Nero shoved his head between the bucket seats and madly sniffed at Sydney, who had her hands protecting her face from his inquisitive tongue.
Nero, go lie down, Russ said in a loud, stern voice.
The dog gave him a surprised, injured look before reluctantly retreating to the cargo area behind the backseat.
Hes gone now, Russ said to Sydney.
She started digging in her purse for something. Does he go everywhere with you?
Most places, Russ answered. But today hes a stow-away. I think he likes you.
Likes me? He tried to take a bite out of my ear.
Russ looked over at Sydneys pink shell of an ear, which certainly didnt bear any teeth marks. In twelve years, Nero has never bitten anyone. Hes not about to start with you. He licked your ear. Maybe the dog liked the body lotion she used. Russ himself wasnt immune to her delicate scent and thought that licking her ear wouldnt be a bad place to start.
He was tasting me, she insisted. Shed found a moist towelette in her purse and was energetically washing the side of her face, her neck and any other place with which Nero might have come into contact.
Russ sighed and tried to drag his gaze back to the road, which wasnt easy since she was wiping her cleavage. He was pretty sure Nero hadnt licked there.
Still, the Nero incident was a perfect reminder. Just when he was starting to like Sydney, she gave him another reason why he shouldnt.
What sane person doesnt like dogs? he couldnt help asking. Whats not to like? Dogs are the ultimate embodiment of unconditional love. Even if Ive only been gone ten minutes, Nero greets me like a long-lost friend. He lives for someone to scratch him behind the ears or give him a doggy treat. Dogs have simple needs. Not like women, he almost added.
You can save your breath. No private detective likes dogs.
From the corner of his eye, Russ noted the rise and fall of her chest. His initial guess had been correct. She was afraid of dogs.
From the corner of his eye, Russ noted the rise and fall of her chest. His initial guess had been correct. She was afraid of dogs.
He shrugged. At least Neros timely show of affection had taken Sydneys mind off Russs family.
Do you still want a snack? Sydney asked, regaining her composure.
Thats okay. Well be at our destination before too long, and Ill grab something then.
She tugged down the hem of her short skirt and put her seat belt back on, peering over her shoulder every so often to ensure the dog remained in the cargo area.
How come youre so afraid? he asked.
I told you, Im not afraid of dogs. Im just not fond of them.
So youve never been bitten?
She hesitated. Well, yeah, I was. Just one more reason not to like dogs. You cant trust them. They may fool you into thinking theyre domesticated, but one false move and theyll turn on you.
How old were you when you got bitten? Or was it more than once?
Once was enough, she said with a shiver. I was five. A neighbors chow jumped me when I was riding my bike down the sidewalk. Hed always been friendly before that.
Russ knew about dogs and bikes. Hed been chased down a time or two by territorial farm dogs. A moving bicycle awakens some dogs prey instinct. The chow probably thought you were a very large rabbit.
Exactly my point. At any moment, they can revert to the wild.
So can people, Russ couldnt resist pointing out. Hed seen enough dog-eat-dog behavior in Vegas to convince him of that. But that doesnt mean you should dislike and avoid all people.
Im sure your dog is a sterling example for the whole species, but I still dont trust him. Im sorry if that hurts your feelings.
Russ laughed. Its your loss, missing out on the love of a good dog. Thats okay. Both Nero and I still like you.
She eyed him curiously, apparently not sure how to take his flirting. When he grinned back at her, she looked away.
Another spear of guilt needled him. What kind of a degenerate flirts with a woman hes lying to?
Did the chow hurt you badly? he asked, feeling sympathy for the small child she once was.
I spent a week in the hospital and another three years in and out of surgery.
Oh, Im sorry, I didnt mean to make light of it. No wonder she didnt trust dogs. No wonder she was afraid-even if she refused to admit it. He glanced over at her, giving her a frank examination. I dont see any scars. At least, none that werent covered up by clothing.
She reached over, took his right hand off the steering wheel, and placed it under her hair at the back of her neck. Feel the bumps?
He nodded, running his fingers along her skin as if he were reading braille. Bumps or no, her neck felt nice.
I wear scarves for a reason. But I did have an exceptional doctor. He got rid of most of the scars.
But not the ones in here. He lightly touched her temple, then quickly returned both hands to the steering wheel where they belonged.
Dogs sense something in me-hostility, maybe. I give off some scent only they can smell. If I walk into a pet shop, all the dogs start barking like they have rabies.
