The Game Changer

by Megan Ryder

  If the dogs didn’t need her so much, she’d let Colleen handle these kinds of meetings. Savannah would much rather be on poop patrol than meet with potential sponsors. Any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

  Colleen pulled up next to her in her Kia SUV and slid out, looking completely comfortable in her navy blue business suit. Of course, she managed her husband’s office for his contracting business so she truly was a business professional. Colleen studied Savannah with a critical eye, then nodded.

  “You look dynamite in red. A real power suit. Few women could pull that off.”

  “I’m sweating like crazy here. Let’s get inside and get this over, okay?”

  Colleen laughed. “Just remember, it’s for the dogs.”

  She’d cling to that thought if it were the last thing she did today. It was the only thought that got her through meetings like this. Dogs had always been there for her, during her crazy years growing up with her mother on the move. Dogs always accepted the new girl, never insulted her for her secondhand clothes or her drunken mother. They just loved her and were there for her, no matter what. Now it was her turn to be there for them, no matter how much she hated meetings or schmoozing with people. Four-legged, furry critters were easier to understand.

  An hour and a half later, they had finished their presentation and Tom Clark was frowning at their documents. They had provided their financial reports for the past two years, since they had officially been in business, and their five-year business plan. Everything was in place. They just needed that number one sponsor.

  He sighed and put the report down. “You’ve done quite a lot of good in the past two years, and even before that, ladies. You’ve been holding your adoption events at all my stores throughout Georgia and your dogs have been well-trained, rehabilitated, and treated well. You’re small but you have a good network of fosters along with the connection to the northern route for dogs to go north. I’m impressed.”

  “Thank you. We’ve worked hard to establish the right foundation for the group,” Colleen replied, always one to say the right thing.

  Savannah’s eyes narrowed, hearing more than what he was saying. “But?”

  He cocked his head and arched a bushy eyebrow. “But?”

  She gave a half laugh. “We appreciate the nice words but that’s not why we’re here. We want to grow and expand, to create a place for dogs to come and not have a time limit on their life. We want to provide more services such as training and additional care. I’d even like to identify some rescue dogs to train as service dogs or other community service options. You’ve seen that in our presentation. But you haven’t said anything about that.”

  He laid the papers down and folded his hands in front of him. “You’re right. That’s a great goal and to have that in your five-year plan is admirable but most likely unrealistic. It takes a lot of money to create that, money you frankly don’t have and I can’t see how you’ll ever have it. Your fundraising is limited to shirts and Go Fund Me pages, with a few smaller events. You’re just not pulling in the money. If you had a spokesman, a big name that could bring attention to your foundation. Or a big-name sponsor. That would give your group some credibility, show other sponsors that your group has viability. But, frankly, small rescues are a dime a dozen and I don’t see a reason to risk my money on your group.”

  Savannah leaned forward, not willing to let her dreams slip away, not that easily. “You could be our big sponsor. You own the largest chain of pet supply stores in Georgia. If you put your name on our rescue, donating money and food and resources, we could expand and grow quickly. Other sponsors would follow. Unless you don’t think you’re big enough.”

  She held her breath on that last statement, hoping that pricking his pride would be enough to get him to play with them. But Tom was too shrewd for that. He pursed his lips, a sad half smile almost, and shook his head.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Monroe. I still see your group as too risky for an investment. I’ll continue to let you have your adoption events here of course but until you have a spokesman of some sort, a bigger name, I can’t help you.”

  Savannah stood, jerking her purse over her shoulder, disappointment making her head spin. “Because all rescues in Georgia have spokesmen. I understand, Mr. Clark.”

  He spread his hands. “It’s just business, Ms. Monroe.”

  Colleen scrambled to her feet and grabbed Savannah’s arm before she could say anything more. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Clark. We’ll get back to you if anything changes.”

  “You do that, Mrs. Hart.” He put aside their reports and began looking at other papers.

