Endeared (The Accidental Billionaires #5) - J. S. Scott Page 0,49
no dog should ever have to experience. Ever!
“Hey, Layla. Stop,” Owen crooned in a soothing voice as he stroked my back in a comforting motion. “I have a surprise for you.”
I tried to get a grip. I’m sure the last thing Owen had expected was a sobbing, hysterical female rushing through his door.
He probably didn’t know that I was even capable of losing it. I’d made damn sure he never saw me cry.
I let myself bask in the warmth and security of his powerful body for a moment, savoring his masculine, unique scent.
“Not that I mind having your gorgeous body plastered against me,” he said, finally breaking the silence. “But I have something that will ease your mind.”
I took a deep breath and pulled away from him so I could see his face. “What?”
Owen pointed toward the living room just beyond the foyer. “Him.”
I let out an audible gasp as I saw the wrinkled, stout canine body wiggling around with excitement.
Brutus let out a happy whine as I exclaimed, “Oh, my God! Brutus? What are you doing here?”
I rushed to the ecstatic dog, dropped to my knees, and pulled him onto my lap as I wrapped my arms around him. I buried my face in his short, fine coat. “I thought I’d never see you again, buddy,” I said tearfully as I hugged him.
I looked up at Owen in question. “Why is he here?”
He sat down beside me as he answered, “I’m sorry, Layla. I didn’t know you were going to the shelter today or I never would have kept the fact that I was adopting him from you. I meant for it to be a happy surprise, but instead it ended up being traumatic for you. Brutus is going to be living with me now. Since you couldn’t have him in your apartment, I decided him being here would be the next-best thing. You’ll be able to see him whenever you want, and make sure he’s okay anytime you want.”
My mouth was still hanging open as he tried to explain his reasoning.
Bottom line? Owen had adopted Brutus to make me happy.
He’d done it because he knew I wanted to but couldn’t.
Tired of being squeezed half to death, Brutus squirmed out of my grasp and flopped down next to me. I kept stroking his head as he rested it on my thigh.
“I think you have to be the most amazing guy I’ve ever known,” I said, my voice quivering with emotion. “You did this for me. It was all about me.”
He shot me that grin that immediately made me want to get him naked as he answered, “I have no idea when you’re going to figure out that there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
His words reached right into my heart, and squeezed it so tightly I could barely breathe.
Maybe he’d said those words to me before, or had he just tried to show me how much he cared with his actions?
I’d probably been so tied up in my own insecurities that I’d just never really noticed that the man right in front of me was willing to give me anything.
I’d never even had to ask.
“Owen,” I whispered as our eyes locked, and the whole damn world seemed to stand still as the vise grip around my heart got tighter and tighter.
Every ounce of my flesh, my heart, and my soul yearned for this man, yet I couldn’t quite get the words out of my mouth.
Instead, I mumbled, “I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
He shrugged. “It’s not like it’s really a big deal. Brutus and I like each other, and I can certainly afford doggie daycare and anything else he might need.”
“No. Don’t act like this isn’t a big deal,” I told him as tears poured down my face. I let them fall. I didn’t care anymore if Owen saw how much his actions meant to me. “It’s a very big deal. You’re the one who will have to take care of him while I just get the fun part.”
Owen shook his head. “Nah. He’s easy. Once I can resolve his farting issue, we’ll have it made together.”
Even though my face was still wet with tears, I started to laugh. “They don’t call bulldogs the kings of farting in the doggie world for nothing.”
He nodded. “I get it. My boy can clear a room in less than ten seconds. I guess that skill could be handy if I have unwanted company, but I think I’d rather get