Puppy Love Volumes 1 to 13

1. Puppy Love Valentine-6

Of course there was no one at the dog park. They were probably all starting their Valentine's at home being served or serving breakfast in bed.

Only Julia had nothing better to do than spend her morning at the park with her pup.

It was also colder than cold, but she chose to feel sorry for herself and assume that everyone was just at home warm and snuggled with their loved one.

Including, of course, Pete.

Ah well. Maisey was a better companion than 99.5% of the guys Julia had ever dated.

A half hour later, Julia was about to leave when she saw Pete and Frodo arrive. She knew it was probably time to go, but she didn't want to miss the chance to see Pete and talk to him if only for a few moments.

Pete carried Frodo to the gate even though the pup squirmed frantically to get loose. Once they were there, Pete finally gave up and let him down.

Frodo made a beeline for Julia, yipping the whole way as he stumbled over something tied to his collar.

When he finally made it to her and launched himself at her legs, the object tripped him and he stumbled, crashing into her.

Julia bent down and untangled the object from his collar. It was a chocolate rose with a small green stem.

Julia glanced up at Pete, raising an eyebrow in question. "Holiday decoration?" she asked, prepared to hand it back to him.

"No. Uh, it's for you." He glanced at her and then away again, blushing. "Didn't quite work out as planned." He rubbed at his face. "Unfortunately, he's still a bit young for me to train him to carry it to you in his mouth."

Julia laughed, trying to hide her shock. "Thank you."

He'd brought a gift for her? What did this mean?

Frodo barked at her, demanding attention, and Julia reached down to scratch behind his ears, grateful for something to do.

Pete shifted his weight from side to side. "There's more."

"More?"

"Yeah. Here." He handed her a small envelope.

She turned it over in her hand. It was a child's valentine's card.

She opened the envelope to find a card with a picture of a bee on the front that said, "Will you BEE mine?" Julia giggled.

On the other side it said, "Frodo and I would love to treat you and your pup to a romantic valentine's lunch if you don't have any other plans."

Julia stared up at him, unsure what to say.

"I'm sorry I didn't know how to spell Maisey," Pete said, chewing on his lip.

"That's okay." She stared at him. "I thought…I thought you were married," Julia finally managed to say.

"What? Oh god, no. I've been divorced for four years."

"Really?" She felt a small thrill of excitement.

"Yeah. You thought I was married?"

"Well, it seems like every guy at the dog park is or is in a serious relationship. When you mentioned your son, I just assumed…"

"Oh. I see." He looked away from her, clearly upset. "So, you weren't interested then. You were just being friendly."

"What? No." She reached out and grabbed his arm. "I'm interested. I just…I didn't think it was possible."

He stared at her for a moment. "So, you really are interested?"

She nodded. "Really."

"Then you guys want to come over for lunch? Get in out of this miserable cold?"

"We'd love to. Wouldn't we, Maisey?"

Maisey yipped and wagged her tail.

"Well, then let's go." Pete scooped up Frodo and led the way back towards the parking lot.

As Julia followed him, she felt a spring in her step. She couldn't help it. This was shaping up to be the best Valentine's Day ever. She had a puppy she adored and now a man she liked A LOT, who liked her puppy no less, had asked her out.

What more could she ask for?

* * * *

April 28thJulia was awoken by a chorus of yips as both Maisey and Frodo voiced their opinion that it was about time their parents woke up. She burrowed her head into Pete's chest. "Not yet, guys. Just give me another half hour, that's all I ask."

Pete kissed her on the top of her head. "Don't worry, I've got it," he said, extracting himself from beneath her body.

Julia kept her eyes closed as she heard the dogs run after him into the kitchen, both barking excitedly. She knew Pete really meant it when he told her to go back to sleep, but she didn't actually want to. She loved spending the early morning with him and the pups, sitting around the kitchen table with a cup of coffee as the pups romped together in the front room.

Who could've imagined three months ago that this is where she would be now? Sleep-deprived, sure. But loved and in love, with two adorable puppies and the best man on the planet by her side.

Life was perfect. It really was.