Dare to Love: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 4)

by Delaney Cameron

  Her chest swelled with indignation. Was that a reference to her weakness for Little Debbie cakes? “You’re right about one thing. I don’t believe you.”

  Trent maneuvered around a tree branch. “I don’t blame you. I think I set some kind of record with the lies I told you.”

  “I guess I should be flattered that you took so much trouble. Was anything you said the truth?”

  “I wasn’t lying when I said you were too good for me. Or that I liked kissing you.”

  And she’d liked his kisses. It was ironic that she had yet to date a man whose kisses moved her as Trent’s had. “I’m sorry I asked. Just watch what you’re doing and quit talking.”

  “I probably should. I seem to be making things worse.”

  A few minutes later, he was lifting the soggy cardboard away and drawing the trembling puppy against his chest. Sabrina winced at the streaks of mud marring the perfection of his pale gray shirt. Maybe he should have taken it off.

  “Don’t be scared, bud. I’ve got you.” He glanced at Sabrina. “Come closer, and I’ll give him to you.”

  She crouched down on the edge and held out her hands. “The poor thing is shivering.”

  “I sometimes have that effect on people,” Trent said as he transferred the puppy to her.

  Sabrina had been one of those people. Her whole insides used to tremble whenever he got close. Thank goodness she didn’t have to worry about that anymore. “Why is that?” she asked.

  “Debby says it’s my reading glasses,” he replied as he started back up the side of the ravine. “Something about them makes me look intimidating. Whatever it is, it helps, because in my business, you have to get the upper hand quickly or those corporate execs will eat you alive.” When he reached the top, he came over to where she stood and touched one of the tiny paws. “Are you going to keep him?”

  “I can’t. I’m not allowed to have pets where I live. I wish I knew someone who wanted a puppy.”

  Trent jiggled the keys in his pocket. “I could take him with me.”

  “You don’t sound too sure about it.”

  “It’s a big decision. I’ve never had a pet before.”

  “Never? Not even when you were little?”

  “Nope. My mother refused to have anything with fur, feathers or scales in the house.”

  “Maybe that’s what’s wrong with you,” she said without thinking.

  Trent threw back his head and laughed. “Along with a lot of other things.”

  Sabrina bit her lip, slightly aghast at voicing such a rude remark out loud. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Why not? I thought it was funny.”

  “My grandmother would have called it something else. One of her favorite sayings was ‘rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength’.”

  “Your grandmother sounds like a wise woman.”

  “She was a true Southern lady. I wish I could be more like her.”

  “I think you’re more like her than you realize.”

  Embarrassed by his words as well as the softer feelings they engendered, she glanced down at the puppy. She didn’t want Trent to be able to make her feel this way. More importantly, he shouldn’t be able to make her feel this way. She still bore the battle scars from her previous campaign with him. “If you’re serious about taking this little guy home, you’re in for some new learning experiences.”

  “It’ll be good for me,” he admitted, wiping ineffectually at the dirt on his pants. “Luckily, my condo has tile and hardwood floors everywhere except the bedrooms.”

  “What will you do with him while you’re at work?”

  “One of my neighbors is retired. I might be able to talk her into puppy sitting for me.”

  Sabrina glanced at the darkening sky. This little diversion had taken longer than she thought. “I need to get going. Madeline will be getting home soon.”

  “Is she at the concert?”

  She gave a guilty start. “Yes. She took her boyfriend. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all. Hop in the car, and I’ll give you a ride.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t have far to go.”

  An obstinate look that she’d seen often in the past settled on his face. “It’s almost dark, Sabrina. I’d rather not leave you here alone. It isn’t safe for you to be out this late by yourself.”

  She didn’t want to be left alone in the dark, either. Her reason for refusing was a disinclination for his company and a desire to keep him unaware of where she lived. Given what he’d just done, it seemed ungrateful; another thing her grandmother would have numbered among the seven deadly sins. “I don’t usually run alone. Madeline comes with me.”

