Believe In Me (Paradise Place Book 7)

by Natalie Ann

  Had she gone home and looked him up on the internet? She had. She couldn’t help herself.

  What she saw was a younger Caden modeling as a teen. And holy shit, she would have had posters of him all over her room.

  If he was hot back then, he’d only gotten better with age like a fine wine she’d want to drink all night long.

  He did say he stopped when he was in college and it did seem that. But the truth was, she had to search hard to find a few pictures of him since it was so long ago. Most were just success stories on him. She wondered why he didn’t continue with that life but figured maybe they could talk about it another time.

  And if she thought there wouldn’t be another date with the way she just didn’t measure up to him, she was completely wrong.

  She’d never been insecure about anything in life until Harris started high school and all eyes were on him and his baseball success. He started to get scouted and she just faded from the stage in most people’s eyes.

  The rest of their dinner they’d spent talking about the area and things to do. His family, a little bit of hers. She’d been careful to not once say her brother’s name, but it was hard.

  When he said he could look into her, she realized if he did, he’d find out if he searched just a little. There were pictures of her online with her brother. Though the name Sarah Walker was pretty common, she was pushed up in the search engines because of Harris.

  So she had to tell herself that she might as well be upfront with him. It’s not like she didn’t find out a lot about him and then turn around and even bust on him about it too.

  But at the end of the date when they were in the parking lot, he’d walked her to her car and said, “Was this a hit or a miss in your book?”

  She’d found that funny and kind of odd at the same time and wasn’t sure how to even answer it. “I think it was a hit, but you might not think so with my twenty questions.”

  “More like fifty,” he said back, “but I was good with it.”

  “Then a hit?” she asked.

  “You tell me,” he said, then lowered his head and put his mouth to hers. His hand went into her hair and held her head in place.

  It started out soft and controlled, then he nudged her mouth open and his tongue slid in. The sweetness of their dessert and the tang of the wine they’d had mixed on their tongues as they dueled and she wished they were somewhere else other than a parking lot.

  She wasn’t one to put out on the first, second, or even third date and had no intention of it either. But dang, he sure the heck knew how to kiss.

  The night didn’t stop there though. They’d gone their own way home and the minute she was in her leggings and T-shirt, her phone went off with a text asking when they could go out again.

  Which was last night, another restaurant and more talking, more kissing.

  Part of that conversation last night was pet talks. She was shocked to find out he was really considering a dog and she’d said how she wanted one but couldn’t have it in her apartment.

  The next thing she knew, he said he was willing to adopt one. Which surprised her, as he seemed the type to want a purebred. Then she had to tell herself to cut it out. Caden was a lot like Harris in his career and goals and determination to be the best. Yet Harris got a rescue dog.

  So here she was, waiting for Caden to come pick her up at her apartment while they went to the shelter where she’d found Nicks for Harris. She’d told him about the place last night and he’d said he checked it out and they had some smaller dogs there that he was looking for.

  He’d offered to pick her up rather than them meet and at this point there was no reason for her not to tell him where she lived. Even if it was nothing like what he had.

  She’d never have what he did by the sounds of it. But he did seem down to earth and she had to remember that.

  When her doorbell rang, she went to open it up. There he was in another pair of jeans, these a little bit older and worn, she could see, but probably still carried one heck of a price tag. He had on a T-shirt with a flannel shirt over it unbuttoned. He actually looked nothing at all like what his career was.

  “I’m all set,” she said, grabbing her purse.

  “You’re not going to give me a tour?”

  “Sure. It’s not much. Not like what you’ve got.”

  “I’m not comparing anything,” he said. She had to believe that, but then wondered what someone like him wanted with someone like her.

  Sure, she was attractive, she knew that. She wasn’t stupid. She thought she was fun and had a decent personality. It’s just she attracted the wrong men like the Pied Piper played his flute and the rodents followed. Her judgment had been so flawed in the past few years, she was kind of giving up.

  What had she said to Harris? She was looking for fun. Fun and happiness went hand in hand for her now.

  She opened the door wider and let him in, then showed him around her modest two-bedroom apartment. It suited her just fine and was in a good area of town.

  “This place is bigger than my last place,” he said.

  “I’m sure.” Though she kept the comment on what it probably cost quiet. “My brother used to live in the City and had a five-hundred-square-foot apartment. I don’t know how he breathed in it.”

  It wasn’t a lie. It was one of Harris’s first places. He wasn’t always paid as much as his last contract.

  “And now he lives here too. Small world,” he said, but never made a comment about who her brother might be so that meant he didn’t look her up.

  “Ready now?”

  “I sure am. I’ve got a list of everything I’ll need that I have to pick up too. A crate, bowls, toys, food. I’ll call a doggie daycare place on Monday.”

  “That’s your new goal?” she asked, smiling.

  “Something like that. Not really a goal but just smart.”

  “It sure is.” Telling her the day might be fun and she liked dates like that. Plus she’d get her puppy fix too.

  When they walked into the shelter, Robin Masters was there. “Sarah. Are you coming to get a puppy or just play with them?”

