Page 18 of All For You

“Oh God, I certainly didn’t mean…” He trailed off, wincing.

I shook my head, as if the innuendo hadn’t entered my mind.

He gestured out the window, seeming slightly rattled now. “Who knows what that was all about,” he said dismissively.

Our confusing moment over, he was back to being a total prat, and I was back to totally disliking him and wanting to disagree with everything that came out of his mouth. But I hadto admit that Nala and Robertodidlook happy, and it felt like we were invading their privacy, watching them locked in a fevered embrace. They may not have inspired my writing, but they were certainly everything I loved about love. Time to go.

“So, love is not a mythical unicorn after all,” I said.

I gave him what I hoped was an eviscerating look, high-fived myself in my head, and turned to climb the stairs to my room.

CHAPTER 9

Lizzy

“Oodles, no, no, no!” I cried out.

It was early next morning on a long walk, and Oodles was rolling gleefully in a deep mud puddle in the forest.

At the sound of my voice, my mud-covered pup popped up excitedly like a squirrel.

Frantically, I waved in the direction of the river. “Let’s go wash off.”

Clearly mistaking my gestures for enthusiasm, he bounded in my direction and, with a running jump, leaped on me. His muddy paws slid all the way down my front.

Oh shit. “Oodles, bloody hell.”

It was done now. I knew I should have scolded him, but instead, I couldn’t help laughing.

Doubly proud of himself, he bounded off along the path toward the meadows surrounding the house. Still laughing, I sprinted behind him, jumping over the roots and branches on the track. Racing like this, the wind in my hair, the light dappling through the trees, put me in a different frame of mind to deal with the weekend. I was determined to make the best of it.AvoidRude Man until Sunday lunchtime.I could do that for a day and a half.

Emerging from the forest path, I caught a glimpse of a tall, dark-haired, well-built man. I stopped. In the field where Knightley had set up for the dog training, Darcy was standing with arms outstretched. His dog Max bounded toward him, a blur of red fur.

“Oodles! Here!” I grabbed his collar, guided him behind a tree, and picked him up.

The man I wanted to avoid was everywhere, apparently. And I couldn’t fool myself—he didn’t like me either. I’d been fleetingly muddled about a moment between us that hadn’t existed, but now, I was in my right mind. I hoped Darcy left soon so we wouldn’t have to talk.

“Who’s a good boy, eh?” Darcy cooed in a soft, encouraging voice. “Who’s the best, most beautiful doggie in the world?” His furry pet waggled his head. “Yeah, it’s you, lovely boy.”

Max gave Darcy a sloppy lick on the face, and Darcy fell backward onto the grass, hooting with laughter.

What the hell was I hearing? What on earth was I seeing? An endearingly boyish side to this uptight, boorish man I’d met last night.

Max rolled over, and Darcy grinned and rubbed his dog’s stomach, murmuring sweet nothings. At the sight of them together, Oodles struggled in my arms to get away, covering me in even more mud.

Eventually, Max rolled to his feet, and with a few gentle words from Darcy, he raced off and leaped over a fence, zoomed around the obstacles, then slowed down to nudge a Bosu ball with his nose. Max was trained and already had this course down pat. They would surely win tomorrow’s scheduled animal training event. The two of them fitted each other’s personality, restrained and disciplined. But how had Max learned thiscourse so quickly? Surely it was the result of some concentrated training. Had they been out here the full two hours I was gone with Oodles?

Hang on. Was Darcy trying towinthis event?

Oh my God. This man was the limit. He was training his dog for a stupid dating weekend event. Was he that competitive? Clearly. Ugh. I thought he was bad enough last night, but using his dog to win an event so he could lord it over the rest of us?

Then Oodles scrambled out of my arms and raced toward Max as he leaped athletically over another obstacle. The contrast between the two dogs was stark. Oodles was a multicolored jumble of fluff with big, goofy eyes and the attention span of a gnat. In contrast, Max was all tall, groomed, soaring legs, and flowing tail. He was gliding over a fence with the grace you would imagine of a hunting crossbreed, presumably with centuries of following instructions. Unimpressed, Oodles ran to him.Friend! Hey!Oodles bounced and barked, living up to his name. Despite his appearance and lack of dexterity and athleticism, my furry Muppet had endless confidence.

Max bounced back.

“Max,” called Darcy. “C’mon, boy. Let’s do the tires next.”

But Max was well distracted.