Chapter 20
Luke
Gen’s eyes soften with that old warmth, her lower lip caught between her teeth. My heart thunders against my ribs. But there’s a hesitation in her gaze that drops my stomach out from under me.
“Well, yes, and no.”
Her forehead furrows, and puzzlement lines her expression. “Yes and no?”
Her warm ankle rests in my hand. Every part of me registers the contact, my throat closes, and the thought scatters before I can grab it.
“Let me start again. The answer is yes. I did post in the forum saying that.” I pin her with my gaze, hoping to convey my sincerity. “The ‘no’ is because when J.B. suggested I should get a pet as a way to help alleviate my anxiety, I told him absolutely not.”
“Oookay.” Her head is tilted in the most adorable way, her nose wrinkled, but the confusion lingers, and I can’t blame her. I’m completely bungling this.
Raising my arm, longing to rest my hand on her face, but questioning myself. My hand pauses mid-air, breath catching, and I reach out and cup her cheek. Her eyes flare briefly, but then she lifts her hand and rests it on my wrist.
My pulse thunders at the warmth of her touch, skin heating where her palm rests on my skin.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly exhale. “Being a professional golfer, single and living alone, having a pet is difficult, so I said ‘no’ to the idea without giving it another thought. But J.B. wouldn’t let it go.
At that point, my anxiety was getting out of control, and I refused to go the medication route. ”
Thinking back, I was being stubborn. But at the same time, I just figured I could force myself out of the problem as I had in the past... grinding extra hours on the range, hitting balls until my hands bled, pretending the anxiety wasn’t there.
Gen’s eyes soften, and I gently move my thumb across her jaw. “He mentioned he tried to convince you to get a cat,” her voice is soft, and the tension in my shoulders falls.
“You should’ve seen some of the available cats he sent my way. One was a Maine Coon, it was the size of a small dog.” My lips twitch at how persistent my agent was. “Another was a picture of a Calico that had already been adopted but only had one ear. He thought it was cute. He was relentless.”
Gen pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, the same way she did before we first kissed, and my eyes are drawn to her mouth. “So if you said no, how did you end up with Bogey?”
“Well, that story is interesting, actually.” Gen’s still holding my wrist, lightly brushing her fingers over it.
I lift my hand from her chin and slide my fingers between hers, lacing them together.
Watching our hands together, my mouth curves into a lopsided grin.
“After months of him sending me links to the Fur-Ever Homes website, I finally started browsing adoptable pets on my own. It was then I came across a Golden Retriever.”
Her hazel eyes meet mine, watching intently, the gold flecks bright with that familiar softness, and my heart skips a beat.
A sheepish grin tugs at my mouth. “And I remembered you were a dog trainer.” I shrug self-consciously.
“But I still wasn’t sold on the idea. It was, however, becoming a bit more appealing. ”
Her brows shoot up, and her head tilts. “You know, getting a dog to make me talk to you is manipulative, right?”
I feel the corner of my mouth pull up, and I nod. “But as I said, it was just a thought.”
“Until you met Bogey.”
“Blizzard,” I correct.
“That’s right.” She chuckles. So tell me what it was about ‘Blizzard’ that had you saying yes to something you were completely opposed to.”
“His eyes.” Bogey, like the majority of huskies, has crystal blue eyes.
“But it wasn’t the color. It was the way he seemed to be able to read situations.
I watched a few videos of him that had me intrigued.
And I was coming to the same conclusion as J.B.
It was either a pet or talking to my therapist about medication. The pet won out.”
Genevieve doesn’t say anything right away; she just nods her head.
“And when I went to meet him—”
“You just knew.”
“Yeah.” I nod. Bogs is still sitting next to Gen, but he’s watching me with the same knowing expression that initially caught my attention. The one that had me wondering what he was thinking when he looked at me. “Or maybe he knew.”
Gen’s lips twitch, and she squeezes my fingers. “I’m a firm believer that the animals in our lives choose us. So that makes complete sense to me.”
“He was certainly on his best behavior that day.” I snort, giving Bogey a quick scratch.
Watching the exchange, she asks, “Why did you change his name?”
“Because I thought Bogey would be ironic for a professional golfer, and I was hoping that he wouldn’t only help the anxiety, but also defrost my image.
I didn’t think the name ‘Blizzard’ would accomplish that.
” She throws her head back, and Bogey joins in with an ‘Awooooo’.
“But the joke was on me when he started acting like a bogey.”
“How does a Bogey act?” Gen’s brow furrows, and a grin stretches across my face.
“Well, like Bogey.” I jut my chin in my husky’s direction, and she furiously shakes her head. “Stubborn as heck, always one stroke off perfect, and somehow still manages to ruin my scorecard every single time he gets near anything important.”
