Puppy Love (8 page)

He put his hand on the leash right above mine. His arm grazed my arm, and our shoulders bumped. Once again, I thought I might hyperventilate. He was touching me! As in actual skin-to-skin contact!

I surreptitiously scanned the surrounding area, wondering if Robert was watching this. He was down at the far end of the aisle with Jamal, waving his arms around and chatting in his usual animated fashion.

Good boy! It was pretty obvious that he was running interference, playing the wingman, making sure I had this moment with Adam all to myself. I was grateful, but I didn't dwell on that for long.

“Okay, let's try this again. . . .” Adam walked me through the leash-training exercise, showing me how to surprise the puppy and keep him guessing so his attention was more likely to stay focused on me.

As for me? All my attention was focused on Adam. His hands were gentle as they guided mine, and he smelled good up close, with only the slightest whiff of doggy odor.

Or was that me? I had a moment of panic before I decided it didn't matter. We were in a pet supply store—everything here had a doggy odor. Besides, Adam loved dogs. Maybe I should start bathing in Eau de Puppy Breath.

Okay, being that close to Adam was making me a little giddy. And I'd barely said a word to him so far. I knew I had to pull it together if I didn't want this magical moment to go to waste.

“So—um, how'd you learn so much about dog training, anyway?” I asked as he finally stepped away, allowing me enough space to breathe semi-normally again.

He shrugged and smiled. “I've always loved dogs—we always
had a pack about the place when we lived in Ireland. Guess I have a bit of a knack with them. That's what everybody says, anyhow.”

“Cool. So do you have a dog of your own?”

I guess that was a stupid question, but he didn't seem to mind. “Three of them, yeah,” he replied. “Couple of border collies and a Jack Russell terrier. I do agility and some obedience with the girls, and the terrier is a flyball fiend.”

“Oh, I've heard of that stuff,” I blurted out. See? My Internet research in preparing to get a puppy had come in handy! “Agility's that obstacle course thing, right? That looks like fun.”

“I bet Muckle would think so too.” Adam smiled at my puppy, who was sitting still for a change, gazing up at Adam adoringly. Like puppy, like owner. “You ought to try it with him once he's got his basic training down. Actually, I teach a couple of beginner agility classes, plus take on some private students. I can give you the info if you think you might be interested.”

“I'm definitely interested.” Understatement of the year.

Adam's smile widened. “Good. I like an enthusiastic student.” Suddenly his smile wavered, and he checked his watch. “Speaking of which, I just remembered—I'm supposed to be meeting a client over at the dog park in fifteen minutes, and it takes twenty to get there. I've got to go.”

He actually sounded . . . disappointed. Could it be? Was he as reluctant to leave me as I was to see him leave?

No, probably not. But if he was even a tiny bit reluctant, I'd take it.

“Okay,” I said. “Thanks for the tips. And for helping me catch my little monster.”

“Anytime.” He bent to ruffle Muckle's fur, which made the puppy leap around in ecstasy. “See you in class, Muckle.” He straightened up and directed that megawatt smile at me again. “You too, Lauren.”

“Okay.” I didn't want this to end. “Um, actually, I'm on my way out too. I'll walk you.”

“Sure.” Adam glanced at Robert and Jamal, still barely visible at the far end of the aisle. “What about your friends?”

“Um, they're going somewhere after this. Without me.” Not wanting him to ask any more questions, I decided to switch us back to a safer subject. “So these private lessons—how often do you teach?”

We chatted about his dog training schedule for the short walk out of the store. Realizing it would be pathetic to actually follow him to his car, I stopped on the sidewalk.

“Okay,” I said, holding tightly to Muckle's leash. “See you Tuesday.”

“For sure.” He lifted one hand in a wave. “Later, Lauren.”

“Bye.” I bent down and pretended to fiddle with Muckle's collar so I had an excuse to stay right there, watching as he went striding out into the parking lot. He climbed into a beat-up beige minivan—not exactly the rugged Range Rover type of vehicle I would have imagined he'd drive, but whatever—and drove away.

Only then did I head back inside. I found Robert browsing the magazine rack near the registers.

“How'd it go, lover girl?” he asked with a smirk.

“Great. Tell you after we get out of here.” I looked around. “Where's Jamal?”

“He took off after you went outside with your hot new boyfriend.” Robert shrugged. “Guess he was jealous.”

“Ha-ha, very funny.” I wasn't really focused on Jamal. I just wanted to make sure he wasn't going to wander up and interrupt once I started telling Robert about my Adam encounter.

“You know, he actually isn't the macho jock type you'd take him for at first glance,” Robert said.

I blinked. “What are you talking about? Adam isn't the jock type at all.”

“I'm not talking about Adam,” Robert said. “I mean Jamal. I only started talking to him to keep him out of your hair, but he's actually a pretty cool guy.”

“Sure, he's great. Maybe you two can go antiquing together sometime.” I snorted, then grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the door. “Now let's get out of here so I can tell you all about Adam. And then start figuring out what I should wear to puppy class on Tuesday.”

Chapter
Eight

W
hen did school get so
freaking boring?” I muttered to Robert as we walked out of English class on Tuesday afternoon.

“It was always boring. You're just noticing now?”

Robert shuffled through his backpack—a vintage leather number he'd picked up on eBay. “Shoot, I forgot my science stuff. Walk me to my locker?”

“Yeah, okay.” I trailed along after him. Every time I had to dodge a group of obnoxious jocks elbowing one another like Neanderthals, or a pack of expensively dressed prepsters slouching along as if they owned the planet, I found myself wishing I were at MVHS instead. Sure, there were probably plenty of jerks there, too. But at least there I'd have a chance of spotting my own personal Prince Charming in the halls.

