The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service Read Online Free Page A

the passenger seat.” Kerry scowled. “I’m trading it in for a minivan. Mark my words.” She climbed into Lara’s car. Murphy leapt in beside her and braced his front paws on the dashboard. “Hurry! Head toward that white house and then go around the block.”
    Lara started the car and eased into a five-mile-per-hour cruise. “Why the hysterical voice mail? This is a nice neighborhood; there’s hardly any traffic. I’m sure Titus won’t get hit.”
    “I’m not worried about traffic.” Kerry rolled down the window, listening for telltale barks. “Last time he got out, he dug up our neighbor’s flower bed. She was furious, and her husband is a gun enthusiast.”
    The car crawled down the wide, empty street. As both women—and Murphy—searched for any sign of Titus, Lara recounted the previous night’s birthday cake debacle.
    “So basically, you distracted Evan with sex and sugar,” Kerry summed up.
    “Correct.” Lara turned right as Murphy stuck his nose out the window and whined.
    “But now everybody’s happy?”
    “Until the next canine crime spree.” Lara scanned yards on both sides of the street. “That’s the problem. I can’t keep all five dogs out of trouble forever. And even if I could, there’s always a new one coming down the pike. Jason from the Shayland Animal Hospital just left me a voice mail. He’s got a Rhodesian ridgeback mix he wants me to evaluate this afternoon.” Although she taught private obedience classes evenings and weekends, Lara’s “real job” was being a veterinary drug rep. She visited local clinics on behalf of a pharmaceutical distributor. The job didn’t offer great benefits and her salary consisted mainly of performance bonuses, but there were other perks. Such as substantially discounted medical care for the sick and injured dogs she and Kerry took in. “Apparently, this one’s got some kind of funky skin condition. Evan’s going to love that.”
    “Hang on a second.” Kerry grimaced and pressed a hand to her stomach. “I swear this kid’s doing the Worm in there.”
    Lara’s eyes widened as Kerry winced again. “Listen to me. Do not start having contractions.” She grabbed the stainless-steel water bottle from the cup holder. “Drink. Stop stressing.”
    “I’m fine. I have at least two more weeks to go. Plus I refuse to give birth until Richard gets back from Russia.” Kerry’s husband was a corporate trainer for an international company that sent him all over the world.
    “Which will be . . . ?”
    “Friday. Saturday at the very latest.”
    “Which way now?” Lara asked after they’d circled the block to no avail.
    “Turn right. There’s a playground a few blocks over, and you know Titus loves little kids.” Kerry chugged some water. “I’m sorry about Evan and the cake, Lar. This is my fault, really. If I hadn’t gotten married and moved out on you last year—”
    “Eventually the landlord would have figured out we were in total violation of the two-pets policy and evicted us, anyway,” Lara finished. “I should never have let Evan talk me into moving into his place. But you know how he gets. He made an actual PowerPoint presentation demonstrating how I couldn’t swing the rent at the other house by myself much longer and how I could redirect a huge portion of my monthly income toward rescue expenses if I shacked up with him.”
    “You can’t argue with his PowerPoint presentations.”
    “I know. He had pie charts and everything. And he signed a contract swearing to become a dog person.” Lara paused at a stop sign. “Although it was written on a paper napkin and signed at a bar, so I’m not sure it’s legally binding.”
    “Well, then, he better get with the program. Especially if he wants to get married.”
    Lara tapped the brake at the mention of the M word. “Slow down. I just moved in with him last month. No one’s talking about marriage yet.”
    Her friend smiled knowingly. “Maybe you