Photo by Matt Nelson on Unsplash |
Scientific research has shown that positive and feelings are transferred to the people you are around when you experience these feelings. Therefore, one way of making a new acquaintance like you is to make him or her feel positive and happy. Dogs have a calming and relaxing effect on people, and they are a powerful association with happiness, at least for dog lovers. They are often friendly with strangers and won't hesitate to greet and wag their tails at a friendly and approachable face.
Photo by Alvan Nee on Unsplash |
In my newest book Dog Days of Love (available for a special pre-order price of 99c), Dale Hart tries to engage a pretty young woman's dogs by tossing a Frisbee at them.
Read an excerpt and tell me if Dale Hart made a good first impression.
Vanessa Ransom
couldn’t afford to sweat.
Not while stumbling
after her two dogs through Golden Gate Park wearing a stiff business suit and a
pair of power pumps.
The hot summer sun
blazed overhead, and waves of heat simmered over the sweltering city streets—an
unusually hot day for the city by the bay, better known as San Francisco.
Her two darling
mutts, Randi and Ronni, circled around her legs, looking for that perfect place
to potty. They sniffed every bush and fence post, tails wagging and tongues
lolling, but they wouldn’t settle down and do their business.
Vanessa, or Nessa
as she was known to her friends, checked the time on her phone. She had a job
interview clear across the city and she was running late.
Randi, the bristly
black and white rat terrier sheltie mix, pulled on her leash, lunging at a
little boy bouncing a ball. She was the alpha dog, full of energy and stuck her
nose into everything. Meanwhile, Ronni, the shepherd terrier mix with soft
brown hair, laid down on the grass and put her head down. While Ronni took life
easy, she was also affectionate and loved to cuddle.
“Come on, you two.
Any bush will do.”
If only her dogs
would hurry up. Being late to a job interview was not an option since her
summer internship was ending soon and she didn’t have a job lined up.
“Woof, woof,” Randi
barked and lunged at a floating Frisbee as if it were an affront to her that
she wasn’t invited to play.
Snap. While Randi
complained, Ronni leaped and snagged the Frisbee.
A man jogged up
with his hand outstretched.
“Good dog.” He
patted Ronni, and she dropped the Frisbee at his feet.
Randi barked and forced
her way between them, hopping up on her hind legs for the Frisbee or the pat.
She always demanded to be fed first, patted first, and given her choice of
playtime activities. She was high-energy, after all.
“Mind if I play
with them?” the man asked. His light-brown eyes twinkled as he took Nessa in,
from her perfectly pressed hair to her starched blouse, understated silver
jewelry, gray suit and skirt, and black leather pumps.
Nessa’s heart took
an extra pump.
He was a young,
twenty-something, tall, handsome, and white.
“I’m actually
crunched for time,” Nessa said, waving her cell phone. “Taking them out for a
bathroom break before I head across town for an important interview.”
“Best of luck,
then,” the man said. He threw his Frisbee, and it soared high in the air
currents across the lawn.
Nessa couldn’t
help her gaze from following its arc. It floated free and easy, like the man
with his tousled curls and lazy grin.
He waved at her
before stretching out his long legs and chased after the Frisbee. What kind of
weirdo played Frisbee by himself while hoping to pick up other people’s dogs?
Randi barked and
pulled against her leash, while Ronni gave Nessa an imploring look.
“Come on, you
two,” Nessa tugged at their leashes. “I’m sorry we can’t play today. How about
a trip to the dog park this weekend?”
Both dogs stared
longingly at the man and his Frisbee, and Nessa couldn’t help checking out the
guy’s physique. Tall, but not lanky, the man was well built but not bulky. He
wore board shorts, a Warriors jersey, and sneakers without socks, and he was
most likely unemployed.
[End of Excerpt, to read on, please buy Dog Days of Love by Rachelle Ayala]
Love the excerpt, Rachelle. I love dogs, so this book will definitely be a charming read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletethank you. :)
DeleteI love the pups on the cover. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAren't they sweet? :) thanks
DeleteI love the concept of dogs bringing their owners together. Well done, Rachelle. Congrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteDogs bring a smile to your face, so it's not surprising that they do bring people together.
DeleteLove the cover!!
ReplyDeleteThank you. so do i!
Delete