On a bright autumn day, Flynn Marlowe lost his best friend, a beagle named Barley, while out on a hike in Seattle’s Discovery Park. On a cold winter day, Mac Bowersox found his best friend, a lost, scared, and emaciated beagle, on the streets of Seattle. Two men. One dog. When Flynn and Mac meet by chance in a park the next summer, there’s a problem -- who does Barley really belong to? Flynn wants him back, but he can see that Mac rescued him and loves him just as much as he does. Mac wants to keep the dog, and he can imagine how heartbreaking losing him would be -- but that's just what Flynn experienced. A “shared custody” compromise might be just the way to work things out. But will the arrangement be successful? Mac and Flynn are willing to try it ... and along the way, they just might fall in love.

Lost and Found

“But you lied and were selfish out of love. I’m not excusing what you did. But I watched you resurrect that poor creature. I watched as the two of you began becoming family to each other. And I know how much you love Hamburger—and I know how much he loves you.” She gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “But did you think that maybe the man you encountered in the park today loves the dog just as much? Can you put yourself in his shoes?”


Dee had the wisdom to stop there. Mac realized he was fretting over the unbearable pain of losing the dog, yet he wasn’t allowing himself to feel any empathy for Flynn. Flynn, who was most likely going through the same pain Mac anticipated. The same pain that caused Mac to be the less-than-honorable fellow he found himself being right now.


Chapter 7