A Walk In The Park

By Rebekah Weatherspoon

Two hearts on the mend and one adorable mutt get a new leash on love in this romantic short story from award-winning author Rebekah Weatherspoon.

Andre Monroe is ready to move on from heartbreak, and the first step is bringing home his rescue pup. He'd bonded instantly with the playful Zeus and was already planning their first adventures. But one thing he definitely hadn't daydreamed about was Zeus accidentally being promised to someone else - or that he might go home empty-handed and brokenhearted all over again.

Janelle Johnson is not giving up her claim to Zeus. He already has a hold on her heart (and his own Instagram handle). After the year she'd had, she needed this dog. But when she sees the disappointment of the big, burly handsome man who's clearly just as in love with the dog as she is, she proposes a deal to Andre - for one month they'll co-parent the dog. How hard could it be?

Both of them agree to the unusual arrangement. Sharing a dog with a complete stranger isn't quite the walk in the (dog) park they imagined, but as they work together to give Zeus a loving future, their four-legged friend might not be the only one who's found a happily ever after.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rebekah Weatherspoon
• Release date: Jul 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223576723

Rebekah Weatherspoon

After years of meddling in her friends’ love lives, Rebekah turned to writing romance as a means to surviving a stressful professional life. She has worked in various positions from library assistant, meter maid, middle school teacher, B movie production assistant, reality show crew chauffeur, D movie producer, and her most fulfilling job to date, lube and harness specialist at an erotic boutique in West Hollywood.Her interests include Wonder Woman collectibles, cookies, James Taylor, quality hip-hop, football, American muscle cars, large breed dogs, and the ocean. When she's not working, writing, reading, or sleeping, she is watching Ken Burns documentaries and cartoons or taking dance classes. If given the chance, she will cheat at UNO. She was raised in Southern New Hampshire and now lives in Southern California with an individual who is much more tech savvy than she ever will be. Better Off Red is her first novel.

Book preview

chapter one

janelle

A quiet What the fuck? slips from my lips as I pull my car into the parking lot. Chaos. Complete and utter chaos greets me the moment I step out of my car. There’s a crowd in front of the Highland County Animal Shelter. An angry agitated crowd. Adults pissed the hell off. Beet red faces and children with tear streaked cheeks. Couples looking like they are about to break their perfect unions over whatever is happening on the other side of the shelter doors.

I make my way to the door and narrowly avoid taking an elbow to the face as a legit fight breaks out between two white dudes. Just then the front door swings open and an old Asian woman with a cat carrier rushes out, no doubt beyond ready to get away from whatever is going on inside. Which is just more chaos. The waiting area is packed. I’ve been to the shelter three times in the last couple of months and in that time, I’ve run into three other people, max.

I glance over and see a light skinned Black woman around my age, she’s tightly holding the hand of the little boy beside her. She looks pissed, too, going by the tension in her jaw.

What’s going on? I ask.

I’m not sure. I’m just waiting. We’re supposed to pick up a puppy.

Suddenly one of the shelter employees in a blue polo shirt nudges her way into the crowded waiting room and steps up on a bench. She waves her hands above her head to get everyone’s attention as she lets out a short whistle.

Folks, please! If you will just give us a moment!

You better fix this now! A woman near the front shouts.

What is even going on? A teenage girl asks.

"Unfortunately. One of our former employees approved at least two adoptions per pet. There may be five or six families that have been promised the same dog."

And arranged it so we’d all show up at the same time, another woman calls out.

The groans around the room are loud enough to shake the earth. I ignore the feeling churning in my stomach. The wise portions of my brain know this is not the end of the world. It’ll all get sorted out and at the end of the day I’ll be headed home with the dog I came here for.

We appreciate your enthusiasm and we are so happy that you all want to give one of our animals a home, but we just need you to be patient a little longer, the shelter employee says. We will get this all taken care of.

I let out a sigh and consider going back out to my car to wait. Someone with more sense or less patience would just pack it in. There are plenty of pets in the world, but I set this plan in motion months ago. I told myself when the time was right I was going to create a home for the pet I’ve always wanted. I researched and shopped my face off. I even picked out the perfect dog-friendly outfit for this first day, with the perfect comfy sneakers. Heel support and all. I’m not leaving here without the dog I came to adopt. I’m not going anywhere without Zeus.

There’s a spot in the corner, perfect for my plus size frame. I start to make my way in that direction when I feel the door swing open behind me. Someone’s whole body connects with my back. I stumble forward, but before my face makes contact with the floor, a strong arm hooks around my waist and pulls me upright and out of the way.

The tussle from outside has spilled inside and brought its chaos with it. My savior tucks me to the side of his massive frame just as a man and his well-fed teenage son pull the brawlers apart and push them back out the door.

You okay? my savior asks me.

I look up and almost stumble backward. I like to think I don’t have a type, but this man was engineered in a lab just for me. Tall and thick. A round belly and muscular arms strong enough to snatch me out of midair. His dark brown skin is even and smooth, his beard lush and manicured. He’s about three or four years into a set of locs that has been recently retwisted and his lips are perfect and full. His nearly black eyes remind me of the sky on a perfect summer night. I hope he’s someone’s husband because it would be a shame for all of that to go to waste.

Thank you, I squeak out. Are they giving away dogs made of gold?

A small smile touches the corner of his mouth and my body suddenly remembers how long it’s been.

Nah, I think this was way more than a mix up. Someone up in here has a grudge.

I want to ask what he means, but he’s not looking at me anymore. Those dark eyes are surveying the room again and I guess he has a point. This isn’t the time for small talk. I cram myself in the space between him and the shelter’s bulletin board, and wait.

Another twenty minutes goes by and things don’t seem to be getting much better. More frustrated and angry people come and go. Some empty handed, some with dogs and cats, no doubt the animals happy to be sprung from this place on their way to their forever homes. In that time I become more acquainted with the pleasant musk coming off the man beside me who hasn’t uttered another word. He’s still watching the confusion play out.

Okay! a shelter employee calls out from behind the desk. Who is here for Zeus?

I am! I say. At the same time my big sexy savior steps forward. We look at each other. This isn’t happening. Of all the attractive men in all the dog shelters in all the world. There is no way we are here for the same dog. We make our way to the front. I start moving faster and soon I realize my big sexy friend is lengthening his stride to outpace me. Which really isn’t fair considering how long his legs are.

Anyone else for Zeus. Male, age four years? I look over my shoulder to see if anyone else is making their way forward, but apparently it’s just the two of us. Last names please, the shelter employee asks.

Johnson, I say.

Monroe, he says and I continue to ignore how deep and smooth his voice is.

The shelter employee closes her eyes tight before she lets out a deep breath. She looks more than ready to throw this whole job in the trash. Okay. Well I remember both of you coming in for your meet and greets with Zeus, and you more than passed the screening stage. If one of you could just throw the towel in that would make things a lot easier. We have two litters of puppies that will be available in the next two weeks.

I do not want a puppy, I say firmly. Zeus was surrendered under unfortunate circumstances, but he’s housebroken. I have no interest in the puppy phase.

Yeah, I specifically requested this dog, Big Sexy Monroe says.

Just split the dog? a voice to my left