Bachelor Swap by Lacey Black (best ebook reader under 100 .TXT) 📗

I sit there for half an hour, playing with Hattie. I throw the ball and she runs and grabs it, only bringing it back to me with a little extra coaxing. When she does, I make sure to give her extra kudos and encouragement. Yeah, she’s definitely going to make someone a happy pet owner someday.

My mood perks up while sitting back here, playing with the dog. I don’t even dwell on the fact my phone hasn’t vibrated in my pocket the entire time I’ve been out here. I’m not sure what’s sadder: the fact that Matthew hasn’t replied or the fact no one else has messaged me either.

Pathetic.

“Can you sit?” I ask Hattie, petting her soft coat. “Sit, Hattie.”

She turns her head, as if considering my words, so I reach back and show her how it’s done.

She sits easily, holding her pose. “Good girl.” Her tail starts to wag enthusiastically.

We go through the command a few more times before I reward her with an ear scratch. “Good job, Hattie. You know how to sit.”

The dog drops her rear and sits once more, making me laugh. “Look at you.”

She barks in reply, her tail going a mile a minute, until she jumps up and takes off running.

“Wait,” I holler, turning to look behind me, ready to get up to retrieve Hattie. Before I can rise, I stop in my tracks, surprised to see a visitor standing there. “What are you doing here?”

Matthew gives me a hesitant grin before he reaches down and scoops up Hattie. “And who is this little guy?” The dog seems all too happy to be shown some attention by the newcomer.

“Girl. Her name is Hattie,” I state, trying to keep my voice calm and smooth, even though my heart is tapdancing in my chest.

He doesn’t say anything for almost a full minute, eventually taking a seat on the ground beside me. “Mind if I join you?”

I glance his way, noticing the dark shadows under his eyes, as if he didn’t get much sleep the night before. His cheeks are covered with a stubble that’s thicker than normal, as if he hasn’t found time to shave.

My heart trips over itself. A part of me is concerned about his slightly disheveled appearance, but a bigger part of me is damn happy to have him here. At least I know he’s not sick or hurt somewhere. Maybe he really has just been busy. He does have a business to run.

All I know is I feel calmer and more relaxed than I have since last night, and that’s because of one person.

The man sitting beside me, holding a dog.

There’s only one answer to his question.

“I don’t mind at all.”

Chapter Seventeen

Mason

She’s a sight for sore eyes. The balm to heal all that ails me.

As much as I tried to stay away, I just couldn’t. I’m drawn to her in a way I’ve never experienced. Never wanted to. Now, all I can think about is her, even when I shouldn’t.

After talking to my brother yesterday, I went back and forth about what to do for hours. Booze didn’t help. Ignoring her text message didn’t help either. In fact, both just made me feel like shit.

All I wanted to do was text her. Call her. Drive over and see her. I had to shut my phone off to keep from replying, even though I didn’t know what I’d say. I was torn between confessing all my dirty secrets and ignoring them. As Friday morning turned into afternoon, I was no closer to finding the answers I was looking for, but one thing was crystal clear.

I wanted to see Kyla.

She had sent a second message, but I opted to not reply, choosing to clean myself up and head over here. The woman who greeted me inside wore a volunteer name badge and directed me out here, a knowing grin on her older face. As I peeked through the window on the door, my heart kicked up a few thousand beats per second.

There she was.

Sitting in the yard, a small dog beside her.

She was breathtaking, and all I could think about was figuring out how I can keep her.

The woman, not the dog, though the pooch is pretty fucking cool too.

Seeing her sitting here made me realize one thing: she’s worth the risk.

I’m going to tell her who I am and hope for the best. Oh, I know it won’t be easy. I’m sure there will be a lot of groveling involved, but after I explain everything, I’m sure she’ll be able to see I wasn’t out to betray her. In fact, that’s the reason I’ve got to tell her the truth. I don’t want to hurt her at all. It’s the exact opposite.

I’m falling in love with her.

I clear my throat and scratch behind Hattie’s ears. “So, Hattie, huh?”

“Yeah,” she says, softly, reaching over and stroking under her chin. “She’s only been here a handful of days. I have high hopes on her being adopted very soon.”

“She’s a cutie,” I say, just as Hattie stands on my legs, extends her face toward mine, and gives me a kiss on the chin.

Kyla laughs the sweetest sound. “She is. And apparently, she loves you.”

“Don’t all women?” I ask goodheartedly, looking at her with mischief dancing in my eyes and a smile on my lips. She doesn’t reply, but I can tell she’s thinking about something.

“Someone sounds awfully sure of himself,” she teases back, reaching over to pet Hattie, even though she’s giving her full attention to me at the moment.

After a few long seconds of silence, I finally break into the apology that needs to happen, “So, I got your text messages. I’m sorry I didn’t reply back last night. I was working on a few things, and it was late by the time I saw it.” Mostly true. I leave out the fact I turned my phone off, because that won’t help my case at