Page 27 of Fumbled Beginning

“Really?” His eyes grew big. I smiled at how excited he looked.

“You have worn me down.” I stood up and started collecting our things. “One dinner.” I pointed. “Don’t make me regret it.”

He took my hand. “I’ll do my best.”

That’s what I was afraid of.

CHAPTER8

RYLEE

Every date outfitI owned was spread across my bed. Maybe I was overthinking things, but none of them seemed right. Not the black blazer with my leather pants or the one-shoulder jumper; even my slinky red dress screamed hard no.

“This is impossible,” I said to my golden retriever, Oakley. He popped his head up from where he was resting across the room. “You men have it easy.” I waited for him to respond, but he just ignored me and laid his head down on my carpet.

My shoulders slumped because I had officially lost my mind. It didn’t help that I didn’t know where we were going. JP thought surprising a woman who always needed to be in control sounded like a fun time. I begged him to give me a hint, and the only breadcrumb he threw my way was to dress warm and comfortably, hence, why none of my outfits would work.

Nibbling on my bottom lip, I glanced at my closet. I grabbed my best-fitting jeans, a simple white top, and a dark green blazer. I slipped on a pair of brown boots that offset the look completely. My hair fell in long, loose waves down my back. He seemed to like it that way, and I thought, why not apply an extra coat of that red lip gloss he was a fan of too.

When the knock sounded on the door, I gave myself one final twirl in the mirror, grabbed my bag, and took the steps I needed to get to my date.

Oakley trotted across the room, eager to greet our visitor. I swung the door open and held my eighty-five-pound golden retriever back by the collar.

JP leaned against the doorjamb in a charcoal gray sweater with dark jeans that molded perfectly against his muscular legs. Jesus, was he hot. His hair was styled in a way that showed he put extra effort into it, which made me smile. The man could be a cover model if he decided to switch professions.

“You look gorgeous.” He handed me a box, and I immediately recognized the label. I tried not to swoon, but JP Watson didn’t seem like the type of man that needed to go out of his way and stop by a food truck to bring his date a donut. All because he made a little joke about it the last time they were together.

“Wow!” I stepped back. “A man of his word. This night is off to a good start.”

Oakley lifted his nose and started sniffing the box. “Back away, you little mooch; this isn’t for you,” I said, holding it out of his reach.

JP pulled something out of his pocket, and it took me a second to realize it was a dog bone. “Oh, my God. Are you trying to win my dog over too? Is that part of your big plan to woo us both?”

He laughed when Oakley made a beeline for his legs. “Oakley here is going to be my wingman. Isn’t that right, old man?” He scratched my dog behind his head; the fur ball lapped up the attention.

“If you want to be his new BFF, you might want to call him something other than old man.”

“Noted.” He laughed and took off the plastic so he could feed it to him. “He’s gotten so big.”

Everyone on the team knew who Oakley was. I used to bring him to the practice field during the preseason to visit my brother.

“He’s been slowing down a bit, so I’ve been shortening his walks, but other than that, he’s doing pretty good.”

“How old is he now?”

“He just turned eight last month.”

“That’s what? Fifty-six in dog years?” He bent down to give Oakley more attention.

“You’re going to have hair all over you,” I told him as I made my way into the kitchen.

“It doesn’t bother me. It will come off.” He got down on the floor and started rubbing Oakley’s belly. “I hope I’m lucky enough to have as much hair as you do when I’m your age.”

I started stuffing my things into my purse. “Are you sure I’m dressed okay? I can change or better yet, you could give me a hint on where we are going?”

“Nice try.” JP stood up and started moving around; his new friend was hot on his heels. “You look perfect, no need to change.”

My shoulders deflated. “It was worth a shot.”

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