Page 12 of In for a Treat

I had spent the rest of the previous evening searching for model contracts, as well as practicing British expressions.

“Everything’s hunky-dory, Lewis,” I rehearsed while scooping up my cereal. “My breakfast was proper tasty.”

I hoped I didn’t sound like an overachiever. Maybe talking British to him wasn’t my best idea after all. I didn’t want him thinking I was making fun of him.

My phone beeped with a message, making my stomach do a double turn. Please don’t let it be Lewis canceling our meeting.

Thankfully, it wasn’t. My mother’s name appeared on the screen, much to my relief, and I swiped the message open.

Don’t forget the party is this Friday. And dress up, please!

I could’ve guessed my parents would turn it into a themed party. A hamster hotel opening called for fun outfits after all. I’d stop by the costume store after my appointment with Lewis. If I didn’t act fast, all the good ones would be gone already. I fired off a quickokay, and put my empty bowl in the sink.

After making sure I had everything I needed for my meeting with Lewis, I went on my way. It was quite a walk to Snow Globe Lane. Thankfully, Gene had told me my car would be ready tomorrow. It would put a serious dent in my finances, but at least I’d get around a lot faster.

Lewis’s home was located a few houses down from the local bookstore Got It Covered. I had never paid a lot of attention to the other houses in the street before now. They were all freestanding, and each one had a nice front yard and wraparound porch. All in all, the neighborhood looked like the perfect spot to raise a family, but I could imagine it was also a solid choice for people with dogs who needed lots of space to run around. Lewis had chosen a great place to live.

I came to a standstill in front of number twenty-two and took a deep breath before walking up the steps to the front door. Nerves raced through me as I rang the doorbell. Not only because I’d see Lewis again, but because I really wanted to be his dog walker.

Lewis opened the door and broke out in a smile. “Ah, my coffee dealer. Quick, come in before anyone catches us.”

I laughed. “Just so you know, I don’t have any coffee on me,” I said, following him inside. “You’ll have to stop by Sip’nBean this afternoon to get your caffeine treat.”

“And I’ll reward you generously this time,” he said with a wink.

“Oh yeah? You’ll leave me a tip? I guess I’ll have to wait and see before I believe that.”

He locked eyes with me, which caught me off guard and made me grin like a fool. “You’re one cheeky dog walker, Olive.”

I cleared my throat. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you or anything.”

I would’ve punched myself if that wouldn’t have looked completely weird. I always did this. Every time someone acted all happy and funny around me, I had to take it a smidge too far.

Lewis smiled at me, his features softening. “It was just a joke. I love cheeky dog walkers.”

My heart fluttered to life again after hearing him say those words, yet I made a deal with myself to try not to come on too strong. I wanted to land Lewis as a client, not repel him after our first meeting.

We stepped into the living room, which was stacked with moving boxes and half-assembled furniture. I didn’t have a lot of time to look around, though, because a dog came running toward me, almost toppling me over.

“This must be Archie,” I said with a laugh. “How are you doing, big boy?”

I rubbed his head, and the dog put his paws on my stomach. His head was incredibly soft and furry, and he looked like a living teddy bear. I knew Akitas weren’t easy to handle, though, and that the teddy-bear look could be deceiving, but Archie seemed to be a relaxed dog.

With one simple command, Lewis got him to back off and sit at our feet. “I’m sorry about that. He just gets really excited when meeting someone new.”

I plucked a couple of stray dog hairs off my pants. “I’m used to dogs jumping on me. I do have to say I’m impressed with how well he listens to you.”

“I suppose I trained him well.” Lewis threw his dog a loving smile and rubbed his head. The two of them made an adorable pair. “Good training is a must with an Akita like Archie. If you don’t train them properly, they can get aggressive.”

“Isn’t proper training expected when you’re a dog owner?” I asked.

He let out a frustrated sigh. “You’d be surprised how many people skip that important step. And then, they come to my practice, asking me to fix something that can hardly be fixed anymore. By the time people come to me because their dog is out of control, the animal is set in its ways. There should be a test you have to pass before getting a dog. It would solve a lot of heartache.”

The way he talked about his job and the well-being of dogs made me melt. I wondered how he looked in scrubs. I bet the only possible answer to that question wasstunning.

“Tell me about it,” I said. “The dogs I get to walk are usually on their best behavior, but there are some that wreak havoc wherever they go.”

“I can imagine.” Lewis shoved three moving boxes out of the way and cleared a toolbox off the couch. “Please, sit. Can I get you something to drink?”

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