schuyler’s grandmother had been. Maybe that was why they seemed to hit it off so well—and so quickly.
“I suggest you follow the graveled drive to the back,” Dottie said. “That way, it’ll be easier for you to unload your things. And just like I told that nice young man from the real estate office, that apartment isn’t much. But it’s clean and fully furnished.”
“I saw the pictures he sent me, Dottie. I’m sure it’ll work out just fine.”
Ten minutes later, Carlo had helped Schuyler unload her purchases and her luggage into the small studio apartment. Dottie had been right, it wasn’t much to shout about, but it had been scrubbed clean. He just hoped Schuyler’s new pets didn’t tear the place apart. If they did, that “nice young man” would have to forfeit whatever deposit Fortunado Real Estate had paid.
Finally, as the afternoon sun began a steady descent in the west, they returned to the groomer for the dogs. The happy pups didn’t look anything like they had when they’d been dropped off. Their black-and-white fur was no longer dirty and matted down. Instead, it was glossy and puffy.
“Dr. Mayfield said they appear to be in good health,” the groomer said. “He thinks they’re about four to five months old. He also left you his card.”
Schuyler pocketed the vet’s contact information. “I’d certainly use him again.”
“He also thought they had some cocker spaniel in their genes—and a little terrier. I think they might even have a little poodle in them, although it’s hard to say.”
Carlo hated to admit it, but the darn little mutts were actually cute. And those matching red collars fit perfectly.
“Look at them,” Schuyler said. “Aren’t they darling?”
“They do look a lot better now that they’re clean,” he admitted.
Schuyler turned to the groomer. “Thanks so much, Trudy. You did an awesome job.”
“You’re more than welcome. I hope you’ll bring them back here for their next grooming.”
“I’ll definitely do that, although I’m not sure how long I’ll be in town. I’m more or less a tourist. In fact, I have a couple of questions for you. Where’s the nearest deli? And is there a park nearby where we can eat?”
“Well, there’s a sandwich shop a few doors to the left. And there’s a dog-friendly park about two blocks down from that and across the street.”
“Great.” Schuyler glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. “That’ll work out perfectly. Thanks so much.”
“Hav
e you thought about what you’re going to name the pups?” Trudy asked.
“I was going to call one of them Scruffy, but that was before their baths. I think Fluffy is more fitting now.”
Trudy chuckled. “Since that little one really packed away his puppy food, you might want to call him Stuffy.”
Schuyler laughed. “I like that. But maybe I’ll shorten it to Fluff and Stuff.”
After taking Trudy’s business card, Schuyler placed both pooches on the sidewalk and let them try out their new leashes. But unfortunately, the neglected pups didn’t like being under submission to humans. They each pulled this way and that, eager to go in different directions—and not to the left, where the sandwich shop was located.
“When it comes to training those dogs,” Carlo said, “you’re going to have your work cut out for you.”
“Maybe so. But I think these little guys are going to turn out to be very bright. Besides, other than being a hostess at those special tastings you set up, I have plenty of time on my hands.”
Actually, Carlo might just take up some of that free time himself.
“Why don’t you let me carry Stuff.” Carlo stooped and picked up the smallest pup. “Like you and the Duke said, ‘We’re burning daylight.’ And I’d like to enjoy a little time in the park before I head to the winery.”
“Good idea. I’m really hungry.”
Fifteen minutes later, with their sandwiches, chips and sodas packed in two white sacks, they arrived at a small grassy area that wasn’t quite what Carlo would call a park, although it had several picnic tables and a very small playground. It also had a green dispenser that provided plastic baggies. “So that’s what Trudy meant by saying this park was dog friendly.”
“I guess so. And it looks like we’re the only ones here.”
Carlo nodded to an empty table near a water fountain. “Should we sit there?”
“Yes, that’s perfect.” When she reached the spot, she placed Fluff down on the grass.
The critter didn’t seem to mind its leash now, as it sniffed around, checking out its surroundings. Carlo set Stuff down next to Fluff.
