Yes I did. Donald leaned down and roughed up the top of the dogs head, while Sadie glared at him. But that was before.
Before?
Donald looked at Nick, then back to Danielle. Wheres Ted?
I dont know, she answered politely, then gestured to the man at her side. This is Nick Cooper. She watched the two shake hands, sizing each other up. What did you mean before?
I dont want to get in the middle.
The middle?
Between you and Ted.
There is no middle, Danielle said carefully. This is about Sadie. And me.
Are you sure about that?
Donald, just tell me. Yes or no. Are you interested in working with Sadie?
Lets talk in here, he said, and ushered them into his large, still mostly packed office, holding the door open for them. But as Sadie crossed the threshold, he stopped her. People only, he said pleasantly, reaching for her leash, smiling at Danielle. Shell be perfectly comfortable out here with Linda, my receptionist.
Before either Danielle or Nick could reply, hed shut the door, leaving them in the office. Alone.
Danielle bit her lip and looked at the door. No, thats not right. Somethings off.
Ill say, Nick said, reaching for the handle. We keep Sadie with us, at all times.
But Sadie wasnt at the reception desk, and neither was Donald.
They were hurrying down a hallway as he punched numbers on his cell phone.
Nick whistled sharply, and unbelievably, Sadie halted in her tracks, craning her neck to look at him.
But Sadie wasnt at the reception desk, and neither was Donald.
They were hurrying down a hallway as he punched numbers on his cell phone.
Nick whistled sharply, and unbelievably, Sadie halted in her tracks, craning her neck to look at him.
As her leash tightened, Donald jerked to a stop, the cell phone tumbling from his fingers, bouncing on the tile floor.
His smile was utterly forced, but before he could say a word, Nick scooped up the cell phone. With a look of thorough disgust, he turned to Danielle. Take a wild guess.
Same number Emma was calling?
Bingo. Nick grabbed Sadies leash and handed it to Danielle. Heres your prize. One dog, free for life. Or until she kills you, whichever comes first.
THE PHONE RANG and Ted held it tight, certain it was the call. The one that would bring Danielle back to him.
I didnt want to get in the middle of this, came Donalds voice. How did I get in the damn middle, Ted?
Money. It changed your mind quick enough. Now whats up?
Shes with a Nick Cooper. I realize you wanted to know, but I feel funny telling you. As if Im spying on Danielle.
Yeah, yeah.
They had the dog with them, Donald continued reluctantly. Look, Ted, I-
Thank you, Ted said politely and hung up. Fury blinded him.
Shed left him, shed really left him.
But it would be okay. He knew where Danielle would go next. Shed want the records only Sadies breeder could give her. The records that would possibly clear her.
Still, the cold rage ignited, flamed. She wouldnt need clearing if shed only come back. To him. He was tired of losing things. His house. His wealth.
Respect.
And with that thought, he pitched the phone across the room.
DANIELLE AND NICK DROVE back to the hotel in grim silence. Nicks hands gripped the wheel with force, his expression edgy and dangerous.
No doubt, Danielle figured, he felt good and stuck with her.
What was she going to do? The only thing she knew was dogs, and while she was the best of the best of dog handlers, it didnt matter. Even if she was somehow cleared of theft, the damage had been done. No one in their right mind would hire her now.
And how shed managed to wrap up the most amazing, most gorgeous, most sexy man in the world in this mess with her was beyond her. Shed barged into his life, let him help her, protect her. Take care of her.
So much for self-sufficiency.
That was going to change.
Im turning myself in, she said quietly as he pulled into the hotel and shut off the engine.
Over my dead body, he said, so gently, so kindly, it didnt sink in at first.
Its my decision, Nick. This cant go on.
Pulling out the keys, he turned to her, his eyes shockingly full of protectiveness, belying that easygoing, almost lazy voice. Youre right, he said. It cant go on. Do you have a plan?
Not yet, she admitted, hating that she didnt. But I can-
We can. Whatever it is, we can.
Her heart stuttered. She wasnt ready to accept a we, but having him there at her side had made her feel safe, secure. Two things sorely missing in her life. You have your own life to get back to. You cant keep doing this with me forever.
No one can do this forever.
Nick-
Im not going to walk away, Danielle. Not until youre okay. Dont ask me to.
I have to.
His eyes were dark. Is that what you want?
Im sure we both want that.
Dont speak for me, he said with his first hint of temper. Im asking you. Is that what you really want?
