Jaxson & His Dog

By Kali Hart

Jaxson
The first time I see her, she's dancing on the Jumbotron.
She's beautiful.
I swear it's love at first sight.
Except, she didn't come to the game alone.
I try to forget her as the innings rolls by.
But when my dog Apollo gets lose, he runs right up to her.
It doesn't matter that she's with someone else or that I'm leaving town for good.
I have to have her.

Emily
For years, my sister has taken me under her wing.
She's the only family I've had since our parents died when I was twelve.
I'm grateful for everything Tasha has done for me—the job, a roof over my head, and even my car—except she picked me out the worst boyfriend.
He's embarrassed by me at the baseball game—my sister's idea of a double date.
When I tell Tasha I'm dumping him, she actually forbids it.
I take a walk around the ballpark to settle down.
That's when I meet the cutest dog on four legs—Apollo.
And his sinfully hot owner, Jaxson.
I love my sister, but maybe it's time I take a chance on myself—and my heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Jan 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9798223054146

Book preview

1

JAXSON

"Another hotdog?" I ask, shaking my head and laughing at the same time. Apollo, my faithful yellow lab, only cocks his head, tail swishing through the grass. I maintain eye contact, watching him shift and wiggle while trying to maintain the stay I gave a minute ago. He whimpers once, drool dripping, but it’s those pitiful brown eyes that’d fool any stranger into thinking I haven’t fed him for a week. Considering we’re surrounded by tons of people and dogs, he thinks he’s convincing quite the audience.

The sharp crack of bat meeting ball captures everyone’s attention, Apollo snapping his head around to watch the ball sail high into the infield. But once the fly ball is caught, he loses interest in the game and refocuses on the cheap hotdog in my hand. I tear off a piece and toss him a bite. It bounces off the tip of his nose and lands at the edge of the blanket spread in the grass.

He gobbles it up in two seconds flat, before another dog can even think to look this way.

This will be the last dog friendly ballpark event he and I attend in this town. In four days, we’ll be moving. To start a new adventure. To leave behind this city and all it’s bad memories.

I force away the negative thoughts. I can’t change the past, and honestly after everything I’ve been through, I don’t want to. I’m ready to go. To start over.

I think you’re going to like Daisy Hills, I say to Apollo, not caring if anyone finds it strange that I talk to my dog like he’s a human. "Tristan says they have a ballpark there too, and you can go to every game. I think we’re going to like small town living."

Apollo’s tail swishes excitedly, but his focus returns to the half-eaten hotdog in my hand.

Another flyball, another strike, and the fourth inning is over.

Apollo paws my outstretched calf.

I get the hint, I say with a laugh, tearing off another bite and tossing it to him. This time he catches it with ease. I scrub my hand behind his neck, thankful to have him in my life. He saw me through a lot of hard times, and if it wasn’t for him…

Any dancers in the crowd? The announcer’s voice echoes throughout the ballpark as the home team leaves the field. How about a competition? Show us you can move it, move it, and the winner will receive a fifty-dollar gift certificate to Ted’s Taco Town!

A few brave souls around us stand from their blanket seats in the grass. One uses her dog as a dancing prop. If I had a single dance move in me, I might try to encourage Apollo to help me show off for the Megatron. But he’s much more interested in the last bite of hotdog I’m holding hostage than performing any tricks.

I lob the last bite in his direction and turn my attention toward the big screen, finding easy amusement in the crowd acting a fool.

When the camera lands on a woman in a hunter green dress, my heart stops beating. She’s dancing with her eyes closed, shaking her hips, and moving her hands. I’m transfixed by this curvy beauty and her addictive smile. The sun catches her golden locks as she lets all her inhibitions go. Or at least that’s what I see from this side of the screen. She moves like no one is watching or judging.

Apollo licks my hand, but even he can’t tear my gaze away. Any second they’ll move to another dancer, and I might never see her again.

Would you look at that folks. That lady sure knows how to groove! The crowd grows wilder with cheers, laughs, and hoots of encouragement. I clap right along with them.

Right before the camera moves, I see him. The scowling prick sitting beside her, yanking her down by the hand. Mortification and anger chiseled into his expression. The camera blinks away the same second she falls into her seat. Irritation bubbles in my