#pg rated

But still… if someone asked you, you would always insist that you really love your job. You get to work with dogs and people, be outside a lot, walk through parks and on some occasions even go swimming. You like helping others and you especially like helping dogs by teaching their humans how to properly understand and train them so that their needs are met and fulfilled.

And then there are these special days that you love the most. Lately that have been your Saturdays and Wednesdays at the park.

Because these are the days when you see him.

Tall, handsome, with a beautiful bright smile.

The first time you saw him, you were just walking with a client and her young labradoodle. You remember the exact moment as you nearly stumbled over the puppy when you first laid eyes on him.

He was on the football field, in full uniform. His wet silver-grey hair sticking to his forehead, his shirt riding up a bit, revealing a sliver of smooth skin, while he wiped the sweat off his brow. He was smiling brightly and shouting something to his teammate. And for a moment you forgot to breathe.

You probably would have stayed there and stared at him if you hadn’t had a job to do.  So sadly you only got to catch a quick look of his equally beautiful behind as you walked past the field.

The next time you saw him, you recognized him immediately. It was a Wednesday. He was sitting on a bench, a cup of coffee in his hand, watching people, looking relaxed and as if he had nothing better to do than to enjoy the warm spring sunshine on his face. He still looked beautiful. Maybe even more so. His hair now looking a bit fluffy, his dark brown eyes not missing anything going on around him. You saw his lips quirk up for a moment when he saw the French bulldog you were walking that day, which was on its way to start a fight with a dog thrice its size.

From that day on you kept seeing him. On Saturdays with his sport bag slung casually over his shoulder or on the football field. On Wednesdays on his way to the coffee shop or sitting on a bench watching people going about their day.

And watching him in return became your favourite pastime. The way his smile lights up his face. Hearing the sound of his voice shouting across the field or cheering in triumph. His strong legs in shorts, his hands cradling a paper cup, licking some foam off his lips, his eyes shining whenever he spots a dog.

The last thing especially makes your heart beat faster and only deepened the crush you were undoubtedly developing for him.

*

Another Wednesday, another carefully chosen outfit. You try to tell yourself that you take this much care about your looks every single day but you’re just lying to yourself. You shake your head at your reflection in the mirror and sigh. As if he would suddenly start to notice and talk to you just because he likes your red coat or yellow wellies.

You check your calendar again before making your way to your new Wednesday morning client. It made you irrationally happy when the guy called and asked to meet up at the park near you. Not only because you prefer to observe the dogs and their owners interacting with each other on their walks but also because you hope to see him again.

You tell yourself to get a grip when your stomach drops when you see his usual place on the bench is empty. Maybe he’s running a bit late today and you’ll see him later?

You bite your lip and take a deep breath. Push your shoulders back. Time to go to work!

You look around and observe the people around you. You are pretty good at spotting your new clients from afar. They are the ones looking either very unsure or too confident, their dogs pulling on their leads as if there’s no tomorrow or lugging behind, completely uninterested in their owner.

It doesn’t take you long to spot the dog in question. It’s a puppy. Silver-grey fluffy fur standing in all directions, alert dark brown eyes, ears twitching every which way as he pulls on his lead and scans his surroundings.

You chuckle to yourself. This one is a beauty and you already know you’ll like it. Your eyes follow the lead wondering just how annoyed the owner will be looking at the new member of their family.

Oh.

You curse quietly. It’s him. No doubt about it.

Strong tanned hands holding the leather lead in a tight grip, his knuckles a bit white with the strain the young dog is putting on it. Broad shoulders, long legs in dark blue jeans, a chequered shirt open over a dark T-shirt. His hair standing up as if he just ran his fingers through it and a happy bright smile on his handsome face. It’s him.

And he is walking right up to you.

You only have a moment to take a deep breath when his dog reaches you first, sniffs and yaps and jumps up and down. You can’t help but laugh and bend down to greet him.

“Hey. Nice to meet you. I see he immediately found you. This is Archie.”

He is talking to you.

You allow yourself a moment of petting Archie. “Nice to meet you, Archie.” You murmur before you take another deep breath and look at him.

“And I’m Greg.” He says and holds out his hand. Your skin tingles when his fingers curl around yours. His skin is warm and his grip sure and strong. Your heart skips a beat.

“Hello. Greg.” His name tumbles from your lips and you hope you don’t sound as breathless as you feel.

He smiles brightly. “As you can see I really need your help. I just got him three days ago but yeah…” He rubs the back of his neck and smiles sheepishly, looking at you from underneath his eyelashes. You wonder how someone his age can look so boyishly charming at the same time. You grin back at him. “He’s young. He’ll learn quickly. If you’re prepared to put in the work.”

“I am. I promise.” He says quickly and grins again. “I thought it through… I love dogs and since I saw you walking through the park with so many different ones… I don’t know, it just made me think that maybe getting one would be a good idea…” He says, his eyes flickering to the side quickly, not meeting your gaze anymore.

Did he just…?

You bite your lip and smile. “You thought I have so many different dogs?”

