Page 33 of Penn

Without thinking, I hop onto the couch and pull her into my arms, hugging her tightly. She laughs and hugs me back, and I want to kiss her so damn badly. I don’t because I don’t think we’re in that place yet, but I hope we will be.

Soon.

Very, very soon.

Chapter 13

Dixie

When Penn suggested getting a puppy, I didn’t know what to expect. I honestly thought it would be something he’d put off, claiming the right one wasn’t out there yet, or the cost was too much. Instead, he woke me up and said he has an appointment with a breeder to get a purebred puppy.

The gravel driveway of the dog breeder is long and windy, and I love how it’s lined with large trees casting heavy shadows over the pickup. I’d offered to let him take my car, but he refused.

“I don’t really fit in your car, babe,” he had joked.

Sort of joked.

He doesn’t really fit well in my car. And this trip would have been very uncomfortable for him.

My fingers dig into the fabric of the jeans that are starting to get too small as I stare out the passenger side window. My heart does that little dance it does every time I’m in close quarters with Penn. The one that tells me I want more than to just live under his roof. Especially because getting a dog together feels oddly like a declaration. A commitment.

Penn parks the pickup, and I feel his excitement. The desire to get a dog wasn’t something he came up with on the fly. He genuinely wants this puppy, and it warms my heart to see it. It’s the first time he’s looked young and carefree. Less like a biker and more like a man.

He turns to look at me, and his brown eyes are warm and sparkling. The way he looks at me makes me feel like the only person in the world. It’s both terrifying and addictive. No one has ever looked at me like this before, and he does it often. Even when he doesn’t realize I can see him.

“Are you sure about this?” he asks, his hands trembling slightly as he turns in his seat.

I smile at him. Even if I wasn’t, I’m not sure I would be able to tell this man no. “Let’s go see these puppies.”

We step out of the pickup, and he’s next to me in a flash, helping me as we walk the worn gravel parking area until we reach the sidewalk. An older couple walks out to greet us. They’re both in their sixties, and I’d trust anything they tell me. They look like dog people, but I can’t really explain what that means. How I know that. I just do.

“Welcome!” the woman says with a bright smile. “I’m Clara, and this is Tim. The puppies are in the back around this way.”

They lead us around the house to a small fenced-in area where a group of six or seven puppies lay. Some chew on toys while others barely open their eyes. “We must’ve interrupted naptime,” I say.

“It’s a bit deceiving. They have a lot of energy, I promise you that,” Tim says.

“They’re twelve weeks old,” Clara says, and she leads us into the area. “All healthy, fully vetted, and ready for their new homes. Is there a certain gender you’re looking for?”

Penn looks like a kid on Christmas as he walks in, and one of the sleeping puppies immediately perks up and runs over, pawing at Penn’s leg. He bends down to pick it up, and it immediately starts licking his face.

“I think this one likes you,” I say.

“I think we should get her,” Penn says.

Setting her down, we both sit on the ground, and she prances around with her oversized paws. The others come to join us, but she barks at them, giving a warning to back off.

“What is that?” I ask, laughing as she walks over, sniffs my belly, and curls up on my lap.

“I think she’s claimed us,” Penn says, scratching her ears. “What do you think?”

Her nose nuzzles my belly before sniffing and giving it a little lick. As if she’s telling us she knows I have a baby growing in there, and she loves him or her already.

“Well, look at you,” I whisper, petting her softly. “I’ve never had a dog before. Will you teach me what to do?”

The puppy barks in response. Just one, quick little yip, and she settles down again.

“I think that was a yes,” Clara says with a chuckle. “She hasn’t taken to anyone who has come looking to buy a puppy. Must’ve been waiting for the right couple to come along and claim as her mom and dad.”