“Faith is my best friend,” Peyton replied. “She goes to Fairfield High and is pretty much my complete and total opposite. But she’s my rock. She’s also an amazing dancer and has her own YouTube channel with an insane amount of subscribers.” From the look on her face, you would think it was Peyton’s channel.
“Cade’s been around forever,” she continued. “His family owns a ranch on the other end of town, which is where he goes to school, but he works here two to three days a week. He’s great with the horses and helps me teach a lot of the lessons.”
In other words, Cade had the hots for Peyton, had somehow gotten himself friend-zoned, and was patiently biding his time. Got it.
“And Trevor...” She laughed, stopping just short of the staircase leading to the house. “Well, Trevor is an original. He’s brilliant—like literally brilliant. He’s also a golf prodigy and one of the top ranked junior golfers in Golfweek Magazine.”
At the pride in her voice, I suddenly felt like a dumbass.
How did this girl have me so turned around? I watched for her in the halls like a lovesick jackass, played back our one conversation at tryouts for hidden clues, and she had a boyfriend? I’d known she was the relationship type. Obviously she’d just been blowing smoke when she said otherwise in the car. What I couldn’t figure out was what the hell she was doing with me.
“Unfortunately, he’s terrified of the horses,” she continued with a shrug. “So he spends most of his time in the doghouse.”
A shocked laugh expelled from my lungs. Well, all right then. Not only did Sunshine have a man, but she obviously wore the pants in their weird, Old West style relationship. Seriously, who was this girl?
Releasing her hand, I stepped back, confused even more when she frowned. “Not that it’s any of my business, but if horses mean that much to you, why even date him?”
The blue-gray eyes formerly focused on my hand shot to mine. “Date who? Trevor?”
I lifted a shoulder to say, “well, yeah,” and she asked, “Why on earth would I date Trevor?”
Now I was… well, whatever the hell emotion came after confused.
Hadn’t she just been bragging on the dude, going on about how brilliant and famous he was? To me, that was a pretty damn big clue. If she wasn’t dating him, then why show off?
Scrubbing a hand across my face, I tried again. “Okay, so if this Trevor guy’s not your boyfriend, then why the hell is he in the doghouse?”
The squiggle on her forehead faded as my words sank in, and then, she began to laugh.
I’m talking total, full on belly-laughter, hand slapped across the mouth and tears springing to her eyes. Normally, a chick laughing at me would equal sayonara with a quickness. But Peyton’s laugh was so free, so freaking happy, that I couldn’t help but join in. Even though I had no clue what we were laughing at.
“God, I’ve gotta remember to tell Mama that one.” She wiped under her eyes and smiled as she took my hand again. Did it make me a total * to admit that I liked her need to keep touching me? “Sorry, Justin, I guess I should explain. This is the doghouse.”
She lifted her chin, indicating the house behind me, a standard, modest-sized home you’d find in most neighborhoods. I glanced from it to her. “Huh?”
“This is our boarding and grooming business.”
This girl lived to confound me. “So you’re saying this whole house is for dogs?”
“Pretty much,” she confirmed, still laughing at herself. “Weird, right? We have eighteen rooms—suites as we call them. There’s a master, you know, for humans, but I don’t think Mama’s ever made Dad sleep in it. And if she has, I really don’t want to know about it. It’s more for emergencies or if we get really, really busy.”
I nodded, because what else was I going to do? A house for dogs. Sure. Why not?
Following as she pulled on my hand, half-feeling like I’d entered some sort of bizarre, altered universe, I climbed the first weather-beaten step. The wide porch was just as worn, the light gray paint on the landing cracked and peeling in spots. But small touches, like potted plants and even a double swing, made me feel welcome. Comfortable.
And it was for dogs.
Peyton stopped short on the landing, hair blowing in the wind. “Please tell me you’re not allergic.”
I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and freed the strand stuck to her mouth, and while I tucked it behind her ear, her gaze collided with mine. “Allergic to meeting moms, yes.” I swallowed hard as I slid my finger across her silken skin. “Allergic to dogs, no.”
Cheeks pink, she ducked her head away, though I caught the edge of her smile. “Dork.”
I chuckled quietly and waved her ahead. Peyton threw open the screen door and a second later, I followed…
And entered the “Dog Zone.”