Short story :)

It was hot and yet cold due to the stupid wind factor. The sun was blazing and the wind was chilling. 'Perfect weather for walking the fat mutt,' he grumbled to himself. Then his aforementioned mutt, seemed to sense his unwillingness and jumped on him to lick his face.

'You're not bribing me that easily Suki! It'll take more than a few kisses for you to get away with me having to walk you in this weather. I'll probably catch pneumonia and heat stroke on the same day!'

She barked at him and wagged her tail happily.

'I'm being serious. Don't you think I'm kidding young lady. You owe me big time for this walk!' he said petting her head and then leaned to kiss her nose.

'That's cute. You talk to you dog,' a soft voice came.

He raised his head to and found himself staring at a pair of legs that never seemed to end. Slowly he lifted up his head to complete the view. She was beautiful! Baby brown eyes, long brown hair and a smile that bespoke a good sense of humor and mischieviousness. The weather was the last thing on his mind then.

'Doesn't everyone?' he asked.

'I don't know about everyone. But I used to talk to my dog too. Sometime it seems like they speak right back to you!' she said, squatting to take a better look at Suki.

'Yea. Suki defintely understands tho. She listens and does the exact opposite of what you tell her to do. Why did you say used to?'

'Our dog died last summer. She got hit by a car.' she pouted and absently stroked Suki's fur.

'I'm sorry to hear that. Must have been painful. I can't imagine anything happening to this little rascal.' Then he squatted too, and hugged Suki. The thought of losing her had stabbed at him and he felt guilty about complaining that he had to walk her.

'Whats her name?'

'Suki. It means beloved in Japenese. And she's definitely loved in our family,' he smiled.

'She's gorgeous. She's a cocker spaniel right? Tho I've never seen one this color before,' she asked.

'She's mixed, just like her owner. She's a British-American cocket spaniel. She transends culture in her little mind.' Suki decided that she was enjoying the attention and placed her forepaws on the girls arms and reached to lick her face.

'She's friendly.'

'She's normally scared of strangers. She must like you.' He turned Suki's face towards his own. 'Who's a big flirt with pretty girls? Hmm... Suki? You shameless flirt.'

Suki wagged her tail and gave his face a thorough licking. Laughing, he said 'Its hot Suki, but not so hot that I wanna be cooled down by your saliva. You gross little mutt.'

'Pretty girls huh?'

'Err..' he felt ackward all of a sudden. It was a slip of the tongue and he didn't know what to say to take it back. In fact he didn't feel like taking it back at all.

'Well... looks like its true about pets and owners being alike then,' she giggled.

'Alike?'

'You're both overly friendly,' she grinned.

He laughed ackwardly and avoided looking her in the eye. 'Say, how about we go catch a drink at a cafe nearby. My throat is killing me. And I think Suki could use some water too.'

'Sounds like a nice idea. But I've gotta rush somewhere. I have a date.' she said mournfully.

She petted Suki's head and stood up. 'I'll see you around I guess.'

'Sure. Have fun! It was nice meeting you...' he paused.

'Penelope. Thats my name. And you are?' she asked.

'Pretty name for a pretty girl. I'm Lucas.' he offered his hand to her.

She took it. 'A firm and confident shake,' Lucas thought to himself.

'Alright! I gotta run! I'm running late!' as she started to walk away, Suki decided that she had other plans and ran circles around Penelope. Suki's leash effectively became tangled around Penelope's feet and she tripped.

Lucas took a step foward and caught her neatly.

'Whoa! Sorry about that!'

'Whats a girl gonna do? Both of you are hitting on me at the same time!' she grumbled and he laughed.

'I guess we could do an ice blended since little Suki insists,' she smiled at him.

He looked at her in his arms. 'She smells like Polo for women,' he thought. He didn't realise it but he leaned his face close towards hers.

'Kissing Suki is one thing. But you're gonna have to at least buy me a drink before I kiss you,' she laughed.

'S..sorry... that wasn't what I was thinking.' He lifted her up and helped her back on her feet. 'Lets go get that drink.'

As they walked towards the cafe, he found himself smiling. 'Well I guess walking Suki's not all that bad after all,' he said under his breath.

'Pardon?' she asked.

'I said its a beautiful day for a walk.' he smiled at her as they continued walking.