Page 94 of Just One Silver Fox

“Maybe a girl this time?” Marcus said.

Shannyn laughed. “It’s a secret until the baby arrives.”

Marcus chuckled and waved them on their way.

At Shannyn’s insistence, they’d asked the doctor not to tell them the baby’s gender. Shannyn believed life should have some surprises.

Ty wasn’t quite as sure of that.

She was calling her doctor by the time he’d started the car, and he squealed the tires pulling out of the lot.

“You have to remember to breathe,” she told him, then gasped, undoubtedly because of another contraction.

“That’s my line.”

“But I remember. You don’t.” She checked her watch as she gripped the phone more tightly, then exhaled. “Ninety seconds. We’ve got lots of time.”

“I doubt that,” Ty muttered and hit the gas.

* * *

Sheba was a verylarge German Shepherd, who seemed uncertain to Nate. She was smaller than Rex had been, both shorter and smaller in the chest. She was also jet black, with glossy fur and one ear that bent over at the top. She jumped out of Lisa’s SUV, but just as Mack had said, she didn’t put her weight on the prosthesis on her left front leg. Nate crouched down outside the hotel and let her come to him. When she headed toward him, Mack dropped the leash, remaining by the car to watch. The dog was well-trained then, but Nate hadn’t expected anything different. Sheba sniffed Nate’s hand and wagged, then sniffed the Hook and looked him in the eye.

Her eyes were tawny and very expressive. He could almost feel her despair.

And he was a goner.

“She seems sad,” he said.

“Her handler died in the attack,” Mack admitted.

Just like Rex.

“She’s five,” Mack added.

Nate reached out to scratch Sheba’s ear and after a moment, she leaned into it, her gaze on the ground. “Big changes, huh, girl?” he murmured. “I know how that goes.” He told her to sit, then examined the prosthesis. “Does she have a vet?”

“There’s one at the center. I’m not sure how much he knows about prostheses, though.”

“I’m going to guess that this one isn’t as secure as might be ideal,” Nate said. “That would explain why she doesn’t trust it.” He removed it and felt around the stump, noting when the dog flinched. “And I think she has a blister from it.”

“That would explain her reluctance to put her weight on it.”

“Since she isn’t using it anyway, let’s take it off.” He rubbed her ear again and she leaned against his leg, as if she’d decided he was all right. As far as Nate was concerned, one look into those eyes had sealed the deal. “We can talk to the pros, Sheba, and see if we can get you fixed up. No licking that blister or it’ll be the cone of shame for you.” He picked up the leash and stood up. “What does she eat?”

Mack’s face lit with her smile. “I have all her stuff and I’ve, you know, bought her a bit more.”

Nate chuckled.

“She didn’t have any toys!”

“Not a lot of time to play in a warzone.”

“Well, she’s not there now,” Mack said fiercely. “It’s time she had some fun.”

“What do you know about her handler?”

“Not much. Just that. He didn’t have a wife or kids.”

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