Page 7 of Sidelined By Love

Wrapping my arms across my stomach, I shiver in the dim light of dawn. As Bronco searches out his ideal spot—wanderingto the far edge of the front lawn but never making it onto the cracked and bruised sidewalk—I stroll down the cement walkway from Nan’s sunshine-yellow front door.

Historic downtown is silent at this time of day. The century-old homes lining the quiet street are mostly dark except for a few lights here and there. Pools from the streetlights illuminate the endless row of cars parallel parked on the road. Many of these old houses don’t have garages—let alone a designated parking spot.

My condo in LA has round-the-clock valet parking in an underground garage.

Not that I miss it. Or the constant stream of paps hanging out in the bushes across the street. Not that they’re all there for me. Anne Hathaway just bought a place in the building. And rumor has it that Harry Styles may be moving in.

I certainly don’t miss the attention there.

I just . . . I don’t know if I’ll ever get to go back. Except to move out. Not without work.

My eyes burn, and my nose starts to run. Probably from the cold.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go already.”

He doesn’t bother giving me a look as he sniffs into the low hedge that separates Nan’s lawn from the neighbor’s.

Suddenly Bronco’s nose lifts to the air, and he lets out a low growl. I look around quickly, immediately spotting the silhouette of a monster running toward us. The guy is enormous. And the dog yanking on his leash is almost as big. He’s still a couple houses away, but my heart pounds hard.

I’m on the far side of the yard, and before I can start toward Bronco, the ridiculous hound decides to defend his territory. Waddling onto the sidewalk, Bronco faces them and barks loudly.

A low menacing growl responds.

“Bronco, no! Come here, Bronco!” I scream for him to come back to me, but he’s farther away than I thought, and the monster and his beast are almost on top of him.

My heart is in my throat. I should have put him on the leash. Or at least stayed closer to him.

Now he’s about to be eaten by that giant.

And not even Nan would forgive me for that. No way I could forgive myself either.

When my best friend Caro and I started in the industry, she always said, “Protect the money-maker at all costs.” Well, my face isn’t going to earn me any more money if I can’t get a job. So I might as well salvage my current living situation.

I dive for Bronco, scooping him up in my arms and rolling into the strip of grass on the far side of the sidewalk just as the beast bears down on us. I expect to feel his teeth rip into me. Or at least the weight of his body slam into mine.

Instead, I only feel hot, wet breath on my cheek.

“Come on, Fluffy. Give the lady some room.”

I know that voice. It’s gravelly and rough, like he spent an entire day shouting—which he did. But I still recognize it. Even when he’s not calling plays.

I glance up—way up—and immediately see the surprise on Grant Reddington’s face. His free hand is already outstretched, his other wrangling the beast.

“Zoe? I’m sorry! I didn’t see him until we were almost on him, and I had my AirPods in. Here, let me help you up.”

I don’t have much choice in the matter because his hand around my wrist has me on my feet before I can wave him off. Somehow I manage to hold on to Bronco, who is wiggling like he’s fighting for his life.

“Is it . . . I need to set him down.”

Grant looks confused, so I stare pointedly at the behemoth at his knee.

“Oh, yeah.” He squats next to the gray dog—which has to be at least part Great Dane and part horse—and rubs his ears. “Fluffy wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s just curious.”

“Fluffy?” I raise my eyebrows.

He shrugs one shoulder and scratches the muscular side. “I didn’t name him.”

“Mm-hmm.” It’s all I can manage before Bronco practically leaps out of my arms. He glares at Fluffy for half a second before trotting three steps away and finally doing his business.

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