Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Robin opened the door, and she didn’t have to wait long before Buttercup walked right in, with her tail wagging. Then she did this little half-leap as if she wanted to jump up onto her. She couldn’t help but giggle and then sink down to her knees, where Buttercup suddenly did this amazing puppy pose that would make any yoga participant envious.
“Sweetie pie, does he not know you got out? He’s going to be so worried about you.”
Robin hadn’t quite found the part of the fence she seemed to be able to slink through to get to her yard. The truth was, she didn’t exactly look hard enough. Buttercup always made her smile. This dog was like … she didn’t know, it probably sounded crazy, but a lifeline in a way.
She melted away the sad and lonely feeling. At thirty years old, she could retire, but she couldn’t help but feel alone as she was divorced, without any kids, and right about now, she hated men.
Men cheated. They were evil, and she didn’t want anything to do with them. They were all after something, and she didn’t have to participate in that kind of life. Luck was not on her side, because there was no denying that the grump she lived next to was a very … sexy man.
Not that they had many interactions, except when opening the curtains, taking out the trash, standing next to the window. And seeing him, yeah, there was definitely something to look at, but that was all she allowed herself to have. A small little look. Nothing else. Nothing more.
Buttercup came toward her, licking and nibbling at her face, and she couldn’t help but laugh. Wrapping her arms around the dog, she pressed her face against the scruff of her neck, breathing her in. Another little strange thing was that she loved dog smell. Yeah, she was weird.
Pressing kisses to the dog, she rolled to the floor, and Buttercup jumped onto her stomach and then settled down, curling up. She let out a sigh and lay on the floor, then stroked the dog, feeling content. Did Buttercup know she was feeling miserable?
Robin didn’t know if it was possible, but for now, she was going to take it. She needed this. Thinking about her ex and her life always seemed to settle her into a horrible depressing feeling that she struggled to shake. She didn’t love her husband anymore. During their confrontation, Robin had even asked why he’d married her, and he had told her because of work. To make partner, they needed someone who looked like they had a family. She was frumpy and boring, and that was what family meant. He described the woman he had two kids with as being “his little slut.”
She wrinkled her nose and Buttercup wriggled on her lap.
“Don’t worry, I’m not sad or anything. I’m used to it, but Buttercup, don’t ever let a guy tell you you’re the most perfect woman on the planet. He’s going to be lying to you.” That was what her ex said, to get her to marry him.
Robin had thought he was in love with her, but it was all just a lie, which was another reason to stay clear of men. They only brought heartache.
She was done with men.
Done with love.
Done with romance.
It didn’t exist.
Just pigs.
Horrible men … and women. She didn’t judge, it was across the board, and the only thing good in life was Buttercup.
****
Dylan Greaves looked around his house, but he knew without a doubt that Buttercup was at the neighbor’s. He’d never really spoken to the hot, curvy neighbor. The few times he’d seen her, she’d been either gardening the front lawn or putting up those blasted Christmas lights, and he hadn’t been interested in starting a conversation.
The truth was, he knew he was grumpy. He’d turned into what he hoped to never be—a grumpy old man. What exactly did he have to celebrate? At forty-five years old, he was divorced, alone, with Buttercup being the only real love of his life right now. That dog meant everything to him.
He wasn’t exactly sure how he got Buttercup. It all started six months ago when he was driving home late at night. He had been in the house six months, the same as his neighbor, but they hadn’t spoken. Then, by some magical intervention or something, they were on the front lawn at the same time, and looked at each other. Dylan had wanted to make introductions, but he’d fought that urge, and instead left and went for a much-needed drive.
On the way back, he found Buttercup, the stray dog that seemed to have a limp. He picked up Buttercup, and much to his surprise, it was like she’d been made for him. Her tail wagged when she saw him, and she was always so happy to see him. He remembered picking her up, taking her to the vet, where there was no limp at all, she was in fact a very healthy puppy. But there was no chip, no way of knowing who she belonged to. For one week, he left her at the vet, as they promised to reach out, put a few flyers up, to see if anyone claimed her. No one did.