Chapter One
In the beautiful bayside town of Dahlia, anything new warranted a lot of attention. Nikki Green had been fending off questions about the new building going up in town for quite some time. She didn’t want to spoil the surprise, but the news had leaked, anyway. Now, there was a buzz of excitement among dog owners who looked forward to trying out the new business, specifically designed for dogs. It was a dog training and agility center. Nikki knew it would be an amazing place. Her friend Tom Drice, who had taught her everything he knew about dog training while he ran the local shelter and she volunteered at it, was the owner, and he loved dogs as much as she did.
“Wow, Tom this place is really coming along.” Nikki put her hands on her hips as she took a step back and looked over the exterior of the building.
“Unfortunately, not fast enough.” Tom frowned as he glanced over the building as well. “We’re supposed to open in a few days. The building itself is complete, but the back porch, fixtures and the final touches on the inside are not. I’ve been so focused on the training course behind the building that I didn’t notice how far behind my builder was.” He narrowed his eyes. “It’s my dream to have this place up and running, you know that, Nikki, but it doesn’t feel like it’s coming together very well right now.”
“Hey, take a breath.” Nikki smiled as she met his eyes. “You still have time.
Everything will come together. I believe it will.”
“Thanks Nikki.” Tom gazed into her eyes. “I really needed to hear that.” He shifted closer to her. “You’ve been such a great help to me with all of this. I can’t thank you enough.”
“That’s what friends are for.” Nikki grinned, then reached for another bag of topsoil. “Let’s take another look at that back garden. I think it’s just about ready.”
“Sounds good.” Tom grabbed a bag of topsoil as well, then followed after her.
Nikki walked around the side of the building to the back. She scrunched up her nose at the smell of newly laid fertilizer. The morning sun glinted off the various hoops and hurdles that Tom created for his dog agility course.
“My dogs are going to love this place.” Nikki laughed as she dropped the topsoil onto the ground beside a small garden near the rear of the building. “Oops, I always call them my dogs, but they’re not mine. I just borrow them.”
“It still surprises me that you haven’t gotten one of your own yet.” Tom dropped his bag of topsoil on the ground beside hers.
“I just don’t have enough room at my place. It wouldn’t be fair to have a dog there. Besides, it’s a big commitment.” Nikki tore open the topsoil. “For now, I’m happy to get to spend time with the dogs I walk and pet sit. It’s like getting to have a whole pack of dogs instead of just one or two.”
“That’s a good point.” Tom chuckled as he began to spread out some of the soil.
Nikki and Tom had often spoken about their dreams of opening dog centered businesses. Now, Tom was about to make his dream a reality. Nikki hoped that soon her dream of buying a house on the outskirts of Dahlia with a large piece of land and creating an animal retreat there would become reality, too. She hoped the retreat would eventually include a rescue shelter, dog and cat boarding facilities and a small training facility. She even had her eye on a piece of property that would serve this purpose perfectly and was saving a deposit for it.
“Hey Tom!” A man stepped out of the back door of the building and waved to Tom. He wore denim overalls and a toolbelt. Nikki recognized the man as Matthew Leaner, Tom’s builder.
“Would you excuse me, Nikki?” Tom stood up. He brushed his hands off on the back of his jeans and looked in Matt’s direction.
“Sure, I’ll just finish up here, then I have to go pick up one of my dogs for his afternoon walk.” Nikki poured more soil onto the garden.
“Thanks Nikki.” Tom smiled at her, then jogged off towards Matt. “Tell me it’s good news, pal.”
“Sorry.” Matt held up his hands. “There’s a problem with the plumbing.” “What? Why?” Tom shook his head. “This can’t be happening, you’re already behind schedule.”
“So are you!” Matt glared at him, then cleared his throat. “I just need to get a few things to complete the repairs. I’ll send one of my guys to grab the supplies, but it’s getting added to the final bill. Understand?”
“Yes, whatever. Just get it done! We open in a few days!” Tom threw his hands up into the air, shook his head, then walked away.
“Theo.” Matt called out to a young man who carried a ladder towards the building. “I need you to go to the hardware store.”
“The van needs gas.” Theo set the ladder down near the building. “It’s not coming out of my pocket again.”
“Sorry about that.” Tom crouched back down beside Nikki. “I think I might have made a mistake hiring this guy. He came in with the cheapest bid for the job by far, but now I’m starting to think that I’m getting what I paid for. Problem after problem.” He glanced over his shoulder at the two men arguing over gas for the van. “As you can see, they aren’t very professional.”
“These things come up when you’re getting started.” Nikki pushed a pile of soil to the center of the garden. “Just let it roll off your back. In a few days, you’ll be knee-deep in elated dog owners, and all of this will just be a memory.”
“I hope that’s the case. One of his suppliers keeps showing up here demanding payment for materials. It’s crazy.” Tom sighed and added the last of the soil to the garden. “This is looking good. Thanks again for your help, Nikki. I’m sorry that I can’t pay you.”
