Trifling Tempations

I smile down at Zoe, my mind quickly enjoying the situation as I pick just the right way to go about it, a smile shining from my face as I resolve what to do, and pick something simple: "Hey... Nova, can you give the nice woman a handshake? Shake hands?" I watch, seeing the woman smiling at that, before looking down to see Zoe.

Zoe lets out a sigh, though the corner of her lip curls upward, and she holds up her right hand, the fingers held together to make what amounts to a paw. As I watch, she holds it up, and they shake. "Such a good doggie you are, Nova. Yes, you are. I have just the thing for such a good dog... do you like treats? DO you want a treat?"

I smirk at that, amused and surprised, noticing how well she's playing the role. Nova lets out a bark then, and as we watch, she focuses on the small treat in her hands, making it look much like a dog would act. I nod at Jesse, who smirks back, staring at me intently.

Without saying anything, she barks again, per pose going into one of a doggie well; the best turn is 'beg' for it, and the new woman, in jeans and a v-neck, dangles it not far from her nose. She acts interested, well enough to make it seem real, before she hands it over and she snarfs it up. We soon ask her to walk, following me, go over to Jese, and then back to me.

A few treats later, and I have her rolling over, even as I find it amusing. Jesse comes up with a treat as she rolls over. The new commercial gets in on the fun, but it's not long before she checks her watch as she leaves. We keep walking, occasionally getting a compliment or three on how well-behaved she is.

We walk along a path paralleling the road, the whole way brightly lit. It's not long before we get to a park, and with a smile, hw holds up, much to my surprise, a tennis ball. I smile back his way as he tosses it to me, and with a smile. Holding the ball out, I smirk down at her, noticing several other people are about and about.

Zoe/Nova makes a brief look of shock, but it lasts but a moment before her expression changes to a smirk. That's right. A smirk. Unfastening her silk leash, I act to throw the ball, letting her see the movement before finally gently tossing it about 20 feet across the clearing.

Nova barks at that, seemingly eager to follow it as we laugh. He moves close, putting his left arm around me, as we watch her chase after it. She soon gets close and grabs it with her mouth, and then rushes back to me. With a laugh, I toss it in a different direction, and she goes after it then too. I do it a bit, until Jesse asks for a chance at it, to which I smirk his way, "Sure thing, slugger... but don't toss it too far."

He chuckles at it, nodding before tossing it for Nova a few times. We make small talk, enjoying it, and then he suggests, "Hey, will she still chase it if we throw it back and forth? Wanna try and find out?" I pause, smiling back his way, even as the cool breeze causes goosebumps to form on my skin. And as I look, the same is happening with Zoe/Nova.

I smile at Jesse and find myself wondering ... maybe? As I ponder that, I notice that, even this late at night, we're starting to draw a crowd. A crowd of amused and excited onlookers.