I sat in my car, contemplating the building in front of me. My sister gave an exasperated sigh from the passenger seat. "You said you wanted a dog. Can we go inside now?" She rolled her eyes and reached over and turned off the car, then got out and headed towards the rescue shelter doors.

I followed behind her, into the surprisingly clean building. She walked to the front counter and began chatting up the man behind the counter. I made my way down the row of cages, and felt bad for all the puppies who watched me hopefully. I felt drawn towards the last cage, and knelt down to look at him. He walked over and sniffed my hand. He was mostly white, with a black nose and black covering the left side of face and ear. I opened the cage and pulled him into my arms, not sure why but I knew I had to have him. My sister and the guy that worked there were walking towards me.

"Him" I declared. "I want him". The Guy who worked there shook his head. "He's not really a good choice, he's been returned back here almost 6 times now." I hugged the dog tighter to my chest. "I'm taking him" the guy sighed. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you"

My sister drove us back to my house, and I sat in the back with Hershey. The only thing he had come with was a black collar with a gold dog tag, and the name 'Hershey' on it. We had already stopped at PetSmart, and my trunk was full of everything I hoped a dog might need or want.

We pulled up in front of my house, and I clicked the leash to his collar and got out, he suddenly perked up, wanting to sniff everything. I waited for him to go to the bathroom, then let him off the leash inside the house.

I thanked my sister for putting up with me and waved as she drove off. I unloaded all Hershey's things, placing his dishes and food in the kitchen. I walked back towards the bedroom and placed the dog bed and blankets next to my bed. Hershey just followed along behind me, then barked and jumped onto my bed. He turned around three times and laid on my pillow. I giggled at him, and hugged and petted him. "Don't worry Hershey, I won't ever take you back to that place."

He followed me everywhere, and I found I didn't really need the leash. He slept in my bed, rarely barked, snuggled with me on the couch and seemed to enjoy watching the cooking channel almost as much as I did. I had to keep an eye on him though, anytime I had cookies, candy, or anything sweet he tried to devour it. I had read somewhere that chocolate was bad for dogs, and after finding him eating an entire box of Oreos with no bad effects, I just gave in.

If I got a cupcake, cookie, whatever, then Hershey got one too. I laughed at his sad faces he made when I ate ice cream, so he also got that. "You are the weirdest dog, but I love you" he barked and licked my face.

It was Saturday morning, and Hershey was excitedly hanging his head out the car window as we drove. We went to the park on Saturdays, mainly because he loved to run and I didn't have the biggest yard. We ate chocolate donuts as we drove, and I sipped coffee.

The park was surprisingly empty when we got there, there was a guy on a bench at the other side of it, but he didn't have a dog with him so I unclicked the leash and let him go. And crap, he made a beeline straight for the guy, barking his head off. I panicked, he never barked at people, and never ran straight at them. I took off after him, yelling his name. I was huffing and out of breath when I reached the bench, and saw the guy was petting him while Hershey licked his face.

"Sorry" I gasped, still breathless "He's never done this, he usually doesn't like people" the guy laughed and looked up at me, and, oh, wow could you be any hotter I thought to myself. His eyes were amber tinged with gold, and dimples and floppy blondish brown hair, and I realized I was staring. He stood up, and he wasn't overly tall, but I'm only 4'11" so it felt like he was towering over me. "He likes me because he's my dog."

Good looking or not, I became indignant. "I think you mean was your dog. I adopted him, after he had been given back to the shelter six times." Okay, that came out a lot bitchier than I had intended, but I loved Hershey and really didn't want to lose him to some good-looking stranger.

He looked almost taken aback, and then laughed, and crap his eyes sparkled and those dimples were killing me. "I'm surprised you kept him, he can be quite a handful." Hershey whimpered and put his front paws on my thigh, I smiled down at him and scratched his head. "He's a really good dog." I looked back up at the guy, who looked at Hershey, then back at me.

"Gabriel" he finally said, stretching out his hand. I took it tentatively. "Esther, and I'd say don't make fun, but with a name like Gabriel something tells me you won't." He laughed and I couldn't help but giggle back. "Not a chance. But it seems we are at an impasse." He gestured towards Hershey. I found myself swallowing hard, because as much as I loved Hershey, it wasn't fair if Gabriel felt the same. I stroked Hershey's head, and he whimpered looking back and forth between us.

"Esther, you know I don't really have a dog friendly place right now, but I'd really like to be able to see Hershey." I looked up from scratching Hershey's head and felt hopeful. "Well, I work Monday through Friday, and he's home alone a lot. I could give you my address?" What was I saying I thought, you just me this guy and even though he seems nice, hello, serial killer or something. Gabriel's face lit up, and okay, not just cute, wow, serial killer or not, he was way too sexy.

"You're sure you wouldn't mind?" Dimples and that smile, ugh I am so done for, please don't have a girlfriend, boyfriend, whatever. "Not at all Gabe, I actually don't live far from here. I just bring him to the park to run."

We chatted while sitting on the bench and Hershey ran all over the park, barking at leaves and just being way to adorable. I didn't get the whether or not he was single information, but I learned he was a pastry chef and we laughed, because I told him about the Oreos being devoured.

"Would you like a ride home?" I offered, since I noticed my car was the only one in the lot. He smiled and nodded. "Sure, if you don't mind." We loaded into the car and Hershey sat on his lap. And ya, that was way too much for my ovaries to handle at this point. He directed me, and I started giggling. He gave me quizzical look. "You live in the Brownstones apartments I'm guessing." He arched an eyebrow "Yes, you stalking me now?" I laughed, and he gave me an odd look as we passed his apartments, then he started laughing as I pulled into my driveway, which was one block down and across the street.

He shook his head, still laughing. I giggled and turned towards him. "I'm going to make you walk from here, because I'm such a terrible person." More laughter as we got out of the car, Hershey jumping around and barking excitedly. "Well, I better feed him before he wastes away. It was really nice meeting you Gabe." I hesitated only slightly, then my mouth started moving before my brain could stop it. "You could come over tomorrow and spend time with him? I have papers to grade and he's always trying to get on the table to get my attention. I could make us lunch?" Shut up, I told myself. This amazingly good looking guy probably isn't interested in hanging out with a slightly chubby third grade teacher who has no life.

"I'd love to, as long as I get to bring the dessert." I was having heart palpitations, and managed to nod and tried to act like a normal person, which only lasted until I got into my house. Where I may have made some squealing girly noises and rewarded Hershey with some Oreos for having the hottest guy I'd ever seen as a prior owner.