Beautiful and Broken (27 page)

I avert my eyes and tuck my hair behind my ear. “He’s seen me.”

“I know,” Megan says with a frown.
 

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”

“He sure looks intimidating when his face is serious.”

I nod.
 

“Of course, it doesn’t help that he’s in a boxing ring and has an eight pack.”

The bell rings again.
 

Sawyer comes in hard, swinging and landing punch after punch. I don’t know if this sudden burst of rage is because of me, but the look on his face is like none I’ve ever seen. It’s frenzied, like he wants to kill the other guy and it scares me. Blow after blow, he pounds on the guy until he topples over, lifeless.
 

The referee leans over him, counting. “One, two, three.”

The guy lifts his head and shakes it off.
 

“Four, five.”

He plants his fisted gloves on the ring and pushes himself up. The referee checks to make sure he’s okay. His face is bloodied and his nose is definitely broken. But he nods when the referee asks if he can continue.
 

Sawyer is relentless, coming at him again without holding back, but he must be overconfident because when he punches, Knockout follows through with an uppercut, landing square in Sawyer’s jaw. Sawyer stumbles and falls to the ground, looking much like Knockout did moments before.

I spring to my feet. “Sawyer!” I call out. I try to get to the ring but security stops me. I swat at their hands but they tell me to get to my seat. “Let me go. You don’t understand.”

“Get to your seat or we walk you out the door, Ma’am.”

Amy puts her arm around me and walks me back.
 

The referee is counting and Sawyer attempts to stand again. Tears are streaming down my face. My hands cover my open mouth. I can’t process what I’m seeing. I feel like my heart has been ripped from my chest.
 

He’s on all fours when our eyes meet. His gaze is unfocused. When he reaches his feet, the bell rings and they’re back in their corners.
 

“I can’t do this,” I choke out. “I just can’t.”

Megan holds my hand. “Don’t you dare. It’s almost over. Stay and watch him win. You'll regret leaving, Molly. I know it.”

I close my eyes when the bell goes off again. But I can’t stand the sound of flesh hitting flesh and the crowd oohing and awwing and booing. When I open my eyes, Sawyer is pounding on Knockout like he’s a meat tenderizer and Knockout is a package of hamburger. Then finally, Sawyer lands one right between Knockout’s eyes and he falls back like a tree. Timber!

The referee lifts the guy’s arm and it falls to the ground. He starts counting but even I can tell this guy isn’t getting up.
 

The bell ding, ding, dings. The microphone falls and the medics rush the ring to look after Knockout.
 

“And the winner is...!” He holds up Sawyer’s hand.
 

Our eyes meet and I smile and nod, tears streaming from my face. I mouth congratulations. His nose is bent, his face is swollen and bloodied, and I can’t stand to see him this way. I stand and quietly walk down the aisle and out of the arena. I did it. I was there for him, and now it's over, I need to leave. Before he sees me fall apart.

Twenty-three

TWO WEEKS LATER…

I find the key in the mailbox and open the front door. Misty greets me. He’s a Great Dane and when I come to take him for walks, he gets a touch too excited. He jumps up, putting his paws on my shoulders. I can barely keep up his weight.
 

“Down, boy,” I say as he gives me kisses.
 

I fuss him, giving him hugs and kisses back. I’ve been walking Misty for two weeks now and we’ve become good friends. I top up his food bowl and give him treats. We play ball in the backyard. The people who own Misty are both professionals without children, and Misty is their baby. He’s only home by himself for six hours a day and I come smack dab in the middle of that to make sure he’s not lonely.
 

I’m still new at this job but I think I’m going to stick with it for a while. I barely know these dogs, but they give me more love and affection than most of the people in my life. And they listen…sort of.
 

My phone rings, and I pull it from my sweatshirt pocket. “Hello, Molly Denton.”

“Hi Molly, it’s Paula.” Paula is my new boss, and she’s amazing. Funny and considerate. She brings me coffee in the mornings, just because. When I finish my appointments for the day I usually try and return the favor.
 

“Hi.”
 

“I have a favor to ask…”

“Shoot.” I toss the ball for Misty and he bounds across the fenced yard.
 

“I have a doggy emergency. The owner has a new dog and is worried about him being left home alone. He asked for us to send someone over this afternoon. Can you do it?”

“Um…yeah, I think so. I’m at the Clarks' right now, but I should be done in another half-hour.” If he’s so worried, why did he wait until the last minute? Good thing Paula can’t see me roll my eyes at the piss-poor planner.
 

“I really appreciate it. You’ve been working so much these past two weeks and I know it’s after hours. I tried to call Pam, but I can’t get a hold of her. Ally too.”

“Don’t worry about it. What about the key, though?”

“It’s in a gated community. He left the key with security.”

“Okay. Just need the address.” I run in the house and find a pad and paper on the breakfast nook.”

“145 Rosemont.”

I swallow hard. “Um…” Fuck. Sawyer. I’m doing okay, but the mere mention of his address has my tear ducts primed.
 

Sawyer has a dog and of all the places he has to call, he calls my new employer. Coincidence? I don’t know. But he’s in for a rude surprise if he’s unaware. “He’s not home?”

“No. That would kind of defeat the purpose of you checking up on his dog, right?” She chuckles.
 

“Of course.”

“Oh, and Molly. His name is House.”

“House. He named his dog House.”

I can almost hear Paula shrug through the phone.
 

“Okay, Sawyer,” I say to myself after I hang up. "You named your dog House.”

***

The security guard steps out of his booth when I approach. He has a clipboard in hand.
 

“Molly Denton. I’m with Friendly Pets for Sawyer Davis.”

