A New Leash On Love (Furever Yours Book 1)

by Melissa Senate

  Oh God. Was this conversation actually happening? She had to be kidding.

  “I just saw how good you were with that dog,” the teacher continued, “the way she listened to you, how much work you clearly were putting into the training, and I knew it would be a truly special extra learning event for the kids. And to be honest, I think Ellie would enjoy a little spotlight.”

  His heart dropped. He remembered Ellie saying she didn’t have a best friend when they first met Sparkle. Did she have friends at all?

  If twenty minutes of his time would make a difference for Ellie at school, that was all he needed to know.

  “I’m in,” he said. “And I’m sure someone from the shelter will be happy to help me out for the presentation.”

  “Great!” Mrs. Panetta said. They set a date and time for the week after next, and when Matt clicked End Call, he actually had to sit down for a second.

  Matt Fielding, talking to a classroom full of kids? About puppies and training them?

  His life was sure taking crazy routes.

  Someone from Furever Paws to be an extra set of eyes and hands... He could ask Birdie or Bunny, but Claire was a teacher and she’d be able to give him pointers on how to set up the presentation. Then again, she probably couldn’t just leave her own school to help out at the elementary school, even for just twenty minutes or so.

  He could ask. Because it would give him a meaningful reason to spend some time with her despite everything in him telling him to keep his distance. And no matter how he tried, he just couldn’t keep away from her.

  * * *

  A couple of hours later, as Hank and Sparkle ran around in the enclosed dog run at the park, Matt sat on the bench near the fence with his phone, reading through the online classifieds from the free weekly newspaper’s website, circling possibilities for rooms for rent. Ever since seeing Claire at Furever Paws earlier, the look on her face, the hurt and confusion and sorrow in her eyes—caused by him—he knew that moving out of the apartment at Claire’s was the right thing to do. To give them both space, to keep them from constantly running into each other in the yard. This way, if she did want to work with him on the school presentation, she wouldn’t be overloaded with his presence.

  He read through the ads. There was a boardinghouse, and he could always move in there temporarily. Or even an inn or motel, but then again, they wouldn’t allow two dogs.

  All he knew for sure was that he had to let Claire be.

  “Hey, Fielding!”

  Matt turned around and smiled. His old neighbor, Zeke Harper, was jogging toward him. Several years younger than Matt, and tall and strong in his running gear, Zeke reminded Matt of how much he used to love to run. Maybe one of these days.

  “Hey, Matt, how’s the pup training going?” Zeke asked, pulling the wireless ear pods out and putting them in his pocket.

  “So good, in fact, that I adopted a dog of my own,” Matt said, pointing at Hank beyond the fence. The three-legged old guy was doing great keeping up with the younger pups.

  Zeke grinned. “That’s great! And I hear that PT I recommended is working out too.” He watched the dogs run. “You’re really settling in, Matt. Glad to see it.”

  “Hardly settling in,” Matt said. “In fact, the opposite. I’m in need of place to live.”

  “Didn’t you say you were renting Claire Asher’s apartment in Kingdom Creek?”

  The sound of her name brought her face to mind. Beautiful Claire with the kind, intelligent green eyes and all that silky blond hair. “Yeah, but maybe it’s better that we’re not that close, you know?”

  Zeke nodded. “Understood. A friend of mine has a small, furnished carriage house available right now. Not too far from my place. It’s month-to-month, so since you’re planning on leaving town, that might work out. And he has a dog himself, so I’m sure pets are welcome.”

  “Sounds perfect.” He put the contact info in his phone. That was a call he’d be making very soon.

  For the next fifteen minutes, he and Zeke caught up, Matt explaining that he now volunteered at Furever Paws and spent a lot of time studying up on dog training and dog psychology so that he could be even more helpful to Birdie and Bunny and the least adoptable dogs at the shelter. He felt a real kinship with those who were always left behind.