  “They know you by name here?” he asked, grinning at her.

  “Caden Finley. This is Robin Masters. She is engaged to my cousin Troy’s best friend Brian. So though I’ve only known Robin a few months or so, I’ve known Brian most of my life since Troy and Brian were inseparable. Anyway, sometimes I come to get a puppy fix because I can’t have one of my own.”

  “For a big area you know quite a lot of people.”

  “It’s like a fishbowl at times,” she said. “But my brother got his dog here too and I was with him.”

  “How is Nicks doing?” Robin asked.

  “Good as always.” Which told her she’d have to tell Caden who her brother was before it slipped. “Caden is here to find a dog. I’m helping him out.”

  Robin grinned at her, reading between the lines that it was more than a friend. “Let me show you what we’ve got left.”

  “I saw a few Boston terrier mixes online, are they still here?”

  “There is one male and one female left,” Robin said. “Looking for a brother and sister?”

  “No,” he said, laughing. “Just one.”

  They went to the room where the dogs were and Sarah fell in love looking at the two of them. How she wished she could take one if he only got the other, but there was no way.

  “Which one do you want to look at?” Robin asked Caden.

  “Oh man. I had no idea it’d be this hard to pick. The other one is giving me some sad eyes. What the hell, this is horrible.”

  Sarah grinned. “I was thinking the same thing. I wish I could take the other, but I can’t.”

  “I did that,” Robin said. “A brother and sister were left and I couldn’t separate them. I’ve got two big labs at home. Luke and Leia.”

  “And they rule the house, don’t they?” Sarah said.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m lookin
g for smaller dogs. I’m not home much and they will be going to daycare while I’m at work,” Caden said.

  “So lots of activity.”

  Someone else walked in the room and a little kid followed and ran right to the two dogs that she could see Caden was torn on. The little girl was jumping around and pointing that was what she wanted and she felt somewhat better knowing one wouldn’t be left behind.

  “Sorry,” another employee said. “I’ll let you decide what you want before we move in.”

  “No,” Caden said. “I’m going to take one and they both look adorable to me, but why don’t you pick yours first.”

  “I want a girl,” the little girl said. “Is one a girl?”

  Robin reached down and handed the little girl over, then turned and picked up the male. “Guess this one might be yours.”

  Sarah’s heart melted on the spot that he’d done that, then to see him holding the puppy. Oh yeah. If there was such a thing as puppy love, she was seeing it on more than one front right now.

  10

  A Mighty Pull

  Caden couldn’t believe he was standing there holding a wiggling black and white puppy in his arms. It wasn’t that big, but it had a mighty pull on his heart.

  This would be the first dog he’d ever owned. His parents didn’t have pets. No one was around much for them. Maybe that was why Morgan was so in love with animals and wanted to work with them.

  And he was wondering how Sarah managed to convince him it was a good idea too.

  There was no turning back. Well, that wasn’t true. He hadn’t signed the papers yet, but when he looked at the dog one more time and it turned and licked his hand, he knew he was doomed.

  He was actually glad the kid came in when she had and wanted one of the puppies because there was no way he was going to be able to choose between them and he knew it’d be nuts to take them both.

  “I think he likes you,” Sarah said, reaching over and petting the dog’s head. Its ears were already sticking up and seemed to perk up some more.

  “How old is it?” he asked.

  “I believe they said eight weeks old. He’s a mixture, but is mainly Boston terrier.”

  “What else is mixed in with him?” he asked. He looked up what he could on this breed last night when he was trying to decide if he was losing his mind or not. It seemed like a good fit for him. This breed needed activity and he never sat still much anyway. Tossing a ball in the yard or walks would be good for him. In the winter, maybe he could teach him to walk on the treadmill too.

  “They aren’t really sure. We weren’t told. I believe they think it should end up about thirty pounds, but you never know.”

  “Sounds like a good size to me,” he said.

  “Then follow me,” Robin said, “and I’ll have one of the girls start your paperwork.”

  “You’re not doing it?” Sarah said to Robin.

  “No. I just bathe and help unload the dogs, but once a month I come to help out on Saturdays to direct traffic and stock supplies. Not much more,” Robin said.

  “How are you feeling?” Sarah asked as they walked toward the back and a desk.

  “Good. No more sickness. Thankfully it went fast. Meena is breezing through too.”

  “Robin is pregnant,” Sarah said.

  “Congratulations,” he said.

  “Thanks. I’ll just take this little guy from you and go wash him up while you do your paperwork.”

  And thirty minutes later they were walking out of the shelter, Sarah carrying the puppy while he climbed in the driver’s seat. “Next stop is the pet store,” he said

  “Oh yeah. Shopping.”

  He snorted. He wasn’t a huge fan of shopping and wasn’t sure how he was going to feel about it now, but there were things he had to buy the new addition to his family.

  He looked over. The puppy was curling in Sarah’s lap and laying its head down. He wouldn’t mind putting his head there too.

  “Did you have plans for the day?” he asked.