  He picked up his coat and tie from the hood, walked around to the passenger side of the car, and opened the door. “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “Thanks for helping with the puppy rescue,” she said as she sank down on the soft leather seat.

  “No problem. I’m glad I came along.” When he slid in beside her, he asked, “Where to?”

  “I live off Sheraton Road at Middleton Place. Number 312.”

  He nodded and started the engine. It sounded like the purr of a kitten in comparison to the loud clanking of her reliable, but definitely much older car.

  “You always said you’d get a BMW someday,” she said as he pulled back on the road.

  “It sure beats the old pickup I used to drive you around in.”

  She smiled wistfully. “I liked that pickup. It had character.”

  “The only good thing about it was the bench seat. Nothing spoils the mood more than trying to kiss a girl while maneuvering around a console.”

  “You would think of that,” she said darkly.

  “I bet I’m not the only one. It’s funny how life sometimes brings people back together after long periods of time.”

  “Some would call it bad luck.”

  Trent sent her a sideways glance. “I guess I deserved that. How long have you been in Alpharetta?”

  “A little over a year. I got tired of fighting the traffic from Roswell.”

  “I moved here about three months ago to be closer to work. Before that I was commuting from downtown. I don’t have to tell you how bad it was. I spent more time in my car than I did at home. When did you start running?”

  “What I do is more like fast walking than actual running. It seems less like exercise when you’re outdoors, and it’s cheaper than joining a gym.”

  “I agree. There’s a 10K run sponsored by the Big Brother Big Sister organization weekend after next. If you’re interested in doing it, let me know. The more people they get, the more awareness they build in the community.”

  Running for a good cause was a great idea. Spending time outside work with Trent was not. “I’ll think about it. What is Big Brother Big Sister?”

  “It’s a mentoring program for at-risk kids. Volunteers are paired with a child who they meet with on a weekly basis. Most of the kids don’t have one or both of their parents.”

  “It’s tough growing up without parents. I lost mine when I was ten years old. I don’t know what Madeline and I would have done if we hadn’t had my grandmother.”

  “Adversity either breaks you or makes you stronger. You’re a survivor, Sabrina. Even back then I noticed your strength and maturity. I think that’s what drew me to you to begin with. I’m only sorry that instead of valuing your differences I exploited them.”

  He’d certainly done that. She bit down hard on her lip. “Was it worth it? Just so you could brag about it to your friends?”

  He didn’t say anything until he pulled into her driveway. “It was a hollow victory in every sense. What I did to you is inexcusable. There’s nothing I can say in my defense. I wish I could make up for all the pain I put you through, but I can’t.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s the problem when you hurt someone. There’s no easy way back. All I can do is ask for your forgiveness and hope you’ll give me the opp
ortunity to show you that I’m different now. Maybe we can start over and learn to be friends again.”

  “I’m not sure that’s possible. Some things can’t be put back together, and in our case, there’s nothing to put back together. We weren’t friends or anything close to it. Our entire relationship was built on lies.”

  “What were we then?”

  “One of us was a player, and the other was a willing victim.”

  He smiled faintly. “Was your use of past tense deliberate?”

  “It doesn’t matter anyway. When Debby comes back, we won’t be seeing each other as often.” Or ever if she could manage it.

  “Whether I see you or not, I’d like to know we’re not enemies, and that you don’t hate me. What I did to you affected me, too. I’ve never been able to forget it. Given that it’s been six years, it’s unlikely I ever will.”

  She absently stroked the puppy’s ears. “I don’t hate you; but when trust is gone, the basis for friendship is gone, too.”

  “Then I’ll have to see what I can do about re-earning your trust.”

  “I wouldn’t get your hopes up about that.”

  “I have nothing to lose by trying and everything to gain.”

  Why was he bothering? “I don’t understand you.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping to change. In the meantime, I’ll take Butterscotch and let you get inside.”