“Are you kidding? Your referrals have gotten me three new dogs already this month. Being your friend is wonderful enough but getting paid for it is even better.” Nikki laughed and tossed a bit of soil at him. “Now cheer up, your dream is coming true!”
“I hope so.” Tom shot a handful of soil back at her and laughed. “Don’t you have some dogs to walk?”
“I do.” Nikki grinned and waved to him. As she drove across town, she pictured the opening day of Happy Dogs Training Academy. Despite how nervous Tom was she was sure everything would go well. After going home to have a quick lunch, she drove to Coco’s house.
Nikki parked and walked over to the house that Coco lived in. The dog began to bark and scratch at the door the moment she stepped on the porch. “Yes, I’m here, just a minute.” She smiled to herself as she slid the key into the lock. When she unlocked the door, Coco bounded out to greet her. One of the larger dogs that she walked, Coco loved to jump up on her to say hello. She giggled as he licked her cheek. “Enjoy it now, because once you spend a bit of time at Happy Dogs, you’re going to learn to be more polite.” She grinned as she scratched the top of his head.
“Ready for your walk?” She grabbed the German Shepherd’s leash off the hook inside the door and clipped it onto his collar. “Let’s go!”
Coco led the way down the street, barking as he did. He bounded down the sidewalk in the direction of his favorite loop. It would take them to the wealthier part of town, then across to the park. It was nicknamed Pooch Park by the locals because it was so popular with dog owners. Normally, she would pick up Princess from one of the most expensive houses in that part of town. Since this was an extra walk just for Coco, she wouldn’t pick up Princess, but later in the evening she would have six of her dogs with her to walk. It was nice now and then to have just one to enjoy. Coco’s owner had requested a long walk. She picked up a thick stick from the ground and tossed it for Coco to chase. As he took off running, she ran with him.
Coco barked and snarled at the stick, then pounced on it.
“I think you won, silly pup.” Nikki laughed as he chewed on the stick.
By the time Nikki returned Coco to his house, her legs ached from keeping up with him. She looked at her watch and realized that they had been walking for over two hours. She often lost track of time when she was walking the dogs and they didn’t have to be back by a certain time. As long as she didn’t have anything else to do and they were having fun she saw no reason to cut it short. Nikki gave Coco a good pet before ushering him inside. She made sure he had water and then gave him one more pat before locking the door. As she stepped onto the driveway, her cell phone rang. A quick glance at the screen revealed Tom’s name.
“Miss me already?” She laughed.
“Nikki, I don’t think things could get much worse.”
Nikki narrowed her eyes as she walked back towards her car. “What are you talking about, Tom? Everything will be fine. Matt will get the plumbing situation fixed.”
“That’s just the problem.” Tom groaned. “I went to check on the progress, and he’s gone.”
“Gone? Done work for the day?” Nikki glanced up at the clear afternoon sky. “It seems a little early to be done for the day. Did you try calling him?”
“No, you don’t get it, Nikki. He’s just gone. All of his tools are still out, even his van and his keys are still here. None of his guys know where he went. He didn’t tell them he was leaving.” Tom sighed. “It’s like he just disappeared. I’ve tried calling him several times, but he isn’t picking up. I even called his fiancée, but she isn’t answering either.”
“Well, there you go, wherever he went, they are probably there together. I’m sure he’ll turn up.” Nikki frowned. “But it’s not very professional of him to behave this way.”
“No, it’s not. I’ll give him until tomorrow, but if I don’t hear from him, I’m going to find someone else to finish this job. I had another bid just above his from Patrick Kirk. I’m tempted to call him right now. This is a mess.”
“Just try to take a deep breath. Stay focused on what you can get done. I’m sure he’ll contact you by the morning. It’s probably just some kind of mix up.” Nikki winced. “I’m sorry, Tom. I know this is probably stressing you out.”
“It is. You have no idea. Thanks for the advice. Are you coming by in the morning?” His voice tightened with a hint of desperation.
“Yes, right after I walk the dogs. I’ll be there, I promise. I’m sure Matt will be there, too.”
“Let’s hope so.” Tom hung up the phone.
Nikki drove to her apartment with Matt on her mind. She didn’t know him very well, but he did have a good reputation in the business community. It surprised her that he would just take off without saying a word to anyone. With the pressure of his wedding approaching, maybe he and his fiancée had an argument of some kind that needed his attention. She could understand how matters of the heart might drive someone to be a little irresponsible. She unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside. In the small space she had to keep everything pretty neat in order to be able to move around, but she still managed to scatter clothes and papers here and there. She sat down on her couch and pulled out her phone. She opened her text messages to one particular chat and frowned as the same old message stared up at her.
“So yes, you were the last one to text me, Quinn, but that doesn’t mean you can’t text me again.” Nikki sighed as she scrolled through the conversation. She and Detective Quinn Grant had a complicated history that started with a crush back in high school and a near-death experience. Now that he’d returned to Dahlia as a young police detective, they had shared a few dates. But that was all they were.
