I Heart Boston Terriers

By Rick R. Reed

Love at first sight can work for dogs as well as humans.

When Aaron finds Mavis, an emaciated and timid Boston terrier, at a pet adoption fair, his heart goes out to her -- irrevocably.

When Christian, who is manning the adoption fair for the Humane Society that fateful autumn Saturday, finds Aaron, his heart goes out to him -- irrevocably.

"I Heart Boston Terriers" is all about embracing love, whether it's for someone who walks on four legs or someone who walks on two. The Boston terrier Mavis's journey back to wholeness and finding her forever home runs parallel to the story of two men finding each other at that perfect moment -- a moment that defies logic, propriety, and common sense.

But then when do the dictates of love follow a rational course?

Come along for a journey about a man and his dog and see how that journey teaches him the truth about love and making a caring connection that just might last a lifetime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jan 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781646562343

Rick R. Reed

Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Entertainment Weekly has described his work as "heartrending and sensitive." Lambda Literary has called him: "A writer that doesn't disappoint…" Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his husband, Bruce, and their two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.

Book preview

I Heart Boston Terriers

By Rick R. Reed

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2020 Rick R. Reed

ISBN 9781646562343

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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In the memory of Lily, our sweet girl.

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I Heart Boston Terriers

By Rick R. Reed

Chapter 1

Aaron’s sister’s cry interrupted his boredom as he waited for her to conclude her Saturday morning business at PetSmart. His ears perked up at the rising excitement in her voice. Becca, excited, always sounded a little like Minnie Mouse to him.

Oh, just look at this one, Aaron! Isn’t she precious? Becca bent down closer to the crate. But she looks so scared. The poor little thing.

Aaron squatted beside her to see what had caught her attention. The underweight Boston terrier inside the crate appeared to be cowering. The dog’s big eyes bulged out at them even more than was customary for the breed. When she realized they were looking at her, she pressed her thin little body hard against the metal of her cage, as if she wanted to disappear into it.

She was trembling.

There was something infinitely sad in her expression. Her eyes radiated terror. Aaron felt his heart give a tiny lurch. Something deep within him, his need to nurture, perhaps, ratcheted up several notches. He knew he needed to get away before he did something he wasn’t in a position to do.

When Becca placed her hand against the bars to give the dog a chance to sniff, she simply cowered even farther back, if that was possible. She seemed to want nothing to do with the human animal.

They both stood to give the dog her privacy and turned to face one another. Aaron was new to Seattle and had agreed to come with Becca this Saturday morning to pick up litter and cat food for her Maine coon, Max.

The Seattle Humane Society’s Adoption Fair was a bonus to the store visit. Becca had insisted they take a look—just for fun.

Such an enticement was to Aaron the same thing as coercing a recovering alcoholic to stop by a favorite watering hole, just for fun.

Things could get out of control fast.

Becca placed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and glanced down at the card attached to the cage where the Boston waited. Aaron was glad they’d stopped staring at the dog and hoped that by removing their gaze, the dog would feel a little more at ease.

Look, Aaron. It says her name is Mavis. Isn’t that a funny name?

Hilarious. Aaron had moved down the row and was now stroking the whiskers of a big black-and-white cat who was rubbing against the bars of his crate. Aaron rolled his eyes as he heard Becca return to the Boston.

Hey, Mavis. What’s the matter, sweetheart? Becca cooed between the bars.

Aaron glanced back down at the dog—and his kneeling sister—to see that Mavis was not charmed. She turned her head away from Becca and stared resolutely at the back of her crate. Becca stood again, directing her gaze at a yapping Chihuahua mix named Hector one cage over.

Aaron moved to stand next to his sister so he could wrap his arm around her. Becca laid her head on his shoulder. Aaron thought that, to an outsider, they probably looked like a couple out for a