Barry Dunning is a pet stylist and a gentle soul. Animals love him and he adores them. And while he would love to have a dog or cat of his own, the lease on his tiny studio apartment doesn’t allow pets. So, he paints miniature cats and dogs on rocks, instead. Hurt by an ex-boyfriend, Barry doesn’t date. But his sister Trixie is always pestering him to get back out there, though he doesn’t think anyone would want him or his baggage. Not so. Sheldon Svenson, the owner of the animal shelter where Barry volunteers on weekends is attracted to Barry and asks him out on a date. Barry -- for once taking his sister’s advice -- accepts. Dinner ends in disaster, but Sheldon, undaunted, pursues Barry and asks for another chance. Will Barry decide to risk losing his heart?

Of Paws and Pet Rocks

“I…don’t know what to say about that.” No one had ever—


“You don’t have to say anything. It’s just the way things are. I’ll try to be circumspect, but if knowing the way I feel makes you uncomfortable, I’ll understand. I hope you won’t stop volunteering here because of this. You would be missed, and not just by me.”


I watched the emotions that played over his face. I’d never been the focus of such honest feelings before. I definitely couldn’t count Winslow since he’d lied from the very beginning of our so-called relationship.


“My sister Trixie, she’s always telling me to get back out there. But I’ve been burned in the past, and I’m still working through that. I live in a tiny apartment, slowly paying off tons of debt my ex left me with, including a mortgage. I barely scrape by. I’ve made bad decisions in my life, and I really don’t think I’m even friend material.”


“You—” I held up a hand to stop him.


Chapter 7