Page 76 of I Hate You More

Spencer had no idea how long he might have stood there gawking, but the murmuring of the crowd was broken by a loud bark and the sudden scuffle of claws on hardwood. He barely had time to register the sight of a gawky, poorly groomed golden retriever headed his way before he was knocked flat on his back.

Wheezy was on top of him before he hit the floor, the dog’s paws pushing at his face and his tongue working its way into places Spencer would have preferred to keep dry. Instead of feeling embarrassed at being caught in this state—making a fool out of himself in front of not just Ruby but a hundred people he considered his peers—he gave in and let the dog say hello.

“I’ve missed you, too, buddy,” he said, running his hands over those golden curls, shorn too short but still like silk between his fingers. “I’m glad to see you’ve recovered from your overdose, but I don’t know that I approve of the new look. Yes, yes, I know. It’ll grow back. There’s no need to bite me.”

“Oh, for the love of everything. Must you two be so dramatic all the time?” Ruby appeared above them both, shining with a glittering light that had to be manufactured. As she came into focus, Spencer could see that itwasmanufactured. In addition to more crystal beads than he’d ever seen collected in one place before, she seemed to have been decked out from head to toe in some kind of glitter. “You’re making a scene.”

Spencer could have easily pointed out that a man being licked on a gymnasium floor was nothing compared to a fully gowned beauty pageant queen gliding around as though walking on air, but he didn’t. He was too happy to see her—scowling, the light of battle in her eyes.

She was back.

“Hello, Ruby,” he said in as level a voice as he could muster. He had to physically set Wheezy aside in order to struggle up to a seated position, but the dog was in a compliant mood for once. “I was hoping to see you today.”

Her eyes narrowed at this, a suspicious twitch at the side of her mouth. “Why? What have you done?”

“You look beautiful. The glitter suits you.”

The compliment did little to reduce her suspicions, even though Spencer was speaking the truth. She might have a complicated relationship with pageantry, but it was obvious she’d been born to wear a crown.

“He’s right, you know.” Caleb stepped forward and grabbed both of Ruby’s hands. Without any hesitancy, he yanked. She was propelled into his arms, where he laughed and pressed a quick kiss on either of her cheeks. “You are, without a doubt, the most gorgeous bitch in this place, and I mean that literally.”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “Why do I get the feeling that’s not a compliment?”

“Because you didn’t grow up around show dogs the way we did. Believe me when I tell you that we are surrounded by some of the best specimens of bitchery the world has to offer.” Caleb reached down and patted Wheezy’s head. “Present company excluded, of course.”

Wheezy took no offense at this. He sat at Spencer’s feet, looking unkempt and more like a dog than Spencer had ever seen him, with his tongue lolling and an occasional thump of his tail.

“Shouldn’t you be passing around your business card and trying to drum up business or something?” Spencer asked with a pointed look toward the rest of the gym—anywherein the rest of the gym. “I thought you came here to schmooze.”

“Iamschmoozing,” Caleb protested with a wink at Ruby. “But I can take a hint when it’s being thrown at my face. Ruby, if this were a competition for humans, you’d be far and away the winner. Since it’s one for dogs, I can only wish you luck.” He glanced down at Wheezy, who was scratching at his ear with uncouth enthusiasm, and laughed. “Lots of it.”

With a whistle on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, Caleb took himself off.

“Eva is around here somewhere, and I know she wanted to say hello, but I wouldn’t seek out Lawson unless you want to be put to work hanging bunting.” Spencer spoke as though the entire last week hadn’t happened. Ithadhappened, as the dark scruff along his jaw and the rings under his eyes could attest, but he was trying not to dwell too much on that. For once in his life, he wasn’t the well-put-together, well-rested man who had everything figured out. He was sad and exhausted, but he was also hopeful.

She was here. She’d come. She meant to see this thing through to the end.

“My parents will also probably accost you at some point, but they won’t bother you for long. They’re friends with a lot of the other breeders, so this is their social event of the year.”

Ruby gave a startled jump. Her skin shimmered as the glitter caught the light, but Spencer was pretty sure he caught a glimpse of red rising up from the neckline of her gown and creeping up the right side of her neck. He’d been trying not to focus too much on how bare and enticing the skin of her shoulders was, but that sudden flash held him transfixed. He lifted a hand to touch her before remembering where—and who—he was and dropping his hand.

“Your rash isn’t healed yet?” he asked just as she stammered a nervous “Your parents are here?”

She was the first to corral her thoughts. “I’m feeling much better now, thanks.” And, more stiffly, “Of course I’ll say hello to your parents, but I’m not really here for a friendly visit. I came to compete. Wheezy and I both did.”

“I know. I look forward to your performance.”

The suspicion that had carried her over here magnified tenfold. “Why? What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

“Spencer, if you said anything to anyone—if you changed the scoring categories in any way…”

“I didn’t touch a thing.”

“Then why do you look so smug?”

He had no idea that he looked anything but hopelessly in love. “I’m not smug. I’m happy to see you, that’s all.” It was a moment for intimacy and a low, quiet voice, but he had to raise his to be heard over the general din. “I’ve missed you.”