Yes, she whispered, then covered her eyes. Yes. God. She looked at him again. Hed been so quick to mask his surprise and hurt, she wasnt sure shed even seen it. Its for the best, Nick, for you to go back to your life.
I never did like what was best for me, he said, and just like that something inside her warmed. You realize Ted knows youre here, in the area.
Yes. She was trying not to panic, not to look over her shoulder at every little sound.
Lets check out of the hotel, then find another place to go while we figure out what to do.
Thats a lot of we stuff.
Yeah. His eyes dared her to say more, and suddenly, she didnt want to.
What she did want no longer shocked her. Actually, she said with a catch in her voice, there are some pretty good uses for the word we.
His brow raised, and he sent her that slow, sure, sexy smile that never failed to melt her as his strong, warm arms came around her. Such as? His mouth nuzzled her ear, and light-headed already, she tipped her head to the side to give him more room.
Such as this, she practically purred. This is good we stuff.
Mmm. His fingers danced up her ribs. So the we is working for you?
At the moment Good Lord, his mouth. Only because I like the way you kiss, she warned breathlessly.
Against her skin, he grinned. I can live with that.
Just so you know She broke off with a moan as hed found a spot on her collarbone that made her writhe. Soon as Im done letting you kiss me, Im done with the we.
Laughing, he pulled her even closer. Give it your best shot, sweetheart. Give it your best shot.
SO WHATS THE PLAN? Drive as far as the tank will take us?
Nick smiled as he drove. Youre a planner. I didnt know that about you.
You dont know a lot about me. Danielle smiled back at him from the passenger seat of his truck, though he knew her well enough now to see past the dazzling beauty to the nerves shimmering beneath.
What was it about her that made him want to soothe? Protect? He put a hand on her knee, needing the contact in a way that no longer surprised him. Which reminds me, Id like to know more about you.
Other than Im a wanted woman?
Her quip didnt fool him. She was scared and unsettled and it infuriated him that her life had come to this. What have you been doing since high school? he asked, thinking to distract her. Hell, if she opened up to him in the process, so much the better. Other than handling dogs, that is. College? Travel? What?
No college. She looked out the window. No money for that, and my grades werent the greatest. I had a hard time keeping up with school-work, with working odd jobs at night.
Hed known that money had been tight and cursed himself for bringing up bad memories. Im surprised you stuck around.
She lifted a shoulder. Ive traveled. As a dog handler for the rich and bored, Ive taken dogs all over the country to show them, and its been fun.
Been?
She shot him a sad smile that stabbed right into his heart. Im not going to ever be a handler again, not after this.
Is there something else that would make you as happy?
She studied the countryside whipping past them. Ill probably take any job for now, just because Ive grown fond of eating.
Nick contemplated that while his gut clenched. He wasnt rich, but hed never worried about things like having a roof over his head or food in his belly. Hed grown up with few worries and supportive parents whod seen to it he had the confidence and skills to get through life on his own.
Danielle had the skills, shed been on her own for far longer than he probably knew or really understood. But how many people had ever believed in her? Encouraged her?
When I find a permanent place to settle down, she said, Id like to save up, go to school. She glanced at him for his reaction. As if maybe she expected him to discourage her. Im going to become a veterinarian.
It wasnt hard to smile at that. Youd make a great vet.
Yeah?
Oh, yeah. Youve got the right stuff. His grin widened. And a great bedside manner.
She grinned back, looking relieved, and with far less nerves than before. I think Id make a great vet, too. You could get yourself a dog, you know, and then come see me once in a while for checkups.
Well, if that didnt bring reality crashing back, he didnt know what did. Soon enough-and if she had her way it would be today-they would part ways.
Hed go back to the job he was no longer certain he wanted, and she would make a new life for herself.
A new life quite far away. Their paths might not cross for another fifteen years.
He didnt like the way his stomach dropped at that thought. Im not big on dogs. He glanced at Sadie in the rearview mirror, and oddly enough, felt a twinge at not seeing her again, either.
Oh boy, he was going soft. When Im working, Im on the road. I couldnt have a pet. He felt her studying him intently and wondered what she saw when she looked at him like that. Turning his head he met her gaze. What?
Do you miss your job?
Of course, he said automatically, but even as the words left his mouth, they didnt feel right. Im not sure, he admitted. Ive been on the go for so long Ive forgotten what it was like to slow down and smell the roses.
You havent slowed down since I walked in your door.
True. He laughed. But even this pace is practically resting compared to how it is when Im working. To be honest, this relaxing thing, itsnice.
What would you do if you werent racing across the globe for the next story?