Handled

By Zoe Dawson

The Dog Park Babes tie the knot! Novella #3 of a four-part mini-series meant to be read after the first four Going to the Dogs novels. Begins with Fetched.

Brooke and Drew are getting married and Brooke is happy juggling all her responsibilities with her wonderful fiancé, Drew and her playful Bulldog, Boxer. She’s in her element running both Pawlish, her doggie grooming spa and Bone Appétit, her dog treat franchise.

But, even though Drew hasn’t been demanding, he’s unhappy. Whenever he brings up slowing down, she reassures him she can handle everything. But the reality is that she isn’t and their relationship is suffering. It isn’t until the honeymoon that things come to a head. Brooke is spending more time putting out fires with her businesses than she is quenching her new husband’s fire.

Will her need to handle everything cause her to lose...the only thing that matters?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zoe Dawson
• Release date: Apr 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9780991351541

Book preview

Acknowledgments

I'd like to thank Sue Stewart for reading this book and her invaluable feedback. Thank you, also, to Faith Freewoman for her excellent advice and editing skills and to my proofreader, Judy Witvoet DeVries. A big thank you also to Robin Ludwig for her fabulous cover design.

Dedication

To all the readers who love my Going to the Dogs series. This one is for you.

invitation

Chapter One

Andrew Drew Hudson looked at his watch.

Again.

For the umpteenth time.

Brooke was late.

Again.

The waiter came over to his table. It was bad form to hold a table in this posh restaurant. The glares from people standing at the bar were potent.

He gave the waiter an apologetic look and a wan smile. She’s running late. She should be here any moment.

Yes, sir, the waiter responded, giving him a look full of pity. Sitting back in his chair, his throat suddenly constricted, Drew loosened his tie and the first button of his dress shirt. He was aware Brooke worked hard. Brooke always worked hard. But with the addition of Bone Appétit it seemed that she was gone more than she was home. This was supposed to have been an impromptu dinner, one she’d initiated since he was going out of town the next day for business and the rest of the week was going to be hectic with their wedding coming up on Saturday.

He didn’t want to act like a girl about this, but truth be told he was feeling neglected. Had been for some time, but every time he tried to bring up the subject with Brooke, she would dismiss it. Tell him that she was handling everything and he needn’t worry.

But the bottom line was that she wasn’t handling everything.

Especially him.

Mostly him.

Their wedding was four days away.

He understood that took up a lot of time. Hell, he’d even pitched in to help as much as he could. They had overcome so much in their relationship, and he needed to think carefully and make sure he wasn’t being…selfish.

Drew? What is such a handsome man doing sitting here all alone?

Drew snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of Jessica Farland’s voice. He looked up. She smiled at him the way a woman smiles when she wants a man, no matter what the circumstances. He worked with her at JMW Associates and, in fact, she would be on this business trip with him.

Hi, Jessica. I’m waiting for my fiancée.

If I had a man like you in my life, I’d never make you wait, she purred.

He smiled to avoid rolling his eyes. Okay, he was a man, and he was feeling ignored, so that comment made him feel good. Then he immediately felt guilty and shifted in his seat. People were still glaring and the waiter gave him periodic you-ready-yet? looks.

She should be here any minute, but thanks for stopping by and saying hi.

Jessica looked momentarily surprised, as if she’d expected him to offer her a chair, but her overt come-ons actually annoyed him more than anything else. He’d be the first to acknowledge that she was gorgeous, with her long, auburn hair, thickly fringed green eyes, and tall, willowy form. But he loved Brooke’s curves, her full hips, he loved running his fingers through her long, dark hair, and his heart clutched at the way she wore all her feelings on her face and in her eyes. He didn’t simply appreciate her beauty. Her beauty took his breath away.

Jessica just stared at him as if she had heard wrong. His cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his breast pocket, knowing it was Brooke because of the Who Let the Dogs Out ring tone.

There she is now, he said, dismissing Jessica again.

She huffed under her breath and marched away from the table.

With a spurt of annoyance, he answered, Where are you? I’ve been sitting here for fifteen minutes. The people at the bar look like they’re looking for a rope to lynch me.

Drew…, was all she said, then she sobbed.

Brooke! What’s wrong? What happened?