  Savannah yanked her arm out of Colleen’s grasp and whirled around. “Mr. Clark. It’s not just business. It’s life to these animals. Many of these have been abused and tortured, neglected and ignored. They have no one because no one cares. That’s not business. Rescue is not business but personal.”

  “And that is why you’ll never grow, Ms. Monroe. Until you can separate business from emotions, you’ll never be able to make the tough decisions to succeed. Thank you for your time.” And he dismissed her without a backward glance.

  Savannah stared at him for a moment, heat rising in her face, then she turned and stalked out of the office, Colleen scrambling to keep up. When they finally made it outside, Savannah paused at her SUV and leaned against the door, breath heaving.

  “That son of a bitch. How dare he lecture us on animals. How could he say he cares about animals when it’s all the bottom line to him?”

  Colleen stroked her arm gently. “Savannah, think of it from his perspective. He’s a businessman. He has a responsibility to make money for his investors and keep his employees paid. He can’t afford to be emotional about his money. If he was, he could lose everything and then people would be out of work.” She stood in front of Savannah, biting her lower lip. “Do you think you could ask Dylan...”

  “Absolutely not.” Savannah spoke swiftly. “Everyone asks him for stuff. I’m not going to be like that.”

  “But he could help us.”

  Savannah shook her head. “No. There has to be another way.”

  “What if there isn’t?” Colleen asked quietly. “You have a date with him tonight. Talk to him. Maybe he’ll help us. He’s used to being asked.”

  “I won’t use him like that.”

  “Even for the dogs?” Colleen laid a hand on her arm. “I get it, honey. You don’t want to use him but he may be our only chance at this. Tom said it. You need to separate emotion from business. Dylan will understand. Think about it. Let me know if you want to borrow that dress. I think you’d be seriously sexy in it.”

  Savannah nodded, miserable about the choice ahead of her. After a final hug, Colleen got in her car and drove away. Savannah slid into her SUV and stared sightlessly at the sign advertising their adoption event this weekend on the front of the store. So many dogs that needed good homes. She was barely making a dent in the need.

  Colleen was right. They needed more money, more options, and Tom Clark and Pawsitive Pet Supplies was the perfect sponsor but was it worth the price? In the past, she would have agreed in a heartbeat, not even thinking twice about asking Dylan or anyone for their sponsorship. She’d do anything for the dogs. She never thought she had a line when it came to rescue but, apparently, she had one. But was that really fair? Dylan was a decent guy. If she explained it right, he would help her, she was sure of it. But how much damage would it do to them, to their relationship?

  Everyone in his life asked something of him – money, time, his name. When she had first met him, he had been closed off, wary of people because of it. He was slowly emerging from the shell he wore like he wore his catcher’s gear, trusting her and others as a result. And she was falling in love with the person beneath the hard, focused shell, seeing the kind, gentle man beneath the mask. If she asked him of this, she feared he’d retreat again and she’d lose all chance of any connection she’d made with him.

  She rested
her head on the steering wheel, heart clenching in her chest as the realization tore through her. Damn, she was falling in love with a man who never once said he was in love with her. With a man who didn’t even know where he’d be in a month’s time. The life of a ballplayer was so transient. He could be traded at any time, upsetting her life. She’d had enough of that growing up, her mother uprooting her and Lucy constantly on a whim. She had roots in this community and if Dylan left, her heart would be ripped out. She had finally made a home for herself here. A place of her own. Dylan was a wanderer by virtue of his job and she’d had enough of that life.

  How was she going to protect her heart now?

  Savannah stared at her bed and the growing mound of clothes decorating Carl, who lay there, head on his paws, just letting the clothes pile around him. He heaved a long-suffering sigh, but didn’t move. She held a maxi dress up against her and looked at Carl who closed his eyes. She tossed it on the bed and collapsed next to him with a shout of frustration.

  “Big plans tonight?” Her sister Lucy leaned against the door frame, sipping a bottle of beer, looking sullen.

