Page 87 of Ruff and Tumble

Cole sucked in a sharp breath, his grip tightening. “God, I’ve missed you. Hailey—”

She pulled her hand away with a jerk. She wasn’t dressed for the weather, her skirt too short and her jacket too light, so she wrapped her arms protectively around her midsection. Cole noticed and immediately shrugged himself out of his coat. He dangled it from one finger the same way he had that day in the elevator, giving it a shake when she refused to take it.

“I won’t touch you,” he promised. “And if you want me to go, I will—no questions asked. It’s just… Can we…? Will you…?Please.”

She had no way of knowing what he was asking for, but it was impossible to ignore the desperation in that plea. Since it seemed important to him that she put on his coat, she did.

She knew it for the mistake it was almost immediately. The wool was heavy and expensive, soft with the warmth of his body. It was like being wrapped in his embrace.

“Thank you for sending your parents to my party,” she said, since she had to say something or risk catapulting herself into his arms. “That was nice of you. It felt good to have someone there.”

He gave a short laugh and ran a hand through his wet hair. “I had nothing to do with that.”

She blinked a question up at him.

“Should I have lied and taken credit?” he asked and immediately shook his head. “It wouldn’t have done any good. You’d know. You know me better than anyone.”

It wasn’t a compliment. Shedidknow him—as a public figure and a private one, a football player and a man. The problem was, he knew her, too. She’d never been difficult to figure out, her every emotion on display for all the world to see, and he’d used that. He’d found her weakest, most vulnerable part and hit it as hard as he could.

“It was my dad’s idea to come today. He thought you could use the moral support.” He gave a short laugh at her start of surprise. “Don’t look at me like that… It’s your own fault. He likes you a lot more than he likes me right now. In fact, you’ve probably replaced me forever.”

“He’ll come around,” Hailey said. “He’s upset now, but he seems to really like the new quarterback. Invite Tucker over for dinner one night, and you’ll see. You’ll be the golden son once again.”

“I don’t care about being the golden son.”

This was such a patent lie that Hailey couldn’t help smiling. She toyed with the cuff of Cole’s jacket, plucking at nonexistent strings and wishing she was better at this. “For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you,” she said. “It must have been hard to tell them the truth.”

“Not nearly as hard as this is turning out to be.” He reached for her and, remembering his promise, dropped his hands again. She almost took pity on him and reached back, but something prevented her.

Pride, probably. And hurt. And the knowledge that there were people inside that restaurant who genuinely cared for her. She’d forgotten how good it felt to have that—how strong it made her.

“I’m here, Cole, and I’m listening, but only because your parents asked me to. What do you want?”

“You.”

The assured brevity of that reply almost sent her toppling backward.

“I had a whole speech planned, but I can’t seem to remember any of the words,” he added in a rush of breath. “I used to be good at this, saying what I’m supposed to and smiling at just the right moment, but it’s never mattered like this before. Itmatters, Hailey. You matter. So much more than I thought possible.”

“Cole—”

He held up a hand, stopping her short. “Please, just let me get this out. Then you can go back inside or get in that strange man’s car or bury yourself under a pile of puppies, I promise. I know I don’t deserve anything from you, but I don’t think I can stand to go another day like this.” He waited in that thoughtful way of his for her implied consent before continuing, his expression so earnest and terrified that she had no choice but to give in.

His relief when she did was a palpable thing.

“I wish more than anything else in the world that I could take back those things I said to you,” he began, his voice unsteady. “I knew before I started talking that it was the wrong thing, theworstthing I could say, and I’ve regretted it every second of every day since. Not only did I hurt you—an unforgivable thing—but I was wrong.”

He laughed, a short, bitter sound that matched the sudden shake of his head. “In fact, I’ve never been more wrong about anything. Youaren’talone in the world, and youdounderstand my family—better than I ever have, that’s for sure. They fell for you as quickly as I did, and I know exactly why.”

She waited, her chest so tight that it felt full and empty at the same time.

“You’re the bravest and best person I know,” he said. “You were dealt a crappy hand in life, but you didn’t let it break you. Instead, you turned it into a way to make the world a better place. Every dog you’ve housed, every puppy you’ve loved and nurtured, is the luckiest animal in existence—and I’m not using that word lightly. I’m lucky to know you, Hailey. My family is lucky to know you.”

Hailey had come to loathe that word, but as it tripped off Cole’s tongue, it lost some of its power. Not because he didn’t mean what he was saying but because hedid.

Cole Bennett had been born under a lucky star, it was true. He had money and love and looks and talent. He’d never know what it meant to sit alone in a cage or be tied to a tree or abandoned at a fire station before he knew his own name.

But she was lucky, too. It had taken twelve years before she’d been given a family, but it had been the best family in the world. And now she was being given another one all over again.