Stella took a moment to herself as she watched Logan stay busy with the water bowls, taking care to fill each one to just the right level.
There was something so wholesome about seeing Logan give himself so fully to a task that was only going to be of benefit to someone else.
Logan might only have been atThe Dog Denfor a few minutes, but he genuinely looked right at home.
Over the years in college, and then sporadically since then, Stella had never really seen Logan look so full of contentment. It was like working to help the assortment of homeless dogs was giving Logan a sense of tranquility and purpose that had eluded him for most of his life.
However Stella didn’t have too long to sift around in her own thoughts…
‘You must be Sweetie!’ Stella laughed, wrapping her arms around the huge mastiff dog that was sniffing and licking in and around her neck. ‘Kim said I’d like you, but I think this might just belove!’
What had looked like being a pretty disastrous day had actually turned into something else altogether.
Thoughts of the badly received presentation at work were long gone, as was any lingering awkwardness with Logan from the night before.
Stella and Sweetie the mastiff glanced over at Logan and watched as he helped an older dog climb up onto the super-comfy beanbag.
‘Yup. Logan’s as hot as hell on a super-hot day, isn’t he Sweetie?’ Stella said. ‘And maybe, just maybe, we might have a future together after all…’
Chapter 6
As Logan sat in the passenger seat of Stella’s company car, he stared out of the window and took in the sights and sounds of the Blue Rock streets. With the clear blue sky only punctuated by the occasional bird, it was a serene and calming way to end the afternoon’s fun atThe Dog Den.
Even Logan’s injured shoulder seemed to be clearing up too. Realistically, Logan knew that at some stage he would need to see a physiotherapist. But for now, the pain had dulled, and his movement was easier.
Logan looked over to Stella and allowed himself to indulge in a little wishful thinking. Stella was just as cute as from their days in college, and if anything was getting even cuter as she got older. Logan may have hurt one shoulder in the car accident, but his spanking hand, and relevant shoulder, was absolutely fine…
Could we… Should we…
Fuck. Just quit thinking about it.
What will be will be.
Logan brought himself back into reality and felt happy to have had such a good time that afternoon. The time spent atThe Dog Denwas like nothing Logan had experienced before in his life.
Well,almostnothing.
As Logan and Stella made their way back home, Logan couldn’t help but remember the summers he would spend at his Aunt Julie’s house. With both of Logan’s parents either working full time or off on a crazy adventure, Logan would often find himself spending extended periods of time with his Aunt Julie at her large country house.
And this meant one thing… dogs.
All the tail-wagging, fun-loving dogs that Logan could handle in fact.
Spending time with the dogs atThe Dog Denimmediately took Logan back to his youth and helped him to rediscover the sheer joy and freedom he felt when playing with a pack of excitable, loving dogs.
Maybe I need my own pack. Or at least one little pup to look after.
I’m too old to be a lone wolf now.
If only I could settle down, I might just like it…
As Logan and Stella arrived at Stella’s apartment, the pair of them were in great spirits. The journey back fromThe Dog Denhad been full of banter, and to say that it had taken a flirtatious turn would be something of an understatement.
Logan had even been willing to forget the fact that Stella drove a dreaded electric car rather than a real, gas guzzling internal combustion engine.
Well, almost…
‘You know, the batteries in electric cars are bad for the environment too…’ Logan said, arching his eyebrow and trying to hide how much he loved the slick interior of Stella’s car.
