Leashed (Going to the Dogs) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to those relationships, and he had preferred it that way. Preferred the women who were seduced by his face, body, status, or wealth. It made everything so much easier, so much less…weighty. He had no doubt he could seduce Callie into bed. Even now, his body tightened at the thought of how she would feel against him, how her mouth would fuse to his, taste.  
    So he was trapped for the time being. However, what it amounted to was yet another compelling reason to steer clear of Callie. Thanks to this dilemma with Jill and her pregnancy from a prized potential stud, he couldn’t ignore the protocol. The owners had a right to check out his dog. They had a right to be concerned about her offspring.
    He also recognized that Jill had to have some training. He wouldn’t be in this predicament if she had been spoiled less and disciplined more. Again, Callie could help him. So, for sixty days at most he would have to interact with her. Jill’s puppies would be born by then, and Jill would be sufficiently trained. He could go back to just being her neighbor.
    “But if it doesn’t help to talk about it, I’ll try not to mention your great aunt.”
    “If you have questions, it’s all right to ask them, Callie. It’s true that her passing has been hard, but I wouldn’t stifle your curiosity. She was a wonderful lady and deserves to be remembered with respect and love. I was lucky to have had her, to have known her and to have been loved by her.” He was quite shocked at the words that came out of his mouth. Callie squeezed his arm and then was distracted by maneuvering the Jeep through traffic. He had to take a moment to regroup. Never had he revealed so much to anyone.
    She pulled into a long drive that led up to a large house with kennels. Two posts held a green and blue sign that said Lassiter Run in bold letters.
    The big Victorian was a real showpiece, with a riot of fall flowers planted along the beautifully maintained walk. Pumpkins were scattered here and there, along with multi-colored cornhusks which decorated the front porch posts. Little pumpkin lights were strung along the eaves. Baskets of spider mums hung from the porch’s rafters, and rockers invited guests to sit awhile and enjoy the company of friends. It was very homey and inviting.
    A tall, sandy-haired woman came out onto the porch, flanked by a fawn adolescent Great Dane and a full-grown brindle.
    She waved to Callie with a wide grin on her face, and it made his heart ache just a little.
    Callie jumped out of the vehicle and both dogs launched themselves off the porch and sprinted to her, greeting her joyously with barks that woke both Jack and Jill. He noticed how well the Lassiter Run dogs behaved. Neither one jumped up. She petted them, and then told them to stay as she raced up the steps and gave her mother a big hug.
    Owen felt as if he was intruding on her private time, but she motioned him out of the Jeep. His palms sweaty, he wiped them on his pants before getting out. Jill whined when he shut the door, but he ignored her for now.
    He approached the stairs, and Callie’s mother eyed his face, then his clothes. She narrowed her eyes at Callie, but the younger woman just shook her head.
    “Mom, this is Owen McKay. He’s my neighbor in the City.”
    Callie’s mom reached out her hand and said somewhat cautiously, “Hello, Owen. Welcome to Lassiter Run.”
    “Thanks, Mrs. Lassiter.”
    “Oh, please, call me Kate.”
    He nodded.
    “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
    “Someone told me you were making ham and scalloped potatoes and a peach cobbler,” Callie said slyly.
    “Oh, Ian has such a big mouth.”
    “Yeah, it’s too bad he can’t be here, but he’s got a show to get ready for.”
    “I understand,” she said looking from Owen to Callie.
    Callie glanced at him and took a deep breath. “Mom, we’re here because, well…Owen has a beautiful Great Dane bitch.”
    “Oh, how wonderful. Did you bring her with