Love Unleashed

by Natalie Brunwick

  “Like tonight,” I said, smiling my thanks when she handed me one of the hamburger buns she’d removed from the bag. “You said you just got a big job, right?”

  “Oh, yes,” Kris said, smiling as she did. “It’s going to be a lot of long nights, but the money’s good and the client is one of my better ones. They don’t usually ask for changes. If they do, it isn’t something huge. They trust me, which is the big thing. I’ve heard horror stories from other designers when it comes to unpleasant clients. So far, I haven’t had one of my own.” She knocked on the edge of the table and laughed. “There could always be a first time, of course, but I’ll take my days as they come. What about you? Have you ever had a demanding client?”

  I considered her question a moment, adding a bit of mustard to my burger as I did. “I wouldn’t call them demanding. They’re more like worriers, to be honest. Folks ask a lot of questions when they’re interested in a house, especially those buying one for the first time. So, no, I guess not, though they do use up a lot of time and energy. But as I’ve said before, I’d rather place a family inside a home they’ll enjoy instead of a random house they’ll want to get rid of a few years down the road.”

  “So you basically look for their forever homes.”

  “I never thought of it that way, but yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  “I think that’s a lovely thing to do,” Kris said, biting into her own burger before closing her eyes. “Man, I need to do this more often.”

  “Throw dinner parties?” I asked with a laugh, releasing a contented sigh when the burger burst with flavor, bringing my taste buds to life. “Those are homemade?”

  “Pretty much,” Kris said with a nod. “I make them when I have time and freeze the patties, but I don’t buy the boxed ones. The dogs, on the other hand…” She trailed off and left it at that. “Anyway, I’m so lost in my work most of the time that I just throw them in the skillet and go from there. Still, nothing beats eating one right off the grill. It has a different taste to it.”

  “It’s the charcoal,” I offered. “A skillet can’t give you that.”

  “No, but they aren’t too bad with caramelized onions.”

  I had to agree with her there. “Sadly, you can’t really cook out during the colder months.”

  “Says who?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow at me. “You might like funny standing out here in a winter coat, but there’s no rule against it.”

  “I don’t like the cold. I hate it, actually. Getting snow as a kid was cool and I loved our days off from school, but as an adult—”

  “You can’t just take off of work whenever there’s a few inches on the ground,” she finished for me. “If you’re anything like me, you end up working anyway.”

  “Man, you really are a workaholic, aren’t you?”

  “Just because there’s snow outside, that doesn’t mean my clients wake up to the same thing. Besides, all of my work happens indoors, but I do schedule time off.”

  “That you actually use?” I asked, fixing up a second burger.

  “Sometimes. They’re more like floating days off. They’re on the calendar in case I’m on the verge of burnout or if I need more time. The days I schedule off are an estimate but not always something I use. It depends on the project and the days I’m working. I love my job, so it isn't really that big of a deal.”

  “Until you reach the typography stage.”

  She groaned and leaned her head back at that. “Don’t remind me. At least this new project is a follow-up. The client has a set theme, you see, so I already know exactly what I need to do, and I love projects like this. I love when everything is planned out and all I have to do is sit down and be my creative self. I have a folder full of favorite fonts but even that folder is into the hundreds.”

  “Does this mean Duke will get more walks?” I asked, lowering my voice so Duke wouldn’t overhear.

  Kris followed my line of sight and smiled when Duke flicked his tail in response. “I’m hoping it will. With the house sold, I don’t know what I’d do if he ran into that yard again.”

  “I’d be mortified,” I admitted after giving it some thought. “In fact, I’d probably have the same look on my face as you did that first time he introduced us.”

  “You have a funny way of remembering that day. But yes, I was mortified. And embarrassed. And terrified. When you mentioned animal control, well… I realized how serious this was.”

  “But I paid them for their time and sent them on their way. You still have Duke, and after our second meeting, I can’t really blame him for his actions. It’s just a shame, really.”

  “What is?” Kris asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin after finishing her burger.

  “That he gets his forever home with you but you haven’t found the same.”

  Kris glanced around the yard, then back at the house behind her. “It isn’t terrible, it just isn’t—”

  “Home,” I cut in, offering her a nod when she looked at me again. “I’m sorry I couldn’t have been the one to show you your forever home.”

  “It’s okay. At least I found Duke. Or, I guess he found me. The most important thing is that we have each other. At the end of the day, that’s all that really matters, right?”

  “It really is.”

  “So where will you go now?” she asked once we’d finished our meal. “Do you have other places to show in the area, or…”

  “I have a few houses I’m showing one town over, but I never go too far. This is sort of like my territory, after all. I’ve lived in the area my entire life, so I’m pretty knowledgeable when it comes to the best trails, the surrounding lakes, the best ice cream shop—”

  “Ruthford’s obviously,” Kris said with a huge smile on her face.

  “Hey, were you around the summer he had to close down?” I asked, returning her smile with one of my own.

  “Oh god, yes. That summer was the worst. I just about died without my caramel crunch.”

  “It sucks that they close for the rest of the year. I can’t tell you how many times I craved their vanilla ice cream. It’s simple, but goes with so many other things.”

