Author: Jaci Burton

As her father slipped the long-haired dachshund a piece of his bread, she rolled her eyes. “And that’s why he’s getting so fat, Dad. You know better.”

Her father shrugged. “He doesn’t feel like a part of the family if he doesn’t get to eat when we eat.”

“Then bring his food bowl in here and give him dog food. How many times do I have to lecture you about how damaging it is to give human food to dogs? And how bad will it be for my reputation when my parents parade their over-weight dachshund through town?” She wiped her lips on the napkin and pushed her chair back, then picked up Pokey.

“Ugh. He needs a restricted diet and a lot more exercise.” She turned to her mother. “Bring him in next week?”

“Yes, Doctor,” her mother said with a smile.

“And you,” Emma said to her dad. “Stop feeding him food scraps immediately.”

“She’s mean,” her dad said to her mother.

“She’s right and you know it.”

After dinner she found Pokey’s harness and they all went for a walk. The night was crisp and cool, so she grabbed a sweater from her truck.

Her father had put on a little weight as well, so it wouldn’t hurt him to take Pokey on a walk a couple times a day, though she told him it was for Pokey’s benefit only.

“How’s work?” she asked her mom as they walked behind her dad and Pokey.

“Busy. We have a couple of new clients and some great marketing campaigns coming up, so it’s pretty exciting stuff. But, you know, I’m never too busy that I can’t take you on as a client.”

“Thanks, Mom, but I think I’m okay for now.”

“All right. But if you change your mind, you let me know. I already have several ideas that I think would boost your clientele. What if you did an adoption day at the clinic, in conjunction with the local shelter? They could bring their animals over, and you could provide reduced-fee services for like six months or a year for every animal someone adopts? That way animals get adopted, and you pick up new clients.”

Emma was about to open her mouth to object, but then thought about it for a second. “You know what? That’s a really good idea.”

Her mother shot her a knowing smile. “Of course it is. I’m brilliant that way.”

There was no doubt her mom was a genius with marketing and promotion, but Emma just couldn’t afford it right now. And the last thing she wanted was her mom’s fingers in her business. But that idea was a good one.

“I’ll consider it and get in touch with the local shelter. Thanks, Mom.”

“I can help you with the advertising. I already have some things in mind.”

She laughed and looped her arm through her mother’s. “I said I’d think about it. Don’t go hog wild with a marketing plan just yet.”

She loved her mother, but if she did go forward with this plan, she’d have to put a leash on her mom’s marketing genius. The whole idea of going into business for herself was just that—to do it herself. Independence was key.

So far she was doing all right on her own, minus that night of the break-in when she’d needed Luke’s help.

She’d been grateful for that, and despite being irritated with him for offering to take her out on a mercy date, she’d never been happier to see him than when he’d shown up at her clinic that night.

He’d been so sweet to follow her home, too, which she knew wasn’t at all a requirement of his job. It had been him being nice to her.

And she’d been a giant bitch after he’d offered to take her out.

Maybe she should do something about that. She just didn’t know how she would go about it. That, too, was going to require some thought.

After dinner, she went home and loaded Daisy and Annie into her truck, then drove to the park. Daisy would stay right next to her, but she’d been working on leash-training Annie, somewhat unsuccessfully. The pup parked her butt on the trail and refused to move.

“Come on, Annie. You’ll enjoy the walk. It’s nice outside.”

Annie looked up at her, offended by the leash and none too happy about the collar, either. But Emma was determined, and she’d leash-trained plenty of dogs. She gave the leash some lax, and walked a few feet away. Annie followed, and Emma continued to move at a snail’s pace, much to Daisy’s chagrin, who was used to the two of them taking the trails at a run.

Daisy whimpered.

“I know, sweetie,” Emma murmured. “But we have to do this for Annie.”

Annie, who no one had claimed yet or shown interest in adopting.

Emma sighed and patiently worked with Annie for a good half hour, until the pup realized it wasn’t going to win this battle. Annie finally started walking alongside Emma, who gave the pup tons of praise as she clumsily lumbered next to her.

It wasn’t the run Daisy wanted, but next time she’d leave Annie at home and they could jog.

When the sun disappeared behind the houses on the other side of the lake, the temperature dropped. Emma zipped up her jacket, not wanting to head back to her car just yet, even though the trails were mostly deserted.

A few years ago, she wouldn’t have allowed herself to be alone like this.

But this was the new Emma. The Emma who refused to let fear rule her life.

When she heard a car pull up slowly behind her, though, she whipped around, ready to grab Annie and make a mad dash back to her truck.

It was a police car. She leaned forward to see Luke behind the wheel. He stopped and got out, looking sexy in his uniform.

She gave up trying to be immune to the sexy. The man was hot.

“Oh. Hi, Luke,” she said, trying to relax her frantically beating heart.

“Hi yourself. You do know the park closes at eight, right?”

She grabbed her phone out of her pocket to check the time. It was eight thirty. “I’m sorry. I’ve been leash-training Annie and just lost track of time.”

