Lakeside Redemption

She reached for Ava’s napkin and wiped the milk dripping off her chin. “I can stay for another hour if you’d like to get a start on Riley’s training.”

He glanced at his watch to see their designated hour was almost up. She was right—the morning hadn’t gone as expected. “Yes, that would be great. But only if you’re sure.”

She smiled. “It’s not a problem as long as I’m not messing up your plans.” At the shake of his head, she continued, “I’d like you to have some basics in place before I leave. Let me just grab my bag so we can go over paperwork and a couple different training plans.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “Mind if we talk in the living room? That way I can see how the girls interact with Riley and his reactions to his surroundings.”

“No, that’s just fine.”

As she walked past him to retrieve her bag, he caught a whiff of her perfume, a sweet fragrance that reawakened emotions he thought were forever locked behind a door marked Do Not Enter.

Maybe not.

Ella drained her juice and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Daddy, may I get down? I’m all done.”

He glanced at Ava. “Are you ready to get down, too, Aves?”

She nodded and smiled, but didn’t say a word.

She’d talk. In her time.

He slid out their chairs and helped them down. “Let’s go into the living room so Daddy can talk to Miss Zoe, okay?”

They headed for the living room to find that Zoe had laid a couple of folders on the coffee table and sat back against the cushion to wait for them. Her long fingers stroked Riley’s fur as he curled in her lap.

As he settled beside her and flung an arm over the back of the couch, Riley stirred. His ears perked. He bounded off Zoe’s lap and jumped on Caleb’s chest.

Caleb turned his face away from Riley’s rough tongue and moved the pup into a better position on his lap.

Zoe reached for the folders and handed one to him. “I’m sure Leona gave you some of this material already when you met with her, but I included it in the packet so it would be together in one place. I’m kind of OCD like that.”

“No worries. Despite the chaos you walked into this morning, I’m an organized person, too.”

“No wonder we get along well.” The smile that spread across her face warmed his insides faster than the coffee he’d downed a few minutes ago.

Zoe reviewed the papers in the packet—Leona’s advertising brochure for dog-training options, a more detailed letter explaining policies and practices, and then an in-home behavior-training program. “At any time, if you’re dissatisfied with Riley’s progress or my training, contact Leona and she will refund your money. All of her programs offer a money-back guarantee. Any questions?”

“Would it be possible to do trainings several times a week instead of spreading them out over the next six or eight weeks?”

“I’m sure we can work something out. Once you sign the release form, we can get started this morning with some basics.”

Caleb leaned forward, upsetting Riley’s comfortable sleeping spot. Once the dog bounced off his lap, Calebreached for the Canine Companions pen and scribbled his signature where Zoe had marked an X. Just knowing they were heading in the right direction helped him to lean into hope—something he hadn’t done in a while.

“The key to Riley’s training is going to be consistency. Training a puppy is similar to caring for your daughters—you want to stay positive, remain patient and praise him for doing well. When you came into Canine Companions, you seemed frustrated.”

That was an understatement.

Caleb rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I guess you could say that.”

“Don’t worry. By the time we’re finished, Riley will be the best-behaved pup in town.”

With the girls in tow and Riley nipping at his heels, he gave Zoe a tour of the house and backyard. She suggested he move Riley’s crate into his bedroom to give the little guy some extra security.

Out in the yard, the morning temperatures were climbing already. As the girls chased each other, Zoe showed him how to take the lead when they snapped the leash onto Riley.

Back in the house, she demonstrated how to stay consistent with crate training. She helped Ella and Ava give Riley a treat. Each time Riley did as instructed, she praised him with words and affectionate touches, then offered him a small treat.

By the time their hour was up, Caleb felt more confident about the pup not destroying everything in the house. But he was reluctant to walk Zoe to the door.

She handed him a piece of paper. “Here’s a list of things that will help you with training. If you give Riley toys to chew on, he’ll leave your personal belongings alone. Try to remember he’s like a toddler and needs gentle guidance and instruction to help learn positive behaviors.”

He glanced at the sheet, then looked at her. “You’re a natural at this, Zoe.”

She dropped her gaze to her feet and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I love animals, especially dogs. Always have. They’re forgiving and eager to please. I get them, and they get me.”

“I can see why. Thanks, Zoe. For everything.”

She placed a hand on his forearm and squeezed. “My pleasure, Sully. I’m really looking forward to this.”

“Me, too.” He curled his fingers over his arm where her hand had been to lock in the feel of her tender touch against his skin.

Maybe, by working together, they’d have an opportunity to revive the past connection they’d once shared. Maybe he could be the one to fill her eyes with joy once again. Would she give a broken has-been like him a chance?

He’d let things move at a natural pace. He wouldn’t rush her into anything she didn’t want, but he wasn’t about to lose her friendship again.

Chapter Four (#ulink_a36ef1f9-0659-53de-a0fb-55cb2b7f1eae)

With the sunshine warming her face and Harper by her side as they walked to Ian and Agnes’s house, Zoe refused to let anything spoil the rest of her day.

She guided Harper up the front steps to the cottage Ian had bought for his wife, Agnes, a little over a year ago as a wedding gift. Best friends for more than twenty years, the two of them had finally wised up to what everyone else had known for a long time—they belonged together.

Now they had everything they’d always wanted.

Would she ever find her dreams?

Ones that didn’t include Sully or his adorable daughters?

After she’d left his place, she had returned to Canine Companions. Leona approved her training arrangements with him and filed his paperwork. She did take a minute to caution Zoe about maintaining a professional distance. Zoe assured her she had nothing to worry about. Sully had his hands full with his daughters right now. The last thing he needed was a relationship with a convicted felon.

A shout sounded from behind the cottage. Zoe led Harper to the fenced-in backyard overlooking the lake.

Gray smoke plumed from the grill on the edge of the patio while the scent of barbecue drifted with the afternoon breeze. A picnic table had been covered with a blue gingham tablecloth while a canning jar filled with wildflowers anchored it down.

The one who attracted her attention was the nine-year-old boy dressed in an Iron Man T-shirt and black basketball shorts, with scruffy golden-brown hair that looked like it needed to be cut and green eyes with gold flecks like her own.

Her son, Griffin—the only decent thing she’d ever done in her life.

But she’d failed him, too.

Mom, Agnes and Griffin stood off to the side while Ian hefted a horseshoe in his hand, then pitched it. Metal clanked against metal as the shoe rung around the stake. He leaned back and let out a shout of joy, then high-fived Dad.