She realized she’d been petting Babette the whole time and for some reason she felt less stressed than she had in a long time.“All right.I’ll try it, but if it doesn’t work out—”
“I know.I’ll take her.”
Riley went back to his truck and returned with dog food, a couple of bowls, a leash, and her shot record from the vet.“She’s been spayed too, so you won’t need to worry about that.Good luck,” he said, chucking Babette under the chin.“You be a good dog.”
Letty sighed and continued to pet Babette.“Looks like you’re stuck with me,” she told the dog.She wondered what Riley’s motive had been in giving her a dog.It occurred to her that he must have known she was lonely.Babette was a gift to help her not feel so alone.
Or was she a gift to make her realize that she didn’t have to choose being alone?
*
For the nextfew days as she and Babette got to know each other, Letty pondered why Riley had given her a dog.She was already attached to her.It had taken her about five minutes to fall for the dog.She’d gone online and ordered several things for her.Including a bed she was pretty sure Babette wouldn’t sleep in since she’d decided Letty’s bed was preferable to any other place.Unless Letty was in the living/dining/kitchen area and then Babette deigned to lie on the couch.
“You are so spoiled,” she told the little dog in a teasing tone of voice.Why was it, she wondered, that people, herself included, used a special tone of voice for dogs?And babies and small children.And probably other animals too.
Letty had never had a dog growing up.Her father had been allergic to them and at the time hypo-allergenic dogs weren’t well known.But she’d been around a lot of dogs, particularly at the Fletchers’.Once she’d gone to live with them she’d helped Val sneak her dog into the house.Though she liked dogs, she’d never had one of her own.
An animal who was her responsibility.One who depended on her for everything.One who loved her unconditionally.Was she afraid of how she’d handle it if something happened to Babette?It was a sad fact of life that dogs didn’t live as long as people.At some point she’d have to deal with that.But within a matter of days she couldn’t imagine life without Babette.
Riley wasn’t a dog.He loved her.Wanted to be with her.Wanted to make a future with her.When they broke up he’d told her he wanted to marry her.But she’d been too scared to commit.
What about her friends?It wasn’t as if losing a friend wouldn’t be traumatic.Perhaps not the same as losing a spouse but it would still be devastating.But she didn’t spend her life wondering if something was going to happen to her friends.
Letty opened up to her friends.Yet there was a core she always kept to herself, not even letting Val see it.The core that was still that frightened seventeen-year-old girl whose life had been blown apart and who’d had to grow up and be responsible in a hurry.A girl who’d been hurt so badly that she’d been running from a meaningful relationship with a man ever since.A girl who’d seen in her parents’ love for each other something to be avoided.Because of fear.Fear of loss.Was it really better to never have someone than to have them and chance losing them?
*
Poker night wasa tradition among Riley and his friends.Usually, it was all men but a few women had come over the years.And they usually beat the hell out of the rest of them.The guys got together at least once a month, sometimes more often.The place changed depending on who had it last and who actually wanted to host it.This time it was at Liam’s place.Val and the baby were coming to his place to see Jasper and Lorraine.His mom was super excited since it would be the first time since her illness that she got to see Val and Vivian.
He didn’t have far to go since their ranches bordered each other.He wasn’t sure who would be there.Usually at least one of the Gallaghers came.Connor and Logan, Liam’s brothers, usually came as well.The rest varied.
Wouldn’t you know it, Connor brought his friend Ryan Hunter, the new doctor in town.The same man Riley had seen Letty with on New Year’s Eve and before that at Logan and Cici’s housewarming.He was pretty sure Letty wouldn’t be dating anyone yet, but if she was he bet it would be this guy.Naturally, that made him want to dislike the guy.But he didn’t.He seemed like a regular guy and a damn good poker player.But then, he’d been in the army, so his poker skills weren’t so surprising.
Riley was sure Liam knew he and Letty had broken up, even though they hadn’t talked about it.Val would have told him.He’d told Val himself when she’d confronted him after Christmas.He’d acted as if it was no big deal, but he was pretty sure she hadn’t bought it.In fact she’d been so sympathetic he’d made up an excuse and left her as soon as he could.
Things were going along pretty well for him, poker wise.He was up a little since he was paying attention to the game rather than the bullshitting going on.Something about women, which, since he had no woman anymore, and wouldn’t have joined in anyway, he ignored.
“I heard a rumor that you dumped Letty,” Bud Davis said.He was one of Liam’s hands who sometimes joined them.
Bud, the guy Letty had been ready to leave Grey’s with months ago.The one who’d had plans for Letty that Riley had ruined when he dragged her out of the place.
“Why are you asking?”Riley said, making sure the man heard the threat in his voice.
Apparently, he was dense.
“She’s pretty.I like her.If she’s free—”
“She’s not.Letty’s with me and rumor is wrong.”Yeah, it was a lie but so what?
“Sorry, man.I was just asking.”
“Open mouth, insert foot,” Liam said.
“Deal me out,” Riley said and, after giving the guy a warning look, left the table to go to the kitchen.He thought about putting his fist through the wall but if he broke his hand who would take care of the ranch while it healed?Besides, he’d only be the first of many who wanted to take Letty out now that they were no longer dating.
Liam came in.“Sorry about that.I don’t know where he heard that shit.Val told me but I wasn’t sure who else knew.I hadn’t heard that rumor, though.Are you okay?”
“No.We broke up but I didn’t ‘dump’ her.But I wasn’t going to tell that asshole that.”
