Old Dog New Tricks Read online

  Old Dog New Tricks

  The Dogfather

  Book 9

  Roxanne St. Claire

  Old Dog New Tricks

  THE DOGFATHER BOOK NINE

  Copyright © 2019 South Street Publishing

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  All rights to reproduction of this work are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Thank you for respecting the copyright. For permission or information on foreign, audio, or other rights, contact the author, [email protected].

  ISBN Print: 978-0-9993621-6-7

  ISBN Ebook: 978-0-9993621-5-0

  COVER ART: Keri Knutson (designer) and Dawn C. Whitty (photographer)

  INTERIOR FORMATTING: Author EMS

  Table of Contents

  OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

  Copyright

  Don’t miss a single book in The Dogfather Series!

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  The Barefoot Bay Series

  Don’t miss a single book in

  The Dogfather Series!

  Available now

  Sit…Stay…Beg – book one

  New Leash on Life – book two

  Leader of the Pack – book three

  Santa Paws is Coming to Town – book four (a holiday novella)

  Bad to the Bone – book five

  Ruff Around the Edges – book six

  Double Dog Dare – book seven

  Bark! The Herald Angels Sing – book eight (a holiday novella)

  Old Dog New Tricks – book nine

  And yes, there will be more. For a complete list, buy links, and reading order of all my books, visit www.roxannestclaire.com. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to find out when the next book is released! And join the private Dogfather Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/roxannestclairereaders/ for inside info on all the books and characters, sneak peeks, and a place to share the love of tails and tales!

  Chapter One

  January 17, 1976

  Katie Rogers tore out of the front door of her dorm, officially fifteen—no, twenty—minutes late for her date. She negotiated the front steps of Gillespie Hall while checking her watch, smoothing her hair, and adjusting the sweater she’d grabbed to throw over jeans, hoping it was nice enough for a Saturday night.

  Oh well. She was late for a good cause. That phone call had been…amazing. And so, so tempting.

  She closed her eyes and shook Nico Santorini’s soft, sweet voice out of her head. Every time he whispered, Come home to me, baby, she shuddered. Every time he suggested she drop out of school and marry him, she weakened. Every time he said he loved her, she had to fight not to say it back.

  Because she’d sworn to her mother that she’d spread her wings and play the field and be a college girl and everything else Mama had told her she had to do. She was trying to forget the high school sweetheart she’d broken up with when she started her freshman year at Vestal Valley College in Bitter Bark.

  She was trying so hard that she had another date with Daniel Kilcannon tonight, who was getting darn near to qualifying as her new boyfriend. They’d even invited two friends for a fix-up tonight, which was such a couple-ish thing to do.

  Yes, Katie was doing what was expected—no, demanded—by her mother. She’d broken up with the grandson of Greek immigrants whose entire future would be running his family’s deli in Chestnut Creek, and gone to college, unencumbered. So, according to Mama’s rules, she could date a nice boy who was going to be a doctor or a lawyer or something else to impress her parents’ friends.

  Giving up Nico had been—and still was—awful. Dating Daniel wasn’t so bad, though.

  A few months ago, she’d walked into the kitchen at an apartment kegger and spied the tall, good-looking veterinary student nursing a beer and sharing pretzels with the host’s dog. He wore a wry smile, as if the pup was more entertaining than the party, and turned out to be easy to talk to and even easier to kiss. In fact, when he walked her home, leaned her up against the brick wall of Gillespie Hall, and melted her with his mouth, she’d actually forgotten Nico for a moment or three.

  Almost immediately, they started dating…and kissing. A lot. Their conversations were light, full of laughter, and he’d even taken her to meet his mom, dad, sister, and Irish setter, Murphy, who all lived at a place called Waterford Farm, not too far from campus.

  Yes, she liked Daniel. She liked going out with him and really liked kissing him. The kissing escalated rather quickly to major make-out sessions that left them both hot, bothered, and wanting more. Then last Tuesday, when her roommate got sick and went home for a few days, Katie let Daniel spend the night in her dorm room.

  At the town square, she slowed her step and swallowed hard, still not quite used to the idea that she’d gotten that intimiate with a man who wasn’t Nico Santorini. And it had been…good.

  Well, a little awkward in that skinny dorm bed, with some fumbling and actual tumbling when he put on protection, and certainly not as mind-blowing as it had been with Nico. But they’d stayed up late talking and laughing and did the whole thing over again on Wednesday night. She hadn’t seen him since then, but when he called to ask her out for tonight and casually inquired if her roommate was back yet, she suspected they might go for round three tonight…if she wanted to.

  Did she want to?

