Run To You (Puppy Love Romance Book 2) Read online

  “She’s a lot smarter than her brother, that’s for sure,” Jessica added, lowering her voice.

  Catherine snorted a laugh. “Doesn’t take much. We now know who got the brains in the family.”

  “And the looks.”

  Catherine didn’t respond as they crossed the lobby.

  “Oh, don’t tell me you still haven’t noticed. Or have you gone blind in the past week?”

  A sudden flurry of more-barking-than-usual pierced the air, saving Catherine from having to answer. Both of them looked toward the dog wing to see the double doors had swung open as somebody exited. Lisa stood, holding a leash with both hands, fighting the little brown and white dog at the end of it, who had obviously seen his love. He barked nonstop, his brown eyes fixed on Catherine.

  “There’s your boyfriend,” Jessica said with a laugh. “You’d better go say hi before he ruptures something trying to get to you.”

  Catherine didn’t hesitate. In fact, she was surprised to realize she was happy to see the little terrier. She pushed through the doors and raised her eyebrows at Lisa.

  “Sorry,” Lisa said with a shrug. “He was fine until he saw you.”

  Catherine squatted down in front of him. “What’s your deal, little guy?” And just like that, the dog was quiet. He sat calmly, his little half-tail sliding back and forth along the floor like a tiny broom, his excitement to see Catherine making his body tremble, but he stayed quiet. His brown eyes looked directly into Catherine’s, and something in her shifted with an almost-audible click. She glanced up at Lisa and reached for the leash.

  “I’ll take him for a bit. If that’s okay.”

  Lisa smiled. “Absolutely.” She handed the leash over. “He’s all yours.”

  “Come on, pal,” Catherine said and turned to head toward her office. The little dog fell into step next to her, walking like he’d always been right there by her side.

  Like he belonged there.

  Once in her office, Catherine closed the door, then unclipped the leash. “Don’t give me any problems, okay? You find a spot, lie down, and be a good boy. I’ve got work to do.” He sat at her feet and looked up at her as if every word she said was the most important thing he’d ever heard. She couldn’t help but smile, and she bent down to fondle his velvety ear between her fingers. In response, he pushed his head against her hand. Oh, man. I am in trouble here.

  The afternoon melted away like fluffy snow in the spring sunshine. When her phone rang nearly three hours later, Catherine had almost finished answering her e-mail and the dog was napping under her desk, his little chin warmly draped across one of Catherine’s high-heeled feet. She picked up the handset just as there was a soft knock on the door.

  “Come in,” she said to the door. Then, “Catherine Gardner,” into the phone. She pulled her glasses off and pushed her fingertips into her right eyelid as Lisa peeked her head into the office. Catherine indicated the empty chairs in front of her desk as she listened to the voice on the phone.

  “Hi, sweetie. I tried your cell, but it went straight to voicemail.” Catherine suddenly felt warm and safe, as she always did when she heard her mom. “We still on for tonight?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll pick you up around 6:30?”

  “Perfect. Where are you taking me?”

  “Well, if I told you that, it wouldn’t be a birthday surprise, now, would it?”

  “Nothing too expensive. Promise me.”

  “I promise you nothing but a wonderful dinner with your favorite youngest daughter.”

  They hung up and Catherine, smile still in place, turned her attention to Lisa.

  “It’s dinner time,” Lisa said by way of explaining her presence. “I came to get the dog.”

  Catherine’s eyes widened as she looked at her watch. “Wow. Where did the afternoon go?” Then she bit her bottom lip and pointed down at her desk.

  Lisa furrowed her brow, momentarily confused, then seemed to get it. She slid off her chair and knelt down on the floor to peek under Catherine’s desk. Catherine peeked from her own spot.

  The dog slept soundly, eyes closed, a gentle snuffling sound emanating with each breath, his chin still draped over Catherine’s shoe.

  Lisa looked up at her and mouthed, “Oh, my God.”

