Must Love Dogs

By K. Lynn

Since a mugging a year ago, Ben’s lived with blindness. Despite an art career on hold and a deadbeat boyfriend who left him because of his disability, he's finally getting his life back on track. Ben is gaining a new sense of independence thanks to his guide dog, Colt.

But Ben’s carefully balanced life is thrown into chaos when veterinarian Dr. Jay Connor hits Colt with his car. While Colt is on the mend and recovering nicely, Ben finds that Jay is not only fond of Colt, but also quite interested in Ben.

However, one overheard conversation might put a stop to their romance before it can grow into something more. Maybe Ben’s destined to go it alone in the dark. Or can Jay help him see there’s still a chance for happily ever after?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Jul 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781634763127

Book preview

Must Love Dogs

By K. LYNN

Since a mugging a year ago, Ben’s lived with blindness. Despite an art career on hold and a deadbeat boyfriend who left him because of his disability, he’s finally getting his life back on track. Ben is gaining a new sense of independence thanks to his guide dog, Colt.

But Ben’s carefully balanced life is thrown into chaos when veterinarian Dr. Jay Connor hits Colt with his car. While Colt is on the mend and recovering nicely, Ben finds that Jay is not only fond of Colt, but also quite interested in Ben.

However, one overheard conversation might put a stop to their romance before it can grow into something more. Maybe Ben’s destined to go it alone in the dark. Or can Jay help him see there’s still a chance for happily ever after?

BEN FELT like he was walking in a secluded area, or maybe a small town that had shut down for the night, instead of what was usually a bustling street. The lack of sounds, the lack of people, made him wonder if he and his guide dog, Colt, were the only ones foolish enough to be out late at night. He’d always wished for silence when he was younger, to be left alone with his thoughts and imagination, but ever since the accident, he hated the way silence made him feel disconnected from the world around him. Without his sight, his hearing had to work overtime in order to tell him what danger he might be heading into. When it was silent like this, he had no grounding, no way to know if there was one person in front of him or twenty. Or maybe he’d been right all along, and it was just him and his dog, left vulnerable and open to attack.

Ben started to walk faster, pulling Colt along instead of letting the dog guide him. His poor companion let out a whine, as if he were trying to tell Ben to slow down and let him take the lead, as was his job. There would be plenty of time for that later, when they were safe and at home. For now, Ben just wanted to get there as soon as possible. But he then realized that it would do them no good if Ben did something foolish, like walk out into traffic, so he slowed his pace again and let Colt take over. Up ahead, he thought he heard a car engine off to the left. If Ben had counted correctly, that meant he had three more blocks to go before he could turn down his street and be back at his townhouse. Colt was soon slowing down, so they must have been nearing the corner.

The next few seconds happened so fast that Ben wasn’t even sure what was going on. He tripped, perhaps on an uneven piece of the sidewalk or maybe over his own feet. He started to fall forward and had a flash of fear that he was heading onto the street, into the path of the car that became louder with each passing second. There was a brush of soft fur under his hand, and he was pushed to the side, the rough cement like sandpaper against the skin of his arms. Ben had no time to be thankful because in the next moment there was a squeal of brakes and a thump. Colt whined before he fell silent.

Ben pushed his upper body away from the hard surface, pieces of loose gravel gouging into his hands, but he didn’t pay any attention. Colt! His voice betrayed the fear that ran through him. Ben’s whole focus was on the darkness in front, trying to hear Colt and hoping that his companion was still breathing.

There was a scuffle of noise then, a car door opening and a male voice sounding frantic as it said, I couldn’t stop in time. He was just there all of a sudden. Ben could hear the sound of cloth rubbing together before the voice was almost level with him. You’re going to be okay, boy. It’s okay.

Colt whined, which reassured Ben a little, but he needed to get to his dog. He started crawling toward the sound, mindless of the way the hard surface beneath his hands and knees was making the short journey painful. The concrete gave way, rounding over at the curb, and he reached out to continue forward. Two hands embraced his shoulders and caused him to halt.

Hey, hey, the male voice soothed, but Ben flinched away from the touch.

My dog, I need to get my dog! How bad is he? I can’t hear him. Colt!

The hands tightened a little. Colt, that’s his name? When Ben didn’t answer him, he continued. He’s your guide dog, right?

Ben nodded, feeling trapped. Why isn’t he making any noise? Colt!

It’s going to be okay. My name’s Jay and I’m a veterinarian. He got a little banged up, that’s all.

He was hit, Ben said, shaking his head. I heard him.

I think he just glanced off my fender, but if we can get him back to my office, I can make sure there aren’t any internal injuries. Jay’s hands started tugging on Ben, like he was trying to get him to stand. You think you can get up?

Ben let the man pull him up until he could stand on his own. He was shaking, the shock of everything starting to hit him, and he tried to calm