Page 2 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

The pup has been sprinting around the open field outside of Mile High Mutts Rescue since she yanked the leash from my hand. Thank goodness the area is secured. But when the property is a few acres, does that make a difference?

“She likes it, Daddy!” Scarlett yells, her laughter ringing through the unseasonably warm air. “Go Emmy, go!”

Dumbest. Idea. Ever!

From what little I know about the greyhound breed, they have big bursts of energy, and then they crash. Well, this pretty little girl, just like my daughter, doesn’t seem to have an off button. Nor does she seem to be fatigued at all.

By the time we get out of here, Duncan and Ava will be back in Maple Ridge, and they’ll need to send a search party out to find us.

A car door slams, and I turn toward the parking lot. A poised, slender woman steps out, her dark brown hair swept back in a long ponytail that shines when the sunlight catches it. There’s a quiet confidence in her stride, like she’s unfazed by the chaos unfolding. Perfect! Exactly what I need. Someone to witness my ultimate humiliation. Two girls who don’t listen to me.

“Emmmmm-mmeee,” the feminine voice calls out.

“Don’t you think I tried that?” I grumble quietly to myself. But to my complete amazement, I watch my nemesis make a large arc and head toward the woman walking through the gate. In the process, she darts right past me like I don’t even exist. “Are you kidding me?”

The woman pulls a rope from her pocket, does some quick maneuvers and turns it into something that now resembles adog leash. She sticks her hand through the loop and Emmy, like she didn’t just spend the last twenty-minutes avoiding me like I had the plague, shoves her head through it. Then she gives the woman’s hand a gentle lick, her big eyes gleaming with trust.

My jaw drops, my humiliation complete.

“My hero!” Scarlett excitedly claps her hands, pouring salt on my open wound. “How did you do that? It was magical!”

I watch as she and Emmy stroll—not drag, but stroll—toward me and Scarlett. Despite myself, I can’t help but wonder if maybe she does have a few magic tricks up her sleeve. Because what I’m watching feels supernatural.

“You just need to know what Emmy’s favorite thing is!” She lets out a laugh, and I feel a stirring in my gut.

“Running?” Scarlett giggles, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Okay, maybe her second favorite thing!” She snickers, then holds out her hand, revealing her secret weapon. “Treats.”

Something tickles the back of my memory as I watch this person moving toward me. She seems familiar, yet I’m certain I haven’t met her.

“Those are the treats Uncle Dunk—”

“Scarlett,” I say sternly, pulling my brows together. Her gaze sparkles when it meets mine, but she heeds my warning and uses Duncan’s name instead of her nickname for him.

“Duncan makes.”

“Well, Emmy loves them. Lucky for her, she’ll be going to a home where she can always have them.” Radiant blue eyes lift to mine, and my gut pitches. “I’m Cat. One of the volunteers. Is it safe to say you’re this pup’s new family?”

The feeling that I’ve met this person before nags at me, but I shake it off. For some reason, though, the thought won’t leave that easily. There’s something irrefutably familiar about her.

“Yes,” Scarlett giggles. “But I think Daddy may need some help when it comes to getting Emmy to listen.”

“Need some help with your dog wrangling skills, do you?” She directs toward me, but winks at Scarlett, making her laugh.

“I didn’t know dog wrangling was a thing,” I mutter, drawing her blue gaze back to mine. The humor dancing there makes my breath hitch. “But apparently it’s just one other thing I’ll have to learn.”

“The rescue offers an incredible support system and some training classes. It’s where I learned everything I know.” She beams at me, and a dimple pops on her left cheek. “Hopefully Jade had you sign up for a few.”

My mind is ticking down a list of people I’ve known throughout my life. Those blue eyes, that dimple. I know I’ve seen it before. A question runs across her face as we stare at each other.

“Jade had Daddy sign up for all of them.” Scarlett bends down and kisses Emmy on the head. “She said we would need them.”

I feel heat creep up my neck and silently curse my daughter’s lack of filter.

“Jade’s right.” Cat laughs, still staring at me, humor twinkling in her eyes. “This pup is unique and special. Definitely one of a kind.”

Looking at Cat’s dimple, a memory tugs somewhere deep inside. A recollection of a young girl walking up the steps to my neighbor’s house, turning a sad smile my way, slams into me, and I gasp.

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