Page 9

Why did that bother me so much? Was it so bad to want to feel special that a dog was happy? Instead of showing my cards to Truman, I kneeled in front of Hector rubbing behind his ears, watching as the dog’s eyes dropped closed and his tongue lolled from his mouth again.

“What are you up to?” I asked, looking up at Truman.

He looked away from me at first, but I caught the faintest hint of a blush on his cheeks. Was he embarrassed about something?

“Hector is so big, the yard at the shelter isn’t always big enough for him, especially when all the other dogs are out with him. It’s not fair to leave him inside all the time, so I was taking him for an extra walk.”

My heart melted at the statement. I was starting to understand Truman in a way that I think a lot of the people in this town missed. Anyone I talked to said something about his looks or how grumpy he was, but no one ever mentioned just how much he cared about the dogs. In fact, no one seemed to mention the shelter or the dogs at all. Did anyone know what he did for the animals in his care?

“Is it okay if I join you guys?” I was well aware I was pushing my luck by asking. Truman had shut right down when I’d pushed too hard the other day, but to my surprise he only shrugged.

“Sure, but I hope you can keep up. This guy has a mind of his own.”

I laughed as I stood, brushing away a few fallen leaves that had clung to my jacket.

We walked in silence for a block or two. Hector pulled hard at his leash, making us walk at a much more rapid pace than I was used to, but I kept up. Most people in New York moved as if they were in a hurry. It was amazing how much you slowed down in just a couple of weeks in a small town.

“You don’t—”

I cut Truman off before he could finish his sentence. “If you’re about to tell me that I don’t need to tag along, I believe I asked if I could. You’re an interesting person, and the dogs are a lot of fun. I’d love to come by and see them again.”

He seemed to think that over for a moment before answering me.

“Can you make me a promise?”

I nodded enthusiastically, causing my hair to fall into my face again. What I didn’t expect was the gentle way that Truman reached out and tucked the fallen strands behind my ear. His calloused fingers sent a strange tingle through my body that I hadn’t experienced before. My breath caught, making me stand there stupidly, more than aware that I hadn’t answered his question.

“Allison?”

“Allie.” It fell from my lips so fast, it was almost a squeak. “Most people just call me Allie.”

Truman’s smile was enough to make me melt into a pile of goo, and I understood what the stylist meant. How could someone not fall for that? That smile had the power to make a dead heart come to life.

“Okay, Allie. How about that promise?”

I blinked at him a few times, trying to remember what he’d said. “Promise?”

He chuckled. “Yes, I asked if you could make me a promise if I let you come back to the shelter.”

It took a moment and a few shakes of my head to get my thoughts in order. I’d never had someone mess me up like that. There was something about Truman MacIntyre that was so profoundly different. Maybe it was that he was so much softer than how most people perceived him, but I wanted to get to know him better. To let him in where others hadn’t managed before.

Chapter 8

Truman

It was so stupid.

Allie had even let me check her purse to make sure she didn’t have her camera on her, even promised to leave her phone in her pocket in order to come back to the shelter. Was I potentially shooting myself in the foot by not allowing her to help me? Maybe. But I had enough pride in not wanting to turn the dogs into some kind of internet mockery.

Not only that, but when shelters got attention like that, it tended to attract the wrong type of people looking to adopt. The type of people these animals had been rescued from in the first place. I’d never be able to live with myself if Hector ended up in some sort of fighting ring again. He was so gentle but had so many injuries when he’d been brought to me. It took a long time for him to trust, now he was the biggest baby of them all. There were so many people who were afraid of the giant size of mastiffs that they barely gave them a chance to see just how amazing they truly were.

The front end was dark, the blinds all closed since I wasn’t in to help any customers if they stopped by while I was walking Hector. I normally opened them back up, but it didn’t seem like the right time. Allie followed me to the back to put Hector back into his kennel.

At the sight of her, the dogs all started barking. It wasn’t often that people came by. Maybe it was cruel to get their hopes up that she was there to take one of them home, but they could use another friend besides me. With the way Allie lit up going from kennel to kennel to greet each of the dogs, I’d made the right call in bringing her back here.

Hector whined and pawed at the fencing of his kennel. I turned to face him, kneeling to be on his level. “I know, boy. She’s pretty, isn’t she?” It was dangerous to speak out loud. The last thing I needed was this social media influencer coming in and turning my life upside down. I’d been more than happy on my own, but she called to me.

When Allie reached the last kennel, she turned and walked back to me. “What dog has been here the longest?”