Dates. They didn’t lead to anything. She felt awkward calling him or texting him. She listened to the advice of friends and did her best not to text him often. But why wasn’t he texting her? She rolled her eyes and flopped her head back against the couch. “This is so ridiculous. Clearly, he has other things on his mind, and I just need to move on.” She set her phone down on the coffee table in front of the couch. Seconds later she picked it up again. “Then again maybe I should text him. He might want to know about Happy Dogs.” She started to type out a text, then deleted it. “Why would he want to know? He doesn’t even have a dog.” She frowned and set the phone back down on the coffee table.
To distract herself she made something to eat and watched a television show. She’d been doing her best not to focus on Quinn. Even if he was interested, his job took up most of his time, and she didn’t exactly know what to say to him. He remembered rescuing her from the water now, and they had created a friendship over the past few months, but was it meant to be more than that? She wasn’t sure. When her cell phone rang, she snatched it up.
“Hello?”
“Hey Nikki, it’s Tom again. I’m sorry to bother you. Is there anyone else you think I should contact about Matt? I still haven’t heard from him, and he hasn’t come back for any of his tools. The guys he had working here today were asking me for money because he hasn’t paid them. I don’t know what to tell them.”
“I’m sorry, Tom, I’m not sure. I don’t know him very well. I think he has a brother, but he doesn’t live here anymore. Have you tried going by the bar? Maybe he’s holed up in there. Have you gone to his house?”
“Yes, I just drove by a little while ago. It’s dark. It doesn’t look like anyone’s home. Briana still isn’t answering her phone. I’ll check the bar, thanks.” Tom hung up the phone.
Nikki closed her eyes. She hoped that things really would work out for Tom and that Matt hadn’t flaked on him. An alarm rang on her phone.
“Time to walk the dogs.” Nikki turned off her alarm, then grabbed her jacket. The night air could carry a chill. She slid some treats into her pocket, along with some small bags, and headed out. As she collected each dog, she greeted them with enthusiasm and love, the same way they greeted her. She’d never had a person respond to her the way dogs did. Maybe that’s why she tended to not do well when it came to dating. Her expectations were pretty high. They just had to meet her at the door with as much excitement and adoration as a puppy would.
“Why else would they call it puppy love?” She mused as she gathered Coco from his house. With six dogs in tow she walked her usual route towards Princess’ house. Princess was a Chihuahua that Nikki would often walk and pet sit. Due to her small size Sonia Whitter, Princess’ owner, had originally preferred that Nikki walked her alone, but after some persuasion Sonia realized that Princess enjoyed walking in a pack, and she had recently agreed to trial walking her with the other dogs. So far there had been no problems and Princess seemed to enjoy the company. Sonia had become a good friend of Nikki’s, and she’d learned a few things about her. One of those things was the fact that she wasn’t a fan of a pack of dogs trampling through her house. Instead she would meet her outside with Princess. Nikki texted Sonia to announce her arrival. The front door swung open as she neared it.
“Hello Nikki.” Sonia smiled at her as she led Princess through the door.
The tiny dog eagerly greeted the larger dogs without a trace of fear. In the short time they had been walking together they had all become good friends.
“Hi Sonia, how are you doing this evening?” Nikki crouched down to greet Princess.
“Not too bad.” Sonia took a deep breath of the evening air. “One of these nights I’ll have to join you.”
“Really?” Nikki looked up at her. “I’d love that.”
“Me too.” Sonia winked at her. “I’ve been told by my doctor that I need more activity. As if running several charities and socializing with the elite of Dahlia isn’t enough activity.”
“Oh, I have a great idea.” Nikki straightened up. “I told you about my friend Tom opening Happy Dogs. He has dog and their owner training and agility classes. You and Princess would have so much fun running one of his agility courses.”
“Running? Agility?” Sonia scrunched up her nose. “I’m not so sure about that.” “Just come with me to the grand opening on Saturday. Check the place out. I’m sure you would love it. I know Princess would.” Nikki laughed as the dog put her paws up on her shin. “She thinks she’s one of the big dogs.”
“That’s for sure.” Sonia rolled her eyes. “I’ll think about it.”
“Great. We’d better get to our walk before it gets too late.” Nikki started to guide the dogs away, then paused. “Sonia, you know Briana Murrow, don’t you?”
“Sure. The Murrows live down the street.” Sonia raised an eyebrow. “Why?” “Tom’s having a little trouble with her fiancé Matt. He just took off yesterday without any warning and left all of his tools behind. Have you ever met him?” Nikki patted the top of Coco’s head to keep him calm.
“Oh, that fiancé of hers?” Sonia shook her head. “There’s no chance I would see him around here. We’re not even allowed to speak of him.”
“That bad, huh?” Nikki shook her head as the dogs tugged her forward. “I guess we’re ready to go.” She laughed as she hurried down the driveway half-pulled by the eager dogs.
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