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Izzy trailed behind her, noting Liam matched her pace to hang back. "How's work?" he asked.
His casual question set the tone. Distance. She needed to cultivate friendly distance. "Good. I'm learning to program the matchups and spreadsheets, and it's fascinating work. I never thought science could merge into the art of matching up two people for a relationship, but Kinnections proved me wrong."
"I didn't know you liked computers."
"Yeah; I have a tiny piece of nerdism within me. Something about all that useless data turning into something that can run an empire inspires me. I'm good at data matching and finding the holes in code."
"I'm not surprised. It holds just enough challenge to keep you interested."
"Exactly." He tugged at her hair in a playful gesture that made her smile. The damning words tumbled from her lips too fast to stop. "I'm assuming you're working with Kate now to find your match?"
He looked pleased at her question. Too pleased. "Why? Interested in who they come up with for me?"
Her foot stumbled over a rock, and he reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her. A flash of heat tingled her nerve endings. "No. Yes. I mean, no, no--of course not. That's your personal business now."
"So you haven't thought about me or that kiss?"
"No. It was a way for us to reach closure. I've put it behind us, and so should you."
His deep laugh mixed with the sharp tones of barking. She narrowed her gaze. "What's so funny?" she hissed.
"You. I finally got you to lie."
"Here we go," Arilyn chirped merrily. She opened the gate where cages spread out over the green grass. For the next two hours, she led them to each dog, describing the personality, habits, common behaviors, and history. Izzy met small dogs, big dogs, white dogs, mottled dogs, shy and nosy ones, the calm and the playful. Breeds were a potpourri of color and beauty, and she enjoyed each visit, treasuring the time and saying a quick prayer for each one to find his or her forever home as she went from one dog to the next.
Liam walked two of them, and Izzy walked three. Finally, Arilyn led them inside the house, greeting the various volunteers along the way. "There are ten more dogs inside, plus the new litter. I think Rocky may be a great fit for you, Devine. He's a boxer with a great personality."
"Sounds good."
Sharp barks and activity surrounded them. The smell of dogs and antiseptic drifted in the air. "We have them in the playroom right now so you can have fun meeting half of them at a time. We try to get them out of their cages as much as possible, so many of our volunteers take time just to sit in the playroom for an hour or two and give them attention."
Arilyn reached out to unlock the door when a man with buzz-cut brown hair and frantic eyes rushed up. "Arilyn, we have a huge problem with Hugo--can you come over for a minute?"
"Sure. Excuse me, guys. Can you hang out here for me?"
"Absolutely, go," Izzy said. Arilyn ran off and Izzy shook her head, amazed at her friend's knowledge and her dedication to the animals.
"So, what do you think?" Liam asked, leaning against the wall. "Feel kismet with any of the dogs so far?"
Izzy sighed. "I adore many of them and see them as a possibility. The white terrier, Cynthia, was a nice fit. But I don't feel that crazy connection like I thought I would. Is that stupid? Maybe that's just a fairy tale and it doesn't exist anyway. I don't want to not take a dog because I have an idea in my mind something is real when it isn't."
He reached out and ran a finger down her cheek. She released her breath in a long rush, mirroring a longing sigh. "I believe it. And that's the same problem with me today. I haven't felt that need to own a particular dog yet. One who speaks to me and demands I take him or her home. One with a soul connection."
"Maybe we're both just dreamers who'll get hurt," she whispered.
"Maybe not."
Within the chaos, there was a perfect circle of silence around them. He lowered his head, and Izzy knew he was about to kiss her again. She also knew she couldn't stop him.
Didn't want to stop him.
"There you two are!" A pretty blonde with a high ponytail and dazzling smile jumped in front of them, breaking the moment. She wore a hot-pink T-shirt with the slogan KEEP CALM AND RESCUE ON. "Come with me to see them. We have to be quick because they're in high demand."
"Umm, I don't think we're the people you're looking for."
The blonde wasn't listening, pushing them down the hall like they were a couple of disobedient puppies. "Come, come; time is wasting. I have two picked out for you I thought you'd like to meet first. One is the runt, and she gets a bit nervous at times, so just be careful."
Liam tried to speak up. "No, see, we're with Arilyn and waiting for her to get back."
"Oh, we adore Arilyn around here, but she's very busy, and we did talk to each other over the phone."
"Actually, we didn't and--"
"Here we are. Let me just grab them for you."
