Page 2 of Ruff and Tumble

“Ohmygod,” Penny said as Cole gave the dog one last pat and rose to a standing position. Both she and Hailey had to step back—not because of Cole’s size, which was substantial, but because his presence expanded to fill the tiny office. “It’s really you.”

The comment wasn’t as silly as it sounded. Even if Cole Bennett hadn’t been the most famous quarterback in the entire American Football Club, he was a man to admire based on pure physicality alone. In addition to his perfect facial bone structure, he had piercing blue eyes, a swoop of luxurious brown hair, and a dimple in his right cheek that flashed every time he smiled. And that wasn’t even counting the body attached to it all.

“I can’t believe it,” Penny added breathlessly. “This is even better than the dream I had where you flew me to Spain in your private jet.”

Cole paused in his acceptance of Bess’s adoration to bask in Penny’s. It took him all of five seconds to appraise her, but it was obvious he was pleased with what he saw. Most people were. In addition to her former ballerina physique, Penny had a rich copper skin tone that matched her name and a smile so natural that it was impossible not to return it.

“I don’t have a private jet, but if I did, you’d be the first person I’d invite to Spain with me,” he said with a wink. “Ibiza is beautiful this time of year.”

Penny sighed her pleasure at this piece of nonsense, but Hailey only felt more out of her depth than before. Cole Bennett had never been to Ibiza in January—she’d bet her life on it. With the Kickoff Cup looming on the horizon, Cole’s life was a blur of practices and playoff games. This time of year, he probably didn’t have time to sleep, let alone whisk women away to glamorous international getaways.

If Cole sensed her confusion, he didn’t show it. He nodded down at Bess. “What’s her breath supposed to smell like? It seems kind of fruity, but in a chemical way.”

That confirmation of Hailey’s diagnosis was all she needed to hear, if only because it gave her something concrete to focus on. Penny and Bess might be able to get away with slavish adoration of the man, but Hailey wasn’t about to prostrate herself at his feet. Which, she knew, were size twelve. She also knew he preferred to wear Nike cleats when he was on the field, but ever since he signed a sponsorship deal with Ball Zone, he’d been running around emblazoned in their logo instead.

Not that she was obsessed or anything. Everyone was aware of Cole Bennett’s footwear habits. They were impossible to ignore. If you ever watched a commercial or picked up a trashy magazine, he was right there, shoving his feet in your face. The rest of him was usually there, too. Arms and legs and those million-dollar hands…

“Well, Bess.” Hailey allowed her curtain of mousy hair to cover the side of her face so she wouldn’t be tempted to stare at him. She scratched the dog’s chin. “If he thinks your breath smells like chemicals, then it’s probably toxemia. You and I are going to the veterinarian—but first, we’re eating second breakfast.”

“Second breakfast?” Cole echoed.

Hailey flushed at the way he phrased it, full of equal parts curiosity and judgment. “The meal between breakfast and lunch?” she offered. “Beloved of farm folk and Hobbits alike?”

Her first breakfast had been one sad, solitary English muffin consumed over the sink at five o’clock that morning between gulps of scalding coffee. Football players weren’t the only ones who had a lot of work to do this time of year.Puppyfootball players had their fair share, too.

“That sounds good,” Cole said as though she’d issued an invitation instead of an explanation. “I could eat.”

Looking at Cole Bennett head-on was like staring at the sun during an eclipse, but Hailey forced herself to straighten her stance and meet his eyes. Yes, the man had a 72 percent completion percentage over the course of his career. Sure, he earned twelve million dollars a year in base salary alone. And okay, he was wearing a well-fitted blazer that made the most of an impressive pair of shoulders. But this was her domain. Four partitioned walls covered from top to bottom in puppy photographs might not seem like much to an outsider, but it was all she had.

Unfortunately, Cole didn’t seem to have any problems returning her gaze. If he found anything impressive about a twenty-eight-year-old production assistant of average height and weight, with freckles covering every inch of her exposed skin, he didn’t show it. Nor did he appear to move, blink, or—in a way that would do Penny proud—even breathe.

“I really should get Bess looked at,” Hailey said, hoping to move things along before she made a fool of herself—abiggerone, anyway. “She’s been worrying me all morning.”

Cole didn’t take the hint. He tilted his head and, with the bland disregard of a man used to being in command of the room, asked, “What does it mean? The way her breath smells?”

Since he was blocking the door, Hailey had no choice but to answer. “She’s pregnant, and I’ve been struggling to keep her calories up. That smell could mean she’s not getting enough nutrients. She’s got six babies in there that are demanding a lot of her resources.”

“What can I do to help?”

It was on the tip of Hailey’s tongue to disclaim any right to Cole’s time or energy. They didn’t normally get such high-profile visitors in their little corner of the football world—and by normally, she meant ever. The most she could claim was once sharing an Uber pool with the announcer from the stadium. For the quarterback of the Lumberjacks to show up unannounced and in person at the Puppy Cup production offices was nothing short of bizarre.

Then again, this was an emergency. She wasn’t in a position to look a gift quarterback in the mouth.

“Do you have a car?” she asked, moved by desperation to ask for the one thing she needed most. “Bess could use a ride to the vet.”

Penny squeaked. “Hailey, you can’t ask him that!”

“I know, but they won’t let me on the bus with Bess anymore. They said she’s not a service animal, so she’s not allowed.” Hailey turned to Cole and, realizing what she’d just done, added, “Unless you’re busy, of course. I understand if—”

He interrupted her with the flash of his signature smile, complete with the dimple. “I’m not busy. Does this mean you want to stop for food on the way, or should we eat after?”

Hailey could only blink up at him. She had no idea what was going on here—if this really was a prank or if she was going to suddenly find herself standing naked in front of her elementary school classroom—but she wasn’t sure she could handle it right now. Bess needed food and veterinary care, and the sooner, the better. If this ended up being some elaborate joke that Penny and the rest of the office had put together, Hailey was never going to forgive them.

“Did you make an appointment to see me?” she asked suspiciously. “Or am I just supposed to know what this is about?”

Instead of taking offense at this line of questioning, Cole chuckled and held out his hand. It seemed almost too good to be true—to actually touch him, to shake hands as equals—but Hailey managed to slip her palm against his.

“I did this all wrong, didn’t I?” he said, giving her hand a squeeze. He didn’t let go right away, his massive palm engulfing hers. “Bursting in here without an invitation or an introduction. I always forget about that part. I might know whoyouare, but you don’t know me from Adam. Let me start again. You’re Hailey Lincoln, production assistant for the Puppy Cup. I’m Cole Bennett. I play football for the Lumberjacks.”