Speaking of halls, County Day Academy was located in a historic building right in the middle of what passed for a downtown in Maple View. That meant it was on the small side as schools went, with the lockers to match. I rarely bothered to leave more than my gym clothes and a couple of granola bars in mine. Actually, that was pretty much all that fit without squishing.

But Robert hated getting his constantly rotating collection of designer bags and backpacks all distended with too many books, so he insisted on shoving stuff into his locker on a daily basis. Which could make it a challenge to get anything back out at times.

“Did you finish the lab write-up last night?” he asked as he shuffled through the locker.

“The what?” I wasn't really listening. I'd been trying to figure out exactly how many minutes were left until that afternoon's puppy class started.

He smiled. “Ah, young love. It turns the brain to mush.” He chucked me under the chin. “Seriously though, Lauren, it's nice to see you falling for a real-life Prince Charming for a change—especially since he happens to come with a hot accent. To be honest, the unrequited Corc thing was getting a little tired.”

“Does that mean you're tired of him, too?” I challenged.

He smirked. “Not a chance. But we're talking about you, sweetie. Like I said, it's good to see you out there. Going for it. Flirting your pretty little head off.”

I snorted. “Flirting? Me?”

“What do you think you were doing the other day?” Robert
lifted one eyebrow knowingly. “Trust me, I recognize flirting when I see it.”

I couldn't argue with that. Robert was definitely a romantic at heart—much more so than I was, actually. He was all about the meaningful glance, the first kiss, the happily ever after. All those sappy chick flicks he was always dragging me to were proof enough.

Still, I wasn't about to admit to anything when he was looking so smug. “I don't know what you're talking about,” I told him. “I don't even know how to flirt.”

“I beg to differ,” he retorted. “So does Adam, I'm sure. And Jamal, for that matter.”

“Jamal?” I blinked at him. “Okay, I might concede your point when it comes to Adam. But I was definitely not flirting with Jamal.”

Robert slammed his locker door shut. “Maybe you should try it sometime,” he said. “He's almost as hot as Adam. No accent, of course, but the rest of the package is there—he's cool, he's smart, he's more age appropriate. . . .”

I stared at him, waiting for the punch line. But there didn't seem to be one. Was Robert crazy? Jamal was cool and all, but he was no Adam.

“Are you nuts?” I said. “I just met the man of my dreams, and you're already trying to hook me up with some other guy?”

“Sorry.” Robert hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder and checked his watch. “I'm just saying, if things don't work out with
Adam, it's nice to have a backup. But I'm sure things will work out with Adam,” he added hastily, probably catching the murderous glint in my eye. “He's totally perfect for you. He's like Corc, only even better.”

“Better than Corc?” I asked, slightly mollified. I didn't know where the whole Jamal detour had come from, but I wanted to get back on track.

“Yeah, totally.” We started wandering toward our next class. “He's younger than Corc, for one thing. And available—no supermodels to compete with.”

“Always a plus,” I agreed.

“And then there's the job,” Robert went on. “Tagging along on those world tours would get awfully old after a while, don't you think?”

“Of course.” I grinned at him. “You're right. Adam's perfect.”

The bell rang, sending us scurrying off toward the science lab. I only hoped I wasn't so distracted by my daydreams about Adam that I accidentally blew up the school. Not that I'd miss the school, mind you. But I didn't want anything to make me late for puppy class.

*  *  *

After school, Robert and I stopped by his house first so he could change clothes. Then we swung by my house to pick up Muckle. He was waiting for us when I opened the front door, his entire fuzzy little body quivering with excitement. Mom was waiting too, and she was also quivering. But in her case, it was with irritation.
She wanted to tell us all about how naughty Muckle had been that day, but luckily, I had an excuse to duck most of her complaints this time.

“Sorry, Mom,” I said, snapping the leash onto Muckle's collar while he leaped around joyfully, trying to lick my face. “We don't want to be late for puppy class.”

She frowned. “Yes, I suppose that dog needs all the class time he can get.” Then her gaze wandered to Robert. “What are you wearing, young man?”

Did I mention that Robert had stopped to change clothes? He was flying solo in the Disguise Game that day, all decked out as a summer tourist even though it was almost November. A pair of oversize Bermuda shorts put his pale, knobby knees on full display. His second-favorite Hawaiian shirt—the one with luau scenes all over it—flapped over a white patent leather belt. A pair of antique binoculars hung around his neck, and the whole outfit was topped off with a wide-brimmed hat.

“What, this old thing?” Robert shot Mom an innocent smile as he twirled on our front step. “It was a little warm in school today, so I thought I'd slip into something more comfortable.”

“Hmm.” Mom turned away, clearly losing interest in Robert's latest fashion statement. “Make sure you're home in time for dinner, Lauren.”

When we arrived at PetzBiz, Robert got out of the car and pulled his hat lower over his face. “Ready to go incognito,” he said.

I sighed. “Must you? I mean, are you sure you don't have any
important shopping to do at the Goodwill store? It's drop-off day, you know.”

For a moment he looked tempted. Then he shook his head.

“I want to be there for you, Lauren,” he informed me. “Keep an eye on things. Watch your back.”

“Whatever.” I knew better than to try to talk him out of it. The more I'd try, the more stubborn he'd get. And the more likely to pull something embarrassing.

As we reached the front door, I heard someone calling my name. Muckle spun around, yipping joyfully as Rachel and Gizi hurried toward us.

“Hey!” I greeted her. “Ready for today's class?”

“I hope so.” Rachel sounded a little breathless. “I took Gizi for a long walk right after school so she'd maybe be calmer.” She glanced at her puppy, who was leaping around doing the crazy-puppy-happy-welcome dance with Muckle. “I'm not sure it worked.”