  She walked a little faster, letting the chilly breeze lift her hair. It was as if she could hear Nico sighing with sadness over this. Guilt and regret and a bit of shame snaked up her belly. She still hadn’t told Nico she was seeing someone else. If he found out she’d actually slept with another boy? He’d be heartbroken, even though they were no longer officially dating.

  Oh, Nico. I’m sorry. I’m trying to do what I’m supposed to do.

  She rushed across the grass and checked her watch one last time as she reached Bushrod’s, taking a minute to catch her breath and get her head back in the present, not stuck in the past. No matter how great that past was.

  “Hey, Katie. You’re as late as I am.”

  She turned to see Daniel’s friend Jimmy hustling toward her. “We’re both late?” she asked. “I thought you and Daniel were coming together.”

  “Change in plans.” He shrugged and looked past her through the doorway when someone walked out of the bar. “Is my blind date in there?”

  “Anne Harper? I don’t know. I just got here.” She gave him a friendly elbow jab. “But I think you’re going to like her.”

  He gave a nervous laugh. “Yeah, sure. I thought it was cool when Daniel
mentioned you had a chick for me to meet. Is she pretty?”

  She managed not to roll her eyes at the question, which was lame and shallow, and she’d bet the five dollars in her wallet that Daniel hadn’t called Anne a chick.

  “She’s super pretty,” she assured him.

  That wasn’t a lie, either. Katie had noticed the girl with thick auburn hair and big hazel eyes in her sociology lecture, mostly because she always had dirty boots and dog hair on her jacket.

  When they got paired up on a group research project a few weeks ago, Katie found out Anne Harper volunteered at a local dog shelter and had few human friends because she was from out of state. Of course Katie wanted to help her make friends, and then Daniel said one of his buddies on his pickup basketball team hadn’t met any girls—and the blind-date idea was born.

  She looked around when they walked into the crowded bar, fully expecting to see six-two Daniel stand up and loom over everyone else to find her. The place was crowded, but not wall-to-wall yet, with no sign of him.

  She scanned the tables, the dance floor, and finally her gaze landed on Daniel’s dark hair and broad shoulders at the bar. He stood with a beer bottle in his hand, leaning close to talk to someone intently, and suddenly he threw his head back and belly laughed loud enough to hear over Stevie Nicks at full volume.

  Then she realized it was Anne Harper who’d made him laugh like that.

  “They must have found each other,” she said to Jimmy, who followed her gaze.

  “Oh yeah.” His eyes popped. “Man, she is pretty.”

  And witty, since once again, Daniel gave a hearty laugh. In fact, Katie wasn’t sure she’d ever heard him laugh quite like that.

  As she got closer, and still didn’t get noticed, Katie’s gaze fell over the jacket Anne wore—complete with dog hair, of course—and the long waves of reddish-brown hair that fell down her back.

  Daniel inched closer to deliver his next comment right in Anne’s ear, and it was her turn to laugh at whatever these two complete strangers seemed to find hilarious.

  “Move it.” Jimmy nudged Katie from behind. “Before Kilcannon eats her up like she’s dessert.”

  Katie wanted to shoot Jimmy a dirty look, but she was frozen, watching the two of them. She took in their direct eye contact, the subtle body language, and the way Anne’s face tilted up and Daniel leaned down. She waited for a punch of jealousy because, hey, he was her guy.

  But none came. The only thing that punched was a memory of how Nico used to look at her exactly the same way.

  Just then, Daniel looked up and blinked in surprise, like he’d totally forgotten there would be two other people involved in this double date, then he broke into his usual wide and genuine smile.

  “There she is!” Instantly, he left Anne’s side, arms out, to offer Katie a tight hug.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” she said quickly. “I found Jimmy outside, too.”

  “It’s fine,” he assured her. “I’ve been talking to Annie.”

  Annie? “Oh, good,” Katie said. “I felt bad about you sitting here alone when I found out Jimmy was late, too. How’d you know who she was?”

  “I don’t know. We just found each other.” He gave a quick laugh as if that moment of meeting had some significance attached to it. “She’s great. I don’t think I ever met anyone who knows so much about dogs who isn’t an actual vet.”

  Oh, of course. They’d bond over dogs. “She volunteers at a shelter.”

  “I know.” His eyes lit up. “And she loves setters. Come on, I’ve got them holding a table for all of us.” He put an easy arm around Katie and kissed her forehead. “Thought you might be standing me up,” he added under his breath.

  She looked up at him. “Why would you think that?”

  “Because,” he said softly, sounding deeply sincere, “I know you sometimes get a call on Saturday afternoons that makes you a little blue.”

