Going All the Way by Cynthia Cooke Page B

she’d end up right where she was before—burned.

Chapter Nine
    Carrie stared into space for a full minute after Stu left, contemplating everything he said, how desperately he needed her help, and how tempted she wasto help him—to get back on that merry-go-round. And then she remembered Riley. “Oh, no!”
    She jumped up and ran toward the dog park, but didn’t see him inside the fence anywhere. Wide-eyed, she turned and hurried toward the pond. Riley was jumping through the water, chasing the ducks, looking absolutely adorable. She immediately took out her camera and started shooting away. He was beautiful. The light was just right. As she moved closer, she overheard a group of mothers.
    “Look at that dog, what is he doing in there?”
    “What kind of owner lets their dog run loose in the park?”
    “Obviously one who can’t manage their dog,” a short brunette pushing a stroller said.
    Carrie stiffened, dropped her camera and looked around her. Everyone was staring at Riley.
    ”Riley, get out of that water!” she yelled, and hurried toward him. He had practically swum the entire length of the pond. All the ducks were in a frenzy. Kids were scared and crying, and now everyone was staring at her. Of course they were. She was the one who couldn’ t manage her dog. “Riley!” she called again. “You have to get out of there right now.”
    “What were they thinking, putting a duck pond in the middle of a dog park?” Hands on her hips, she wondered how she was going to get Riley, who was apparently having the time of his life chasing the ducks out of the water.
    “The dog park ended over there.” A park ranger, who was suddenly standing next to her, pointed toward the chain link fence. The one Riley had run into. She’d been so deep in the conversation with Stu, she barely remembered when Riley came back out.
    “I’m really sorry. I must have missed it,” she said to the officer with a bright smile.
    Apparently it was lost on him. “You need to get your dog out of the pond and back on his leash.”
    Like she couldn’t figure that out on her own. “Yes, sir,” she said respectfully, and took another step toward the putrid water. “Riley! Get your furry butt over here!”
    A mother gasped. Her child giggled. The ranger pulled out his ticket book.
    “Riley, come on, please.” She was beginning to whine. Maybe Stu was right. What did she know about dogs? About trying to make a go of it on her own? She was made for the corporate world. Even if it wasn’t good for her? No, she had to find a way to make this work. She wasn’t a quitter, and she didn’t give up over the first obstacle to come along. “Riley!” she called again until finally he came loping out of the water, a big-ass grin on his face, his tail wagging a mile a minute. He ran straight toward her and jumped up on her pants and shirt, making a muddy mess, and then proceeded to lick her face. “Riley! Get down,” she insisted as she clicked the leash onto his collar. But he was so happy, jumping up and down, barking, his tail beating whatever got in its way. She’d never seen him so animated, so…joyful. Her annoyance instantly dissipated.
    “You think this is really funny, don’t you?” she asked him.
    He jumped up again, his head cocked to the side and looking at her like she was the answer to all his prayers. She couldn’t help grinning like an idiot.
    “Chasing the ducks, getting all dirty, getting me all dirty.” She glanced around her and then lowered her voice. “And getting me in trouble.”
    She caught a whiff of him and then herself, and grimaced. “Come on, boy. We both need a bath.”
    “Ma’am?”
    She turned back to the ranger, who promptly handed her a ticket. “Thanks,” she muttered.
    The man smiled for what was probably the first time all day. “My pleasure.”
    …
    Ryan picked up a couple sandwiches from the Italian deli after work and decided to take a chance that Carrie might still be in the park