  “Like warm apple pie,” Kris offered, looking at something behind me that I couldn’t see.

  “Or pumpkin.” The season for pumpkin everything was right around the corner.

  “Okay, now I’m hungry again and it’s all your fault,” Kris pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. She only lasted so long, smiling a moment later.

  “But you have that gorgeous ice cream cake inside,” I reminded her. “And I bet there’s cookie crumbles in the middle.”

  “Of course. What kind of person do you take me for?” she asked, placing a hand to her chest.

  “One who’s kind and opened her heart to a lost soul, even after being yelled at by her.”

  “I’ve learned that kindness can take me a lot further than anything else. It always costs way less energy to be kind than to try and fight back. I’ll do it if I have to, but what Duke did was…” She shook her head and blew out a breath. “I just hope it never happens again.”

  “I don’t think it will,” I said, placing my hand on hers once she set it on the table.

  She flinched from the sudden contact, then relaxed, keeping her hand where it was. “Why is that?”

  “Because he has you. You also know what his trigger is now, so that should help.”

  “It might help but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.”

  I gestured at the open space around us. “What about fencing in his yard?” Duke’s yard. Not just some random yard he happened to sit in from time to time.

  She pulled her hand away from mine and set it in her lap, averting her gaze as she did. “I wish I could. Funds are… well…” She blew out a frustrated breath and looked at me again, her eyes just as kind as before. “Maybe after this project, I can put funds aside for it. But with the way things are right now, it isn’t possible. If I’d had enough time, I would’ve tried t
o get the yard ready for him before… before—”

  “It’s okay,” I assured her, rushing over to her side of the picnic table so I could sit next to her. “I know what you mean.” And in her defense, getting the house ready to put on the market was the first thing I would’ve done as well. “The money from the sale of the house should help.”

  She nodded but didn’t say anything after that.

  “The Parks are happy where they are,” I told her when she refused to look at me. “They aren’t going anywhere. It’s okay to use the money for Duke.” Heck, she could use it for whatever she wanted.

  “I’m just worried.”

  “It’d be odd if you weren’t,” I said matter-of-factly. “Seller’s remorse is an actual thing,” I told her, “and I see it a lot.”

  “I don’t regret selling it, I just—”

  “Wasn’t ready,” I finished for her, offering her a smile as I did. “Most folks rarely are, especially when it comes to selling a house with as much love as that one had. But they’re happy, Duke’s happy, and it’s okay to spend a little on yourself. Get a fence for the yard. Give yourself that sense of security for both you and Duke. He needs a yard, and you need a place to let him out when you’re on a deadline.”

  “I can see why the agency suggested I place the house with you,” Kris said, forcing a smile. “You really are the best in the industry.”

  “I wouldn’t say that, but I try my best. Truthfully, it isn’t always easy.” If anything, this sale had been my hardest one yet. Mostly because the woman sitting next to me should’ve been in that house right now, not in an open yard behind a place that didn’t feel like a home.

  “I wouldn’t expect it to be,” Kris said, pulling me from my thoughts. “For it to be easy all the time,” she added once she realized I wasn’t listening.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to zone out.”

  “It’s okay. I blame the food,” she said, leaning back and laughing when Duke stood on his hind legs to partially lay in her lap. “Okay boy. I guess you’ve waited long enough.”

  “You’d never imagine this dog and the one covered in mud a few weeks ago were the same thing,” I said with a shake of my head.

  “You wouldn’t but…” Kris offered me a partial shrug, then scanned the yard again. “I think I’ll call around later this week to get an idea on pricing with the fence. I’m not really sure how those things go or how tall it should be.”

  “My folks had a fenced-in yard when I was young. The fence was taller than me so… five or six feet, I’d imagine. But I’m sure they’ll go over it with you.”

  “I’m sure, and it really would give me some peace of mind. I hate keeping him locked up inside. I could clip him to one of those trees there, but I don’t trust folks in this neighborhood that much. I’d feel a lot better leaving him out here on his own if we had a fence.”

  “Same. Not just because of some nosy neighbors, but because he could potentially break that leash as well.”

  Kris scrunched her nose in response. “Yeah, there was that. Anyway, I’m sorry tonight didn’t go as planned. Like I said a few weeks ago, no one in this neighborhood seems to care about anyone else but themselves. Mr. Baker knew this but still got everyone to show up somehow.”

  “Times change,” I said matter-of-factly. “Now everyone’s tied to their phone.”

  “You aren’t?” she asked, looking at me from under her lashes.

  “I have it for work, but that’s about it. My time off is my own. Especially on a night like tonight. It was a lovely thing you did and I don’t mind the missing guests at all. It made things more…”

  “Intimate?” Kris asked with a lift of her eyebrows, her cheeks darkening the slightest bit. “Sorry, wrong choice of words.”

  “More relaxed,” I said with a gentle nod, resisting the urge to place my hand on hers which was still in her lap. “I’d rather have a night like this with good conversation than spend it hovering from group to group barely talking at all.”

  “I won’t argue with that. Family gatherings are a madhouse because of that.”