  “Oh.” The sound escaped her lips, a mix of surprise and a subtle appreciation that he’d remembered and cared that Nico called her on the weekends. Maybe a little guilt, too. And here she’d thought he’d been flirting with Anne Harper when he’d been worrying about her talking to her high school boyfriend. “You’re sweet, Daniel,” she added, giving voice to her thoughts.

  He winked at her. “Don’t tell anyone.”

  They made the official introductions and got a booth in the back, the two couples sitting side by side. The arrangement seemed natural, but somehow Katie was facing Jimmy and Daniel was facing Anne and…whoa. They sure found a lot to talk about.

  Like how devoted Welsh corgis were, and the keen intelligence of Australian shepherds, and was there anything greater than a French bulldog?

  “Do all dogs come from another country?” Katie asked, and instantly Daniel did that headshake again, an apology easy to read in his clear blue eyes.

  “Enough about dogs,” he said quickly. “Were you able to get that humanities paper written?”

  She appreciated that he remembered the paper was due on Monday, but the question came with no gleam in his eye. Sincere interest, like she might get from a brother, but no…spark. Not the way he looked at Anne…and not the way Nico looked at her.

  She tried to push the thought away and keep the conversation light, but by the time they finished burgers and fries and a few more rounds of drinks, Katie was certain of three things: Jimmy and Anne had about as much connection as oil and water; Daniel enjoyed talking about animals more than most men liked sports; and Katie missed Nico in a way that left her aching from head to toe.

  Once the bill was paid and everyone said good night, Jimmy and Anne shook hands but most certainly did not exchange phone numbers. Daniel and Katie headed back toward campus together, with almost nothing to say as they walked.

  They were halfway across Bushrod Square before he reached for Katie’s hand, and she already knew why it had taken so long. She couldn’t help sneaking a look at him, wondering if she should say what they were both thinking and save him the embarrassment.

  “So that was fun,” he said, the attempt at conversation sounding a little desperate after he’d so easily chatted across the table all night.

  “Yeah. I don’t think our first try at a setup was a success, though,” she said. “Anne and Jimmy hardly talked.”

  “Mmm.” Even in the dim streetlights of the square, she could see his throat rise and fall as he swallowed. “Wrong guy for her,” he said.

  Poor boy. He was trying hard to cover something that simply couldn’t be covered. Shouldn’t be covered, really.

  “Well, you two seemed to hit it off,” she said with a gentle squeeze of his hand.

  “Oh yeah, well, you know me. I get along with everyone.”

  She nudged him with her elbow. “You like her, Daniel.”

  “Well, I feel bad for inviting Jimmy, who was obviously not her type.”

  “I think you might be her type.”

  He slowed his step and glanced at her. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

  Sadly, honestly? She was not. But would it hurt him to know that? When she didn’t answer, he came to a complete stop.

  “Oh God, Katie. I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “For what?”

  He turned her toward him, squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin like he did when he was about to follow that unwavering moral compass of his. “Listen, I was trying to make her feel comfortable, and I thought I should talk about dogs, but…” His voice trailed off, and he closed his eyes. “I guess it was more than that.”

  She gave a teasing smile. “You’re a sucker for a girl with dog hair on her jacket.”

  He cringed and grunted quietly. “Guilty.”

  “Don’t feel bad.” She looked him in the eye to make sure he knew how sincere she was. “Because I’m not the least bit jealous, Daniel.”

  “Not mad at me?”

  “No, and I think that tells us a lot.”

  His blue gaze searched her face with a mi
x of confusion and hope. “Like…what?”

  She reached her hands up, his sculpted cheeks warm and rough against her chilly fingers. “I can’t stop thinking about Nico,” she admitted. “Does that make you mad at me?”

  “No, not at all. He was your boyfriend since ninth grade.”

  “Eighth.” Actually, the summer before eighth grade to be precise.

  “You have every right to miss him.” Daniel closed his much-bigger hands over hers. “But I don’t have any right to…to…”

  “Flirt with a girl I fixed up with your friend?”

  He shut his eyes, ashamed. “I didn’t mean to flirt.”

  “You actually didn’t,” she said. “You connected. Like…” Like puzzle pieces, she thought with a smile. Just like Nico used to say they were. “Like Nico and I used to.”

  He scanned her face some more, obviously unsure where this was going. “Well, Katie, I’m so sor—”

  “No.” She put her hand over his lips to stop the apology he had no need to deliver. “Don’t be sorry. Don’t be sorry for me, and don’t be sorry you clicked with Anne. You can’t fight fate.”

  “Fate?”

  What else could she call it? “I believe that there’s a person for everyone, Daniel. A single human that is like the…” Just say it. “Like the puzzle piece God wants them to be next to in the great big jigsaw puzzle of life.”

  “The jigsaw puzzle of life?” He tapped her on the nose. “That sounds like something you would say.”