Nero likes you. Why else would he kiss you on the ear?
At the sound of his name, the dogs head popped up from behind the backseat. Sydney stiffened, though she said nothing.
Nero, lie down.
Neros hopeful eyebrows fell as he disappeared once again behind the seat. Sydney relaxed.
Figuring theyd talked enough about dogs, Russ kept Sydney distracted by pointing out a landmark here and a rock formation there. She responded with seeming interest, sometimes asking a question or simply nodding thoughtfully.
Its beautiful out here, even in the winter, she conceded. Even a confirmed urbanite like me can appreciate that.
After theyd been driving for about twenty minutes, Russ pulled off the main road and onto a rutted dirt road that challenged the Broncos suspension. Five minutes later, he stopped at a washed-out bridge that had once spanned Deer Creek, a ribbon of water with a steep, rocky bank.
Stately oaks, scrubby mesquite and maples crowded the road from both sides and climbed the distant hills, their brown, bare trunks interspersed with evergreen junipers. One thing Russ loved about the Hill Country was the way the landscape varied from bare, brown rocks to gentle hills and valleys coated with buffalo grass to lush woods.
Wow. Sydney gazed through the windshield at a landscape that was picture-postcard perfect, even when the trees were bare of leaves. Is this a state park or something?
Actually, its private land owned by some hospitable friends of mine, he said as he cut the engine. But it butts up against a park creating an uninterrupted chunk of wilderness. Big enough to support some of the threatened animals that needed large areas to range, like bobcats and cougars. But he wisely chose not to mention critters of any kind to Sydney. If she was afraid of old Nero, he couldnt imagine how she would react to a cougar.
Have we stopped here for a reason? Sydney asked.
No bridge.
Cant wego around?
Sorry, but from here we have to hoof it.
What? How far?
Only about four miles. Not giving her a fair chance to object, he opened his door and jumped down, leaving her gaping.
Chapter Five
Sydney shut her mouth. Four miles? Why was she panicking? She could do four miles. In New York terms, that was forty blocks. She walked that far some days. And on the treadmill, she ran as many as five or six miles. Piece of cake.
Anyway, she had a feeling Russ enjoyed forcing her out of her comfort zone. She wouldnt give him the satisfaction of knowing hed startled her.
Sydney opened her door, looked down at the red mud, grimaced and jumped down. Her feet sank into the soft earth and she was grateful for the hiking boots. Her suede, high-heeled shoes would have been instantly ruined.
It felt good to stretch her legs after the cramped confines of the truck. It was actually a pretty big truck, but it had felt cramped, given the two overwhelming presences shed been forced to share it with. Just the thought of that beast lurking in the back made her break out in goose bumps. As for Russ-well, his presence was threatening in an altogether different way. Unfortunately, she didnt feel like hiding from him; in fact, shed had no trouble confiding highly personal information, especially strange for her given that she was usually slow to trust strangers.
She closed the door to the truck and stretched her arms up over her head, taking in a deep breath of country air. Lord, what she wouldnt give to have this quality of air where she lived.
A sharp bark startled her and she whirled around. The dog was still safely confined in the back of the Bronco.
He just wants to get out and explore, Russ said from behind the truck. He opened the rear door.
Sydney shuddered and stepped to the other side of the road, where she wouldnt have to look at the beast. While Nero explored, Russ turned his attention to hauling out a couple of backpacks.
What do we need those for?
Its always a good idea to be prepared when hiking into the wilderness.
Please dont tell me the dog is going to hike with us.
Russ sighed. No, hell stay in the truck.
Russ sighed. No, hell stay in the truck.
Thank goodness for small favors. Sydney might actually enjoy a nature hike, but not if she had to worry about a dog putting his muddy paws all over her or slobbering on her clothes. Besides, dogs were genetically wolves. In the wild like this, wouldnt it be easy for one to revert? And Nero was big, maybe bigger than a chow.
He might like to come with us, Russ continued, but I dont take him hiking anymore. Last time I did, he took off after a rabbit and didnt come home for two days. When he finally showed up he was more dead than alive.
The dog kept his nose to the ground, checking everything out, then came to the exact spot where Sydney had stood and sniffed the ground madly. Nero then followed her trail around the Bronco and stopped right in front of her, giving a sharp bark. Sydney cringed. The beast was hunting her. Why couldnt Russ see that?
Nero! Russ called, and the dog went to his masters voice. Russ loaded him back into the cargo area. He opened all the windows a few inches, then locked the dog inside.