tail wagging furiously. “How’s the beautiful girl today? Would you like a treat?”
Her father had absconded with one of the bags of treats Erin had bought and kept some in his pocket at all times, giving one to Agatha every time he saw her.
“You’re going to spoil her, Dad.”
“Puppies should be spoiled. Like babies.”
Erin rolled her eyes, but watched as her dad spent some time with Agatha, using treats to teach the pup how to sit. Agatha was a free spirit and conveniently ignored anything Erin asked her to do. For treats, apparently, she could sit on command. Erin made a mental note about that one.
“She likes you.”
Her dad laughed. “She likes treats. And people who pay attention to her.”
“I pay plenty of attention to her. I’m walking her right now.”
“Your mind is scattered and puppies need your full attention. She knows it, which is why she gets into trouble. You need to sit on the floor and wrestle with her, tire her out some so she won’t be so rambunctious. And carry treats with you for training. She’ll follow you everywhere.”
“Okay, Dad. Thanks.”
Her father handed her the treat bag. “Try it.”
“Sure. Come on, Agatha.”
The pup had planted her butt on the ground and stared up lovingly at her dad.
“Agatha, come.”
“Rattle the treat bag,” her dad suggested.
Erin lifted the bag and shook it. It worked. Agatha bounded over to Erin, and when Erin took off, Agatha stayed in step with her.
“You will never be a success in life if you’re motivated by food, Agatha. You need to find your purpose.”
Agatha looked up at her with a happy puppy smile as if to say, Yeah, my purpose in life is getting what’s in that bag you’re holding.
She rounded the side of the house toward the front, surprised to see Jason’s truck pulling up. When he got out, Agatha dashed over to him.
Jason crouched down and rubbed all over Agatha’s furry body.
“Hey, Agatha. You’re looking very cute today. Are you out for a walk?”
Erin caught up. “She’s taking me for a walk.”
“Maybe too much freedom for her,” Jason said, examining her cast. “This might be a good time to start leash training her.”
The last thing she wanted was more advice from the men in her life, but since Jason was a veterinarian and knew better than she did, especially about Agatha’s injury, she supposed she had no choice but to listen to him. “Okay. I’ll go get her leash.”
“I’ll hang out here with her and help you, if that’s okay.”
She looked down at him. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Hey, I came here to check on her. And you. So I don’t mind if you don’t.”
She definitely didn’t mind him spending time with her and Agatha. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”
She went inside and fumbled through the bags of things she’d bought at the store, grabbing the harness and leash that she had yet to figure out how to use. For someone who prided herself on being able to master anything, she’d been a mess about taking care of Agatha’s needs. Sure, she’d fed her and taken her on walks around the property, and she had her crate set up in her bedroom, but other than that, she was kind of useless.
She went back outside and handed the items to Jason, who cocked a brow at her.
“These still have the tags on.”
“I was going to figure them out soon.”
“Uh-huh.” He dug into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his pocket knife, sliced the tags off both the harness and the leash, then handed the tags to her.
“Come here, baby,” he said to Agatha, his voice softening and making Erin melt in the process.
She wondered if that was his bedroom voice, or if that was deeper, more demanding. Would his hands be gentle, or rough as he explored her body?
And why was she suddenly so damn hot? She blew out an exasperated breath.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he stood, holding the leash in his hand.
“Nothing. I’m just . . . frustrated.”
“About?”
Because a very hot man was standing only a few inches away from her. Among other things. “I guess because I should be doing all these things for Agatha and I’ve never had a dog and I have no idea what I’m doing. Why did I think I could raise a puppy, Jason? She cries all night in her crate, and runs around all day and I’m worried about her little leg and I feel like I’m doing everything wrong.”
He