Crazy Puppy Love: Chance Romance with a Canine Helper!

by Tammy Andresen

  CRAZY PUPPY LOVE

  TAMMY ANDRESEN

  COPYRIGHT

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Copyright © 2016 Tammy Andresen

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Tammy Andresen

  TITLES BY

  TAMMY ANDRESEN

  Lily in Bloom Series

  Seeds of Love

  Lily in Bloom

  Other Books

  Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart

  Taming a Lady Wolfe

  Midnight Magic

  Stealing a Lady’s Heart

  Unexpected Treasure

  The Golden Rules of Love

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated Alexandra Gav. You have been a friend, mentor, fan, critic, and a part of my family for the past decade. It is strange to look back and see how someone, I assumed would be a passing part of my life ended up shaping my path in ways I never dreamed.

  I am so glad to know you. Keep pushing harder. I love it.

  This book is also dedicated to my boxer, Rufus, may you RIP. I will never forget your beautiful , soulful eyes. You have forever shaped what the boxer breed means to my heart. I love you.

  CRAZY PUPPY LOVE

  CHAPTER ONE

  Claire breathed a sigh of relief. After rescuing a boxer two weeks prior, they finally seemed to be finding a rhythm. She threw the ball for Rufus again and watched in amazement as his supple body ate up the ground between him and his favorite toy. Jumping into the air, he came back down with the ball in his mouth and ran towards her.

  He was a sweet boy, that much was apparent, but he cried whenever she left, tugging at her heartstrings. He wouldn’t eat unless she snuggled him first and he whined at night when he wasn’t in her room.

  Not that she had minded. After a year of hell, it had been nice to help someone else heal.

  But now, to see him running on the beach in the warm afternoon September sun, it was amazingly gratifying. He brought the ball back and had a play tussle until he released it for her to throw again.

  Sticking her hands in her back pockets, she watched as he chased the ball toward the salt marsh, his body nearly outdistancing the throw. He was looking back when suddenly he came to the water’s edge and barreled headlong into the marsh.

  “Oh no,” she groaned. The water was getting colder and she would have to take him home to warm him up. She headed towards Rufus, calling his name, when she realized what was happening. As the tide was going out, the marsh was like a water park and all the water pulled back towards the ocean. Rufus, not a great swimmer to begin with, seemed caught in its pull.

  The pounding of her heart blocked everything but the sound of the surf and she pushed her legs faster. If he got caught in the riptide heading out to sea, there would be no saving him.

  “Rufus,” she yelled at the top of her lungs.

  “Ar,” he yelped in response and she could hear the fear, her own multiplying with it. Careening into the water, a moment of relief swept through her even as the freezing temperature took her breath away.

  Grabbing his collar, she yanked him toward her but she pulled too hard and his body slammed into hers, knocking her into the icy cold water.

  They barreled down the marsh as Claire tried desperately to get her feet back under her. Rufus put his paws on her chest which pushed her under the water. When she resurfaced the open ocean was dangerously close and she tried double time to gain some foothold, but panic was setting in.

  Suddenly, strong hands had her under the arms and hauled her up out of the water. Still holding Rufus’ collar, his body rose partially up too.

  She twisted to see a man, his face set in determined lines, holding onto her. “Hold still,” he yelled over the surf. “I’ll have you out in a second.”

  She froze as he pushed against the water and up the steep bank of the marsh. The second Rufus’ feet hit the sand, he was bounding up the bank. Claire wished she could do the same but her legs were like jelly and as the mystery man let her go, she nearly collapsed in the sand.

  “Hang on,” a deep baritone voice crooned just next to her ear as his arms encircled her again. “I’ve got you.”

  He helped her up the bank and back onto the beach, relief and fatigue making her even weaker. He practically dragged her onto the warm sand. Starring up at the blue sky, she tried to clear her foggy mind. “Thank you, I ‘m sorry I’m not…”

  “Shhh, it’s all right. I’m just going to check you over, make sure you don’t need an ambulance. Are you hurt anywhere?” His voice was gentle, calm, soothing.

  She took a deep breath and concentrated on her body. There was no pain, just fatigue. “I don’t think so, just f-f-frightened.” Her teeth chattered as she spoke.

  “And numb from the cold.” He sat her down in the sand and began feeling along her limbs, then her torso, and finally her neck. She might have been alarmed if she wasn’t so weak. “Everything seems fine. My place is just up the bluff. You should--”

  “Wait,” she croaked, becoming more alert. Her eyes slashed into his and then her breath caught. My god, he was handsome. That kind of tall, dark and sexy thing that made women swoon. Lucky for her, she was already lying in the sand.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m Caleb Jennings. I’m a pediatrician and honestly, you need to get warm quick. As warm as the air still is, your body has been submerged in freezing water. You need to get out of these clothes and…” He paused, looking into her eyes. “I just want to help you.”

  His eyes were the warmest brown she had ever seen. Like melted chocolate. Or perhaps she was so cold, everything appeared warm by comparison. Shivers wracked Claire’s body and she nodded her consent.