“Nooooo…that’s just a Husky!”
“Annnd that’s where knowing a dog trainer comes in handy.” I reach up and gently push a strand of hair behind her ear, only to see her eyes dim a bit, and my gut sinks. “Are you mad?”
“No,” she shakes her head, her gaze focusing on my chest. “It’s just that…”
Waiting for her to finish, I watch as she blows out a heavy breath, and the band around my ribcage tightens, like it’s clamped in a vise. I’m the one who did this, I’m the one who hurt her. Even though I felt like I didn’t have a choice, I made one, and the one I made was leaving her behind.
“I’m so sorry.” I place my finger under her chin and lift so I can look into her eyes when I explain. “I wanted to talk to you every day. I thought about it so much, until I felt like it was too late.”
“Luke, you told me this—”
“I didn’t. Not really.” I can feel the weight of Gen’s gaze on my face, and I slowly exhale.
“My dad controlled everything when I left. He put together a schedule that essentially controlled every aspect of my day. Press meetings, practice, tournaments, all of it. I thought that once I had gone pro, he would let up on the reins. Instead, he strangled me with them.”
A crushing weight presses against my ribs at the memory of Dad’s scathing voice echoing in the scorer’s tent after Genesis. The bottom falling out.
Bogey nudges my thigh before shoving his snout under my hand, at the same time, Gen takes my other hand and wraps it in hers.
Lifting my gaze to hers, my breath catches at the understanding I see there. And the heaviness lightens knowing I no longer have to carry this alone.
Gen cups my cheek, and I lean into her palm, eyes closed. “I would have taken this to the grave with me, but I watched your downward spiral.”
My eyes pop open, and heat creeps up my neck. The shame I felt knowing the world was watching is quadrupled knowing Gen witnessed it too.
When she cups my other cheek and pulls my gaze to meet hers I blow out a heavy sigh, before she mutters, “Don’t hate me, but I reveled in it.”
To my surprise, my lips start to twitch. “I guess we’re even then?”
“No, definitely not. What you did was way worse.” She shakes her head slowly, a grin spreading across her face. “But now that I know more about the part your dad played in your decision making. It makes sense. I am sorry, though.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “For what?”
“For not being there for you.” Gen runs a finger across my hair line, pushing it back before running the finger down my cheek.
“You are?” surprise fills my voice, and my eyes narrow. “Are you punking me right now?”
She chuckles, “No.”
Bogey, as if sensing the mood has changed heads out the doggie door.
“I missed you Luke,” Gen whispers, “Even when I was mad at you I missed you.”
“I missed you too. So much. You make everything better.”
Genevieve’s eyes sparkle. “Everything? Or just your dog?”
Placing a hand on each cheek, I smile.
“Everything, and my dog.” She slaps at my hand, and a snicker escapes. “But seriously, all the things.”
Exhaling, I let my gaze cherish the woman in front of me. Her eyes are bright, cheeks flushed, and there’s the sweetest smile lining her lips. Lips I’m dying to taste.
She wraps a hand around my wrist rubbing small circles with her thumb, and I wonder if she can feel my heartbeat jumping. My gaze drops to her mouth.
“Luke?” she whispers, my eyes watching her lips utter my name.
“Hmmm?”
“Are you ever going to kiss me?”
My cheeks pull up as I wrap a hand behind her neck, sliding my fingers in her hair gently urging her closer, I let her be my guide on how fast to move. When she stops just before pressing her lips to mine, I let out a groan. “You’re torturing me.”
“Just savoring the moment,” she whispers, her warm breath caressing my face. “It’s not every day you get a second first kiss.”
My other hand wraps around the back of her head, dragging her lips to mine. Letting go of my self-control.
Her lips are soft and willing, and I can feel her heart pounding against her chest. Turning her head slightly I deepen the kiss.
Gen’s hands slide into my hair, pulling me closer, melting into me.
Then a sharp, rising ‘Aroooo-ooo-ooo!’ explodes in my eardrum.
We snap apart, both covering an ear staring with wide eyes at the husky standing with his tongue lolling, pride written all over his face like he saved us from a dangerous situation instead of interrupting a kiss. Again.
Turning to Gen, breathing heavy, her lips soundly kissed. I realize he might not be wrong.
“Are you okay?”
“What?” Gen yells, lip twitching.
“Ha. Ha.” I cup her cheek and press my lips softly to hers. Bogey nudges my elbow, and a smile slides across my mouth. “Guess we’re done with that for the moment.”
Gen giggles, giving me a quick peck. “We’re gonna have to work on that behavior.”