Charlotte Carter - Tail of Two Hearts

“Sure will.” His smile broadened like he was keeping some wonderful secret. “And I’d like some for my counter, if you have enough. I can probably talk my puppy fan club into taking some home to their parents.”

“Good idea!” She gave him a handful. “If you run out, let me know. I can always print more.”

Their hands brushed as he took the flyers. They stood gazing at each other for a moment. Boyo rubbing up against Chase’s leg. Pepper squawking. Vivian’s heart doing its pitter-patter thing in a rapid beat.

“I’ve got to deliver some of these to the school,” she finally said, her mouth unusually dry.

“Okay, then, Viv. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She nodded and fled out the door, feeling like a teenager who had just been invited to the prom by the cutest boy in school.

Vivian’s next delivery took her a few short blocks to the combined grammar and high school. She found Coraline Connolly, the school principal, in her office. Vivian stuck her head in the door.

“Are you busy, Mrs. Connolly?”

The older woman looked up from the stack of papers on her desk. “Not too busy to see you, Vivian. What brings you to my part of the world? Not trouble at the bookshop, I hope.”

“No, not at all.” In addition to being a frequent patron of the library when Vivian had worked there, Mrs. Connolly was also the heart and soul of the Save Our Streets committee, which was overseeing the revitalization of Bygones’s Main Street and the new shops that had recently opened. “Allison and I have come up with an event for this Saturday. Chase of Fluff & Stuff is helping out with the idea so it can be a promotion for both of the businesses.”

Taking the flyer from Vivian, Mrs. Connolly read it over. “What a good idea,” she said, looking up. “I’m sure the town’s benefactor would be pleased to know there is so much cooperation between our new entrepreneurs.”

“Has anyone figured out yet who he, or she, is?

Mrs. Connolly lifted one shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “Not that I’m aware of.”

“Everyone is certainly curious.”

“I’m sure that’s true. I know I am. In any event, it’s excellent that you and Allison and Chase are all working together. Chase seems to be such a nice man, and he does love his animals.”

“Yes, he does.” A silly flush warmed her cheeks, a problem she’d had since childhood, which she blamed on her redheaded complexion. “We’re both hoping Doggie Daze not only encourages people to buy books about dogs but also helps out the Happy Havens Animal Shelter. Evidently, the shelter is strapped for both room and money with so many animals being turned over to them by families who are leaving town.”

“Oh, dear, it seems like the factory closing has caused so many problems for our little town. Not the least of which is the possible closing of our school, which would force our children to be bussed to another town. Some of our teachers have already signed contracts with other districts for next semester. It’s so hard to see our town suffering so.” She held up the flyer and smiled, although the smile seemed a little forced. “I’ll post several of these on bulletin boards around the school and hope for a good showing at Doggie Daze.”

“Thanks so much.” Vivian started to back out the door.

“Do give Chase my regards. It’s nice to know two animal lovers will be working together for our shelter.” The principal’s eyes gleamed with a hint of matchmaking on her mind.

“Yes, ma’am.” Flustered by the way the school principal had so easily linked her and Chase together, Vivian hurried down the hallway.

She quickly chided herself. Mrs. Connolly was only referring to their mutual concern about the shelter. She wasn’t suggesting there was anything romantic going on between Vivian and Chase.

Because there wasn’t.

As she walked back to Happy Endings, she passed Fluff & Stuff. Unable to help herself, she glanced inside.

Chase, who was standing by the cash register, spotted her and waved, then mouthed the words, See you tomorrow.

Feeling a tremble of excitement in her tummy, she waved back and gave him a thumbs-up.

What if it was possible? She and Chase? A couple?

Based on her recent experiences with men, she believed that seemed unlikely.

But what if it could be? she thought, futilely trying to still the excitement of her romantic heart.

Chapter Three

The following morning, Vivian tried on a few different outfits before settling on a shirt, with three-quarter-length sleeves, patterned in colorful fall leaves and her rust-colored skirt. She paired that with comfortable shoes for walking around the shelter, then tossed a light jacket over her arm and headed out the door.

“You be good, Essie,” she called to her cat. “And leave Roger alone.”

Trying to temper her eagerness as she drove into town, she still couldn’t help but look forward to spending time with Chase. And, of course, visiting the shelter.

She parked on the street. By the time she reached Fluff & Stuff, Chase had already opened the door. Ready to go, he wore chinos and a tan windbreaker snug at his waist, which made his legs look extra long.

Boyo peered up at her from behind Chase’s legs, his tail wagging.

“Don’t you look like a bright autumn day,” Chase said, ushering her inside with one of his patented grins. “Makes me think of raking leaves as a boy and jumping into the pile and then having to rake them up all over again.”

“We used to do that, too. It would take us all day to finish the job. Drove our mother crazy. And then the next morning there’d be more leaves on the ground, and we’d have to do it all over again.”

“My car’s in back.” Placing his hand at the small of her back, he guided her to the rear of the store. The heat of his palm seeped through her light jacket. “Sounds like you come from a big family,” he said.

Telling Boyo to stay, Chase let Vivian out the back door and then locked it behind them.

“Mom had six kids. Three girls and three boys. We were kind of a rowdy bunch at times.”

“I can imagine. Six children sounds like quite a crowd.” His voice held a note of dismay. “I was an only child, which was about all my mother could handle.”

“Don’t tell me you misbehaved as a boy?” she asked in a teasing voice.

“Not all that much. But all kids find a way to get into trouble once in a while.”

“And that was times six for my mom.” Her mother had been awesome, the most patient person Vivian knew. At least most days that was true.

When she climbed into his SUV, she caught the faint scent of puppy chow and spotted a few doggie hairs on the seat.

He went around to the driver’s side and climbed behind the wheel. He seemed far more subdued than when he’d greeted her, and she couldn’t imagine why. Everybody’s family was different. Six children had always seemed ideal to Vivian. In fact, she’d like to have that many herself, if she could find a way.

“Is your mother still living in Wichita?” she asked quietly.

“No. She died a couple of years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shrugged as though it didn’t matter to him, but Vivian suspected he cared more about the loss of his mother than he wanted to admit. With just the two of them, they had to have been close. From Vivian’s perspective, she couldn’t imagine being an only child—she would have been too lonely way out on the farm. Though she admitted her younger siblings were often pests as they grew up, and she’d been expected to watch out for them when her mother was otherwise occupied.

Since their conversation had dampened Chase’s mood, she decided to change the subject.

“So what kind of dogs do you think I ought to pick out for Doggie Daze?”