Chapter 14 Steele #2
“There he is!” she singsongs, skipping the final few steps to the pup’s enclosure.
Unlike the others that line both sides of the room, this one is extra fancy, with finished wood and wrought iron hardware.
A thick, plush bed sits in the back corner, with about fifteen toys all gathered on top.
And in the front—little legs barely leaving the floor as he attempts to jump enthusiastically—isn’t a puppy at all, but the oldest, grayest terrier I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Angus!” she squeals, making quick work of the sliding lock on the door and pulling it open.
The dog—who has to be at least five-hundred years old—trots out, little snorting noises leaving his tiny body as she kneels down and scratches him all over.
“I missed you so much! I heard you were the best boy during your checkup. Do you want a treat?”
That perks the little guy’s wire-haired ears up, and he sits obediently, waiting for his reward.
She peels back the top of the container, dips her hand inside, and retrieves a biscuit before handing it to her furry friend.
He sniffs for a moment, but carefully takes it, running back into the kennel as faint crunching sounds fill the air.
“His former owner passed away, leaving behind her five dogs. He was the smallest one, and they had to fend for themselves for nearly a week before someone called to check on their neighbor. He was feeble and starving when they brought him in. We think it’s because the bigger dogs ate everything they could reach just to survive, leaving poor Angus with nothing.
That’s why he likes to eat in private. He feels safer when he’s alone. ”
“Makes sense,” I reply, watching as the little guy enjoys his treat. “Was that recent?” She shakes her head, turning so she’s sitting with her back against the wall. I lower down, extending my long legs between us as we face one another.
“No. I think it’s been about a year since he arrived.
All his siblings were adopted after the vet gave them a clean bill of health, but most people don’t want an eleven-year-old terrier with bald spots and a spicy attitude.
They take one look at him and immediately write him off, even though he’s the best dog ever. ”
I huff a quiet laugh. “Maybe you should take him. I bet he’d love being doted on by a pretty blonde twenty-four hours a day. I can certainly think of worse ways to live.”
Shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
Her blue eyes lift to mine, cheeks turning pink as she tucks a rogue strand of hair behind her ear. She really is fucking adorable, especially in a setting where she’s truly at peace.
“I can’t take him,” she replies solemnly.
“I wish I could, but my sister and I made a deal with our dad. We’d live in a building of his choice with around-the-clock security, and he’d supply us with the money to follow our dreams. We have the freedom to go wherever, whenever we want, but it eases his mind to know that we’re safe at night.
Livvy and I were neighbors until she moved in with Maddox a couple years ago.
I’ll move out someday, but until then, I’m stuck in a place that doesn’t allow pets. ”
“That sucks,” I reply, smiling as she tosses another treat into the kennel. Angus takes it immediately, happily munching as she continues.
“It’s okay. It gives my dad peace of mind, and he makes sure I’m able to make monthly donations to this place.
I offered to take it out of my own inheritance, but he won’t let me.
He’s always been supportive of the things that are important to us.
For me, it’s being able to volunteer here and giving these animals a stable, happy environment until they find their forever homes. ”
A grin tugs at my lips. I can’t help it.
She’s talking about this place like it truly brings her joy, and it’s contagious.
I honestly don’t blame her. The cats and dogs here don’t judge people based on how they look or the pasts they can’t seem to shake.
They just offer friendship, asking for nothing in return except for a warm bed and a bowl of food.
It’s not like the outside world, where it seems like most people only put energy into you until you’ve run out of things to offer.
I’d hate to think that’s why Styles hasn’t been answering the phone, but the fact that I’m too far away to hook him up with fast cash or a place to stay probably has something to do with it.
He may have fucked me over royally, and his bullshit stunt is the reason I’m no longer in Miami, but he’s still my twin brother. And I fucking miss him.
“They’re lucky to have you,” I murmur, earning another soft smile just as Angus trots out from his enclosure.
His fur looks like steel wool, and I’m not completely sure the dude can even see with how milky his eyes are, but it doesn’t seem to hinder him as he makes his way to Sydney for more head scratches.