  “What’s your dog’s name?” his voice took on that soothing quality again. He must calm the most worried patients, she thought wryly.

  “R-r-rufus,” she stuttered.

  “Rufus,” Caleb called. “Come.”

  Without hesitation, the dog followed.

  A set of stairs cut up the steep embankment but Caleb took them two at a time while holding her in his arms with Rufus trotting behind.

  He turned left at the top and headed for the most adorable cedar-shingled cape style house she had ever seen. Crushed sea shells lined the path from the beach trail to the door. He hadn’t been kidding. He lived steps from the beach.

  “Th-th-this is y-your house?” she chattered out.

  “Yep,” he muttered as he threw open the door and marched her to the bathroom, Rufus still hot on their heels.

  He printed up another set of steps and turned into what appeared to be the master bedroom. She may have been alarmed except it was the coziest room she had ever seen with clean white bedding and bead board walls. Built in drawers lined the knee wall.

  “C-c-cute.” She attempted to smile but she had a sneaking suspicion that she actually looked like she was growling.

  “Thanks.” He turned into the master bath and, still holding her against his decidedly warm body, he turned the shower on. “I’m just going to put you in with all your clothes on. It’s that or strip you, which I don’t think you want me to do. As soon as your hands work properly, pass me out the clothes and I’ll wring them and toss them in the dryer.”

>   “You- y-your floor.” Claire tried to protest but he was already putting her under the amazingly warm water. Her skin stung in response but it still felt heavenly.

  “Don’t worry about that. This tile could stand up to a hurricane. I’m going to towel off Rufus, just tell me when you’re ready.”

  The warm water beat down on her as she leaned against the wall. Feeling slowly returned to her limbs and then her hands and feet. After what must have been fifteen minutes, she peeled off her shirt, then her jeans, and finally her underwear. The hot water felt even better against her skin.

  “Ready,” she called as she passed the soaked ball of clothing out one side of the shower curtain.

  “OK,” he responded and grabbed the wet clothes. She could hear him wringing them out and then the sound of a dryer opening and closing, then the hum of it turning on. Suddenly she realized she was naked with nothing separating her and complete stranger but a shower curtain.

  CRAZY PUPPY LOVE

  CHAPTER TWO

  Caleb looked down the dog now curled up and sleeping on his bath mat. He had to admit, Rufus was a beauty, though he couldn’t swim for shit. And she had nearly drowned rescuing him. If you were going to live by the ocean, you ought to have a dog that swims, he thought with a smile.

  “Can I ask you something?” the woman in his shower asked. Now that her teeth had stopped chattering, he realized her voice was damn sexy. Low and husky, it was a gorgeous as she had been standing on the beach, playing with her dog.

  “Ah sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck. He had to stop thinking this way. She was a patient now.

  “What was your name again?” If a person could sound embarrassed, she did.

  He chuckled. “Caleb, and don’t worry about it. Cold water dulls your mind. I’m not surprised you didn’t remember.”

  “Caleb.”

  There was that huskiness again. He liked the way she sounded saying his name.

  “How am I going to get out of the shower?”

  “Oh, I, um, hang on.” He twisted around to get a clean towel for her. How could he not have thought through this part? “Uh, turn off the water and then I’ll pass the towel over. Then, I can see if I’ve got something you can wear until your stuff is dry.”

  The water turned off and he dangled the towel over the top of the curtain. He felt her grab it and immediately made a hasty exit out of the bathroom. He probably shouldn’t have stayed in the bathroom so long but he had been worried she would fall, He could have left five minutes ago but he’d been rooted to the spot. He made sure to click the door closed loudly and then he rubbed his neck again. She was slender, he had noticed it right away. Not straight. She had plenty of curve but he couldn’t imagine what he had for her to wear.

  Rummaging through his closet and drawers, he found little that might work. Heading down to the guest room, he thought he would check and see if his sister had left anything in the drawers from her recent stay.

  He was pleased to find a pair of leggings and a flannel shirt. Heading back to the bathroom, he knocked on the door. “My sister left some stuff if you want to try it.”

  “Sure,” came her muffled voice. She opened the door a crack and stuck her hand out. He wore a grin, which she of course couldn’t see, and handed off the clothes. “Thanks.”

  “Take your time, I’ll be down in the kitchen,” he called as the door clicked closed.

  Sprinting down the stairs, he stood in the kitchen, looking around. Why had he said the kitchen? Why not the living room where he could sit and maybe read a book? Was he nervous? He rubbed his neck again. What the hell was wrong with him?

  With little else to do, he started making dinner. Pulling out some steaks, he threw them in a marinade. There was one smaller steak and instinctively, he left it out the teriyaki sauce.

  “Do you have a chopstick?” Her voice hit him like a truck again.

  “A chopstick?” Caleb repeated, crinkling his eyes in confusion and turning to look at her. Big mistake. Now he knew why he was nervous. She was gorgeous. Strawberry blonde curls tumbled down her back as luminous blue eyes stared up at him. There was a smattering of freckles that dotted her adorable nose and she nibbled at her incredibly full lower lip.

