AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER17
He knewthe event had gone well, but if Gavin was being honest, nothing could have really prepared him for the success of it all. They’d raised close to half a million dollars and even after splitting it with the other two shelters, there was enough to sustain their business further. Between his savings and the money they’d collected, Gavin was already in the process of figuring out the expansion. More than that, however, was the number of people who came by the shelter in the week following the event. All of those who won the auction bids showed up to spend time with the dogs of their choice. While others came by to visit the dogs and play with them.
The thing he didn’t expect was how many dogs were adopted—six, of which two were older—and how many more families and young couples promised to come back in a few weeks.
Gavin had changed too. He’d gone from not being able to sleep—the combination of worrying about the shelter and Ginny infiltrating his waking and slumbering thoughts—to sleeping through the night with Cedar tucked into his side. He came into the shelter every single day looking and feeling happy, and clearly people were noticing that too. The volunteers pointed it out, their regular staff stared at him like he’d grown a second head and Bronte made fun of him constantly.
But Gavin feltgood.
He would always worry about the shelter and how they were going to care for the animals, but the difference now was that he could ease up on that stress. They had the funds and the resources to make a change and he was going to do whatever was necessary to make that happen.
It had been a fantastic week since the event and Gavin was sitting in his office with Bronte as they went through accounts. Between paying their regular staff and suppliers, they also needed to close out any pending payments to Wildes Events + Weddings. And on top of that, they would need to pay the architect Milo’s dad recommended once he got the first drawings down for the expansion.
Six months ago, looking at the accounts would have worried Gavin. But seeing that much money in the shelter’s bank account was quite startling. In a good way, of course.
“Have you already spoken to that kid?”
“The architect, you mean?” Bronte rolled her eyes and waved for him to continue. “Not yet. Arthur said he’s going to set that up for later this week.”
“What about hiring more full time staff?”
“I’ve written up a job posting with requirements, maybe you can polish it up and we’ll send it out.”
“Okay. Need me for anything else?” Bronte asked and Gavin watched his friend with a frown. She shifted Cedar’s head off her lap and got to her feet, but avoided making eye contact with him. He remembered how animated and happy she looked at the fundraiser, what had happened between then and now?
“You good?”
“Yup. Got some errands to run. Want me to pick up some lunch for you?”
Gavin nodded, eyes still on Bronte. “Sure. I’ll have whatever you’re getting.”
With a quick nod, Bronte walked out of his office, leaving Gavin confused and worried. He always thought they were the kind of friends who talked about their problems and confessed in each other. But her dodging his concern made him question if this had something to do with Spencer. Making a mental note to speak to his brother that weekend, Gavin returned to work. Between salaries and supplies—dog and cat food, feed for the horses, medical expenses—he needed to put some money away so he could finally stop dipping into his personal savings. Nobody knew he’d been doing that, not Bronte or his family. And Gavin liked to keep it that way.
An hour later, on his way to the pantry to fill up on coffee, Gavin heard a childish squeal. Smiling to himself, he followed the sound and found a kid in a black Iron Maiden t-shirt and a purple tutu kneeling in front of one of the cages. The main door to the Cages had been left open by one of the volunteers and usually it would have pissed Gavin off, but the kid looked so excited that he let it go.
“I like this one, Dad,” the kid announced, pointing at Boots who just watched from his prone position in the cage. “He looks like Grandpa.”
Kids were the best part about having this shelter. The excitement and joy they projected when surrounded by animals was unparalleled and this kid was no different. He’d always liked kids and had every intention of spoiling Arlo, his older brother Simon’s kid, when he was old enough. Growing up with four big brothers and with parents who were always so involved in their lives, Gavin knew just how incredible it would be to have his own little family. His partner would need to be okay with multiple kids, obviously, but he’d always envisioned his life being filled with tons of little Rhodes lookalikes.
However, that required him to actuallybein a relationship and he was too caught up in all these feelings Ginny instilled in him to let someone else into his life.
Shaking off the thought, Gavin shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and walked towards the Cages as the kid scooted forward on their knees to peer at the dog.
“Cal, don’t irritate him,” the father grumbled. If Gavin didn’t have an older brother who was tall and grumbly like this man, he’d think the father was irritated.
Glancing at the dog, Gavin smiled. “Don’t worry, nothing gets Boots worked up. He’s the laziest dog in here,” Gavin told the dad, holding his hand out with a smile. “Gavin Rhodes, looking to adopt or just hang out?”
“Rafferty Ames.” One tattooed hand took his and shook firmly before gesturing to the kid. “That’s Callahan. We’re new to town and on the drive in yesterday, he spotted your shelter andinsistedwe adopt a dog.”
“Because everyone deserves a good home, Dad!”
“Kid after my own heart. Nice to meet you, Callahan.”
The kid grinned and scooted another inch forward, this time Boots slowly got to his feet and stretched before walking to the front of the cage. As a Leonberger-Husky mix that had clearly been bred for a specific purpose, Boots was a big, furry dog and Gavin saw the moment Callahan was startled by his size. Before the kid could run away, Gavin dropped to a squat beside him and carefully stuck his hand inside the cage, palm facing downwards and waited for Boots to amble over and lick his fingers.
“He’s huge,” Callahan whispered and then looked at Gavin. “Why is he called Boots?”
“We’d have to ask my friend, she names all the dogs here. But maybe it has something to do with his brown paws?” His fur was different shades of brown while his legs were darker, looking like he was wearing boots.
