#Tuesdaytease 12.10.24

Today is the day!!!

LOVE, LATTES, and HOLIDAY TALES releases into the dog-loving, romance-reading world!

My story, MY MATCHMAKER PUPPY, is part of this collection, so here’s a taste of it.

Saturday morning after our first week arrived sunny and cold. I was just about to take Juliette for a walk when my phone blared. Ben’s number ran across the screen.

“I’m going nuts,” he said as a greeting. “Are you free for an emergency consult?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Dart’s not listening to anything I’m telling him this morning. He won’t go out, follow any commands and he’s been howling since I woke up. I’ve tried everything. Chicken, diversion. Praise. Nothing is working. I’m just about at my wit’s end and it’s not even ten o’clock.”

I told him to meet me at my office, asap.

To say he looked stressed when I let them both through the front door was an understatement.

“Thank you so much for seeing us.” Ben handed the leash to my outstretched hand.

The dog stared up at me, his gaze enraptured and focused on my face. He shot a quick side eye to Ben, then settled back on me. I gave him a sit command and he plopped down on his butt, his gaze never wavering. I pulled a small piece of chicken from my training fanny pack and gave it to him as a reward.

“That’s the first time he’s listened all morning.” The strain in Ben’s voice was unmistakable. “I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. I’ve done everything, including what you just did, to no avail. It’s like he’ll only listen to you.”

To put that theory to a test I handed Ben a treat and then asked him to give the dog a command.

Dart complied after first zeroing in on my face.

“Well, geez,” Ben said. “I swear, he didn’t do that before.  Why did he decide to, now?”

I had no idea, but dogs, like humans, could be fickle, temperamental, and just plain ornery at times.

“Let’s experiment,” I said, “I was just about to take Juliette for her morning walk when you called. Join us and we can see if he gives you any more problems.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

We bundled back up against the cold of the day and then set off to the nearby park. D’Artagnan was 50 shades of happy dog when he realized Juliette was going to walk with him.

“Again, I’m sorry to have bothered you on a Saturday,” Ben said as we rounded onto the street, our dogs walking in perfect harmony despite the difference in their sizes. “I’m sure you have a million things to do.”

I felt a little pathetic telling him I had nothing pressing except for monthly business reports and payroll to occupy my weekend.

“I didn’t take you away from anything…or anyone…important, did I? Breakfast with a…friend? Or something?” he asked.

From the slightly nervous warble in his voice to the way he kept sneaking glances at me I wondered at the meaning behind the questions. It was almost as if he was asking because he was…interested.

In me.

Get your copy today, kids! It’s a great collection of romances!