Ronan
The vibrating phone in my pocket spiked my heart rate,and I did my level best to ignore it. The situation was completely out of hand. Action would have to be taken as soon as I was back at the office.
For the time being, I tried to relax as best as I could while I watched my borrowed dog roll on his back in the grass, soaking up the scent of the hundreds of other dogs who traversed this park day after day. There wasn’t much personal space in Manhattan, not even for dogs.
“Watch it, fella. If I take you back covered in mud, your ma’s gonna have my hide.”
The dog paused his rolling at the sound of my voice and gave me the most epic side-eye. That was his only acknowledgment before he continued on his merry way, his wiggling back kicking up a cloud of dirt.
I guessed I’d let the fella have his day. Steven the dog lived a pretty easy life in the sky, spoiled as he was, but living in the city, he didn’t get his paws in the grass often enough. Not that he wouldn’t roll in a pile of shit on the sidewalk just as merrily.
The vibration of my phone sent me shooting to my feet. I was at my wit’s end. If the dog weren’t living in his glory, I’d burn rubber out of this park to the nearest pub and drown out the incessant noise with a pint or two. Not that that would’ve been a solution, but Christ, I could use a break.
I slipped my phone from my pocket to ensure I wasn’t missing anything important. It only took a quick look to assess the texts streaming in weren’t work related. I didn’t bother reading them. They’d said the same thing for weeks.
Groaning in frustration, I tucked my phone away again, cursing myself for looking at it.
A dog shaped like a potato with wee little legs toddled up to Steven, taking a sniff of his rear like they were old pals. Steven, in turn, rolled to his belly and took a good look at this interloper. They became acquainted, taking great whiffs of one another. Oh, to be a dog, smelling arse to decide if the company’s worth keeping.
A woman approached the pair, tapping her thighs. “Daisy, come on, honey bunny. We don’t sniff stranger’s booties. It’s not polite.” She crouched, giving the sentient potato a good pat, only to be ignored.
She stood again, throwing her arms to her side. “Daisy, you drive me bananas. You don’t have to flirt with every pretty boy you meet. We have to go home soon, sweet girl.” She sighed. “Fine. I’ll give you five minutes, then it’s lights out on this new relationship.”
I tucked my hands in my jeans and rocked back on my heels, amused by this whole interaction. “Don’t think she’s listenin’.”
The woman spun around, noticing me for the first time. And I noticed her right back. Gorgeous didn’t even touch what she was. Even in an oversized black hoodie and baggy sweatpants, she knocked me back a step. Her wide blue eyes and parted pouty lips caught me off guard, but her pale, creamy skin and black hair piled on top of her head reminded me of home.
“Well, hi.” She put her hands on her hips and nodded at Steven. “Do you claim this one?”
“Aye. Is that your potato?”
She cocked her hip. “That’s Daisy. I’m only her dog sitter, but isn’t she a looker?”
“That she is. Steven isn’t mine either.”
Her brow pinched in confusion. “Oh. I thought you said…?”
“Uh…no.” I hit my forehead with the heel of my hand, searching for a way to explain Steven. “He belongs to a friend. Steven and I have a standing, weekly date at the dog park.”
“Do you? And is it for Steven’s benefit or yours?” She pursed her pink lips, shaping them into a heart.
I huffed a dry laugh at how spot-on she was. “I can’t say I mind the fresh air. The company could work on his conversation skills.” That was all I was willing to admit to the stunning creature.
“Really? Daisy and I talk to each other all day. Maybe she can teach Steven a thing or two.”
Steven’s tongue lolled uselessly from the side of his mouth while he gazed at Daisy like she invented the game of fetch. “I think my fella is a hopeless case.”
She giggled, offering a flash of white teeth, a small gap between the front two. I had no business looking at a woman like this given the state of my life, but I couldn’t force myself to break my gaze.
“Well, he’s lucky to be cute.” She slipped her hands in her hoodie pocket and twisted her toe in the grass. The pups ran circles around each other, best pals already.
My phone vibrated again, and red flashed in front of my eyes. A litany of curses fell from my lips, louder than I’d intended, and much louder than should have been uttered in front of a lady. She cocked her head, sweeping her eyes over me appraisingly.
“What’s that about?” she asked.
I took my phone out and held it up. “Wishin’ I could throw this thing right in the garbage pail. Can’t escape it, though.”
She pulled hers out of her pocket. “Don’t I know it. Lucky for me, mine has been blissfully quiet this afternoon. I’m sorry yours isn’t doing the same.”