The Marriage Sacrifice

“Wow,” he said.

She looked up. “I’m sorry. Dogs are a lot like kids. I’ve been working this shelter for a couple of years now. I’ve watched pups being born. I’ve seen them grow up, and they really depend on a good owner. On a good friend.” She stroked the pit-bull’s head. “This guy didn’t do anything wrong other than being given to the wrong kind of people.”

“Will he have to be put down?”

“I don’t know. They’re investigating, but that could take a couple of weeks. I hope he can keep calm. I mean, look at him. He wouldn’t harm anyone, but if he’s threatened or scared, he could. We don’t want that. I don’t want that.” She pressed her face against his head, kissing him. “He’s adorable.”

“How about I try to hold him?”

She looked up. “You want to try to hold a breed of dog that in your own words is violent and vicious?”

“You’ve given me a change of heart. Come on, try me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. If he bites my face off you still have to agree to marry me.”

“I’m not going to run away if he hurts you because I know he’s not going to and just don’t hurt him.”

“I won’t hurt him.”

“Then stop panicking. Come and sit beside me.”

Sage waited for him to move toward the bench where she was sitting. The cages where they kept the dogs were small, but they always tried to make sure they had plenty of open space when they took them out. They did try their hardest, and she adored volunteering at the shelter.

She had learned a lot about taking care of dogs from her time here, and getting married wasn’t going to stop her from coming.

“Do you love dogs?” he asked.

“I do. I’d love to have several one day.”

“Several? You can’t have one now?”

“My apartment building doesn’t allow pets. Until I move or they change their policy, I can’t take anyone home.”

“You’d take this guy, right?”

“Of course.”

“You never did tell me how you’re able to live in such a nice apartment if you don’t work for your father. Do your books earn you a lot?”

“I make a good income from them. The apartment came from my grandparents on my eighteenth birthday. It was from my grandma on my dad’s side.”

“It was?”

She nodded. “My grandma didn’t come from money. She was a struggling waitress trying to put herself through college when my granddad broke down right outside the diner where she worked.”

“Was it love at first sight?”

“No. Not according to my grandma. She thought he was a cocky asshole who needed to be brought down a peg or two.”

“And what did he believe?”

“She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. I think if I remember the story correctly, it was actually my grandma that convinced my granddad’s parents that she wasn’t interested in the money. She fought so hard, and finally he got her to fall in love with him. They got married, and she signed a prenup to satisfy his parents. Here, be careful.” She placed the pit bull in Dom’s arms.

“Fuck, he’s heavy.”

“He’s perfect.” At first the little guy didn’t seem happy, but after getting comfortable, he settled down.

Sage lifted Dom’s hand and placed it on his head. “Stroke him. He won’t bite.”

“I hope not.”

“Stop being such a coward.” She laughed.

“Back to your grandparents.”

“Well, being independent and not taking any crap from anyone, she saw what was happening to me. I was raised by nannies, and I rarely saw my parents. She knew I wasn’t like them. The money hadn’t affected me. She wanted me to have some freedom, so she purchased the apartment. Told me to never allow myself to be at the mercy of a man. To always be picky and to find the right guy for me. My dad wanted me to sell it as he didn’t think it struck the right note for a Boyle. I wasn’t going to get rid of it.”

“Why are you letting your dad force you into marrying me?” Dom asked.

“It’s probably stupid.”

“Tell me.”

“He could take it all away. He has the money, the power, the ability to make my life hard. To take my writing away, to close the charities I love and the people who need them. I can’t risk it. I know he’s got a lot of power. With my writing, I don’t mind, but everything else, I couldn’t stand to see a place like this close down because I was being selfish. Besides, you’ve proven to me several times, Dom, you’re not that bad.”

“Not that bad. I’ll take it. It’s a step up from being an awful kind of guy.”

“I bet you’re hating your bachelor party. You could have gone and done the whole stripper thing.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I’m having a lot of fun here with you?”