Read Online Chick with a Charm by Vicki Lewis Thompson - Free Book Online
Authors: Vicki Lewis Thompson
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waited for him to shut the gate before unhooking Daisy’s leash. Daisy had never shown the slightest indication that she’d run away, but Lily wasn’t taking any chances. “There you go, Daisy. Knock yourself out.”
Daisy circled around in front of them and stood gazing up at them, her tail wagging.
“Go on,” Lily said. “Run around. Stretch your legs.”
“There aren’t any other dogs. She needs someone to play with.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve brought her here when there are gobs of dogs, and she acts as if they’re beneath her. Sometimes she’ll take off running, but it’s usually her idea and not because she’s chasing or being chased.”
Griffin searched the ground at his feet. “Maybe this will work.” He picked up a short stick. “Fetch, Daisy!” He tossed the stick several yards away.
Daisy followed the direction of the stick with her gaze but she didn’t chase it. Instead she looked expectantly at Griffin, tail wagging.
“What do you want?” he asked. “A tennis ball? I don’t have one.”
“She wouldn’t do any better with a tennis ball. I’ve tried sticks, chew toys, tennis balls. She has no interest in playing fetch. It’s almost as if she’s too smart to do that kind of repetitive game.”
“Then maybe she’d like to run with me.” Griffin took off the jacket Lily had loaned him and handed it to her.
“Let’s see what happens if I invite her for a run. Daisy, would you like to jog around the park with me?”
Daisy gave a short bark.
“I feel as if I’m in the middle of Lassie Come Home ,” Griffin muttered. “Okay, come on, Daisy! Let’s run!” He took off and Daisy bounded beside him, mouth open, tongue flapping.
Lily had never seen her dog so happy. If a running partner was what Daisy needed, then Lily would have to become that running partner no matter how much she loathed the activity. On the positive side, she’d have to go shopping for running gear. Any activity that required shopping wasn’t all bad.
Meanwhile, Daisy and Griffin looked like a clip from a dog food commercial. The security lights surrounding the dog park illuminated their joyful romp around the perimeter. Griffin zigzagged as he ran, challenging Daisy to figure out which way he’d go next. At one point he spun in a circle and charged back the other way. Daisy turned like a professional sheepdog and was instantly back at Griffin’s side.
His laughter carried across the distance between them, and Lily was reminded how much she loved his laugh. It was the first thing that had drawn her to him. She’d heard that laugh in the din of the Bubbling Cauldron and wanted to know the man it belonged to.
When she’d spotted Griffin, she’d been struck by how well he matched his laugh. She would have pictured a man like him—solid of build, the kind of cropped hair favored by athletes and a good-humored twinkle in his hazel eyes. That good humor had gone missing when Griffin had encountered Brad, though.
She had to assume the elixir had made him uncharacteristically territorial. As she thought back over the meeting, she decided Griffin had opened the hostilities by being less than gracious during the introduction. Brad had escalated the unacknowledged battle, and then both of them had completely lost their charm.
Griffin’s charm was back in spades at the moment as he cavorted with Daisy. Lily wished she could have a video of this. Maybe if things worked out between them, she could bring a camera to the park some Saturday morning and get footage of Griffin playing with Daisy. They did seem to get along exceptionally well.
Well, duh, they should. Griffin was currently operating under a spell that included a massive dose of Daisy’s essence. No wonder he felt such a kinship with the dog, and she with him. Maybe once the spell wore off, they wouldn’t delight in each other so much. That was a depressing thought.
Griffin spread his arms and started zooming around like a
Daisy circled around in front of them and stood gazing up at them, her tail wagging.
“Go on,” Lily said. “Run around. Stretch your legs.”
“There aren’t any other dogs. She needs someone to play with.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve brought her here when there are gobs of dogs, and she acts as if they’re beneath her. Sometimes she’ll take off running, but it’s usually her idea and not because she’s chasing or being chased.”
Griffin searched the ground at his feet. “Maybe this will work.” He picked up a short stick. “Fetch, Daisy!” He tossed the stick several yards away.
Daisy followed the direction of the stick with her gaze but she didn’t chase it. Instead she looked expectantly at Griffin, tail wagging.
“What do you want?” he asked. “A tennis ball? I don’t have one.”
“She wouldn’t do any better with a tennis ball. I’ve tried sticks, chew toys, tennis balls. She has no interest in playing fetch. It’s almost as if she’s too smart to do that kind of repetitive game.”
“Then maybe she’d like to run with me.” Griffin took off the jacket Lily had loaned him and handed it to her.
“Let’s see what happens if I invite her for a run. Daisy, would you like to jog around the park with me?”
Daisy gave a short bark.
“I feel as if I’m in the middle of Lassie Come Home ,” Griffin muttered. “Okay, come on, Daisy! Let’s run!” He took off and Daisy bounded beside him, mouth open, tongue flapping.
Lily had never seen her dog so happy. If a running partner was what Daisy needed, then Lily would have to become that running partner no matter how much she loathed the activity. On the positive side, she’d have to go shopping for running gear. Any activity that required shopping wasn’t all bad.
Meanwhile, Daisy and Griffin looked like a clip from a dog food commercial. The security lights surrounding the dog park illuminated their joyful romp around the perimeter. Griffin zigzagged as he ran, challenging Daisy to figure out which way he’d go next. At one point he spun in a circle and charged back the other way. Daisy turned like a professional sheepdog and was instantly back at Griffin’s side.
His laughter carried across the distance between them, and Lily was reminded how much she loved his laugh. It was the first thing that had drawn her to him. She’d heard that laugh in the din of the Bubbling Cauldron and wanted to know the man it belonged to.
When she’d spotted Griffin, she’d been struck by how well he matched his laugh. She would have pictured a man like him—solid of build, the kind of cropped hair favored by athletes and a good-humored twinkle in his hazel eyes. That good humor had gone missing when Griffin had encountered Brad, though.
She had to assume the elixir had made him uncharacteristically territorial. As she thought back over the meeting, she decided Griffin had opened the hostilities by being less than gracious during the introduction. Brad had escalated the unacknowledged battle, and then both of them had completely lost their charm.
Griffin’s charm was back in spades at the moment as he cavorted with Daisy. Lily wished she could have a video of this. Maybe if things worked out between them, she could bring a camera to the park some Saturday morning and get footage of Griffin playing with Daisy. They did seem to get along exceptionally well.
Well, duh, they should. Griffin was currently operating under a spell that included a massive dose of Daisy’s essence. No wonder he felt such a kinship with the dog, and she with him. Maybe once the spell wore off, they wouldn’t delight in each other so much. That was a depressing thought.
Griffin spread his arms and started zooming around like a
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