Free Chasing Stanley by Deirdre Martin Page B

pulled a hankie from his pocket and restored Stan’s dignity.
    â€œWe’ve got to run,” said the man, pushing his slipping sunglasses back up on his bulbous nose. “The kids here are invited to a birthday party, and we don’t want to be late.”
    â€œHave fun,” Delilah called after them as they continued on their way. Jason couldn’t wait for them to be out of earshot.
    â€œA birthday party? For dogs ?”
    Delilah shuddered. “I know.”
    â€œWhat do they do? Play pin the tail on the boxer?”
    â€œYou got me. I haven’t been to a birthday party since my Bat Mitzvah.”
    â€œWhat kind of dogs were those?”
    â€œItalian greyhounds.”
    â€œStanley shits bigger than that!”
    Delilah laughed. What a light and pleasant sound it was. Jason had once had a girlfriend whose laugh sounded like a horse. Eric’s nickname for her was Mr. Ed.
    â€œNice of you to introduce Stanley to your friends and not me,” Jason ribbed.
    â€œOh.” Pink rushed to Delilah’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think they’d stop and then when they did and asked about my dogs I had to be polite and besides I don’t really know their names plus—”
    â€œIt’s okay. You don’t need to apologize. It’s obvious you like Stanley more than you like me.”
    Delilah smile was shy. “That’s not true.”
    Jason saw an in and smiled back at her, ready to ask her out. That’s when Stanley burped. So much for seizing the moment.
    â€œYou seem to know a lot of people,” Jason observed in an attempt to restart conversation.
    â€œI know their dogs. Not them. I don’t know many humans. Who aren’t clients, I mean.”
    Stanley started pawing at Jason’s knee insistently in a none too subtle bid for affection. “You’re very demanding today, Stan,” Jason noted as he leaned forward to scratch the dog’s back.
    â€œWell, he worked very hard,” said Delilah. “He deserves extra TLC.”
    â€œAnything new with Mr. and Mrs. Beelzebub?” Ever since Delilah told him she had clients who were Satanists, Jason found himself checking out every couple strolling the neighborhood, wondering: Is it them?
    â€œNot really.”
    â€œAnd the Andy Griffith fan?”
    Delilah considered the question. “Well, I did notice he has the whole first season of Matlock on DVD. The case was lying on his coffee table.”
    â€œI bet you could write a book. Or do some heavy duty blackmailing if you wanted to.”
    â€œI suppose. Marcus suggested it once when the Devil couple were behind on their account, but I just couldn’t do it. I mean, suppose they were just going through a rough patch?”
    Jason chuckled to himself. Delilah seemed completely without guile, the type of person who actually believed politicians, or found herself shocked to hear bad things happened in the world. It was refreshing.
    He stopped scratching Stanley, stretching his arms out along the back of the bench. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes, the better to enjoy the breeze playing over his face. “Have you had a chance to look at my schedule?”
    â€œYes. I can walk Stanley tomorrow night and next Monday night. But not next Tuesday.”
    â€œOkay.” Jason wondered what he would do with Stanley Tuesday night. He also wondered what Delilah was doing that night that made her unavailable. “Date?” he asked casually, keeping his eyes resolutely shut.
    â€œWhat?” Delilah sounded confused. That was good. Confused was better than sharp. Or offended. Sharp or offended would be bad.
    â€œNext Tuesday night,” Jason continued, face still tilted in the air. He opened his eyes, readjusting to the light as a convoy of clouds slowly crossed the sky. “Going on a date or something?”
    â€œOh, no, I’m having my tarot cards read. I thought it might be