Bad Teacher

What the hell did I sign up for?

I really should’ve done my research.

Goddammit.

“What are you afraid of?” he asks, smiling like it’s all one big, happy business.

He doesn’t know me well enough yet to realize I’m actually trembling while walking.

I don’t hate-hate dogs. I just was almost bitten one time when I was a kid, so I’ve been afraid of them ever since.

However, I gotta keep it together for appearances. I signed up for this job, so I’m going to fucking nail it whether I like it or not. No way in hell will I let this roadblock stop me.

I swallow as I get close to the small fence that keeps the dogs in place. They finally notice me approaching, and some of them begin to jump up and down, making me jolt up too.

“They won’t bite,” TJ says, raising a brow at me when I give him a face.

“Easy for you to say, standing over there,” I retort.

He leans against the door with his arms folded, casually checking out my hesitant plan of attack like he finds it funny or something. Meanwhile, I’ve resorted to leaning over the fence, away from most of the dogs so I can reach that one tiny sausage-like dog that’s wagging its tail at me.

I try; I really do try. But the first one to jump up on the fence and touch my hand makes me jump back and squeal.

“Aw,” TJ says in a condescending tone as he walks toward me. “Don’t like dogs?”

“Oh, shut up,” I bark back like that’s helpful. I regret it the moment it leaves my mouth, and I’m so embarrassed my face lights up like a bulb. Add to that the fact he’s laughing, and I’m practically on fire.

“I’m not afraid,” I hiss.

“I never said you were,” he muses.

I want to slap the smirk off his face.

“Let me help you,” he says, leaning over the small fence to grab the dachshund. When he’s got it, he holds it out to me and says, “Go on. Pet it.”

I hesitate but then let my fingers brush along the top of its head anyway. I find monumental courage at that moment. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because the dog is small and its eyes are big, and its hair is soft. Or maybe it’s because TJ is holding it, and I feel safe.

“Her name is Pepper,” he says. “Short for Pepperoni.”

I squint, still petting the dog. “Pepperoni?”

“You know. A sausage … dog.”

I snort and roll my eyes.

“What?” He cuddles her.

“Let me guess. You gave her the name?’

“Yup.” He grins.

“Hi, Pepper,” I say, and her tail immediately begins to wag. “Are you my partner now?”

“She looks very excited to meet you, Lesley,” he says, pushing the dog toward me. “Here.”

“Wait, what?”

“You can hold her. She won’t bite,” he says, and before I know it, I’ve got her in my arms.

I don’t even know how to properly hold her. “I don’t want to hurt her.”

“You won’t. Remember what I said about trust? You have to trust yourself too.”

“I do, but …”

“You don’t trust the dog?” he muses, petting her. “She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

I try not to think of my fears as he grabs her from my arms and puts her down to let her sniff my shoes.

“See?” he says. “She likes you.”

I smile at the sight of the little dachshund, whipping its tail at me when I look at it. If it stays like this, I could get used to it.

TJ grabs a collar and leash off the cabinet. He puts it around her neck then gives the leash to me. “Let’s take her for a walk.”

“What, now?”

“Why not?” He seems so easygoing. As if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“Well, shouldn’t we start with work or something?”

“This is work. You getting to know the dog, and the dog getting to know you,” he says. “If we’re gonna sell stuff for them, we might as well know what they like. Don’t you agree?”

“Yeah, but … Don’t you have a company to run?” I say with raised brows.

“The company’s not going anywhere. You, on the other hand …” He winks, and it immediately breaks all the tension in the room.

Goddamn, that handsome son of a bitch. He’s way too smooth.

“Let’s go,” he says, walking out in front of me.

I chase after him with a dog behind me, feeling weird about it, but I’ll go with the flow. No fucking way am I giving up on this job. So if I have to care for this dog, then so be it. Besides, when I look at her and those cute, round eyes, it doesn’t feel so bad. Especially when she sticks out her tongue as she waggles on the floor.

I chuckle and hide the laughter in my sleeve when TJ glances at me over his shoulder.