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I let the two of them get reacquainted, enjoying the happiness both of them radiate. After the dog calms down enough to go sniff in the box of toys, Paige straightens up from her crouch and turns an ecstatic piercing stare on me.
“So, can I take her home now?”
“Just need you to fill out some paperwork and pay the adoption fee. You sure you’re ready to take her home today?”
She nods eagerly. “Yes. Definitely. I’ve been researching.”
I’m tempted to ask what she means by that, but I don’t want it to come off like I’m trying to talk her out of the adoption. With a nod of acceptance, I slip out of the room to retrieve a clipboard with the forms she needs to fill out.
Returning, I encounter a vigorous game of tug-o-war.
Paige lets the dog win and settles next to me on the bench, accepting the clipboard. Only after we’ve worked our way through most of the paperwork, do I remember an important detail I wish I could’ve hidden.
But Paige spots the note before I can snatch the clipboard away.
“You named her after me?”
“I…um…yes.” The truth stutters out before I can think of a plausible excuse.
Paige wrinkles her nose. “Well we can’t both be Paige. I don’t want everyone to think I’m conceited. And imagine the confusion. I’d never know if someone is talking to me or my dog!”
Dog Paige lets out a bark as if in agreement.
“It’s not set in stone. We can change it. What do you want to name her?” I cross out where I’d carefully filled in a name for the dog.
Her hazel eyes go wide, flitting between the dog, the form on the clipboard, and back to my face. “Way to put me on the spot, Dash! This is like going to the hospital for stomach pain and finding out I’m nine months pregnant! And then having to tell them what the baby’s name is!”
I fight a smile, her absurd analogy completely ridiculous in a way that makes me want to bark out a laugh. “Sorry. We can leave it blank.”
“Leave it blank?” Her voice has gone breathy with affront, and she clutches at her chest like she’s searching for a string of pearls to clasp. “She deserves a name! Herownname.” Paige stands and starts to pace, tugging at her earlobe distractedly. “Give me a minute.”
I lean back on my hands, losing the battle against my grin as Dog Paige follows Human Paige around the room. They make a cute pair. Human Paige’s ponytail swings in almost the same motion as Dog Paige’s tail. I bet when they go on walks eyes will turn in their direction. Men will probably want to approach Human Paige because of her tempting curves and sweet lips, but I bet they’ll think twice when they spot Dog Paige’s powerful jaw and muscular build.
Those men don’t deserve either one of them.
Abruptly, Human Paige drops to a crouch, startling both me and Dog Paige. She cups the puppy’s massive head in her pale hands and meets the dog’s gaze squarely.
“What’s your name?”
As if the question means something to the animal, Dog Paige huffs out a breath, gives a full body shake, then trots over to the toy bin. Human Paige appears lost for a moment, but she starts to smile when the dog returns, carrying a plush pumpkin. With a few flexes of her jaw, the dog makes the toy let out a series of high-pitched squeaks, then drops it in front of her new owner.
Human Paige snatches the pumpkin up with a triumphant laugh.
“We’ve got it, Dash!”
Each time she says my name, a spark of awareness shoots down my spine. It’s like getting gently bit in the middle of sex: surprising, welcome, and with a slight twinge of pain.
Human Paige tosses the toy across the room, and Dog Paige chases it in a flurry of muscular motion. Distracted by the dog’s mad scrambling, I realize with a jolt that the enticing woman has come to stand directly in front of me.
Paige leans down, giving me a wonderful view of the valley between her cleavage. Her soft hands brush against mine as she slides the clipboard and pen from my grip. With her bending over me, I’m not only treated to a mind-melting view down her loose neckline; I also get hit with a wave of her scent.
Just from glancing at her sweet face and pale skin, I would’ve guessed a sugary or flowery perfume. But when I breathe in deep, I don’t pick up bubble gum or roses.
Paige smells like coffee.
The dark notes drift in the air around me, making me drowsy and my mouth water, just like every morning when I stand at the coffee pot, waiting for that magical elixir to finish brewing and provide me energy for the day.
Would pressing my lips against hers be like taking that first sip? Would she wake me up? Warm me from the inside out?
