Free Choices by Sara Marion Page B

instructed.
     
    Paxton was trying to think of what was around her and slowly lowered herself to the ground. She kept feeling around her then she sat comfortably with her legs crossed in front of her. She heard Duke set the present down in front of her with faint clicking on the hardwood floors.
     
    She felt a cold, wet thing graze her hand, then a lick. She opened her eyes to see a beautiful white puppy with blue eyes. The puppy jumped in her lap and she saw that he had black splotches on his back and right side. He also had a black patch that covered his left eye and ear.
     
    “Oh my goodness! Look at this cute little thing!” Paxton exclaimed as she picked the puppy at. “What a handsome little guy!”
     
    “Why thank you,” Duke teased.
     
    “I guess you aren’t so bad either,” Paxton chuckled.
     
    She set the puppy down as it was squirming in her lap as she tried to hold him.
     
    “So you like him?”
     
    “Yes! I love him! How did you know I was looking for a dog?” Paxton looked up at him. She had been researching on dogs for the last week or so in her spare time.
     
    “I came over one night after you fell asleep. I saw your laptop open and found you looking at the shelter and classifieds at dogs. Since you haven’t said anything to me I figured that you hadn’t decided on any particular dog.”
     
    “Where did you get him?”
     
    “I found this little guy the other day when I went to the pet store. Somebody was selling a litter outside. He was the last one.”
     
    “Aww, poor little guy!” Paxton reached over and grabbed the leash. The puppy came scampering over. Paxton giggled as the puppy licked her hand. He was perfect. “What kind of dog is he?”
     
    “Don’t judge him, but he is a pitbull/Catahoula mix.”
     
    “Why would I judge him for being a certain breed? I blame their owners. They are the ones giving them a bad rep, so you little puppy have nothing to worry about,” Paxton said picking the puppy up and carrying it into the living room sitting area.
     
    She sat on the couch and set him in her lap. He had to be about ten to fifteen pounds already. Duke sat right next to her and she felt his arm go around her as he scratched the puppy behind his ear.
     
    “I also got you a starter kit to take care of him. A 40-pound bag of puppy food, bowls, leash, collar, and a crate to train him.”
     
    “Oh my goodness Duke, you didn’t have to, he is enough already!” Paxton smiled from ear to ear and her heart loved Duke just a little bit more. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything for you.”
     
    “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be happy to watch him while you are away though. I know it was kinda bad timing on my part with the auction thing coming up.”
     
    “It’s okay, he makes my heart melt,” Paxton smiled. She continued scratching the puppy behind its ears.
     
    “I hope I do the same thing,” Duke leaned over and kissed her temple.
     
    Paxton felt butterflies emerge in her stomach. She hadn’t felt those in a long time. She looked up at him in his eyes and felt trapped in his brown eyes, not that it was a bad thing. She couldn’t look away, not even with the squirmy puppy in her lap. She wanted Duke to lean down and kiss her. She wanted both his arms wrapped around her. She remembered the feel of him on top of her. There physical relationship only had a few nights where they were intimate, other nights they just fell asleep wrapped in each other. Since the gallery opening, he had been spending most nights with her. She missed the feeling on his skin on hers, his lips exploring every inch of her body. She quickly looked away from him. Her thoughts were getting out of control.
     
    Paxton set the puppy on the floor and got up. She straightened her shirt even though it was straight already. She looked over her shoulder and Duke was still sitting there his head hung slightly. He suddenly stood and wrapped his arms around her. Their faces were only inches from