5-minute romance

After running into a handsome stranger at the post office, Kat, a professional dog walker, gets the chance to have a whole new ‘leash’ on love

Kat smiled excitedly, pulling the small padded envelope from her post office box. With a click, she locked the box, then crossed the lobby to the table by the window.

She removed the charm from the envelope, marveling at how it gleamed in the morning sun. “It looks just like Charlie,” she said, thinking about the charmer who showered her with kisses every time she came home. If only she could find a loyal, two- legged male to do the same.

She unclasped her bracelet and set it on the table, clipping the new trinket to it. “There,” she said, admiring the King Charles spaniel charm. She draped the bracelet over her wrist to clasp it and headed for the door.

“Oof!” she exclaimed, colliding with something furry. She stepped back and beheld a pair of big, brown eyes and a fuzzy face. “I’m sorry,” said a husky voice from behind the huge stuffed dog.

The pup lowered and another set of brown eyes and fuzzy face appeared. This one more dark stubble and less polyester fur.

“That makes two of us,” Kat said, her heart fluttering. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.” But she was looking now. The fetching stranger’s hair was as black and lustrous as the coat of the plushie dangling from his arm. The pushed-up sleeves of his raglan tee revealed a peek of an athletic build. “No worries,” he said. “This big guy can take it.”

Kat wondered with a thrill if he was talking about himself or the dog.

“I just hope the post office has a box big enough for him.” Kat sized up the pup. “As luck would have it, there’s a dog sofa box in

my SUV you can have.” She grinned. “You’ll save me a trip to the recycling center.” He smiled as Kat led him out onto the tree-lined street to her car. “Kat Walks K9s,” he said, referring to her vehicle wrap that showed a silhouette of a ponytailed woman walking three dogs. Kat popped her hatch. “That’s me— professional pooch walker.” “Cute,” he said, tossing a glance her way.

Kat caught it and blushed. “I’m Chris, by the way.” “Nice…” Kat said, contending with the carton, “…to meet you.” Chris leaned into the cargo space next to her. “Here, let me,” he said, reaching for the box as their eyes met. As his fingers brushed hers, excitement shot through her. Down, girl.

“I really appreciate this,” Chris said,

“As his fingers brushed hers, excitement shot through her”

boxing up the toy. “And I know Isabella will too.” Isabella? As Kat was about to respond, the clock in the town square struck nine.

Chewing her bottom lip and wanting to know more, she reluctantly said, “I hate to run, but I have a date in 30 minutes with a basset hound. Nice to meet you, Chris!”

“Likewise,” he smiled, holding her gaze a beat longer before turning to the post office.

After leaving the company of tall, dark and handsome, Kat found herself with short, furry and wrinkled. “Who am I? Cinderella?” she asked Gus, her long-eared companion padding beside her in the park. “A clock strikes and I take off like a greyhound. I could’ve spared a few minutes to find out if he was single. Turned on the charm—maybe gotten his number. No offense,” she said, stooping to scratch the hound’s ears, “but my love life is going to the dogs.”

Gus cocked his head and cast his sad eyes on her, the tag on his collar jangling, and, suddenly, Kat realized she wasn’t jingling. Her eyes flew to her wrist. “My bracelet. It’s gone!” She and Gus retraced their steps. Over the arched bridge and past the rosecovered gazebo they searched. No bracelet.

Her phone rang inside her bag, and she puffed out a breath. “Kat Walks K9s,” she said in a chipper voice that belied how she was feeling.

“Hey, Kat. This is Chris— of the big stuffed dog.”

Her mood perked up. “Chris, hi!” “I remembered your number from your ad and was wondering if you’re missing a charm bracelet?”

“Yes! Yes, I am!” she yipped happily, glancing at her four-legged client who was now wagging his tail off.

“When I went back inside to mail my niece’s package, I found one on the floor,” Chris explained. Kat nodded. So Isabella was his niece. “When I saw the dog and K charms, I guessed it might be yours.”

“Sounds like mine,” Kat said as she smiled at the tail-wagger. “Where can I meet you? I’m at the park now.”

“I noticed a coffee charm,” Chris said, “so how about I treat you to a cup at the kiosk there?”

Kat beamed. “Awesome. They have the best brew in town.”

“Absolutely,” Chris agreed. “I never go anywhere else. I’m loyal like that.”

Loyal? Kat thought, blissfully. Now that word worked like a charm.