For a minute, it sounded like she was trying to catch her breath. He was already on his feet, not even sure how. The waiter came over, but Drew could only focus on Brooke’s soft, distressed breathing

Maintaining his even tone for her sake, even though his gut churned with fear, he said, Brooke, talk to me. Where are you?

At Bone Appétit.

He reached into his pocket and threw fifty dollars down on the table for the waiter’s trouble and to ensure they could get a reservation here again. It was Brooke’s favorite restaurant. Sorry, he said as he passed the waiter. I’ve got to go. He wended his way through the crowd and out the front door, hailing a cab as soon as he got to the curb. His voice steady, even though he felt anything but, he said, I’m on my way. Are you all right, sweetheart? Talk to me.

Yes, I’m okay, but the…the…stove exploded.

What? His heart raced as adrenaline exploded into his bloodstream, the mere thought of losing Brooke twisting him up inside.

The kitchen is a mess and a whole batch of doggie treats is ruined.

Fuck the kitchen and the doggie treats. Are you all right!?

I think so.

Anyone else hurt?

No, thank God.

He breathed a sigh of relief as a cab pulled to the curb and he barked the address at the cabbie. Please hurry, he said, then to Brooke, I’ll be there as fast as I can.

The…the fire department just got here. I’ve got to go.

She disconnected. Drew lowered the phone from his ear and slipped it back into his suit pocket.

It was the longest cab ride of his life, and the cabbie was forced to stop at the head of the street where Brooke had her shop. He paid and was ready to hurry down the street, but a cop stopped him.

This area is closed off, mister.

My wife owns the place where the stove blew up. I need to get to her.

In that case, he said, gruffly, you can pass.

He could smell smoke and charred material on the wind as he approached the shop. Her two employees, Tara and Sue, were standing out front, but he didn’t see Brooke.

As soon as Sue saw him she said, She’s being treated by an EMT over there.

His mouth went dry. Treated?

Drew rushed toward the ambulance and saw her sitting on the edge of the open back doors, an EMT bent over her. As soon as she saw him, she got up and ran to him. When they met, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and he held her. Just held her tightly to him.

Drew, she said softly, burying her face into his neck. I’m so glad you’re here.

He looked pointedly at the EMT. How is she?

She got a very mild scrape on her forehead from flying debris, no other injuries, and no concussion.

Thank you.

The EMT nodded, put away his gear, and closed the back doors. A few minutes later the ambulance drove off.

When they separated, he lowered his head, gently covering her mouth with his as he tightened his arms around

Reviews for Handled

[arthistorychick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Handled by Zoe DawsonBook #7: Going to the Dogs SeriesSource: AuthorRating: 5/5 starsI feel like all I need to say about this read is “Drew!” and I am done but alas, that just wouldn’t be enough. I don’t think I realized until I plowed through Handled how much I love Drew and how much I was looking forward to the conclusion of his story. Sure, Brooke is in there too and I was glad to read more about her but for me, this one is all about the boy!!As we have come to expect, Brooke is in way over her head trying to complete tasks, chores and, projects for her two businesses, her friends and, her own wedding. While Brooke has always been highly efficient and completely capable, she has also generally been on her own so the long, hard hours only mattered to her. Since Drew has come into her life Brooke has seen great improvement overall but, the hours aren’t lessening and though she assures Drew that she has everything covered and things will slow down after the wedding, his patience is beginning to wear thin. With no regrets, Drew gave up his high-powered, high-income job for something far more meaningful and far less time-consuming. Drew’s time with Brooke is precious and though he makes every effort to spend time with her, he is getting pretty tired of being stood up. Their sex life is bleh and bordering on non-existent and there is just only so much a man can take before he crosses the unthinkable line. The Bottom Line: After spending so much time with the same group of characters I would totally expect both the author and the reader to be tired of the lot of them. That is not the case at all with this series for either me or Zoe Dawson. Dawson keeps her characters fresh and exciting (something an author bored with his/her characters cannot do!) and is totally unafraid of throwing a ton of drama at her characters. Dawson writes strong characters who are able to stick to their guns, be strong and, weather all storms. For me, I love these characters (DREW!!) and am especially glad to see them facing and overcoming adversity – the mark of truly evolving characters. I know the end is near for this original group of characters and I have to say, I will be sorry to see them take a back seat to the next group of characters. This series just doesn’t get old and is one I can truly see myself going to back to again and again :)