Page 16 of An Engagement Pact

“How’s Oscar this morning?” Dan asks as if he senses I’ve had as much of this conversation as I can handle.

“He’s good,” I say with a wide smile. “He didn’t jump up on anyone and get their nice clothes all muddy today, so I call that a good morning.”

Dan chuckles. “I told you it wasn’t a big deal.”

“I know. I still feel bad. He’s the sweetest boy, but he doesn’t understand how to restrain his enthusiasm.”

“How many dogs do you walk?” Paige asks.

“Between eight or ten every day. But then there are others that I stop by their places to feed or let out to go to the bathroom. I stay pretty busy with them, but some days are busier than others.” I glance at my watch, taking a big swallow of my coffee. “Speaking of, I better run home and shower and dress before I do my next round.”

Neither Paige nor Dan object to my statement, but after I say goodbye to Paige, Dan gets up to walk me outside to the sidewalk.

“I hope I didn’t make you late,” he murmurs, standing very close to me. “I was afraid it would look strange not to get your attention when we saw you walking by.”

“It’s fine. I’m not late. Thanks for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiles—a slow kind of smile that gradually warms his face and eyes. It’s really quite compelling. “So we’re good for lunch tomorrow?”

“Yep.” He’s already confirmed our lunch date several times, but I understand the impulse. Our whole situation is a bit odd. “I’ll see you then.”

He shifts slightly, and for a moment I yet again think he’s going to lean down to kiss me, but he doesn’t. Instead, he lifts a hand and runs his fingers down a piece of hair that’s escaped my ponytail, giving it a gentle tug when he gets to the end.

He turns around and walks back into the coffee shop.

I’m all jittery again, and it’s starting to get annoying.

I really need to do better than this.

***

ON THURSDAY, THE PART-timer at Lock-N-Leash who usually handles evening tasks is sick, so I agree to do the late doggie-daycare walk.

Throughout the day, most of the dogs in daycare get walked at least once in groups. The five-thirty walk consists of only three easy dogs, and they get walked one lap around the park, so it only takes twenty minutes. I have plenty of time to fit it in before I meet Dan at the coffee shop at six.

All three of the dogs are cuties. A ten-year-old bichon frise, a black-and-white cockapoo, and a king-of-the-world Chihuahua. They’re friendly, well behaved, and clearly as proud of their little walk as if they’d hiked up Kilimanjaro. I’m on my way to drop them back at Lock-N-Leash when I nearly run into Paige, who is glancing at something on the phone as she heads toward the coffee shop.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she exclaims as I pull my three dogs out of her path. “I know better than to walk and read at the same time.”

“No worries.” I smile at her because she’s Dan’s friend and because I genuinely like her. “Down, Ajax! No jumping.”

The feisty Chihuahua gives me a haughty look for ruining his attempt to extend a proper greeting but obediently plants four feet on the sidewalk. After asking me for permission, Paige leans over and gives all three of them a head scratch in turn. “Aren’t you normally done working by now?” she asks.

“I am. I picked up the extra walk because someone was sick.”

“You should come on over when you’re done then.” She nods toward the coffee shop. “I think Dan is supposed to be here this evening.”

“He is. I’m supposed to meet him there at six.”

“Oh good.” Paige’s smile is warm and genuine. “How’s everything going with you two?”

Hit with a wave of self-consciousness, I force myself not to brush off the question. “Fine, I think. You might need to ask Dan.”

“I have asked Dan, and he thinks it’s going a lot better than fine.”

I blush at her teasing look but figure it’s an appropriate reaction for someone who is in the process of falling in love. “That’s good then.”

Paige laughs. “But Dan would probably be over the moon if you did nothing but smile in his direction, so I’m not sure he’s the best person to give me an accurate report.”

---