  Catherine nodded. “I know,” she said quietly. Doubling over from her chair, she gently ran her fingers down the dog’s back. “Hey there, pal. It’s time for dinner. Are you hungry?” At the H word, his eyes popped open and Catherine couldn’t help but laugh. He came out from under the desk, stretched languorously, then shook his entire body awake. Catherine handed the leash to Lisa.

  “Come on, buddy,” Lisa said, giving the leash a gentle tug. The dog looked up at her, then back at Catherine, and Catherine felt a little squeeze on her heart.

  “It’s okay. Go ahead.” She gave him a smile and he went, albeit reluctantly. Catherine was not happy to realize she had a hard time watching him leave. She pulled in a big lungful of air and let it out slowly, not wanting to admit to herself that she knew exactly where this was going.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  DENISE GARDNER WAS TIRED. It had been a long day at the store and she’d been on her feet for most of it. While the average shopper felt that mid- to late-November was the start of the holiday season, this was not so for those in retail. The store Denise managed—a Big Lots just outside the city—had been bringing in and stocking holiday items for the past two months. Which was ridiculous, but typical.

  She didn’t love her job, but she was good at it and she had a lot of time invested. She had benefits (not easily acquired in retail) and a 401(k) (also hard to come by), so she didn’t plan on going anywhere until she decided to retire. Probably another ten years or so, as she was only fifty-five. She snorted aloud at that thought. There were days, like today, when she felt much closer to eighty.

  She pulled a turquoise sweater over her head and checked herself in the full-length mirror of her bedroom. Not bad. She may be on the far side of middle age, but she could still clean up nice. She leaned in closer to her reflection. Her hair could use a coloring, as it seemed the gray was taking over her part, but she’d have to wait until her next paycheck. Too many bills due this week. She touched up her makeup, added some more mascara and a fresh coat of subtle lipstick, then stood back and looked again. Not bad, she thought for the second time. A spritz of the much-too-pricey perfume Catherine had given her for Mother’s Day and a pair of gold hoop earrings topped off the outfit. She was ready.

  Catherine would take her someplace upscale and too expensive—Denise knew her daughter well—and Denise would protest a little, but for the most part, she’d keep quiet. As her friend, Jen, always said when she complained about Catherine spending too much money on her, “It makes her happy. Let her pamper you. You deserve it.” So, Denise would press her lips together, swallow her protests, and enjoy an evening out with her daughter—something she didn’t get often enough, if she was being honest.

  Outside, she heard a car slowing and Denise ran her hands down her sides, gave her reflection a nod of approval, and headed down the hall of her tiny house to the living room. A glance out the window confirmed that Catherine had arrived, and Denise took a moment just to watch her daughter’s approach up the front sidewalk.

  She was a stunningly beautiful woman and Denise would think so even if she hadn’t given birth to her, but it was her bearing that drew people to her. She was of average height, but the way she carried herself made her seem taller. Regal was the word that always came to mind when Denise saw her from afar. Her posture was poised, confident. Denise wasn’t sure where she’d learned it, but if she herself had had anything to do with the aura Catherine projected, she deserved a huge pat on the back. Her youngest daughter commanded instant respect.

  Two raps sounded on the door before it opened and Catherine called out, “Mom?”

  “Right here, honey. Hi.”

  “Hi.” Catherine smiled and gave her mother a kiss on the
cheek. “Wow! You look terrific. That sweater is a great color on you.”

  Denise smiled and even blushed a bit as she opened the small coat closet. “Thank you. My daughter bought this for me.”

  “Well, your daughter has impeccable taste, evidently.”

  “Just ask her. She’ll tell you.” Denise winked and shrugged on her coat.

  Twenty minutes later, Catherine pulled her car into a spot in the parking lot of Jade, a restaurant Denise had heard and read a lot about, but had never been to.

  “Oh, honey. We’re eating here?” She leaned forward and looked out the windshield at the soft purple neon lighting the outside of the old brick structure.

