Page 48 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)

John happened. But I refuse to bring him up right now.

“Umm… No. Nothing like that.” I shake my head, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his watchful gaze, my words coming out in a rush.

“I didn’t want to bug you, but the guy at the front desk had a call.

He recognized Kyle from when you brought him here, and he told us to go out back, which is what I did. I didn’t realize you were busy an?—”

Chase slides his hand to my neck, his fingers rubbing at my tense muscles. “Breathe.”

I suck in a sharp breath and hold it for a second. The tight knot in my stomach loosens at his warm touch, the way those calloused fingers massage my skin and send shivers all the way to my core. His thumb skims over my pulse point, eyes darkening when he feels the furious beat of my heart.

“Chase—” His name comes out on a shaky exhale, that grip on me tightening slightly.

“There are kids present, you know that?”

My eyes widen at the sound of the female voice. When I turn around, I find the woman, who was with Chase, standing next to us, an amused glimmer in her eyes. Any trace of the vulnerability that was surrounding them when I first saw her is now gone.

Chase lets out an annoyed growl. “Don’t you have anything better to do, Mae?”

“Not at the moment. No.” Her cheerful tone has him muttering a curse, which only makes her laugh harder. “Just ignore him. He’s more bark than bite, like most of the dogs. And since he also left his manners in the doghouse apparently—” She extends her hand to me. “I’m Maisie.”

Her smile is bright and seems genuine. I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear as I slip my hand in hers for a handshake. “Rose. I’m Kyle’s mom.”

Her brows shoot up, her gaze darting to Chase as her lips curl in a smirk. “So you’re Chase’s new neighbor. It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“You have?” My brows furrow in confusion as I try to wrap my mind around that little tidbit.

Chase growls softly, which only makes Maisie’s smile grow bigger. “Sure did. I?—”

“Didn’t you just say that you have work to do?” Chase asks before she can finish, his eyes narrowed on her.

“It can wait.” She waves him off and loops her hand with mine, pulling me away. “What brings you guys here? Wanted to visit this grump?”

“Umm…” I glance over my shoulder to find Chase still glaring at Maisie’s back before I shift my attention to the woman next to me, who’s acting more like a little sister than anything else. “Not really. Kyle’s been talking about having a pet for a while, so I figured I should just go for it.”

If possible, Maisie’s smile grows even bigger. “Then you’ve come to the right place! Do you know what you’re looking for?”

“Not really,” I admit. “The only dog we’ve been around is Shadow.”

Kyle looks up from where he’s playing with the dogs. “Mom, can we take Duke home?”

I eye the dog wearily, those two-colored eyes fixing on me. It almost feels like I’m gazing into a human’s eyes, that’s how much intelligence is hidden in their depths, and yet…

“I’m not really sure that’s a good idea, buddy.”

Kyle pouts. “But I really like Duke.”

Chase places his arm on Kyle’s shoulder, drawing his attention. “Duke is very young and very energetic. He needs a lot of training and work to keep him busy.”

“I can keep him busy,” Kyle protests, crossing his arms over his chest. “And you can teach me how to train him.”

Chase crouches down, so they’re at the same level. “I’m sure you can, but he’ll feel much happier if he can help other people. You want him to be happy, right?”

That frown is still in place, and I expect Kyle to protest some more, but after a few moments, he lets out a sigh, his head dropping slightly.

“I guess so.” Kyle kicks his leg a little before looking up, that familiar uncertainty written all over his face. “Do you want to go look at the other dogs with me?”

Chase’s face softens slightly, and he nods. “Sure thing.”

Kyle blinks, as if he needs a moment to process his words, but then a smile flashes on his face. “Really?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Chase pushes to his feet, the muscle in his jaw twitching slightly like he’s in pain. Kyle takes his left hand as if it’s the most natural thing in the world and drags him toward the building, chatting his ear off about different kinds of dogs he likes.

I follow after them, Maisie falling in step with me. I glance at the other woman. Now that it’s just the two of us, that familiar feeling of unease makes my palms sweaty.

Unable to stand the silence, I clear my throat. “You’ve known Chase for long?”

She tilts her head, a strand of dark hair slipping from her braid.

“A handful of years. He was my brother’s best friend.

When I opened this shelter two years ago, I knew I’d need all the help I could get.

” She chuckles softly. “I begged Chase to help me out. He has a way with animals, unlike anybody else I know. Besides, I think he needed the distraction.”

Her smile falls, gaze growing distant for a second, and my heart does a little flip inside my chest. There’s something there, something I can’t quite pinpoint, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.

“What about you? When did you move in with him?”

Her question makes me splutter in surprise. “Umm… It’s not— We don’t live together. He’s just renting me his cottage. That’s all.”

I turn around and almost face-plant into Chase. His hand lands on my shoulder to steady me as he glances between the two of us, that frown back in place. “Are you two coming or what?”