Izzy looked down and lost her voice.
Puppies.
There were about half a dozen of them, with large, floppy ears and short, stout legs and the biggest, brownest eyes she'd ever seen. Their coats varied, but they were mostly a mix of gorgeous colors, like a canvas where a toddler decided to throw paint. White and black and reddish brown and gray, all mingled and mottled over their bodies. They rolled over one another in endless play, making little barks and mewling. Three of them were cuddled up in a heap, snoring. One was trying desperately to topple the water dispenser, jumping up and growling at the metal as if it were an enemy.
The blonde scooped up two and plopped one in Izzy's arms. She pointed to the puppy. "That's the runt of the litter. She's a bit shy, but she has spirit." She turned to Liam and pushed the second puppy into his embrace. "You have the boy. For some reason, these two have been very close. They're bonded in some way. Always together. We'd prefer to keep them in the same household, if possible."
Izzy looked down into the most adorable face she'd ever seen in her life. The puppy was reddish-brown with white splotches, and had Dumbo-like ears that practically covered her cheeks. Nose twitching, tiny puppy teeth nibbled at her finger as she stroked the velvety snout, and a warm tongue lashed out to lick her. The smell of brand-new life and deliciousness swarmed her senses. With a little whimper, the puppy wriggled for a better position, and her silky fur was a caress against Izzy's bare skin, offering warm comfort. She kissed her face, enjoying her puppy breath, laughing at the fur ball in her grasp with the big brown eyes and too-large feet and lapping tongue.
And then, just like that, Izzy fell in love.
She looked over at Liam. He looked just as entranced with the wriggling body in his arms. A softness in his face fascinated her, and she caught a hint of how he'd look with his child in his arms, as if humbled by the opportunity to be able to love someone that much.
Her heart crumbled. She was a goner.
Ponytail Lady kept talking. "They're a mix of beagle and basset hound, so they may have a bit of a howl. They should reach an average weight of fifty pounds, no more, the runt definitely less so. Fully tested and weaned. What do you think?"
Liam lifted his gaze and met hers.
Perfect understanding passed between them.
"We'll take them," they said together.
"What are you doing?"
Arilyn
marched up to them, a look of horror flickering over her face. "Deb, why are you showing them the puppies? I told them to wait for me; they're only interested in the older dogs."
Deb looked back and forth between them in pure confusion. "Wait--I thought this was the couple I had an appointment with. We didn't speak on the phone?"
"We tried to tell you," Liam pointed out.
"I'm sorry, Arilyn, my mistake. Here, let me take them back." Deb reached for the puppy Izzy held, but Izzy backed away, protecting the little runt in her arms.
"No! She's mine. I want her."
Arilyn's mouth dropped open. For the first time in her life, Izzy realized her friend actually owned a temper. "Absolutely not. You are not ready to cope with the stress of owning a puppy. I'll set you up with a dog who's potty trained already, and you'll have the structure you're both looking for. Devine, you agree, right?"
Liam shook his head. Within his strong arms, his puppy looked small but well protected. "No. I want him. He's mine."
Deb backed away from the mess. "Umm, I gotta go, Arilyn. They need help in the cat room. See ya!"
Her ponytail bobbed as she took off.
Izzy raised her chin, ready to fight for her puppy. No one was going to separate them. Liam inched toward her to unite in the stand against Arilyn.
"Guys, this is crazy! This is why I try to keep people away from the puppies." She closed her eyes and moaned. "Listen to me--you need to be reasonable. They will wreck your house and poop everywhere and cry. They're like newborns and the first few weeks are critical. Plus, these two are super close. Do you really want to separate them?"
Emotion washed over her. Izzy's lower lip trembled. No. She couldn't give her up now, just when they'd found each other.
Liam cleared his throat. "Listen, they can meet at the dog park. Isabella and I both live in Verily. They can play with Robert and Pinky, and we can structure playdates together. It can work."
Ignoring the knowledge this would tie her to Liam, she jumped in with desperation. "Yes! That would work, right?"
Arilyn nibbled at her lower lip. "Maybe. Yes, that could definitely work. It would be extremely difficult to find them a home together anyway, so this would be the next best thing." Turning into the fierce warrior she was, she pointed her finger at both of them. "Are you truly ready for this? It really does resemble being a parent to a newborn. You both need to feel one hundred percent committed to training and providing structure."