  Sabrina didn’t respond to his first remark. Any efforts in that direction would have to be his own. She wasn’t going to invest in (or worry about) something she didn’t believe in. Instead she handed him the puppy and addressed his second comment. “He does look like butterscotch candy, doesn’t he? Is that what you’re going to call him?”

  “I think I will. It suits him.”

  “Whatever you decide, don’t forget to feed him.”

  Trent settled the puppy in his lap. “I’ll be on my way to the pet store as soon as I go home and change my clothes.”

  “It’s my fault you got dirty. Give them to me, and I’ll have them cleaned.”

  He sent her an amused glance. “You were never this anxious for me to take off my clothes before.”

  She undid her seatbelt, avoiding the gleam in his eyes. “That came out wrong. I meant bring your shirt and pants to work tomorrow. Thanks for the ride.”

  “You’re welcome. Goodnight.”

  As she warmed up the white chili Madeline had made the night before, Sabrina couldn’t help going over that strange conversation. Trent had made it sound as if regaining her trust was important to him. Was this another attempt to prove that he could get under her skin? He couldn’t really believe that two people with their history could ever be friends. In the end, it didn’t matter what his motives were because Sabrina had no intention of letting him get close enough to hurt her again.

  * * * * *

  Trent watched Sabrina until she disappeared through her front door and then stared down at the puppy. “I’m not sure what came over me back there. You don’t know this, but it’s not in my nature to be impetuous. This is what happens when a man loses his focus. What can I say? I wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders.”

  These cryptic comments originated from what happened when he lowered the car window and looked into Sabrina’s eyes. The closest comparison he could make was when he’d been catapulted into the air and flipped over by a linebacker as he tried to catch a touchdown pass during a high school football game. Then as now, he’d been aware of losing control over his faculties and being unable to do anything about it.

  “I think this is what they call poetic justice. It could also be called lunacy, a lost cause, very hypocritical, totally absurd, etc. You get the picture; it all amounts to the same thing. Being interested in a girl who can’t stand the sight of me is a little much, don’t you think? Indifference I could probably have overcome, but distrust is a formidable opponent. Words won’t rebuild someone’s faith in you. It takes time and patience. I’ve got plenty of both; unfortunately, she has neither.”

  The puppy just looked at him with adoring eyes. Trent smiled. “You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”

  Once inside the condo, his companion followed him faithfully into the bedroom and sat obediently in the middle of the bed while Trent changed clothes. It was the same routine when they traveled from the bedroom to the kitchen.

  “You’ve got to be thirsty.”

  He found a shallow bowl and filled it with water. Butterscotch lapped it up with a kind of pathetic urgency. Trent had to agree with Sabrina. He’d love to get his hands on the person who left this helpless puppy to fend for himself.

  A friendly clerk at the pet store helped him find everything he needed. He also made an appointment with the in-store vet. By the time he got back home, Trent was exhausted. The work he’d planned on doing would have to wait.

  Long before his alarm went off the next morning his new roommate was awake, making his presence felt by licking his master’s face. Groaning, Trent sat up and rubbed his eyes. “Do you know what time it is?”

  Butterscotch responded by licking his hand.

  “It’s four-thirty. I don’t get up until five-thirty.”

  His companion nipped playfully at his heels as he pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. After checking to make sure there were no accidents to clean up, he grabbed the leash and headed out the front door. The puppy barked at everything that moved and a few things that didn’t. Trent laughed as he scooped him off the ground.

  “You’re going to get us in trouble. Most of my neighbors are still sleeping.”

  Two hours later he was in his office getting ready for his first appointment of the day, a young couple who’d recently come into a small inheritance. Stretched out on the floor under his desk was Butterscotch, blissfully chewing on a rubber bone.

