Page 3 of Daddy's Naughty Dog Trainer

Sean drags a hand down his face. “I underestimated him. I mean, the damn dog doesn’t care that we are standing right here watching him. Doesn’t even try to hide his naughtiness.”

“No kidding.”

I click my tongue and squat down, patting my thighs. “Lucky, here!” I give the no nonsense command, leaving no room for Lucky to doubt who is in charge. Lucky hesitates for half a second before bounding toward me, pillow still clutchedbetween his teeth. I scratch behind his ears, murmuring praise, then gently guide him into a sit. He obeys, tail wagging. I click the clicker and open my fist, showing Lucky the small treat. He takes it, wagging his tail the entire time. Lucky is very much like an intelligent toddler. Full of energy, curious but also will respond well to consistency and boundaries.

Sean exhales, looking both impressed and deeply skeptical. “How the hell did you do that?”

I grin. “A lot of experience, a little patience, and positive reinforcement, and we’ll have him trained in no time.” I replace the pillow with one of the Kong toys I’ve brought with me. It’ll take a lot for Lucky to chew through it.

Sean folds his arms over his broad chest. “Forgive me if I don’t share your optimism.”

That's when I really take him in. He's a walking contradiction. He's dark, brooding, and a man who clearly thrives on control, and yet… he's completely at the mercy of a thirty-pound puppy. His navy button-up is crisp, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, hinting at strong, capable hands. His slacks? Perfectly pressed. His black-framed glasses? Unsmudged, despite the chaos around him.

And that jawline? Lord, have mercy.

If I met him under different circumstances, I’d peg him as someone who probably alphabetizes his bookshelves and color codes his closet. He’s the kind of man who has rules, strict ones, and expects everyone around him to follow them. Like the heroes in my favorite Daddy Dom romance novels. I love to lust after them, knowing they’d meet their match with me.

Because, I’ve never been good with rules.

I shake myself, tearing my gaze away before Sean catches me staring at him.

Focus, Jess. You’re here to train his dog, not drool over your client.

I clear my throat. "Tell me about Lucky's routine."

Sean moves to the sleek kitchen, setting the abused pillow on the counter like he's contemplating throwing it away. "I take him out at six a.m. sharp. He eats at seven. We do some training exercises after, but he loses focus fast. I work from home mostly, so he stays in my office while I'm in meetings."

I arch a brow. "And how does that usually go?"

He lets out a slow breath. "Not well."

I stifle a smile. "And what do you do when he acts up?"

"Tell him no." His tone is exasperated, like it should be obvious.

I nod, schooling my expression. "And does he listen?"

Sean's silence is answer enough.

I press my lips together to keep from laughing outright. Oh, this is going to be fun.

I glance toward Lucky, who's now sprawled out happily on the floor, chewing the corner of a rug. "You're letting him rule the house."

Sean drags a hand through his thick, dark hair. "Yeah, thanks for pointing that out."

I grin. "That's what I'm here for."

My eyes drift to the silver-framed photo of him and his sister that I'd noticed earlier. They're at what looks like a baseball game, arms slung around each other's shoulders, both laughing. The contrast between that smiling man and the tightly wound one before me now makes my heart ache a little.

"She would have enjoyed this," Sean says quietly, following my gaze. "Diane would have laughed her ass off watching me struggle with him."

I offer a gentle smile. "Sounds like she had a good sense of humor."

"The best." His voice softens. "She was my little sister, but always taking care of me. Making sure I didn't take life tooseriously." He straightens a stack of papers on the counter. "She'd love you and your pink hair. She was always telling me I needed more color in my life."

The moment feels suddenly vulnerable, intimate in a way I wasn't expecting. I stand, clap my hands twice, getting Lucky's attention. "Alright, big guy. Let's get to work."

I spend the next half-hour walking Sean through basic training exercises and teaching him how to use the clicker and positive reinforcement. Lucky is smart, eager to please, and despite his chaos, responds quickly when given the right kind of direction.

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