  “Just spending it puppy shopping with you. I can help you get set up at your house if you want. You look a little nervous about this.”

  “I am. I’ve only been around other people’s dogs.”

  “No worries. I think you two are going to hit it off just fine.”

  When they got to the pet store, he wasn’t sure what to do with the dog. “Can he stay in the car?”

  “No,” she said, laughing. “It’s a pet store. You bring him in. Everyone does.”

  “Oh. I’ve never been in one. I wouldn’t know that.”

  “Then you learned something new. I’ll just carry him while we get what you need.”

  “I’ve got a list,” he said, pulling it out of his pocket.

  “Aren’t you just Mr. Efficient.”

  He squinted one eye at her, and that only made her laugh. “I didn’t know what I needed so I did some research.”

  “I bet you research everything that is new to you,” she said.

  They were walking in the door now, the puppy cradled in her arms. “Some things just come naturally to me.”

  She blushed and he knew she got his meaning just fine.

  He grabbed a cart and they made their way around the store picking up everything on his list and a few extra toys that Sarah grabbed.

  “Aw, he’s so cute,” the cashier said. “What’s his name?”

  “No clue,” he said. “We just got him. I guess I’ll figure that out next.”

  It didn’t take long before they were back at his house and he was pulling in the driveway. “You might want to have him walk around and try to go to the bathroom before you bring him in the house.”

  “Good idea,” he said. They adjusted the collar on the wiggling body of fur, then clipped the leash and went in the backyard. “Thank God for the fence. I could just let him loose.”

  “He might slip through the slats. He’s still tiny.”

  Why didn’t he think of that? He grabbed the puppy from Sarah and set him down and they started to walk him around until he squatted down and did his business. “Gee, I figured he’d lift his leg.”

  “I’m sure that will come with time,” she said laughing. “I think Harris said Nicks didn’t lift his leg for a couple of weeks.”

  “Harris?” he asked, frowning.

  “My brother,” she said quickly.

  The dog started to bark and dance around, distracting him, so he moved back to the house. “Why don’t you grab him while I start bringing everything in the house?”

  Sarah picked the dog up and moved in the door through his garage and into the mudroom while he went to unload everything. When he was done she was still standing there holding the dog and he started to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “How come you’re still in the same spot?”

  “Because I didn’t know where you wanted me.”

  “I know a lot of places I’d like you,” he said, waiting to see her reaction.

  She smiled. “There is that smoothness again. But in this case, it’s the first I’ve been in your house and I didn’t know where you wanted us to be.”

  “If you want a tour, then I’ll give it to you. I’ve got more furniture ordered, so don’t judge. I painstakingly painted my master with one hand after I injured the other and decided the rest of the rooms could wait.”

  “Painting is fun.”

  “Says people who watch rather than do.” He’d never done much of it before, always hiring people in the past. But he’d had the week with not much to do and figured why not. It wasn’t hard, but he sure the hell wouldn’t call it fun.

  “I can help you with the other rooms if you want,” she said.

  He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the lips. “I might take you up on that since calling contractors isn’t something I’m looking forward to.”

  Sarah was trying not to be stunned by the little move and kiss she’d just gotten. She’d gotten one when he’d picked her up too and would
n’t mind some more.

  Nor was she really surprised he’d been making some sexual innuendos. He wasn’t pressuring her, but she figured it was just part of his personality to flirt.

  Right now though, she had to get her wits about her while he showed her around the house. Especially after slipping and saying Harris’s name. Caden didn’t comment on it, but at this point she should tell him. He might question her when he found out later.

  If she felt inadequate most of her life because she was just Harris’s sister, she had to get over it. Even when he wasn’t a pro yet, he was still scouted and the talk of the town as the person who was going to make it.

  He never let it go to his head, but she’d always felt like no matter what she did, she’d never measure up. How do you compete with that? Not that she would begrudge her brother anything and she didn’t, but she long ago accepted all eyes were on Harris and maybe some tried to use her to get to him.

  For the moment now, she and Caden moved from room to room, even his bedroom. “It’s a nice big house,” she said. “It has a lot more space than I thought it would. The gym downstairs is sweet.”

  She had images in her head of him sweating down there and shirtless like some of his older modeling pictures. He was a young teen with a nice body on him back then.

  Athletic. Lean and toned in all the right places. “Got to keep in shape.”

  Her eyes moved over him and he caught the action. “I’d say you are. Do you look the same as you did when you modeled?”

  He laughed. “Only one way to find out.”

  “Guess I need to wait to know the answer then.”

  He reached out and tweaked her hair, then dropped his hand to the puppy’s head for a little scratch, waking the tired pooch.

  “Do you want to hold him?”

  “I’ll be holding him all night, I’m sure,” he said. “Right now if he’s sleeping it’s best and I can set up his crate.”

  “Where are you going to put it?” she asked. They were in the living room now.

  “In the mudroom is best. I’m thinking I should have gotten two and put one in my room.”

  “Since you don’t have to work until Monday, you should try it there and see how it works. If you need to, go get another one tomorrow.”