Mending Heart |18+|

Chapter 17 🔥

Good Time

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." – Robert Frost

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"How do you feel about dogs?" Ethan asked, glancing up from his phone.

"Who doesn't love dogs?" I replied, bringing the wine glass to my lips and taking a sip. We were currently sitting out on the patio taking in the sunset, my legs draped over his lap while he absentmindedly ran soothing circles up and down my calf. "Why?"

"My dog walker is about to drop off Sweetie." He bites his lip with a smirk.

"Sweetie?" I peer into his eyes over the glass rim, trying my best to stifle a laugh. "You named your dog Sweetie?"

"Is that a problem?" He smiles, trying to suppress his own amusement.

"No, no problem at all." Truth be told, I just didn't picture Ethan as someone who had a dog named Sweetie. Jocko or Spike was more so what I imagined.

Looks like he was full of surprises today.

Just then, the kitchen door leading onto the patio opened and a large muscular Saint Bernard came running towards us. My eyes widened when I saw just how big Sweetie really was. She had to be at least a hundred and fifty pounds, with a beautiful red and white coat.

When she came to a halt in front of us, she wagged her tail and continued to bark – her eyes trained on me.

"Um... she doesn't bit, does she?" I let out a nervous laugh, but in reality, I was ready to pee my pants. When he said he had a dog, I pictured some small curly pom-poodle, not a fucking beast!

"Sweetie! Sit." He commanded, pointing to the pavement. On cue, Sweetie sprawled out on the ground underneath our feet, still keeping her head pointed in my direction.

"I thought you said you liked dogs." Ethan smiled crookedly, eyes dancing with amusement.

"Yeah – like small dogs!" I defended. "Not ones that weight as much as me!"

As soon as the words left my mouth, Sweetie whimpered. A pang of guilt rushed through me as I glanced down at her. Damn it. She may be a beast, but she's a cute one at that.

.......

It took some convincing on Ethan's part, but I finally let Sweetie sniff my hand and eventually began petting her. An hour later, I was ready to push Ethan off the sectional and replace him with my new favorite dog.

"Who's a good girl?" I cooed, ruffling her thick fur coat. Sweetie barked in response, wagging her tail.

"I'm feeling a little left out over here." Ethan pouted, eyeing the two of us with amusement.

"You'll live." I bit my cheek to stop from smiling.

"Is that so?" He smirked, leaning closer to me.

I rolled my eyes in his direction. "Yes. Don't be such a baby."

"What if I want to be a baby?"

"Then I suggest you take it somewhere else."

"Why."

"Because it's not cute."

"But I'm cute."

"Nope!" I smiled innocently, my eyes darting between him and Sweetie.

He nodded apprehensively, twirling his drink – the ice clinked around. He took a big drink, finishing off the last of it before setting the glass down on the edge of the fire pit and leaned in towards me. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with fire?" His eyes were dark and gleaming with mischief.