The banana-yogurt test didn’t pass with such flying colors. Lady ate it, but Tramp took one sniff and turned back to me expectantly, as if to say,how about another of those yummy ones?
I picked up the biscuit and took a nibble. Even though they were for dogs, all the ingredients were things I wouldn’t shy from eating myself. Of course, the mix left a little to be desired. It was too dry for my tastes.
Hmm. Not enough banana. Too many grains. I made a few notes and set aside the notebook to clean up the kitchen. I hadn’t gotten around to the meat treats. Maybe tomorrow before work.
I packed up the ingredients, placed the biscuits into plastic containers to keep them fresh, and then loaded the dishwasher. By the time I finished that, I was tired out.
I took the dogs out for a quick potty break, then ran a bath. I had just sunk into the hot water, eyes drifting shut, when my phone rattled on the edge of the tub.
I dried my hands on the towel hanging from a rack next to the tub and checked the screen.
Prince Charming was back.
Sorry for vanishing. My brother was being a pest.
Me:
That’s okay. I had baking to finish.
Prince Charming:
Am I bothering you?
Me:
No, I’m done now. Just relaxing. How about you?
Prince Charming:
The same. Just getting ready for bed. I’m 33going on 40. That’s probably not the best selling point for a boyfriend, though, huh?
I smiled. I loved how honest he was. The fact he considered this date a stepping stone to a real relationship and not just a hookup was reassuring.
Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.
CHAPTER 5
Hank
I carriedBruno as I cruised the dog park Saturday, scanning for the two Labs that belonged to my date. I hadn’t been so sure about Letting Iola play matchmaker, but this match was really charming.
We’d decided, since we’d traded dog pics, to find each other that way. I’d joked that it’d either be incredibly romantic or incredibly awkward.
We’d chatted several times over the course of the week, but never as much as last night, when our chit-chat had escalated to more flirting.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d clicked with a woman at a level that went beyond physical looks. I’d definitely been meeting too many of my dates at bars or parties, where the alcohol was flowing and a first date amounted to a hookup. I was a nice guy, so I always called for a follow-up date, and somehow I ended up in relationships without really evenknowingthese women.
Then they imploded in spectacular fashion because one of us—or both of us—realized we didn’t even like each other.
Iola had promised it would be different with matchmaking, since we’d be matched based on our profile of interests, and judging by how well Jamie and I meshed over text message, she might actually be right.
Jamie had won me over with her personality. I wasn’t even that worried about what she looked like.
My gaze caught on a yellow Lab running toward me, dragging along a figure who was five-foot-six, maybe. They were still at a distance, but the person was slim, with curly dark hair whipping in the wind.
The black Lab was meandering beside them, more interested in sniffing bits of grass or trees than racing ahead like the other one.
This had to be Jamie, because I recognized the dogs. I started toward them, my smile of greeting spreading across my face.