“No…I… I watched you. Realized you were a trainer. I… I liked what I saw…what…I saw you doing. Teaching. How you work with the owners more than the dogs…. Explaining what the dog is doing and why… helping them understand?” He was his hand around a bit and looks a bit flustered.

You blush as you listen to his rambling. He really watched and paid attention, didn’t he? You hum and kneel down to pet Archie again. It keeps your hands and eyes busy for a while at least.

“So I visited the shelters. And fell in love…” He says and you feel your heart jump into your throat at his words. Archie. You remind yourself. He fell in love with Archie.

“I’m glad he found his new home with you. He’s great. I can tell. You’ll make a good team.” You say and clear your throat when he gives you a bright smile.

“Right… let’s take a walk then-  so you can tell me what you think you need help with and then I can tell you what you actually need help with.” You say and push yourself up, carefully avoiding to let your gaze rest on his bulge as you look up to him.

He chuckles and nods. “Okay… Right… Let’s go…”

*

You love your job. Most days. And especially Wednesday mornings. Because that is the time you are meeting them. Greg and Archie.

Greg is back on his usual place at the bench. But now he has a dog curled up at his feet, balancing two cups of coffee in his hands. He is waiting there for you. For weeks now.

Archie’s still yapping when he sees you, happily wagging his tail. He is growing up to be a confident, very well behaved young dog. And Greg is proving himself to be a caring, confident dog owner. The two of them make a great team, just as you predicted, and you know you should probably tell him that they don’t need you anymore but … you can’t bring yourself to do that. Not yet. And Greg doesn’t seem to notice anything.

He smiles at you. Bumps his shoulder against yours and holds out the cup of coffee. It’s perfect.

“Hey. Thanks.” You smile and pet Archie before you take the cup. You immediately fall into step next to him while you talk. About his day. Yours. Archie. Your dogs. The work. His football team and work colleagues. You learned a lot about Greg these last few weeks and you only like him more. Your crush isn’t just a crush anymore and you are very aware of it.

Archie doesn’t care either way and just enjoys his walk.

He runs back and forth when Greg lets him, sniffs around, greets his furry friends.

“No! Sorry!”

Greg is busy telling you a story about a particularly clumsy witness he interrogated at work the other day when Archie managed to run circles around your legs without you noticing. One pull and suddenly Greg is stumbling into you, catching himself on your elbow, your whole body thrumming from the sudden shift of your balance and the feeling of having him pressed against you.

You blush and look at him with wide eyes.

“Sorry.” He mumbles again. His thumb brushes against your skin, sends tingling warmth through your nerve endings. You shiver. “You’re okay?”

“Yeah… I’m okay.” You murmur. His face is very close, his eyes dark and wide. He cracks a smile. “He is usually very well behaved. I don’t know what happened… I guess I should have a word with his trainer…” He chuckles and winks at you.

Your knees suddenly feel a bit weak and you try to hide your blush. “Yes…maybe…”

“I guess I should be thankful…seems as if he needs a bit more training after all. I was worried he wouldn’t.” He murmurs and you feel his warm breath brushing against your cheek.

When did he get so very close?

You feel your heartbeat pulse through your entire body as you meet his gaze.

“Oh?”

“Yeah… I…” He says and shrugs, the motion bringing you even closer. “I… He… We would miss you on our morning walks and having coffee with you…” He murmurs.

You can hear his breath hitch when your hand comes to rest on his chest. His heart is racing against your palm. You nod and hum.

“I’d miss Archie too.” You murmur and smile when he raises his eyebrow. “And…?”

“And you even more.” You whisper.

And that’s all it takes. He is right there, your words caress his lips before he leans down to close the gap between you.

His lips are soft. His kiss careful and sweet. Slow. You hold onto him. Let your arms wrap around him. Feel his body under your hands, pulling him closer. His lips brushing and pressing against yours. He tastes like coffee, feels warm and strong and you can’t get enough. His touch is sending a shiver down your spine and straight between your legs. You want him. So much.

His lips brush against yours once more. You can feel him start to smile before he pulls away. He is smiling so brightly. Happy. You know you are too. The look in his eyes tells you, that it may be the first time you kissed him, but it won’t be the last.

You chuckle and lean against him for a moment before Archie’s excited yapping makes you pull apart.

Greg grins and helps you to untangle the lead from your feet. “Thanks, Archie.” You hear him murmur before he pets his dog’s head.

He shrugs when he realises you heard him.

“You know I would have eventually gotten there myself, right? Maybe asked you out?” He laughs.

“Sure.” You wink at him. “But I’m glad I don’t have to wait for that anymore...”

“Me too.” He smiles and holds out his hand. You meet his gaze and feel butterflies erupt in your stomach as you let your fingers intertwine with his.

“I guess that means I don’t get paid for these walks anymore, huh?”

He just laughs and shakes his head. “Definitely not. Not in Pounds at least… Maybe we can work out something else…”

You grin and squeeze his hand.

You love your job.