Page 52 of Falling for Brody

Brody knew that Rhea wasn't much of a hugger.

Oh, she'd hug her son. She'd also hugged Missus Hardy, he still had a hard time calling her Bea.

But people she knew but didn't feel close to were in the easy to firm handshake group.

"I hope I didn't interrupt," she met Gabriel's gaze before turning to him. "I can reset the supplies."

She turned to head over to the rig, but he put out a hand and touched her shoulder.

He felt her tense at his touch and let her go gently. "Sorry," he murmured softly. "Gabe was just showing me the dog they're getting."

That put a smile on her face and eased the tension that he'd put there. "Another dog?"

Gabriel nodded. Turning his phone around and setting it in Rhea's hand. "Brody was already giving me shit about his name."

Brody saw the look she gave him over the top of Gabriel's phone.

Brody reached out and smacked his cousin on the arm. "Tell her you were joking."

Brody saw Rhea look at Gabriel and he did too because Gabriel was silent.

Gabriel shrugged. "You did give me shit over his name. Roland is a good name for a dog."

Rhea winced a little. "It's a nice name. But maybe not my choice for a dog."

Gabriel folded his arms again. "Really? Both of you?"

Rhea narrowed her gaze a little. "Roland is... German?"

Smiling, Gabriel nodded. "The trainer said it means Glory of the Land."

Brody nodded at that. "Okay. It's not half bad."

Gabriel grumbled at him. "I'm done asking you."

Brody shrugged, but it was Rhea who spoke again.

"Working dog?"

Gabriel nodded. "I've been wanting a K-9 for a few years, but Fallport doesn't have the budget for one." He turned his head to look at Rhea. "Misty knows afewpeople."

Rhea smiled back at him. "Yeah. I bet she does. Did you get Roland through one of her contacts?"

"Yeah. He's barely costing us anything in the long run."

Brody's forehead furrowed. "How? Those dogs are big ticket items."

"Well, I talked to the Chief, and we didn't really need a dog who could subdue suspects."

Brody nodded. "Not many people around here that we'd need to bring to heel with a dog wrapped around their arm or leg."

Rhea shuddered at that. "Thank goodness."

Gabriel continued. "Which ended up just fine because that's why they can't send Roland to the police department he was being trained for. They need a fur missile."

Rhea turned to Brody and mouthed 'Fur Missile.'

Brody shrugged at her. "So what is he going to do for Fallport's Police Force?"

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