She started back to her truck.

“Hang on,” he said.

He let Boomer out of his car. The three dogs smelled and greeted each other with a wild wag of tails.

He started walking with her.

“You do realize your car is up there,” she said after about five minutes.

He gave her a smile. “Just doing my official duty and making sure you hooligans leave the park.”

She couldn’t help the smirk. “Oh, now we’re hooligans?”

“Well, you look suspect. Never know what kind of nefarious activities you and your cohorts could get up to without me keeping an eye on you.”

“I see. Well, guys,” she said to the dogs, “looks like we’ve been thwarted.”

Annie fell off the curb, shook her head, and climbed back up. Daisy was too busy running circles around Boomer to pay much attention to anything Emma said.

“Huh. Some sidekicks you two are.”

“I think you need better partners-in-crime,” Luke said as they arrived at her truck.

Emma scooped Annie up and deposited her in her carrier. “Apparently.”

She called for Daisy, who hopped into the front seat of the truck. She closed the door and turned to Luke. “Thanks for the escort. And for not throwing me in jail.”

“I wouldn’t have thrown you in jail, you know.”

He quirked a smile at her that made her belly tumble. She wished he didn’t have that kind of effect on her. It would be a lot easier if he were just some random guy she could be friendly with. But she remembered that she owed him, that he’d been so nice to her.

“So, about the other night?”

He frowned. “The break-in? Is everything all right? I hadn’t heard of any recurrences.”

“No. Not that. The other night before that night. When you were so nice and offered to take me out. My reception to that was a little . . . unfriendly.”

“Oh. That.” His lips quirked. “Don’t worry about it. It’s forgotten.”

“I haven’t forgotten, though. And I was rude. I’m sorry. I told you I was rusty in the dating department. Apparently that includes my social skills. Please accept my apology.”

“Not necessary. I don’t think my offer was worded in the right way, either. I didn’t mean you couldn’t get a date on your own. Obviously, you’re a beautiful woman, and you sure as hell don’t need me to take you out on a date.”

He gave her the once-over, the way a man looks at a woman that isn’t at all insulting, just . . . intriguing. Her body fused with heat.

“Uh, well, wow. Thank you for that.”

He offered up a smile. “I’ll let you head home, Emma.”

He was about to leave. She could have left it at that, and she’d be off the hook. But something about the way he looked at her, the fact that he’d walked her all the way down the hill instead of just telling her to hightail it out of the park—

So she let instinct take over, and she grabbed his arm.

“Luke . . . wait.”

He stilled. “What is it?”

She should have let go of him, but his body felt warm. Solid. And he didn’t seem to mind that she was touching him. In fact, he leaned a little closer.

Which she didn’t mind at all, either.

“I’d still like to go out with you, if the offer’s open.”

“You would, huh?”

“Yes.”

He cocked his head to the side and gave her the kind of half-smile that made her belly clench and all the female parts of her squeal with joy.

He reached out and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you sure, Emma?”

Her wary mind said no. Her libido screamed Oh. Hell. Yes. “Absolutely.”

“Okay. How about Saturday?”

“Saturday sounds great.” She wasn’t sure about anything, especially where men were concerned. But she’d consider this part of her reintroduction to the opposite sex. “But just as friends, right?”

“Whatever you want, Emma. The Double-A baseball team has an in-town game. Do you like baseball?”

“I love baseball.”

“Great.” He pulled out his phone. “If you want to give me your number, I’ll call you after I figure out game time.”

She gave him her phone number and put his number in her cell.

“I’ll see you on Saturday, then.”

“Bye, Luke.”

She started to turn away, but this time Luke grasped her arm.

“Hey, Emma?”

“Yes?”

He tipped her chin and brushed his lips against hers. Her breath held and she felt that brush of a kiss all the way to her toes, and every delicious part of her in between.

He stepped away. “Just a friendly kiss. Nothing more.”

He smiled at her and walked away.

She hung outside the door to her truck and watched him and Boomer make the trek up the hill, the muscles of his legs working easily as he climbed the steep incline.

He also had a great butt. Not that she noticed or anything, because she was only interested in him as a friend. Not in his mighty fine ass. Or the way he had just totally and completely rocked her world with a two-second kiss.

She grabbed her keys and realized her hands were shaking.

If he could incite that type of response with a short kiss, Emma wondered if she could survive a longer one.

She climbed in the truck and started it, then looked over at Daisy, who cocked her head to the side.

She scrubbed her fingers through Daisy’s fur.

“I know, Dase,” she said. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Chapter 6

LUKE FIGURED A baseball game was as safe and unromantic a date as he could plan. Tons of people, beer and a hot dog, and lots of screaming kids.

Plus, it was Take Your Dog to the Ballpark Day. You had to love Double-A ball. Though Luke would much prefer to have a major league baseball team in Hope, there were certain advantages to having a minor league team in the city. The promotions were one of those advantages.