Page 7 of Frozen Hearts

Mel picked up Mase’s leash and a tennis ball that she’d bought for him. Brianna practically skipped through the door.

“I had no idea you were such a dog person. You could talk to Jordan about adopting. Then your dog could be friends with Mase,” Mel suggested. Brianna broke out into a fit of laughter. Mel was taken off guard.

“I’m sorry,” Brianna said, holding up a hand.

“I don’t want a dog of my own. But I love the idea of being able to be your dog’s auntie. All of the fun with none of the responsibilities. That’s something I’m more than happy to sign up for,” Brianna explained. Mel giggled.

“Why do I feel like this is what I have to look forward to if I have children?” Mel asked.

“Oh, it one hundred percent is how I’ll be with your kids one day. Being a professional auntie to my friend’s dogs and kids is my dream,” Brianna laughed.

Mel found herself scanning the dog park. For days she had been nervous about running into Willow and Sushi. So far she’d been able to avoid any other run-ins, but one couldn’t be too careful. Brianna eyed her suspiciously.

“Is there a reason why you look so nervous?” Brianna asked.

Brianna had always had a protective nature, especially where Mel was concerned. A fact which Mel more thanappreciated. There was something undeniably safe about having a person who would be on her side no matter what.

“I had a run-in with some woman the other day. It has me a little on edge. You know how I dislike conflict,” Mel explained.

“What happened? And who do I need to confront for you?” Brianna asked. With her head shaved to the skin on one side, Brianna looked undeniably tough. She was tall and with her athletic frame she looked strong. Mel could see how someone who didn’t know Brianna might think she was tough. But Mel couldn’t see anything but her squishy friend who cried at sad commercials when she looked at Brianna.

“Nothing bad happened. Her dog got away from her and wrapped us both up in its leash. She was telling me not to move but I really thought I could get my foot out. We both ended up falling in the mud.”

Brianna’s laughter rang out again.

“Leave it to you to make a good first impression,” Brianna chuckled.

“Well, you’ve got that right. I definitely made an impression.”

“Oh, come on. How mad could this woman be when her dog started the trouble to begin with?” Brianna asked.

“Pretty mad. She accused me of getting her muddy. Then stormed off without even asking if she could help me with the bags her dog knocked out of my hand,” Mel complained. Sometimes it felt good to complain to a sympathetic ear.

“Well, that’s just rude,” Brianna said.

“Exactly! Thank you.”

They opened the gate to the dog park and found only a few people and dogs were there. Mase bolted as soon as she took off his leash. It didn’t take him long to start playing games with a lab puppy.

“The real question about your mystery woman is, did you think she was cute?” Brianna asked. Mel flashed her a grimace.

“So that’s a yes.”

“Who cares if she was cute? She was intolerable in every other way,” Mel teased.

“Hmm, and what did this intolerable woman look like?” Brianna pressed.

“Well, she had red hair and a pretty dress. Until she fell into the mud.”

“And?” Brianna asked.

“And she was tall and graceful. She looked like she belonged on a cover of a magazine.”

“Wow. All that, huh?”

“Yeah. All that. But like I said she was pretty intolerable.”

The lab puppy left and Mase bounded up to them, ready for more fun. Mel threw the ball and he dashed away. Within a minute he brought it back. This time Mel raised her arm and took a big step back.