  When Trent heard movement in the room next door, he resisted the urge to use his friend as a means of starting a conversation with Sabrina. If he was going to have any success with this nearly insurmountable task he’d given himself, he had to take things slow and be content with small victories. While playing a long game was something he excelled in at work, he wasn’t sure how well those skills translated to women in general and one woman in particular. He had the feeling Sabrina would provide the ultimate test of his perseverance.

  His forbearance paid off. Twenty minutes later she appeared in the open doorway of his office, a stack of papers in her hand. When their eyes met, the same intense feeling passed through him again. A conversation he’d had with Landris a few months ago went through his mind.

  “Should I send out some kind of warning to all the females in St. Marys? They have no idea who’s about to descend upon them when you come to my wedding.”

  “You make it sound like I’m the plague,” Trent had protested.

  “You’re a single woman’s worst nightmare: a man who doesn’t like commitment.”

  Landris was wrong; but it hadn’t been the time to enlighten him. “Maybe the right woman will change my mind for me.”

  “That’s what Faith keeps saying.”

  “But you’re not buying it?”

  “I don’t disagree with her in principle. I’d just like to see you squirm a little. It wouldn’t hurt you to be on the receiving end of what you’ve been dishing out for years.”

  His brother had no idea how close he was to possibly seeing Trent get some payback.

  Smiling faintly, he hoped he didn’t appear as shaken as he felt. “Hey, there.”

  “Good morning,” she replied somewhat frostily. “Here are the first of those reports you gave me yesterday.”

  He’d hoped that the adventure with the puppy would thaw the icy atmosphere between them. It hadn’t. They were back to square one. Trent took them from her. “Thanks.”

  About that time, Butterscotch emerged from behind the desk. The smile that danced across Sabrina’s sweet-looking mouth had him swallowing not once, but twice.

  “You brought him with y
ou to work?” she asked, the tone of her voice several degrees warmer than before.

  “He’s got an appointment at the vet this morning.”

  “For his shots?” she asked, nuzzling the puppy against her face and then kissing his nose.

  Trent had the ridiculous wish to trade places with Butterscotch. Had he really reached the level of being envious of a dog? He cleared his throat of a sudden constriction and tried to remember what she’d asked him. “Shots? Yeah, that’s it.”

  “The poor baby. He’s not going to feel too good afterward.”

  “That’s what I thought so I brought him something to sleep in.”

  Trent pointed to the laundry basket in the corner with a blanket lining the bottom. She sent him a look of approval that made him glad he was sitting down. It seemed absurd to get so excited about something so trivial.

  “That was thoughtful. It’s so awful to be alone when you’re not quite yourself.”

  “I agree,” he said slowly. “Then again, it’s not much fun being alone other times either.”

  Sabrina gave the puppy one last kiss and put him down. “I’ve got some work to do, but I’ll be back to see you later.”

  Trent certainly hoped so. As he watched her leave, he had to laugh at himself. There was no use pretending that she’d lingered in his office for his sake. Butterscotch was the reason she’d been so nice to him.

  “I understand completely,” he said to the puppy. “I’d be rolling around on the floor, too, if she smiled at me like that.”

  Later when he picked up Butterscotch to take him to the vet, he caught a whiff of the same scent he’d detected when he got in his car this morning. Bending down closer, he inhaled again. He knew what it was now. The puppy smelled like Sabrina.

  * * * * *

  Sabrina locked the door of her office and made her way outside. The first week of work was behind her. Being around Trent had been every bit as uncomfortable as she expected, but she survived. Now it was the weekend, which meant she didn’t have to see or talk to him for two whole days. She felt like a prisoner who’d been granted a temporary pardon.

  Her phone rang just as she was settling into her car. She smiled when she saw who it was. Camille had been her best friend since they met in home room in middle school. They’d suffered through the pains of algebra, acne, and boys. Having been Sabrina’s roommate at Young Harris, Camille knew all about Trent. Her dislike of him almost rivaled Sabrina’s own.