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She laughed.
Yes.
She laughed at me!
“It’s not funny!” I barked, feeling my chest tightening. There I was. Barking. Wonderful. She threw her head back in a giggling fit. I hated that I loved how she laughed.
“It’s a little funny because…” She kept shaking her head in laughter. “It’s like dog poop is following you around. First my Cocoa and now Feliz.”
“I’m glad you’re getting a chuckle out of this.”
“What can I say? I’m easily amused.”
“Are you going to help or not?”
“Of course. I’ll help clean him up.”
“I need you to stay with him all day.”
She scrunched up her face. “What? Alex, I have a job.”
“Yes. I need you to take today off. I can’t stay with him all day, and I feel bad leaving him alone.”
“You can bring him to my daycare if you need to.”
“No. It took me forever to get him out of my car last night, and I refuse to go through that again today. I need you to stay with him and dog-sit at my place.”
“I can get him to my shop after I clean him up.”
“Grand. And if you could watch him afterward here, that would help me.”
She bit her bottom lip. “And what do I get out of this exchange?”
“I’ll pay whatever you would’ve made for the day times four.”
“I don’t want your money. I actually have a better idea. I can help you with Feliz every day for as long as you need me to.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You can?”
“Yeah. There’s only one small request I have for you.”
“And that is?” I started for the staircase, and thankfully, Yara was quick to slide on her slippers and follow me to my apartment.
As I opened the door, the smell hit us straight in the face.
“Oh my gosh, that’s bad,” Yara remarked, covering her nose.
“Tell me about it.” I allowed her to step inside the apartment. “What was your request?”
“Oh, right. You see, you’re going to need more help with Feliz. I can get him to not only put up with you but also love you within a few weeks. It’s what I do. I can give you the VIP dog whisperer package. Before you know it, this dog will be your best friend, guaranteed.”
“I don’t think you can guarantee something like that.”
“Guaranteed,” she insisted. “But in order for me to help you, you have to do one small thing for me.”
“Which is?”
“Be my fake boyfriend.”
I choked out a laugh. “What?”
“I need you to be my fake boyfriend for the autumn season. At least for the next two-ish months. September to November, tops. We could end things right before Thanksgiving to avoid all the holiday mumbo jumbo. But fall is the best season. We can do so many activities to show off our fake relationship. The Fall into Fall Harvest Festival. Snack on Hillstack picnics on the hilltop. Apple picking at Amy’s Apple Farm! Oh, oh, and pumpkin bowling! Do you know this time of year is called cuffing season, which means—”
“I know what cuffing season is, Yara.”
“Oh good. Let’s be cuffed. Together. You and me. The fake cuffing of Alex and Yara. The tag team of all tag teams. It will be great.”
“Why the heck do you need a fake boyfriend?”
“To get Cole off my back. He said he’s not going to believe I moved on until I have a man claiming me in this very town. That man will be you. For two months, at least. Then you’re free to go.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You want me to fake date you to ward off your ex, and you’ll train my dog in exchange?”
“Yup. I’ll even pick him up and take him to work. But I’ll need you to do morning and afternoon walks with me and trips to the dog park just so you and Feliz can bond.”
“No.”
She pouted. “No?”
“I can’t. Cole already has it out for me. Especially after I kicked him out of my restaurant. I just got an email that the place was covered with silly string and toilet paper late last night. I doubt Cole will give a damn. I don’t need to be even more on his bad side if people keep vandalizing my property.”
Her pout deepened. “That makes sense. I hate that that makes sense.”
“I can pay you, though,” I offered. “And take part in the walks and training sessions.”
Yara’s brows knitted for a moment. “I could actually use the extra money since work is struggling a bit.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How? Your business is always packed with people and dogs. It looks like you’re thriving.”
“If only those people kept up with payments,” she muttered. Before I could reply, she held a hand out toward me. “I, Yara Kingsley, the dog whisperer, agree to train Feliz for a price point we can agree on later. I am officially reporting for duty.” She snickered to herself.