  “Yeah, dinner with Dylan. I don’t know why I accepted. He’s so out of my league. He wants things that I don’t have time for.”

  “Then don’t go.”

  She glared at her sister. “Life is so easy for you, isn’t it? You don’t really give a shit about anything or anyone.”

  Lucy shoved off the wall. “Fine, see if I help you at all. Colleen just pulled up.” And she stalked down the hallway.

  Oh, damn, she’d pay for that later. But right now, she had bigger problems. Like what to wear on this date that didn’t fool her one bit. Although why she agreed to it was beyond her.

  Colleen breezed into the room, her arm full of several outfits. Carl took one look at the additional clothes and decided, like his gender, to beat a hasty retreat, and he retreated after Lucy, hoping for some food. Colleen tossed her clothes on the pile and faced Savannah, hands on her hips.

  “Well, is this seriously everything in your closet? You’ve been spending too much time with the four-legged critters. Where are you going tonight?”

  “He didn’t say. It’s just dinner.”

  Colleen only gave her a look that clearly said she didn’t believe her and went back to sorting clothes. “This is Dylan Prosser. Doubtful it’s going to be a dive bar. He’ll take you somewhere nice, not outrageous, but nice. You can never go wrong with a little black dress. Fortunately for you, I have just the thing.” She whipped out a dress with the price tags still dangling and flourished it for Savannah. “I just found this little beauty and had to have it.”

  “You haven’t even worn it. I can’t wear it first.”

  Colleen waved her hand. “Please. As if Jon is going to take me anywhere to warrant a dress this hot. It was a splurge, pure and simple. Your night is more worthy, trust me. Besides, I can’t even get into it. I need to lose ten pounds but on you? It’ll make him swallow his tongue.”

  “It’s just dinner.” She repeated the statement more forcefully this time, hoping maybe to convince herself to protect her heart, to not give herself false hopes, even as she knew she was already in way too deep.

  “Keep telling yourself that, honey. What’s the harm even if it is a date?”

  She sagged onto the bed. “It can’t be a date. If it is, then this all becomes so much more serious than sex.”

  Colleen sat next to her, the dress forgotten in her hands. “Would that really be so bad?”

  Savannah turned. “He makes me want things I have no business wanting. A home, a place to belong. He’s not going to be here forever. I can’t get hurt and he can hurt me, Colleen. So easily.”

  “He’s not that kind of guy. It’s been ages since you broke it off with Mark. I think you’re past due. Wouldn’t you rather sleep with a man than a dog?”

  Savannah shrugged. “They’re not much different. They both snore and fart and hog the bed.”

  Colleen stared for a long moment and Lucy stared from the doorway, having returned for the last comment. Then both women burst out laughing, less from humor than from pity. “Oh, honey. You haven’t been doing it right if that’s what you think. Are you seriously telling us that Dylan isn’t any good in the sack because that man looks like he knows his way around?”

  Savannah blushed furiously, her face burning as if she’d gotten sunburn.

  The women crowed, Colleen letting out a belly laugh. “I knew it! He was too fine to be wasted talent. Honey, you should go for it. All the way.”

  “Even Ricky was better than that,” Lucy observed. “For what’s it worth, I say go for it with this Dylan guy. He seems hot and has a lot of money. Hell, he could solve your rescue’s money problems easily.”

  Savannah glared, in the process of slipping the dress on. “I won’t use him that way. He has too many people who do that already.”

  Lucy shrugged. “He’s used to it. Give him a little sugar if it will make you feel better, then ask.”

  Colleen shot her a glare over her shoulder and then turned her attention back to Savannah. “Well, if you’re determined not to ask for his help, then you shouldn’t talk dogs or rescue tonight at all.”

  “What else is there to talk about?” Savannah asked, nerves on high alert as she contemplated a whole night talking about God knew what. She sucked at small talk. What the hell was she going to say for several hours? Was it too late to back out?