  “That’s really something,” Zeke said. “You know I’m a psychologist and volunteer with Veterans Affairs, and I have to say I’m really intrigued by what fostering and training Sparkle and adopting Hank has done for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, last time I ran into you, you were saying your life was up in the air and you felt off balance because of it. Sounds to me like volunteering at the shelter, training the puppy for your niece and adopting a dog for yourself have given you purpose. And more too—a real sense of meaning. We already know how much comfort dogs give, but the purpose side of things—that’s something I’d like to bring up to my colleagues over at VA.”

  Huh. Matt had to admit it was all true. His life did have meaning now. Purpose. When the hell had all that happened? And there was something else too. Something that had shocked him when he first noticed it. “I’ll be the first to say that I went from having a nightmare a night to hardly any, especially since I adopted Hank.” He’d had no idea just how much comfort a dog could be.

  “You know, Matt, there’s someone I’d really like for you to meet. His name is Bobby Doyle, and he’s one of the vets I work with at the center. He has an auto body business he’s trying to get off the ground, and didn’t you say your expertise in the military was with vehicle mechanics? I bet he’d value your input as a former soldier.”

  “He’s all alone?” Matt asked.

  “Actually, he has a devoted wife and two great kids,” Zeke said. “Thanks to them—and for them—he’s making great strides.” He glanced at the dog run. “I’ve suggested that Bobby get a therapy dog who is trained to help vets dealing with PTSD.”

  Matt knew full-well what a great idea that was. “I could talk to Claire and the Whitaker sisters about that. Maybe they know of programs in the area that match dogs with vets.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” he said. “And, in the meantime, I’ll give Bobby your contact info and let him know you’d be happy to hear from him.”

  They shook hands, and as Zeke took off running again, Matt thought about all the man had said. Matt had never paid much attention to purpose and meaning all that mumbo jumbo because his life had been chock-full of both during his army years. And here he was, a civilian, traces of the injury still dogging him every now and then, and he had purpose and meaning up the wazoo. To the point that he was actually asked—him, Matt Fielding—to present a puppy training show-and-tell to a bunch of third-graders.

  Once again, how had all this happened without him noticing?

  A rambunctious little terrier was being a pain in the butt in the dog run, so Matt wanted to get Sparkle and Hank out of there. Sparkle was a toughie who gave back what she got, but Hank was a gentle giant who’d let the bully nip his ankles, and he had only three to spare.

  He quickly pulled out his phone and called the number Zeke had given him for the carriage house to rent. He made an appointment to see the apartment in an hour. He’d bring the dogs home, then head over.

  As he was helping Sparkle up into his car, something occurred to him. If his life did have purpose and meaning, then he did have something to offer Claire Asher.

  Whoosh! It was like getting a surprise left hook in the stomach.

  So why was he still so set on keeping his emotional distance from her?

  Chapter Eleven

  “Well, Dempsey,” Claire said. “This is goodb—” Tears filled her eyes, and she swiped them away. “I promised you I wouldn’t cry, didn’t I? And I’m a blubbering mess.”

  She sat in her car, Dempsey sitting shotgun
in the passenger seat. The beautiful boxer mix looked lovely, all fresh from the groomer’s and smelling slightly of lavender.

  “We were only together seven weeks, and I feel like it’s been forever, Demps,” she said, her hands on either side of the dog’s snout. “But your new mama? She really seems wonderful. She even asked me to meet her for coffee yesterday and tell her every detail about you so she could understand your every nuance. She wrote down your favorite food and treats, too, and your favorite places to trail walk.”

  The woman really seemed perfect, the best possible forever home for Dempsey.

  “It’s time, sweet girl,” Claire said, getting out of the car.

  Kelly Pfieffer came running out of the house. “Dempsey’s here!” The woman was even planning to keep Dempsey’s name to make things easier for the transition.

  I’ve been through this before, and I’ll go through it again, she thought, forcing herself to smile for Kelly. This was a big moment for both adoptive mom and Dempsey and she didn’t want to make this about her.

