Page 50 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
Bella
MOM
don’t bring back any dogs, no matter how cute they are
you have enough on your plate
BELLA
Mom, I told you I’m not adopting a dog, just supporting Grayson and the charity
MOM
you will take one look at them and want to get them all
BELLA
so?
MOM
so don’t
and say hi to Grayson for me
also tell him that it was the husband
BELLA
will he even know what I’m talking about?
MOM
absolutely
I stop dead in my tracks. Layla’s yapping about her latest romance novel which is going in one ear and out the other the moment I spot Grayson step out of a barn up ahead, a large carefree smile spread across his face as he slaps Kieran on the back in greeting.
At first, I’m struck by the joy lighting his face, the happiness that seems to radiate off him, but as his eyes scan the crowd, his smile faltering, I find I’m not holding my breath because of how attractive he is today. I’m holding my breath because I think he’s?—
He spots me through the crowd, that smile stretching across his face once more as he lifts a hand and waves at me, telling Kieran something as he makes his way over.
He was searching for me.
I feel like slapping myself. Of course he was searching for me. I’m here to be his pretend girlfriend; any rational fake boyfriend would seek their partner out.
“Oh my god,” Layla breathes beside me.
“What?” I spin to her, watching as her icy blue eyes flick between me and Grayson’s fast approaching form. “Is there something on my face?”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s just…” Clearing her throat, she mutters, “Nothing.”
I make a note to pester her for answers later, only for my thoughts and the whirlwind of anxious flutters in my stomach to come to a halt.
In Grayson’s hand is a hot pink lead, and following its tether is the most adorable golden retriever I’ve ever seen.
In its mouth is a small white Lamb Chop teddy bear, and its tail is thumping wildly as its eyes dart all around.
To top off the cuteness level, it’s wearing a bright pink vest with a patch on the side that says, Hi!
I’m deaf and a little anxious but I love people!
Layla and I both gasp in sync, our knees dropping to the grass as Grayson and the adorable dog get close. The dog makes a beeline for us, its tail wagging a mile a minute as our grubby hands reach out to pat it.
“Stop, this is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen! ”
Layla gushes, placing kisses all over the dog. “You are such a gorgeous doggo, yes you are. Oh, you’re so beautiful!”
Grayson chuckles. “Do I get a hello too or just Bambi?”
At the name, Layla and I burst out into coos and awes.
“Just Bambi. That’s the cutest name ever.”
Layla cries out, “Why do I have to be moving? I want to take you home.”
Lifting my head, I find Grayson smiling down not at Bambi but at me. My cheeks heat. “How long has the shelter had her?” I ask.
His smile falters. “Six months.”
Layla and I both gasp.
“Six months?” I shake my head. “Why on earth…” My words trail off, what I was about to say dying on my tongue. No dog deserves this. “If I could I’d buy a huge block of land and take them all.”
Grayson’s lips twitch. “Great minds seem to think alike, Blaze.”
Layla’s eyes cut to mine at the nickname I can’t get Grayson to stop calling me. But who am I kidding, I have barely tried to make him stop. For some reason it makes my heart skip a beat despite not knowing why he calls me that.
“Is she partially deaf?” I ask.
“From what the vets say she’s lost all hearing capability.”
“The poor baby,” Layla murmurs, now giving belly rubs to Bambi. “Who would ever want to give her up? Look at her, she’s so precious.”
“Would you want to adopt her?” Grayson asks, hopeful.
It makes me realize just how much he cares about these dogs getting adopted. It’s not just a social media post or how it looks to the internet, he truly cares.
Layla’s smile vanishes. “I wish. I meant what I said before, I’m moving to Berlin next week for a year.”
Grayson’s gaze immediately jumps to my face, a flash of concern there and gone before he turns back to Layla. “You don’t sound too thrilled about the move.”
She gives him a friendly smile. “It’s a sore subject. ”
Remembering what Layla said before, I clap my hands. “How can we help? Put us to work!”
Taking the hint, Grayson drops the subject, and I don’t miss the grateful smile Layla sends my way.
“Just give any dog you pass love. A lot of them have tragic backstories and just want attention.”
Layla clutches her chest. “I hate people who do this to animals.”
“Same,” Grayson agrees, a faraway look entering his gaze.
“The stories I hear at the shelter give me nightmares.” Shaking his head, his eyes widen before a pink tint blooms across his cheeks.
“Fuck, I’m sorry, I’ve heard so much about you I feel like I’ve already met you.