“We’re coming. No need to get your panties in a twist just because I’m chatting with your girl, Williams.”

His girl?

Color rises up my cheeks at the comment. I expect Chase to correct her, after all, we never defined what we were exactly, but he doesn’t say a word—instead, his hand slides to the small of my back. “Let’s go. The kennels are this way.”

The Cheshire cat smile on Maisie’s face is unmistakable as we pass by and take the first door on the right.

I have never been to a shelter before, so I expect to see the cages, but instead, every animal has a little cubicle with a glass door, almost all of them occupied.

Each cubicle has some kind of bed or towel for the animal, along with the bowls for water and food, and a few toys.

Dozens of little heads turn in our direction the moment we step into the room, and some of the dogs even start barking.

Kyle doesn’t seem the least bit fazed by it all as he walks to the doors, his eyes taking them in.

“What kind of dog were you hoping to get?”

“I have no idea,” I tell him honestly. “Hopefully something that’s not too big. And somebody that’s not too old. Dogs live shorter lives, and I don’t want Kyle to have to learn about that kind of loss too soon.”

Just then, Kyle calls out, “Chase, come look at this one!”

His palm rubs up and down my spine before he lets it go and joins Kyle, who’s looking at one dog.

I watch him as he leans down and listens to my son talk before he tells him his opinion, and they move further into the room.

Some dogs stay in the back of the kennel, and others come to the window.

Some are happy, others reserved, and I can see a little bit of light flicker out of their eyes when the two of them move to the next kennel.

“I don’t know how you do this,” I whisper to Maisie, who’s been standing on the side and just watching us. “I want to take them all home with me just so they aren’t so sad.”

Maisie hums softly. “It’s not as hard as you think. I get to love them while they’re here and help find them a forever home. The sheer joy on their faces when they get adopted makes up for it.” She tilts her chin toward the two boys. “He’s really good with him.”

I watch as Chase ruffles Kyle’s hair as they walk together side by side, my throat growing tight.

I swallow down the knot. “He is.”

Chase’s been there for him these past few months, and I can see how much my son looks up to him. He wants male attention, craves somebody’s approval, and he found kinship with Chase. Not just that, Kyle feels safe around him. Safe to be himself.

When I turn to Maisie, her face is soft, her eyes slightly watery. But there’s also something else. Something that looks like hope?

My heart races, and I’m not sure what to make of this, but before I can think too much of it, Kyle’s giggles echo in the room.

I follow the sound and find Kyle sitting on the ground; a medium-sized fluff-ball of a dog is all up in his face, licking at his cheeks.

“You’re tickling me.” Kyle squirms, but instead of pushing him away, he wraps his arms around him, rubbing at his back as the dog continues his attack on him.

He tilts his head back, our eyes meeting. “Isn’t Teddy cute?”

My brow quirks up. “Teddy?”

“Yes, Chase says his name is Charlie, but to me, he looks like a small bear.” He turns to the dog, petting him between his ears. “What do you say? Teddy is a much cooler name, right?”

The dog watches him as he signs intently, his head tilting to the side as if he’s trying to understand him before he lets out a bark and licks him again.

Maisie chuckles softly. “That didn’t take too long.”

No, I guess it didn’t.

I walk over to them, crouching down so I’m at their level. Teddy spots me immediately, his attention shifting to me. I extend my hand, and after a quick sniff, I’m rewarded with my own licking attack.

“Can we get Teddy, Mom? Pleaseeee!”

Two pairs of puppy dog eyes shoot me pleading looks, and I know that I’m screwed.

“You’ll take care of him?”

Even before I finish, Kyle is nodding eagerly. “Yes.”

“You know that includes cleaning his poop and taking him out for walks, and not just playing, right?”

“I can do it, Mom. Pretty please?” He purses his lips. “Just look at him, he wants to go home with us.”

Yup. Completely and utterly screwed.

I let out a long breath. “Okay. Teddy can come home with us.”

I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way Kyle’s whole face lit up. It’s like it’s his birthday and Christmas all in one. A blinding smile spreads over his face, and he jumps to his feet, his arms wrapping around my middle as he buries his face in my stomach. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

I wrap my arms around him, basking in this moment, in my little boy’s happiness. Teddy, not wanting to be excluded, walks around us, barking excitedly.

As quickly as Kyle grabbed me, he let go and got down, wrapping his arms around Teddy. “You hear that, Teddy? You’re coming home with us.”

A hand lands on the small of my back as the body I’ve grown accustomed to slides behind me. “You sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?”

The corner of my mouth tips upward as Kyle waves Shadow over as well. Teddy sniffs tentatively at the newcomer and barks.

Tilting my head back, I meet Chase’s serious eyes.

“No. But Kyle’s wanted a dog for so long, and I think a change will be good for him.

” I graze my teeth over my lower lip. Chase’s gaze falls to my mouth before it lifts back to meet mine, that simmering heat making his irises seem darker as the truth slips out. “Good for both of us.”