  “I believe it. Mine is the same exact way, which is why the cookouts were so nice. The yard was big with a pool and plenty of space for folks to sit down and talk. Your yard, while perfect for a few people, doesn’t seem the type to hold a large block party.”

  “I guess not, but it was a nice thought.”

  “It was,” I agreed, taking her hand in mine when she offered it to me, “and that’s really all that matters. Mr. Baker would’ve been proud and I’m honored you still allowed me to stay.”

  “Well, it isn’t like I can eat an entire ice cream cake on my own,” she said with a laugh, holding my hand a while longer before getting up to collect our empty plates.

  “No,” I said, taking the utensils and condiments before she could do the same, “but I’m sure Duke would’ve loved to help.”

  “You wouldn’t happen to have time for dessert, would you?” she asked as soon as we entered the kitchen.

  “Always.”

  By the time we wrapped up, it was almost eight o’ clock. There was more than enough cake left over to celebrate three more times, but if I tried to take another delicious bite, I’d probably explode. Kris, on the other hand, had gone from being the kind hostess to cleaning up whatever she could find. Her need to clean was likely due to nerves, but when Duke started to pace along with her, I stood from my chair and decided it would be best for me to go.

  “Everything will be fine,” I assured her as I stood in the doorway “There’s no take-backs with houses, okay?”

  “I know, I just don’t want Duke to chase them away,” she fretted, not looking at me.

  “Call the fence place tomorrow,” I suggested. “Taking action will push the nerves away. I promise.” I took her hands in mine, smiling when she met my gaze.

  “I know. It’s just… I never expected to have a dog in here, you know? And now, as much as I love him, my life’s all about him.”

  “It happens, but your life will be better with him in it.” At least that much knew was true. Without each other, Kris and Duke would’ve been lost the moment Mr. Baker passed away. As much of a terror as Duke may have been, it was easy to see how close he and Kris had gotten over the last handful of months.

  “True,” Kris agreed, grabbing Duke by the collar when he tried to squeeze by me. “Thank you again for joining me tonight. It was nice.”

  “It really was,” I agreed, giving Duke one last pet before I turned to leave. “Maybe we should do it again sometime.”

  “I’d like that,” Kris said, offering me a small smile. “Do you have my number?”

  I held up my phone and made a mental note to put her in my permanent contacts list instead of the one meant for clients once I got home. “I’ll text you later just to make sure you have mine.” We’d texted about tonight a handful of times, so losing her number wasn’t an issue. “Call me if that one gets into any trouble,” I teased, my cheeks burning hot when Kris smiled at me again.

  “What will you do if he does?” she challenged, keeping a straight face for all of five seconds.

  “I’ll come over and give him a stern talking to,” I said in my best dad voice.

  “Not that he’ll ever listen,” Kris quipped.

  “He’d better if he knows what’s good for him.”

  We both had a good laugh at Duke’s expense, and after standing on the front porch for longer than was probably necessary, I finally got in my car and left. On the way home, as I drove along the mostly empty streets, I couldn’t stop thinking about our evening and just how enjoyable it had been.

  To be honest, if not for the earlier plans, I could’ve sworn tonight felt a lot more like a date than anything else.

  “But it wasn’t a date,” I said, meeting my own eyes in the rear-view mirror.

  It wasn’t.

  Chapter Seven

  I told myself I wasn’t in love with the Taylor property because it was
on the cramped side of town. Considering the fact I wasn’t a fan of the city, it would’ve made complete sense. But if I were truly honest with myself, I’d say my lack of interest in this new property had more to do with the last house I sold more than anything else. I could’ve sold the house right next door to the Baker place and it wouldn’t have made any difference. I was coming off a high and I didn’t like it.

  I’d never been as passionate about my work as I was a few weeks ago. With the Baker house sold and its new family moved in, everything paled in comparison. That doesn’t mean the Taylor property wouldn’t sell or that I’d never find the right family to turn it into a home, it just wasn’t me.

  And as I walked yet another family through the dining area and into the fenced-in backyard, my mind started to wander.

  Two weeks had passed since I left Kris standing inside her doorway, and every so often, I found myself thinking about her. How was she? Did she ever manage to find someone to put up the fence for Duke? Had Duke run off again? Would she tell me if he had?

  Shaking my head, I did whatever I could to chase the thoughts away. I couldn’t afford distractions now. I may have been able to run on autopilot while touring the Baker place, but that was because my passion easily showed through. With the Taylor house, I had to give it my full attention which was close to impossible given the circumstances.

  “You mentioned a master bath?” the woman asked as we headed up the steps from the dining area.

  “With a shower, yes. The bath with the tub is in the central part of the upper level,” I said without giving it much thought.

  On and on we went, from one room and into another until the tour was complete. With another potential buyer on the list, I knew it wouldn’t be long until the property sold. So why wasn’t I proud? I took pride in all of the properties I showed, so what made this one so different?

  My thoughts immediately went back to Kris. That was my answer. I don’t know when it happened, but somehow she and Duke made their way into my heart, occupying my mind whenever possible. I should’ve been focused on this house, not the one I’d already sold.