  She waved at Kelly and kneeled down next to Dempsey. “I love you, sweet girl. You’re the best. And you’re going to have a great life. And I promise we’ll see each other at the dog park, okay?”

  Dempsey put her paw on Claire’s arm, and she almost lost it, but held it together.

  Kelly raced over, fawning and fussing over Dempsey, thanking Claire profusely, and then soon enough, Claire was in her car alone.

  She let herself cry for a good minute before driving right over to the shelter. Bunny sat behind the reception desk.

  “I just dropped off Dempsey with her new mom,” she said, tears still in her eyes. “I need a toughie. A foster dog who really needs me.”

  “Aww,” Bunny said, coming around the desk to wrap Claire in a much-needed hug. “It’s always so hard to give up the fosters. Especially when we bond with them. But the bonding is what makes them so ready for that forever home. Right?”

  Claire blinked back tears. “Right. Dempsey is special, and I know she’s in a great home now. Letting her go was rough, I’ll tell ya.”

  “I had one of those heart-wrenchers,” Bunny said. “Remember Buttercup? Long-haired dachshund? I was crazy about that little gal. I almost kept her too. But then I remembered my mission—to prepare as many rescue dogs as I can for great new homes. Not to keep every one I fall madly in love with.”

  “It is really hard to let go of someone you’re madly in love with,” Claire agreed, her voice cracking.

  “Oh, Claire, I’m so sorry Matt is a stubborn fool. A helpful one, but a stubborn fool when it comes to what’s right in front of his face.”

  “Thanks, Bunny,” Claire said. “So, who do you have for me? Distract me with a real needy one.”

  Bunny put her fingers on her chin. “Oh, have I got the pooch for you. Remember the black-and-white shepherd mix that came in two days ago? Doc J has him on medication for a bad ear infection, and he doesn’t seem to know any commands. He’s very timid. He’s praise and food motivated, so I have no doubt you’ll do wonders with him.”

  Blaze. For the white lightning bolt-like zigzag on his otherwise black head. “I’ll go see him.”

  Blaze was in the far-left kennel. He was pressed up against the back of the kennel on a blanket, his head down, and looked pretty scared.

  “Hey, boy,” she said gently.

  The dog lifted his green eyes first, then his head. She held out a treat, and he came padding over very slowly. Claire could have counted to twenty-five in the time it took him to reach the front of the kennel.

  “Hi, Blaze,” she said, giving him the treat through the bars. “Aren’t you handsome? It’s no fun to be in here, is it?”

  The dog stared at her, and she could swear he was saying, Please pick me to be your new foster dog. I need you, Claire.

  When she opened the kennel, he ran toward the back, flattening himself against the far side. “It’s okay, Blaze. I’m all about love and treats.”

  “She’s telling you the truth,” a familiar voice said.

  She whirled around to find Matt returning Tucker to his kennel and latching the door.

  “I’ve been walking all the dogs,” he said. “I even walked Blaze about an hour ago. Shy guy.”

  “I’m hoping to bring him out of his shell,” she said, turning her attention to the dog as she leashed him and led him out of the kennel. His ears were back, which meant he was scared. “It’s okay, Blaze,” she said softy as she knelt down beside him. “You’re coming home with me, sweetie pie. And I’m going to give you a ton of TLC as I get you ready for your forever home.”

  “Are you okay?” Matt asked as she stood up, and she was touched that he remembered today was the day she had to say goodbye to Dempsey. But of course he remembered and asked how she was doing—because he was Matt Fielding and a great guy, dammit.

  She glanced at him and nodded, blinking back the sting of tears that poked at her eyes. “It’s never easy to say goodbye. But I’ll tell you, it feels good to say hello. This sweetie already has my heart.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “I don’t know how you do it. But I’m glad you do.”

  His tone was so reverent that she looked at him, and all she wanted to do was fling herself in his arms and be held. It would be a while before Blaze became a cuddler, if he ever did. And Claire could use some cuddling.

