Paxton’s confused expression begged for an explanation. Before he could say anything, Webster did it for him.
“His family’s foundation made a huge donation to the shelter last year. It helped to vaccinate every animal. We’re still purchasing food with the money from the donation.”
Sawyer shrugged. “It’s the foundation that was started in my mother’s name. She had a soft spot for animals, but my dad was allergic, so we couldn’t have any. I know my mom would approve of helping the shelter.”
“That’s wonderful,” Paxton said, her eyes soft and full of admiration.
As ridiculous as it seemed, that annoyed him. Why did it take something like that for her to see him as someone worthy of her respect? Unlike his shenanigans with the pet food back when they were in high school, there were no ulterior motives to his actions these days. He gave out of a sense of responsibility, out of respect for his parents, who, despite their money, had raised him with a sense of humility few with their means would even think to do.
It had always irritated him that Paxton couldn’t be bothered to see past his moneyed upbringing. Sure, his father had built a company that grossed millions, but Earl Robertson had come from humble beginnings, something he’d never forgotten. He never allowed Sawyer to take anything for granted. And Sawyer was grateful for every lesson he’d been taught.
That was why he did everything he could to live up to his parents’ expectations, even at the expense of his own happiness.
Even to this day, it made his stomach hurt to think about everything he’d sacrificed to fulfill his father’s final wish, like marrying a girl he didn’t love. His marriage had been a mistake from the very beginning. He’d known it. Angelique, his ex-wife, had known it as well. They’d both gone along with it in order to make their families happy, but both knew the marriage was never going to last.
Sawyer shook that thought out of his head.
That murky water needed to remain where it had been since his divorce: under the bridge. He needed to focus on the things that really mattered. Mainly, figuring out a way to make the girl he’d always wanted see him as someone she could potentially share her life with.
It wasn’t a pipe dream to contemplate it. They had chemistry. He refused to believe what had happened between them three years ago was a one-time thing. He’d felt something that night, and he knew Paxton had felt it, too. He needed her to actuallybelievein it.
She giggled—actuallygiggled—when three of the puppies ganged up on her, climbing up her chest at the same time. Seeing her so carefree right now, it made him aware of just how few times he’d seen her this way. She’d always had a seriousness about her, even back when they were in high school.
Sawyer could recall with startling clarity the day he’d fallen for her. It was during their sophomore year, when Paxton discovered that a group of their classmates were planning a cruel practical joke on Mrs. Baker, their substitute science teacher. She had always quietly flown under the radar, never doing anything to stand out from the crowd.
Until that day.
She called out their classmates before they were able to play the joke. She had been brave enough to do something that Sawyer hadn’t had the courage to do for fear of losing cool points in front of his friends. She’d changed his way of thinking that day. Because of her bravery, Sawyer decided that his convictions, and not his social standing, would dictate how he conducted himself.
That day in science class, he saw Paxton Jones as more than just the girl who hung out with Shayla. He’d finally taken notice of how beautiful she was underneath her unassuming clothes and reserved demeanor. She didn’t clamor for attention. She didn’t have to—at least as far as Sawyer was concerned.
From that day forward, he’d set out to win her approval.
But he wanted more than just her approval. He wanted her to see him as more than just a jock or a spoiled rich boy. He wanted her to see him as someone who was worthy of her.
He wantedher. Damn, did he want her.
As he watched her with the animals, showering them all with love, allowing them to climb all over her as she sat on the floor in her pricey business skirt, Sawyer was pummeled with all the reasons he continued to want her. Underneath that no-nonsense façade, she had a softer side that he’d fallen in love with so long ago.
He had to make this woman his.Hadto. He’d waited too long for her, and he’d be damned if he let her get away this time.
They still had a couple of other sites to visit before they returned to the office, but Sawyer couldn’t bring himself to break up her puppy love-fest. He selfishly wanted to see this side of her for as long as he possibly could.
After another half-hour had passed, Paxton was finally able to tear herself away from the animals. She thanked Webster for his continued work with the shelter and, looking over her shoulder with every step she took, reluctantly walked out of the building.
Sawyer could tell she was still shaken up. Knowing that the animals she’d cared about so much had been in danger seemed to be a shock to her system, but her demeanor changed back to the efficient and practical Paxton before he could offer her the comfort he desperately wanted to give.
“See you back at the office?” she asked, her eyes darting over his shoulder to the shelter again.
“Sure,” Sawyer said. He looked back at the shelter, then to her. “Are you okay, Pax?”
She shook her head and gave him a false smile. “Of course. I’ll call The Jazzy Bean and order some lunch on the way.”
“That sounds good,” he said.
She nodded, then, with one last look at the shelter, she got in her car and drove away.
Chapter 7