“One minute.” He steps inside the booth and returns with the key. “I’ll need this back when you leave.” He tips his head down and looks at me from beneath hooded brows.

I smile at him. What does he think I’m going to do with it?

I pull into Sawyer’s driveway. His car isn’t here and I let out a sigh of relief. After a deep breath, I find the courage to go to his front door. He’s not home, but I knock anyway before entering. Shit. I never even asked what kind of dog he has. It might not seem important, but it really is when you think about me going into a house with a pet who’s never met me before. If the dog is territorial, chances are he’ll bark at me, maybe even bite, and if he’s super protective, he’ll probably chase me back to my car. A crazy Saint Bernard did that to me last week.
 

“Hello?” I call out as I open the door.
 

A dog sits in the foyer, staring at me. He’s a mutt, maybe a cross between a wolfhound, a mastiff, or a Dane. He’s massive, at least ninety pounds and full-grown. Or at least I hope he is. All I can think of is that my plastic bag isn’t big enough to clean up after him. And now I understand his name.
 

“Hi, House,” I say.
 

The dog tips his head to the side and stares at me.
 

I want to make him think I’m not intimidating, so I lower myself to the floor and roll over on my back.
 

The dog’s head tips even farther to the side as if he’s trying to look at me upside down. I think he’s smirking too. Uh! What the hell am I doing?

“Are you waiting for him to rub your belly?”

Sawyer’s voice stills me. There's the constricting pain again, right in the middle of my chest like I’ve had the wind knocked out of me. After a deep breath, I roll over to sit on my bum. Sawyer is in the entryway to the living room. He’s barefoot in pajama pants and a ratty old t-shirt that has a picture of Garfield on it.
 

“Um…my boss said you wouldn’t be here.”

“Did she? I don’t think I was clear about that.” His face is stony. I hate when he looks at me like that. Why is he so hard to read?

“Did you know I work for her?”

He shrugs. “Dane mentioned it after I got House last week.”

House trots over and stands in front of me. I drag my fingers down his belly and he licks me, making me laugh. “He’s beautiful. Cute name, too.”

“I thought it suited him.”

“Yeah, it does.”

“So you wanted me to walk him?” Pause. “Why?”

“Who else would I trust to let themselves into my house?”

I pat House on the head and push myself up to stand. All I want is to reach out and wrap my arms around Sawyer’s neck. His face is still bruised, and his nose has a little bump on the ridge. But he looks healed for the most part and I’m glad for it.
 

“Sawyer…I can’t do this. Come to your house, walk your dog. I just…It’s too much. One of the other girls can do it.”
 

“Wow. That’s too much to ask? And to think, I was going to ask for more.”

My mouth opens just a little bit. “I don’t understand.”

“I pushed you away. I know that.” He takes a step forward. “And you let me.”

“You were testing me! Why would you do that? Is this a game to you? Playing with my feelings is just one big game!” Don’t cry, Molly. Don’t do it.

“No. I mean, I didn’t mean to. I’ve pushed people away before and they stay gone. I guess they decide it’s just not worth it. That’s how I know I was right to do it. But you…when I saw you at the fight. I needed you there, and you came. Just when I thought it was over…I was over you…you show up when I need you the most.”

“I can’t play push and pull with you. Either you want me, or you don’t. I told you I loved you. Didn’t that mean anything?”

“It meant everything to me. And I wanted to say it back, but I couldn’t. I’ve never said it to anyone before. I had to be sure you wouldn’t turn your back on me. We go down this path, and it’s forever. I won’t ever let you go.”

“I love you, Sawyer. When I said it, I thought you understood I wasn’t going anywhere.”

He sighs and steps forward. I take a step to meet him. I look up at him; his eyes are sad and glossy. I pull him close and kiss the bump on his nose.
 

“I want forever,” I whisper. “I thought I knew what love was, but I was wrong. I never really loved someone until I met you. I want forever, and I want it with you. You can push and pull and try to make me hate you, but I won’t ever stop loving you.”

He closes his eyes and tips his head so our foreheads are touching. I close my eyes and savor every second of it. It seems like forever since we touched like this, but now he’s let me in again and all the pain of the last few weeks seems to evaporate.
 

“Move in with me and House,” he whispers.

I smile. “You want my services for free?”

He chuckles. “I want you. Just you.”

“Yes. The answer is yes! ”

He wraps his arms around me and lifts me up, spinning around the room with his lips locked onto mine.
 

The End
.

…the beginning.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book would not have been possible without the unwavering support and love of my husband, Scott. I appreciate you more than you will ever know. Thank you to my children for understanding when mommy is hugely distracted. Also, thank you to my writing group, Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, for your support and guidance. My writing has improved so much since I joined your ranks. Hugs and sloppy kisses for my friend Nancy Cassidy for shop talk and for kicks in the ass when I need them—which is often—and also for my editor, Rhiannon Morgan, because she is magical. Like purple unicorn magical. And a huge shout out to my readers: I never imagined others could enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them. You’re the best.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Hubbard is the author of young adult and adult books. Her debut novel BLOOD, SHE READ released fall 2012 and was a NEORWA Cleveland Rocks winner and a RCRW Duel on the Delta finalist. Her Forever Fae duo, BY FORCE and BY CHOICE, released in 2014. Sara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two children (four if you count her husband and her needy labradoodle) and works as a registered nurse with the military.

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BOOKS BY SARA HUBBARD

Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Blood, She Read

New Adult Fantasy

By Force (Forever Fae: Book I)

By Choice (Forever Fae: Book II)

Adult Contemporary

Beautiful and Broken

Set Him Free (Coming December 2014)