  Lucy burst out laughing. “Oh, God. I’d kill to be a fly on the wall for this date. I’m going, I’m going. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

  “That leaves me with an awful lot of rope,” Savannah muttered.

  The dress settled on her shoulders, soft and silky like a dream, and Colleen zipped it up.

  They stood in front of the mirror and Savannah barely recognized herself. The sleeveless dress had a sheer embroidered yoke with a floral design that was echoed in the hem of the dress that hit a couple of inches above the knee, showing off a good amount of her legs. The plain sheath dress skimmed her body, gently outlining her curves, smoothing out her shape and making her look long and lean. Something fluttered in the pit of her stomach, not nerves exactly but, for the first time in a long time, she felt feminine, and desirable. She felt sexy.

  “Damn.” Colleen breathed. “I knew I bought that dress for a reason. It never looked that good on me. Now, shoes.”

  “No need. I have a pair of black strappy sandals with a three-inch heel, not too high and not too short.” Savannah dug the shoes out of her closet and slipped them on. “Perfect.” She twirled with her arms in the air. “Am I presentable?”

  “Of course you are.” Colleen laughed. “But seriously, Savannah. I’m so glad you’re doing this. It’s been three years since you and Mark broke up and it’s been long enough.”

  “Colleen, this isn’t a date. He just wants to thank me for helping him with Sadie.”

  Colleen stood up and walked over to her, placing her hands on Savannah’s shoulders and looking deep into her eyes. “Really? Sleeping with him is what? Part of the dog-sitting service? Honey, so what if it’s a date? You can have a life beyond the dogs, you know. It’s way past time. Mark was a jerk who resented all your time spent with the rescue. He couldn’t stand not being the center of your life. Dylan isn’t like that.”

  “Oh really? But when he calls, I go running immediately. He needs someone to take care of Sadie, I’m there. That’s all he’s looking for, someone for his dog and to be available to him.”

  “You dog sit for a lot of people. How many of them invite you out to dinner as a thank you?”

  “Mr. Thompson did,” Savannah pointed out, one of her regular clients.

  “Mr. Thompson is a dirty, old man and wouldn’t know what to do if you said yes. Dylan is certainly not in that class.”

  Savannah grinned. “I think he’s just lonely. Mr. Thompson, although I think Dylan is too. He’s fairly new around here and his house is
almost showroom quality, except for what Sadie has destroyed. He talks about the end of the season, selling the house, signing a contract somewhere, and maybe moving. He’s not a safe bet, Colleen. Players like him come and go. They don’t stick around. But while he’s here, I can help him.”

  Colleen stared at her. “Oh, God, you’re trying to help him, aren’t you? Save him from whatever his demons are.” She hugged Savannah. “For once, can you just try and be yourself and enjoy your time with this guy, not try to save him or be planning your escape? I want to see you settled and happy with someone that’s not four-legged and furry. Although some hair is optional.”

  Savannah laughed. “I can’t let him get too close, knowing he’ll be leaving soon. I can’t risk the heartbreak. Now, what can I talk about tonight if I can’t talk about rescue or the dogs?”

  Chapter Twenty

  Dylan walked up the concrete path to the doorway of Savannah’s small house, straightening his black shirt nervously as he went. He hadn’t been on a proper date in forever and he felt more like a high school kid asking out the prom queen that a grown man of thirty. He wanted to make this night special for Savannah, though he wasn’t entirely sure why. Savannah’s sister sat on a plastic chair on the front porch stoop, sipping a bottle of bear, studying him. He couldn’t quite read her expression. She certainly wasn’t welcoming; her eyes too flat and hostile for that. But she seemed relaxed, loose-limbed with one leg hooked over the arm of the chair and the other firmly planted on the concrete stoop, beer bottle dangled from her hand.

  “You’re taking my sister out tonight.” She spoke flatly but a thread of hostility wove through them.