  “I have a big favor to ask,” he said.

  “If I can, I will.” She could start changing that motto. And just say no.

  “Ellie’s teacher called me and asked if I’d bring in Sparkle for a presentation on how to train and care for puppies. She thought it would give Ellie a little boost in the class too, which is why I couldn’t say no, even though I have no idea how to present anything, let alone to kids.”

  “You’re great with one third-grader in particular,” she pointed out. “The class will love you. Plus, Sparkle will do most of the work for you by being adorable and keeping the kids’ attention.”

  “I’m hoping so. But here’s the thing. The principal says someone from Furever Paws has to be present as an extra pair of ears and eyes, just in case. I know your hours are probably the same as the elementary school’s, though. We’d go on at two thirty.”

  She remembered Bunny’s advice—not to run and hide from him. The more time they spent together—quality time—the more he might see that they belonged together. Unless she was kidding herself. “Actually, I monitor a study hall as my last period of the day. I can easily have someone cover that for me.”

  “Perfect. And you’ll help me figure out what to say? How to structure the twenty minutes?”

  “I’d love to. Dogs and kids are my two favorite things.” Add in being with you, and it’s heaven.

  He smiled, but then the smile faded. Uh-oh. “Look, I know things between us have been strained and the push-pull is my fault. So, I thought it best if I find a new place to live for the next few weeks.”

  She didn’t want him to go. Closer was better, as much as it hurt. “Matt, you don’t have to do that.”

  “I already did.”

  It probably was for the best, but it still stung. Like everything these days. She shrugged. “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  Except it wasn’t okay. He was running away before he even ran away for good. This time, across town, probably near where he grew up.

  “I’ll miss Sparkle and Hank,” she said, hoping her voice wouldn’t crack.

  And I’ll miss you.

  “I owe you a lot, Claire,” he said.

  “Well,” she started, but what could she say? What was there to say at this point?

  You need to replace Matt Fielding the way you have to replace Dempsey, her sister had texted earlier, when Claire said her heart was in pieces. New foster dog to dote on—new man to fall for.

 
Or maybe Claire should just focus on the dog. And the child she wanted. There were some options she could look into. Becoming a foster parent to a little kid. Foreign adoption. The ole sperm bank. She’d always wanted the traditional setup—spouse, at least two kids and dogs—but that wasn’t what life had set out for her.

  “I’d better get Blaze home before he thinks he’s going back in the kennel,” she said. “He seems almost excited.”

  “His tail is giving a little wag,” Matt agreed.

  “Guess I might not even see you leave the apartment,” she said, “since all you have is a duffel bag. No moving van.” She was rambling, she realized, and clamped her mouth closed.

  “Don’t forget the two dogs,” he said with a killer smile. “Or the fact that I’d never leave without saying goodbye, Claire. I’ll text you about getting together to work on the presentation.”

  She managed something of a smile, and watched him walk away and disappear through the door into the hallway.

  “It’s you and me, Blaze.” The scared dog looked up at her, holding eye contact. She almost gasped, and gave the pooch a peanut butter treat. “Good dog!” she said, with a pat on his back. “And good sign.”

  For Blaze. And Claire’s entire life.

  * * *

  Two weeks later, Matt looked at Sparkle, sitting very nicely after the stay command he’d issued, and declared her done. Her favorite treat, a chicken-flavored soft chew, was fifteen feet in front of her, and though she wanted it, she’d obeyed Matt’s command and had for the past three days. She was fully trained. She knew sit, stay, come, heel and drop it, and a few others that Matt had taught her. Occasionally, she chased her tail, but now it was just cute.

  He wanted to call Claire and tell her, to have her come give Sparkle the “Claire Asher, dog whisperer” stamp of approval, but since he’d moved out of her apartment and into the carriage house, he’d avoided her except to get together to structure the presentation to Ellie’s class. He volunteered at Furever Paws only on days when she wasn’t due in. He missed the hell out of her, but it was for the best, for both their sakes.