  “We are. Is that okay?” Catherine turned the car off and looked at her, eyebrows raised.

  “Absolutely. I’ve always wanted to try this place.”

  “Me, too.”

  Once inside, they were seated quickly at a cozy, reserved table for two in the back, and the waiter had delivered their drink order—a Cosmo for Denise and a glass of Cabernet for Catherine. They held their glasses aloft.

  “Happy birthday to my favorite mom of all the moms,” Catherine said, and they touched their glasses in a happy little clink.

  “So, what’s new with you?” Denise asked. “I feel like we haven’t caught up in ages.”

  As Catherine talked about work and updated her on a couple of friends, Denise settled into her happy place. The vodka in the Cosmo slowly warmed her from the inside and she kept her eyes on her daughter. This is what life is all about, she thought, and couldn’t keep the grin off her face.

  When the waiter returned, they placed their orders and returned their attention to one another.

  “What’s the plan for Thanksgiving?” Catherine asked.

  “The usual, I think. Grandma’s.” Denise looked up. “Why? You have other plans?”

  “Nope.” Catherine shook her head. “Anna had the crazy idea that I’d go to her mom’s.”

  “Ah.” Denise gave a nod, but said nothing more. Anna was a nice girl. She’d met her on several occasions during the short relationship she’d had with Catherine, but she knew after the first five minutes that she wasn’t The One. Sadly, it had taken Catherine much longer to come to that conclusion. “Is it getting any easier at work?”

  Catherine shrugged, didn’t look up from her drink. “It’s fine.”

  “Convincing.”

  That got a small smile. “She can be a little…relentless.”

  “You think?” Denise laughed. “She is not the one for you, honey. And that’s all I’ll say.” She remained good-natured about the subject, but inside, she’d been utterly relieved to learn of the breakup. Catherine deserved so much more than the malleable Anna. Denise would never say such a thing, of course, but that’s what she thought after only a short visit or two. Catherine needed a challenge, somebody who wouldn’t let her get away with calling all the shots. Somebody who would give her a run for her money. Anna worshipped her and that was exactly the problem. “So. Tell me what else is going on.”

  “Well.” Catherine seemed to steel herself before looking Denise in the eyes. “I’ve been thinking about another dog.”

  Denise tried to hide her surprise, but knew immediately that she’d failed. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline and her glass paused halfway to her lips. Catherine looked away, instead continued to focus on her wine, and that’s how Denise knew this was serious. “Oh, yeah? Tell me.”

  Catherine swallowed hard and seemed to need a moment to get her bearings, which was understandably difficult for her mother to watch. Pablo’s death had hit her hard. Harder than Denise had expected and certainly harder than Catherine had been prepared for. Her daughter was tough as nails, not a woman who was emotional or easily affected by emotional things. She was cerebral, in her head, and when she needed to deal with something, she did so quietly and alone. She’d always been like that; Denise was one of the few people in the world who understood these facts. But losing Pablo had rocked her more than either of them had expected. Denise had never seen her daughter sob that way, not once. She rarely cried, but this had completely devastated her. She’d reverted into herself, hadn’t spoken to anybody for nearly a week, to the point Denise had become worried. She’d called her high school friend who was now a doctor, and asked if there was anything she could do. As a mother, Denise had been simultaneously heartbroken for her child and terrified with worry.

  Catherine had pulled through, had come out the other side eventually. Dark circles underlined her eyes and she was several pounds thinner, but she emerged, and gradually regained her strength.

  “There’s a particular one at the shelter. He’s small, which is weird for me, but…” She gazed off into the restaurant before bringing her eyes back and looking at Denise directly. “There’s something about him.”

  “You felt that way about Pablo,” Denise pointed out. “And look how great he turned out to be.”

  Catherine nodded. “I know.”

  After a beat, Denise supplied, “But?” Her heart squeezed as she watched Catherine’s blue eyes, so much like her father’s, mist up.

