Read Online Leashed (Going to the Dogs) by Zoe Dawson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Zoe Dawson
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Sit Happens happen?”
Callie laughed as she scored two points with a fifteen and pegged her points. “Of course I’ve been around dogs all my life, and part of having dogs is making sure they behave, especially with so many dogs in our kennel. I fell into it and learned about how to speak dog from a young age. My parents helped me with the initial capital, too, along with my generous and successful brother. He’s ten years older than I am, and came to the city fifteen years ago, just out of college. Needing affordable studio space, he and a bunch of friends formed a cooperative. They bought this building for almost nothing, and turned it into these terrific lofts, keeping the integrity of the architecture. When he made it big in the art scene, he moved to Soho. He’s also my landlord.”
“I bet he gives you a better rate than he gives me.”
“I’m afraid so. Nepotism is a good thing. My brother was here the other day. Did you know that there have been thefts in the building?”
He shook his head.
“Well, be careful about security.”
He nodded. The hand played out and her crib had no points. “You are good at this,” she said.
“My great aunt taught me.”
“It’s always nice to have those kinds of legacies from your family. For me it’s the dogs.”
His face became somber. “I can only say I wish that were the case. We only started playing cribbage when she got pancreatic cancer. She was pretty much stuck at home through much of it, and then the hospital. I learned it to pass the time with her. They were moments I’m thankful for, and, unlike the visits before she was sick, meaningful. I wish I had visited her more often. I was always so damn busy.”
She covered his hand as he picked up the cards and he looked at her with deep sorrow in his eyes.
“I can’t even imagine how hard it was for you. But you did have a meaningful relationship with your Aunt Tilly. I can see that. I can see that you feel terribly guilty about it, too, Owen. But there’s no doubt in my mind that she loved you regardless. It’s just what a nurturing person like your aunt would do.”
For a moment he just stared at her, his dark eyes unreadable. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Callie. Most of the women I’ve been with wouldn’t for a minute be content to talk and play cards while our dogs snuggle. I have to confess that I would never have said anything about Aunt Tilly to any of them.”
She blushed again, the compliment one of the best she’d ever received from a man. It was better than the one when he’d said she looked nice. This was about her character, and it meant more.
Owen certainly wasn’t making it easy for her to remember to keep her distance. She hadn’t expected to have anything in common with him besides the dogs, and she still felt they were diametric opposites, probably in more ways than not. She hadn’t gotten all that far away from her roots, whereas, while he might have had a rough beginning, he’d certainly gone a long way toward polishing off any rough edges from his childhood.
“Thank you. I consider us friends.” She looked over at Jack sleeping curled up with Jill. Her dog was in love, head over heels in love. She could not go there with Jill’s owner. And if she didn’t want to start down that slippery slope, she’d better get herself out of here.
“I should go.” She rose, and he did too. Coming around the table, he took her hand.
“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable.”
“No. It’s not that, Owen.” She tried to keep a cool head even with the warmth of his hand clasping hers. “It’s just that we have to agree to be friends instead of…”
Owen held her gaze for what felt like an eternity, and she wondered what he was thinking behind those inscrutable eyes. “Lovers.” His voice came out soft and husky.
She closed her eyes briefly. “Exactly. So you see the dilemma. Nothing has really changed.” It seemed that the most
Callie laughed as she scored two points with a fifteen and pegged her points. “Of course I’ve been around dogs all my life, and part of having dogs is making sure they behave, especially with so many dogs in our kennel. I fell into it and learned about how to speak dog from a young age. My parents helped me with the initial capital, too, along with my generous and successful brother. He’s ten years older than I am, and came to the city fifteen years ago, just out of college. Needing affordable studio space, he and a bunch of friends formed a cooperative. They bought this building for almost nothing, and turned it into these terrific lofts, keeping the integrity of the architecture. When he made it big in the art scene, he moved to Soho. He’s also my landlord.”
“I bet he gives you a better rate than he gives me.”
“I’m afraid so. Nepotism is a good thing. My brother was here the other day. Did you know that there have been thefts in the building?”
He shook his head.
“Well, be careful about security.”
He nodded. The hand played out and her crib had no points. “You are good at this,” she said.
“My great aunt taught me.”
“It’s always nice to have those kinds of legacies from your family. For me it’s the dogs.”
His face became somber. “I can only say I wish that were the case. We only started playing cribbage when she got pancreatic cancer. She was pretty much stuck at home through much of it, and then the hospital. I learned it to pass the time with her. They were moments I’m thankful for, and, unlike the visits before she was sick, meaningful. I wish I had visited her more often. I was always so damn busy.”
She covered his hand as he picked up the cards and he looked at her with deep sorrow in his eyes.
“I can’t even imagine how hard it was for you. But you did have a meaningful relationship with your Aunt Tilly. I can see that. I can see that you feel terribly guilty about it, too, Owen. But there’s no doubt in my mind that she loved you regardless. It’s just what a nurturing person like your aunt would do.”
For a moment he just stared at her, his dark eyes unreadable. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Callie. Most of the women I’ve been with wouldn’t for a minute be content to talk and play cards while our dogs snuggle. I have to confess that I would never have said anything about Aunt Tilly to any of them.”
She blushed again, the compliment one of the best she’d ever received from a man. It was better than the one when he’d said she looked nice. This was about her character, and it meant more.
Owen certainly wasn’t making it easy for her to remember to keep her distance. She hadn’t expected to have anything in common with him besides the dogs, and she still felt they were diametric opposites, probably in more ways than not. She hadn’t gotten all that far away from her roots, whereas, while he might have had a rough beginning, he’d certainly gone a long way toward polishing off any rough edges from his childhood.
“Thank you. I consider us friends.” She looked over at Jack sleeping curled up with Jill. Her dog was in love, head over heels in love. She could not go there with Jill’s owner. And if she didn’t want to start down that slippery slope, she’d better get herself out of here.
“I should go.” She rose, and he did too. Coming around the table, he took her hand.
“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable.”
“No. It’s not that, Owen.” She tried to keep a cool head even with the warmth of his hand clasping hers. “It’s just that we have to agree to be friends instead of…”
Owen held her gaze for what felt like an eternity, and she wondered what he was thinking behind those inscrutable eyes. “Lovers.” His voice came out soft and husky.
She closed her eyes briefly. “Exactly. So you see the dilemma. Nothing has really changed.” It seemed that the most
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