Underdog by Laurien Berenson Read Free Book Online Page A

design, we met at the door.
    â€œMrs. Turnbull,” said Flynn, nodding briefly.
    It was clear he intended to keep on walking, but Aunt Peg thrust me forward. “Harry, I don’t believe you’ve met my niece, Melanie. She’s new to showing dogs.”
    He stopped then and looked me up and down. “Nice to meet you. Since you’re new, I’ll offer you a bit of advice. Find another hobby.”
    I didn’t know what to say to that, so for a moment I said nothing at all. That gave Aunt Peg the opening she needed. “I didn’t expect to see you here today, Harry.”
    â€œWhy not? Just because we weren’t friends doesn’t mean I wouldn’t show up for something like this. Hey, for me this is good times. Besides, I wanted to make sure the bitch was really dead.”
    Well, that turned a few heads. Including mine. Thank goodness Rick and Angie weren’t close enough to hear.
    Aunt Peg drew herself up to her full height which was a good several inches higher than the handler. “If you weren’t leaving, I’d throw you out myself.”
    â€œI’ll save you the pleasure, Mrs. Turnbull. Maybe some other time.” He was whistling under his breath as he left.

Five
    Sam Driver returned from L.A. late Friday night. I found that out when he called Saturday morning to see what I was up to. Davey was still off with Frank, Aunt Peg had driven to Camden for a show, and I wasn’t up to anything. Our relationship was new enough however, that I wouldn’t have dreamed of telling him that.
    He probably figured it out anyway when he suggested we take the dogs and go hiking in the woods near his house, and I jumped at the chance. There’s an art to being coy which, unfortunately, I have yet to master. I told him I’d meet him at his house in an hour.
    Late October in Connecticut is my idea of perfect weather. brisk, but not yet cold. In accordance with the plans, I didn’t dress up. Blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and a pair of sturdy running shoes completed the outfit. I have hazel eyes and brown hair that hangs straight down to my shoulders and I didn’t do much with them either. Before I had Davey, I worried about things like that. Back then, I had time. Now my style is pretty much come as you are.
    Sam lives in Redding. In lower Fairfield County we consider this a northern outpost. Compared to the coastal communities, it is sparsely populated and open land abounds. Sam’s house is a contemporary made of glass and shingles. It’s perched on a hillside and surrounded by woods. My ancient Volvo handled the country roads fine, but balked at the steep, unpaved driveway. By the time I’d coaxed it to the top, Sam had heard us coming and was outside waiting.
    When I opened the door, Faith leapt out of the car first. That was partly because she’s younger and faster than me and partly because I took a moment to compose myself. Sam and I have known each other a few months but I still feel a nerve-tingling rush every time I see him. If I were a dog, I’d probably be sitting up and begging. Of course that’s enough to make me want to slow things down right there. Sam doesn’t feel like a fling to me. In some ways, I’d be a whole lot more comfortable if he did. For Davey’s sake, I’m trying to keep my mistakes with men to a minimum. And for the time being, Sam isn’t pushing. So far, so good.
    By the time I got myself out of the car, Faith had already jumped all over Sam and was chasing one of his Standard Poodles around the yard. Though he has half a dozen, only one Poodle was outside. Charm is the matriarch of the line and Sam’s undisguised favorite. She was black in her youth, but now most of her coat has gone gray. She still had enough energy however, to give my puppy a good trouncing whenever she ventured near. I left them to their play and turned my attention to Sam.
    He looked good. Sam always looks good.