Page 49 of Junkyard Dog

“Just a little problem with debt repayment,” Bo called over. “I was so drunk I didn’t feel a thing. So you probably didn’t either.” He shoved his jeans down in one smooth movement, his transformation complete before his paws hit the ground.

Alex climbed the ridge and collected the discarded clothes, tossing them into his bag and adding the rest of his own. He dropped to all fours, his nose wrinkling as his enhanced senses were assaulted with the stench of diesel and coyote excrement. Bo padded over to him, nipping his shoulder and tearing across the stony landscape. Alex took off after him, steering his brother away from the more popular roads of the park as they chased each other through the sand and chollas.

I miss this.

The thought flashed through his head as Bo gained ground on him and leapt onto his back, sending both of them muzzle-down into the sand. While Bo shook the dirt from his fur, Alex scented the air and growled low, his head cocked toward a small cluster of bushes. Bo’s ears flattened down, his jowls holding a hint of a grin as he stalked toward the rabbit cowering under the brush. Alex took a wider arc around the animal, intent on blocking the creature’s escape should it notice Bo’s smooth approach.

As he reached striking distance, Bo froze, his ears lifting and head swinging toward a narrow path beneath the ridge. Alex crouched down, ignoring the rabbit as it ripped past his tail and beelined it over the horizon. A small ATV rounded the bend, its riders stopping abruptly as they caught sight of them. Bo rose up, the tilt of his head mimicking the cockiness he held in human form. When the riders doubled back down the path, he snorted and broke into a jog toward the path, ignoring Alex’s growled warnings. Deciding that staying tight to his brother was infinitely better than allowing him free rein in the park, he followed Bo, catching up and steering them away from the road that led to the Keys.

And Charlotte.

The slow descent of the sun cooled the desert sand a fraction, easing the discomfort on his paws while he and Bo explored the clusters of rocks and boulders that were scattered throughout the terrain. One run-in with a small rattlesnake under a pile of stones had tempered Bo’s curiosity, allowing Alex to guide their explorations through the areas he was most familiar with. As the sun began to turn the sky a soft orange, he nudged Bo back toward the ridge where their clothes were tucked away from view.

He really did miss it. Running alongside Bo and Ryan, completely unencumbered by everything that weighed heavily on their minds day in and day out.

Work and money.

Pirithous.

Home.

Charlotte.

Turning his nose toward the setting sun, he let out a long, low howl. Bo circled him, purposely flicking his snout with his tail before he joined in, his distinctive gravelly barks drawing the attention of the coyotes and setting off a chorus of yelps that echoed through the park until the sun finally disappeared.

*

Charlotte spun forMax, nervously anticipating his response.

“Keep the bustier and go back to the jeans,” he finally stated. “The skirt gives a trashy vibe, and the leather pants are more dominatrix than you can pull off.” He sprawled out on her sofa and dug back into a bag of popcorn. “And hurry the hell up.”

Returning to her bedroom, she pulled her jeans on and grabbed a pair of heels from her closet. She stood in front of the mirror, scanning herself from every angle while she ran her fingers through her hair to loosen the few renegade curls that were holding their bounce more than she wanted.

“Comeon!” Max hollered, smacking her door. “Alex has seen you in your work uniform. Trust me when I say anything else is a step up.”

With a huff, she joined her partner and followed him to his truck, climbing in and pushing a pile of takeout bags to the floor. “You’re disgusting.”

He grinned, slipping his sunglasses on and revving the engine. “But I’m hot, so women overlook it.”

Thinking back to Alex’s trailer, she hummed in agreement.

Max tore onto the highway, blasting the music and air-conditioning as he flew down the road toward the Washout, oblivious to her increasing nerves.

What if Alex’s brother didn’t like her?

What if she didn’t like him?

Did any of it really matter since everything they had was temporary?

“You aren’t going to wear that jacket all night, are you?” he asked, pulling into a tight spot. “It’s ugly and makes your boobs look small.”

Fixing him with a dead stare, she pushed the offending clothing off her shoulders and tossed it into the back of his truck. “I don’t know why I even talk to you anymore.”

“Because I tolerate you.” He elbowed her in the ribs before stopping to flip one of her straps. “Let’s go get me laid.”

The Washout was packed, forcing them to jostle through the crowd to find the rest of the rangers and agents. As they closed in on their table, she caught sight of Alex crouched beside a stunning redhead, his arm resting on her chair and his eyes locked on her plunging neckline. When he trailed one finger along her thigh and wedged his hand between her knees, her stomach plummeted and she took a step backward.

“Before you walk out of here or slash any tires, that’s not me. And you look incredible.”

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