Page 4 of Always My Love

She laughed. She couldn’t help herself. The image of Nick carrying a small dog with a big pink bow on its head in a fanny pack around town popped into her mind.

Nick was smiling back at her. Really smiling. She could tell that he too felt relaxed around her for the first time.

“No, you’re more of a…” She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head as she thought about what kind of dog person he was. “A Doberman?” She shook her head. “No, German Shepard.”

He frowned. “Don’t you think that’s a little cliché. Me being a cop and all? I want a personal dog, not a work dog.”

She nodded and then snapped her fingers. “You can never go wrong with a Labrador retriever.”

He smiled. “That’s what I was thinking. Lacey and Aaron Stevens’s dogs had a litter a while back. I ran into her and she said a couple of the puppies are still up for adoption.”

“Sounds like you have it all worked out,” she said as one of her regulars walked in the door and headed for the bar area.

“I was wondering, maybe you’d like to go with me tomorrow to pick one out?” Nick asked her.

Somehow, the invite threw her completely off. Her mind drew a blank as to a reason why she shouldn’t go with him. Her brain turned to mush and oddly her tongue got twisted. Before her mind could come up with all the reasons why she shouldn’t go, her mouth had said “Sure.”

“Great, I’ll pick you up around ten,” Nick said and quickly made his retreat.

She watched him disappear out the front door, glued to the spot, until Franco snapped his fingers in front of her.

“Hello, beer me,” Franco said, looking agitated.