Page 44 of Sweet Madness
“Your soft heart will be your downfall, darling,” he whispers almost to himself.
My soft heart? I shrug. “It might.” He frowns at me. “The world needs more soft hearts, don’t you agree? It’s too harsh.” I whisper as I fix him with my gaze.
His brown eyes flash with something that seems a lot like anger before it quickly disappears. “The world is undeserving of it, Ellaiza.”
How does he make everything he says seem romantic? Or am I delusional? I honestly don’t know when it comes to him.
He then rips his gaze from mine, takes a quick look around us as if assessing the area before he gestures for me to walk ahead.
It’s happening again. For me, he’s trying to get out of his comfort zone. My heart melts at the sight of him opening the door of the pet shelter for me. “Just for a little while, okay?”
I nod once before stepping inside the shelter. Once inside, a chorus of eager barks, gentle purrs, and curious chirps fills the air.
My eyes widen in delight, and a bright smile spreads across my face as I take in the sight of all the cute animals. Dogs, cats, and birds of all colors and sizes. “Oh, look at them!” I sing; my voice and heart are filled with happiness. “They’re all so adorable!” My excitement seems infectious because even the silent grump at my side softens as he watches me with curious eyes.
There’s something about his soft side that makes my insides feel all gooey. Moody Shaw is hot, but soft Shaw? That one is a threat to my heart.
“We’re just here to visit, princess. Don’t get attached to any of them.” He hesitates for a moment before adding, “There’s no room for them at the ranch, and I have no use for them.”
Oh, we’ll see about that. Before he can say anything else, I flash him a mischievous grin and, without a word, strut off towards the animals with a winning smile on my face, totally ignoring his warning.
“I mean it, cupcake. Don’t get any ideas.” He grumbles at my back.
“Whatever you say, Shaw Bear,” I sing as I fall to my knees in front of a pocket-sized chihuahua.
Feeling his gaze, I turn and notice him watching me. He shakes his head with a mixture of exasperation and laughter. His top lip twitches.
Swoon. There is no denying the look on his face. The beautiful man is not as immune to my charm as he thinks he is.
I smile wider, knowing that little by little I am not only infiltrating his world but his heart.
Shaw
The pet shelter bustles with chaos—dogs barking joyfully and cats weaving between my legs. How the hell did I agree to this?
Amidst the commotion, Ella kneels on the floor, laughing as she plays with the animals. She’s entertaining a golden retriever with a squeaky toy and teasing a kitten with a feather wand. From here, I can see how much joy this moment brings her. Her smile is infectious, radiating throughout the room.
Meanwhile, I linger in the doorway, arms folded across my chest, watching her. I don’t care for pets. I didn’t lie when I said I had no use for these animals. I never liked them, except for my horses—they’re at least useful.
A stray dog tentatively approaches me, sniffing my boots and wagging its tail. “Oh, look, Shaw Bear. He likes you,” Ella coos from her spot on the floor, while she continues to entertain a black cat who seems extremely annoyed but keeps clawing at the feather wand in Ella’s hands. That cat, like me, is not immune to her charm.
Gently pushing the small pup at my feet away, it gives a soft whine of protest. Ella chuckles softly and rolls her eyes at me, clearly amused by my interaction with the whiny ball of fur. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of this itty-bitty cutie pie?” she asks, lifting the clingy dog from the floor onto her lap.
“They’re annoying, clingy, and messy,” I murmur, as another dog passes by my feet, wagging its small tail.
“Oh, hush, Grumpy. They’re rays of sunshine and make amazing companions. You should adopt one of these cuties. I bet Peppermint, Geraldine, and Peanut are lonely.”
“Don’t.” I narrow my eyes, crossing my arms over my shoulders. I can smell her ulterior motives from a mile away.
“Whatever do you mean?” She feigns innocence.
“Stop. There’s no way I’m getting a damn dog.”
“Fine then. Don’t get a dog.” She lifts a scruffy cat that looks like a demonic minion to her face, waving its paw from side to side. “You could get a cat.”
“No.”
“What about a pretty little bird?” She pouts.