I look on, taking in the way they interact like they’ve been best friends for their entire lives.
“Sorry,” she says with a smirk as the dog hops into her lap.
“He’s kind of standoffish around men. The fact that he only growled at the vet once today is a miracle, because normally, it takes about an hour of coaxing before Angus will even allow Doctor Dexter to touch him.
Anita’s husband, Rob, is the nicest guy in the world, but Angus is convinced that he was sent here to destroy us all.
We have no idea why, since his previous owner was a single woman, but we do our best not to push him past his limits. ”
I nod, bringing my attention to the dog as I speak.
“I can respect that, little buddy. I don’t like it very much when people mess with me, either.
” His tiny head tilts in question, making me chuckle before he hops off Sydney’s lap, dawdles in my direction, and stops next to where I’m posted up on the tile floor.
Sydney’s eyes go wide, her hand shooting up over her mouth as he unceremoniously jumps up onto my thighs and curls up, lying down like it’s the most natural thing he’s ever done.
“Oh my God,” she whispers, choking on a quiet laugh. “He never does this. I can’t believe he’s letting you hold him.” Her gaze softens as it bounces from me to the dog, who definitely has some of the ripest breath I’ve ever experienced. We all have our flaws, though, right?
“That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” she giggles as she pulls her phone from the pocket of her jeans. “Don’t move. I want to get a picture for your social media.”
I groan. “Do we have to?”
She rolls her eyes. “What’s the matter? Afraid this is going to ruin your reputation as a big, bad football guy?
Trust me, it won’t. The Renegades fanbase loves seeing their players out in the community.
Plus, we have a lot of followers who are women, and nothing makes them click that Like button faster than a hot athlete holding a cute dog. ”
She holds up her phone to take the photo, but I’m too busy fixating on her last sentence to pose. I don’t even know if she realizes what she said, or if it just kind of slipped past her filter. Either way, there’s not a chance in hell of me letting it go.
“You think I’m hot?”
Her brows pull tight in confusion, telling me that she doesn’t, in fact, realize what she said. “What?”
A cocky smirk curves the corner of my mouth. “You said hot athlete, which means you think I’m hot.”
Pink creeps across her cheeks, brightening the flawless skin.
She’s rattled, and it might just be the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” she lies. “I’m just saying—objectively—our fans who are attracted to men would probably engage on the post. That’s all.
” The embarrassed blush that’s painted across her face works its way downward, drawing my attention to the exposed flesh of her shoulder.
I want to drag my tongue along it—taste the heat as it radiates from her body and see just how far down the flush goes.
Does it reach her thighs? The ones I’ve already felt pressed against my ears as I ate her like a starving, desperate animal?
Fuck. I want her like that again.
It’s a terrible idea, but I’ve never been one to make solid decisions, anyway.
“Is that all?” I taunt, my smirk morphing into a full-blown shit-eating grin. “Because it kinda sounded like maybe you want to…engage.”
“Do you want my help, or not?” she sasses, bringing the phone up in front of her face.
She may think it hides her flustered expression, but it doesn’t.
I can see the way her fingers are shaking around the device, and the way she nervously chews on the inside of her cheek as she waits for me to ready myself.
But I’m like a shark now, and her reaction is just blood in the water.
“What do I get if I smile pretty for you, hmm?” I ask, licking my lips. I hear the barely audible hitch in her breath, looking straight into the lens as I await an answer.
“You get fans who don’t think you’re a heartless asshole,” she replies, her voice airy. “Isn’t that enough?”
I suck my teeth, pretending to consider for a moment.
“Afraid not, but I’m open to bribes. How about a kiss?
” I know I’m pushing my luck here. She has a rule, and I have no right to ask her to compromise it.
But goddamn. I wanted to feel her lips on mine more than anything that night at the club, and now that we’re here—alone and actually getting along—the urge is only becoming stronger.
She drops her hands into her lap, blue eyes narrowed. But the agitated expression doesn’t last, fading into something I can’t really read as she raises her chin pretentiously.