  The slightest blush stained her cheeks, hiding the freckles. “Or a pencil. My hair can get wild. I guess I just assumed you didn’t have hair elastics.”

  Opening a drawer to his right he pulled out a pair of chopsticks. She crossed the room and gently pulled one from his grasp. “Thank you.” She gave him a glowing smile, reaching her hands above her head to twist up the mass of curls haloing her head.

  The flannel pulled taught and he became aware of what he should have already known. She was not wearing a bra. It was spectacular.

  He closed his eyes for a brief second. It was almost surreal. A half hour ago, he didn’t even know this woman and now here she was in his kitchen, twisting up her hair.

  “How long until my clothes are dry?” she asked.

  “They were really wet. It could take a while. Plus, honestly, you shouldn’t drive a car yet. Your brain may just not be up to the cognitive task of driving. If you’re more comfortable, I can call someone to come pick you up or you’re welcome to stay here until you’re ready to drive.”

  ***

  Claire nibbled on her lip again. She didn’t want to tell this stranger that there was no one to call. While he seemed harmless―well, the more accurate word was hot--she didn’t think it was a good idea to tell Caleb no one would miss her if she didn’t come home. “I feel much better, I’m sure I can…”

  “’Fraid not. At least not for a while. We can’t have you getting into an accident after I just saved you from drowning. Can I call your boyfriend or a friend?”

  A blush stained her cheeks. While he had a point about not driving, she had no idea what to do. Rufus walked into the kitchen and laid himself down by the back door as if he had lived here his entire life. Letting out a big yawn, the goofball fell fast asleep. “If I had my phone, I could get the number for the president of my branch, he could give me a lift.” She was trying not to say that she had no real friends here.

  In her defense, she had only moved to Truro a month before to take a position as the Office Manager at Seamen’s Bank. Her Boston friends had though it was hilarious and called it Semen’s Bank, but she hadn’t cared. She needed a change after her messy break up with Josh and the Cape had seemed the perfect place to put herself back together. With the tourist season ended, there was plenty of time for quiet and the healing her heart needed. But that meant that she had gone out of her way to stay away from people.

  He gave her a long look. She was no longer cold, but his eyes were still the color of rich milk chocolate with a touch of gold flecks. “Got it. How about a plan B? I’ll put on these steaks and with some food in your stomach, you’ll be ready to drive in no time.”

  “Are-are you sure? I’ve already imposed on you enough. I’ll just take a few more minutes and then--”

  “Nonsense. I eat alone all the time. But I just realized, I don’t know your name either.” He gave her brilliant smile. Full lips over straight white teeth. Amazingly, he was still tan, unlike her pale skin, and it only added to his appeal.

  He turned around back to the counter to finish the steaks and Claire was struck by how broad his shoulders were, tapering down to a lean waist. His dark hair had that windswept quality that others were always trying to replicate.

  Finishing with the meat, he came around the island and took her hand. His touch sending a different kind of shiver racing along her skin. “Still cold,” he murmured. “I didn’t get you any socks.”

  “It’s OK, I’ll be fine.” She tried to pull her hand away. She didn’t want to react this way to anyone. She had come here to be alone.

  “Hang on, I know just the thing. Follow me.” He strode purposefully out of the kitchen and into the adjoining family room. As she watched his effortless movement, she couldn’t help but remembe
r the way he had carried her up the steps. Kneeling down on the wide plank floor, he struck a match and a fire started blazing. Was this guy for real? It was like a romance movie, he was taunting her.

  She heard Rufus snort and then heave his body off the kitchen floor. Claire hadn’t moved but the dog rambled by her. Giving Caleb a nudge, the man reached down and scratched her dog behind the ears, causing him to make his euphoric face. The one where his mouth hung open and his eyes rolled back in his head. “Traitor,” Claire mumbled putting her hands on her hips.

  “Claire, come sit. You need to keep warm.” He waved her over and she slowly moved across the room to the leather couch in front of the fire. She sank down into it, and, honestly, it may have been the most comfortable thing she had ever sat on. He reached over and grabbed a cable knit blanket off the matching recliner and tossed it over her. Immediate warmth filled her body. It was delicious.

  “Thank you.” She blushed again and then wanted to curse herself. Why had this man turned her into a blushing fool? It was exactly like she had been in grade school when she had developed a crush on Tommy Anderson. Her mom had teased her and called it puppy love. But there was absolutely no way she felt anything like that for the handsome Dr. Caleb.

  “Hang on,” he called over his shoulder and then returned with a glass of red wine. “Don’t tell your primary care physician I gave you this but, it’ll help warm your insides.” He gave her another grin.

  The fire crackled as she sipped her wine on the overstuffed couch. “I don’t have one yet. I only just moved here. Thank you, again, for everything.”

  “Oh well, in that case, I’ll leave my card for you. I can’t take you on as a permanent patient but you I can do a follow-up to make sure you’re recovering and I can recommend a doctor.”

  “That would be great. Do you know a lot of the doctors in the area?”