  “I’m scared.” She said it so quietly, Denise almost didn’t hear.

  “I know, baby. I know.”

  “I’m just…not sure.”

  Denise set her glass down and dipped her head to catch her daughter’s eye. “Tell me this: would you trade the time you had with Pablo? Given the option and considering all the pain you went through with his loss, would you change any of it?”

  “No,” Catherine said without hesitation.

  “Well. There you go.” Denise let that sink in, watched it take root in Catherine’s brain.

  Catherine took a sip of her wine and gave a slight nod. “Yeah,” was all she said.

  “Only you can know if it’s right, honey.”

  “Yeah,” she said again.

  “How’s Jess?” Denise asked after a beat or two, changing the subject.

  “She’s great.” The waiter stopped by with their food. Once their plates were settled in front of them, Catherine went on. “We had an interesting change. Remember Clark Breckenridge?”

  “That cad that can’t keep his eyes or hands to himself?” Denise asked, recalling the name from several stories Catherine had shared in the past.

  Catherine laughed. “I love that you call him a cad. Are we in 1947? But yes. Him. Well, I think our complaints about him were finally taken seriously.” Catherine took a bite of her dinner. “I mean, we can’t possibly be the only people to say something, can we? How many other organizations do the Breckenridges donate to?”

  “Dozens, I’m sure. Maybe more.”

  “Last week, he scheduled a meeting with Jessica and brought in his sister, Emily. Jess had me sit in. Anyway, he said they’d done some ‘restructuring’ at the Foundation and that Emily would be taking over his duties there.”

  Denise blinked at her. “So…no more grab-ass from him?”

  Catherine laughed. “I don’t think so.”

  “What’s the sister like?”

  Something zipped across Catherine’s face, but it was too quick for Denise to identify it. “Hard to say. I’ve only met her a couple of times. She already seems to be much more into her job than Clark ever was, so…I guess we’ll see.”

  “Well, I am happy for all your volunteers and future volunteers who won’t be subjected to that creep. And I hope the sister—what’s her name?”

  “Emily.”

  “Oh, that’s pretty.” Denise studied Catherine’s face as she spoke. “I hope the sister turns out to be…valuable.”

  Catherine met Denise’s eyes, then looked away. “Me, too.”

  ***

  Later that night, Catherine was home alone, having dropped her mother off. They’d had a great time, which they always did, and not for the first time, she was thankful to have the kind of relationship they had. Her mom had her quirks, as everybody did, but they rarely butted heads. And her mother
was beyond supportive. Catherine was surprised to realize how good it had felt to talk to her about getting another dog.

  Plopping onto the couch, she picked up the remote and clicked on the TV. Toeing off her shoes, she stretched out and propped her feet on the coffee table as she absently thumbed through channels. In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of the big, puffy dog bed tucked in the corner of the room. That led her eyes to the large basket of dog toys across in another corner. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to pack them away. She’d taken care of the food and water dishes in the kitchen, but the bed? No. And the toys? Uh-uh. It felt too much like erasing Pablo from the house and she couldn’t bear that.

  Cocking her head to the side a bit, she tried to picture Geronimo (because, damn that Emily Breckenridge, that was his name in her head now) crashed out on the dog bed after a long day of hiking or playing tennis ball in the backyard or walking the neighborhood. It wasn’t difficult, and the vision brought a tiny smile to her face. Her phone beeped, pulling her back to the present. A text from her mother.

  “Thank you so much for a lovely evening.☺

  Catherine grinned and typed back.

  You’re very welcome. Happy birthday.

  Another text came after a moment. Thank you. I love you, honey.

  Love you, too, Catherine texted back.

  She tossed her phone on the table next to her feet and returned to channel surfing. Again, her eyes were drawn to the canine items still strewn around her living room, but this time, she felt the certainty that came with the making of an important decision. She stopped on HGTV, set the remote down, and picked her phone up once again. Opening the Notes app, she began to make a list of things she’d need to get.