” Holding out his hand for Layla, he drawls, “I’m Grayson, and it’s so nice to meet Bella’s best friend. ”
Layla’s smile stretches wide as she stands, to Bambi’s dismay. Shaking Grayson’s hand, she chuckles. “The same could be said for you. Thank you for taking care of her, by the way. I know it isn’t an easy feat.”
“Hey!” I protest, but the pair ignore me.
“So, it’s not just toward me then?”
Layla rolls her eyes. “God no. She’s been this way since middle school.”
Bending down, I lock my gaze on Bambi’s brown eyes, noting how they seem to melt as she gives me a puppy dog look. “I don’t mind being ignored when such a cute girl like you is around.” I scratch behind her collar, seeming to hit a spot as her back leg begins to thump.
How could anyone give up a pet? I will never understand abandoning an animal that I willingly went out of my way to get.
As my heart pangs, I refocus on Layla and Grayson’s conversation, realizing that he’s handed her a clipboard.
“Thank you, this would help so much. If anyone talks about wanting to adopt in the near future, try and get them to write down their details so we can contact them about pets who come into the rescue. Even those who might want to foster.”
Layla’s nodding along, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she takes the instructions seriously.
It’s the thing we both have in common and why we bonded so much in school.
I was a stickler for rules and Layla never wanted to disappoint her parents or teachers.
We were a perfect fit from the moment we met.
Grayson whistles as he spots something behind us. “Here you go, you can try on this big bastard. Care to put your name and number down for rescuing or fostering an animal in the future?”
A derisive snort at my back has me rising, then Kieran’s voice adds, “Fuck no, don’t put my number down.”
Grayson rolls his eyes. “The women at the shelter aren’t going to stalk you, Kieran. Believe it or not, not every woman loves you.”
“Probably the opposite,” I mutter, earning a snort from Grayson.
“Why don’t you put your number down?” he shoots back.
Grayson gives him a deadpan glare. “Just let her write your number down, dipshit.”
Kieran rolls his eyes but as Layla turns, his stride comes to a stop as he notes the clipboard in her hand. His smirk is slow but ravenous, and his eyes eat her up. “Okay, put my number down,” he drawls.
I’m about to snap my fingers in front of him like he’s a dog who needs to be told off, but to my utter shock, Layla looks him up and down, not affected in the slightest. “No thank you. I don’t want to catch something if you touch my pen.”
My jaw practically unhinges. Grayson stands beside me, shell-shocked, as Kieran’s eyes widen.
“Have a thing against hockey players?” Kieran asks, blinking away his surprise.
“Hockey players, no. Players , yes.”
“Damn, Lil,” I whisper, but she barely registers me as Kieran bites the inside of his cheek.
Grayson leans over, whispering under his breath, “Is she normally like this?”
“Not at all.”
Kieran scoffs. “Trust me, you’ll want my number for later when you realize who I am.”
That has Layla stiffening. “I know exactly who you are. You’re the only dog here who deserves to be neutered and in a kennel.” With that, she spins on her heel, clipboard in hand as she stalks off.
My head tips back on a howl of laughter, Grayson doing the same. I have tears leaking out of the corner of my eyes from the shock of Layla turning down Kieran. I’ve never seen her like that with a man before. My sweet, kind, and caring Layla just handed Kieran his ass.
Grayson is hysterical beside me. “Holy shit, dude, I wish I got that on camera.”
Kieran clutches his chest as if wounded, his jaw open a little as he turns to us. “I’m going to marry that woman.”
Before either of us can stop him, Kieran is off, chasing after Layla and her flaming red hair.
Grayson shakes his head at his best friend’s retreating form. “He’s like a dog with a bone.”
“Then Layla’s assessment isn’t too far off.”
Grayson snorts at that. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t drool all over her.”
“Mr. Crawford?” a soft female voice interrupts.
Grayson turns to who I’m presuming is a worker of the shelter based on the uniform.
“ABC has arrived for the interview. They’re waiting in the main barn house, and they said they need an updated photo of the founder for the piece.”
“Well, that’s not happening,” he says in a flat voice.
“They aren’t taking no for an answer.”
“Seems like everyone is needing to be taught that lesson recently.” Sighing, he shakes his head. “I’ll handle it, Liz, thank you. Have you met my girlfriend, Bella?”
It takes everything in me to not widen my eyes at how easily that title rolled off Grayson’s tongue. Pointedly ignoring the way my heart flips, I smile. “Liz, was it?”
She nods. “I’m one of the co-founders. Have been working with Grayson since the moment he opened Safe Haven Trails.”
My head cocks to the side, my hand in hers going limp. “Since he opened…? ”
Liz’s eyes widen before cutting to Grayson. “Seriously?” she hisses.