Best of My Love (Fool's Gold, #20)(30)

Change was possible, he thought with satisfaction, and getting a dog was the next step for him.

“You ready?” she asked.

He nodded. “The lady I talked to said not to focus on finding a dog my very first visit. She said that it’s better to wait and get it right than to rush into a decision.”

“So we’re window-shopping?”

“Something like that. When I see the right dog, I’ll know it.”

Her lips twitched. “Like your souls will touch?”

“Very funny. I was thinking more of a disturbance in the Force.”

She laughed. The soft, sweet sound filled the cab of the truck. He wanted to pull her close and kiss her. Not even to start on a path to something more, but because kissing Shelby felt like the right thing to do. But he knew better so he pocketed his truck key and opened the driver’s side door.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go find my soul mate.”

They walked into the animal shelter. A middle-aged lady named Carol took the paperwork he’d downloaded and filled out at home. She started a file, then talked to him about the shelter policies.

“We give you a two-week trial,” she said. “You can take one of our pets home for a few days and see how it goes. If it turns out you’re not a good match, you can return the pet and get your adoption fees back.”

Aidan was less concerned about the money he would be paying than finding the right companion.

Carol, petite, with short dark hair, set the paperwork on the counter. “Do you know what you’re looking for?”

“A dog,” he said. “Something big.”

Carol didn’t look surprised. “A larger dog needs plenty of exercise. Do you have a yard and are you prepared to walk him at least twice a day?”

Aidan nodded. “The yard has a six-foot fence. I can walk the dog and I’ll be taking him to work with me. I own a tour company.”

Carol glanced back at the paperwork. “Mitchell Adventure Tours. Of course. I worked for your mom when I was in high school.” She smiled. “So someone you can take hiking and camping, right?”

“Uh-huh. Maybe a couple of years old. I don’t think I could handle a puppy.”

Responsibility was one thing, but potty training was asking too much.

“He’d prefer a boy dog,” Shelby added with a wicked smile. “You know, so they could bond over manly things.”

Aidan narrowed his gaze. “I think a male dog would be easier for me. But I’m open to a girl.”

Shelby linked arms with him. “You’re lying, but it’s nice of you to pretend.”

Carol laughed. “Let’s go meet some dogs. We have several larger dogs in right now. Some are more active than others. There’s a border collie mix who might be perfect.”

Five minutes later, Aidan and Shelby were in a large, well-lit room furnished like a typical living room. There was a sofa, an area rug and a box of dog toys. Carol walked in with a black-and-white dog on a leash.

“This is Jasper,” she said. “He’s two years old. He’s very active. Border collies need to be doing something. They’re working dogs and if you don’t keep them busy, they can get into mischief.”

Aidan stayed seated, as Carol had instructed, and let her bring the dog to him. Jasper sniffed his hand before turning to Shelby.

“He’s beautiful,” she said. “Can I pet him?”

“Sure.”

Shelby gently stroked his side. “Hi, big guy. How are you?”

Jasper’s tail wagged. Then he walked over to the toy box and chose a bone. He settled on the rug and began to chew.

Aidan got up and approached. Jasper put both paws on the plastic bone, stared Aidan in the eye and growled. The message of “back off” couldn’t have been more clear.

Carol picked up the leash and drew Jasper away from the bone. They approached Aidan again. Jasper’s gaze was sharp and just a little threatening. Aidan didn’t know a whole lot about dogs, but he was pretty sure this one didn’t like him.

“He’s not the one,” Shelby said. “There’s no chemistry.”

“I agree.” Carol walked toward the door. “Let me bring in someone else.”

A Lab mix, a midsized pit bull and a Great Dane later, Aidan was thinking he wasn’t cut out to be a dog owner. The pit bull had been too hyper, the Lab barely moved and the Great Dane was still a puppy and more interested in chasing its tail than paying attention to him.

“I didn’t think it would be this hard,” Shelby admitted when Carol had taken the Great Dane away. “There’s more involved than I’d realized. You have to know you’re getting the right dog. You could have him for years.”

“I guess I’ll come back in a few weeks,” Aidan said as he stood. “Carol said they get new dogs in all the time.”

The door opened and the volunteer walked in with a small white dog.

“I know, I know,” she said with a slight shrug. “He’s nothing like you described. But I couldn’t help thinking maybe he was the one. This is Charlie.”

“He’s adorable!” Shelby dropped to her knees. “Hi, Charlie.”

The little dog, stocky, with kind of short legs and a white curly coat, trotted over to her. He sniffed her fingers, then licked them before heading to Aidan.