Page 141 of Kage

That wouldn’t happen again. The last thing I wanted was for her to figure out the idiot commenting. She’d think she had a stalker. I was many things, including the asshole she’d insisted I’d become, but a stalker was off my list of proclivities.

Ignoring the pinging electricity from doing nothing more than thinking about her, I posted a few of the photographs from the morning, selecting my favorite for the profile pic. Sadie. At least it wasn’t a picture of my aging mug. I added a few words about what we did at the sanctuary and groaned. Nope. I would never win a Pulitzer for my creative writing skills, but the photos weren’t half bad. One managed to capture the mountains in the background.

Satisfied, I clicked out of the program. Before the end of the business day, I also needed to arrange for some deliveries. Maybe afterward I’d check on Jarvis’ grant idea.

As I picked up my phone, a series of visions flashed in front of my mind.

The rolling images of one dark night were as soul stealing as they always were, but as I closed my eyes, I relived the truth.

Not the nightmare I’d tried to force myself to believe.

As I took the phone into my hand, I shifted my gaze toward Tank, which I’d found myself doing every time I had a tough decision to make. Who could have known that the chocolate-eyed tennis ball demon would become such an important creature in my life.

Right now, he offered a doleful look, but also one similar to the look Jarvis had given me. “Don’t look at me that way. I’m warning you. I’m your dad.”

He didn’t make a single sound, but his tail thumped rapidly.

Maybe he was right. I was a chicken shit.

Before I lost my nerve, I dialed the number. I was ready to hang up when a voice sounded on the other end of the phone.

The slight hesitation was as difficult as knowing what to say.

So I just started and hoped for the best.

“Maddox. It’s Kage.”

Juliette

“Do you mind if I take a picture of your dog?” I asked.

The woman looked at me, immediately fearful. I would be too if I was approached by a strange woman holding a camera, interrupting my peaceful dog walk. Her dog, a gorgeous black lab, pulled on his leash, trying to get to me. His tail was wagging, his big brown eyes as soulful as I remembered with Tank. Why did I keep doing this to myself?

“Well, I guess.” She was skeptical as hell.

“I promise. Just a couple.” I hunkered down and the dog broke free, lunging toward me.

Just like Tank used to do.

The woman immediately reacted, calling his name while I started giggling. He was huge, knocking me straight on my butt. “Oh, you are so adorable!”

“Bonzo. Heel. Come here, boy. Don’t do that to the nice lady.”

Bonzo licked my face, his big tongue slickening my skin. My neck. My arms. My camera. But I didn’t care, enjoying the moment where I could laugh without hesitation. “It’s okay. He’s so sweet.”

“I’m so sorry. He doesn’t take to strangers. I can tell he likes you. That means you’re a dog person.” She finally got control of him. “Sit, Bonzo. Good boy.”

“I didn’t use to be.” I sat back, wiping my camera lens on my jeans.

“How come?”

“My dad never let me have one as a child, so I was just afraid of them.”

“This little man is a lover. He’s the reason I get up every morning.”

“I can tell he’s very special.” I moved onto my knees, pointing the camera and adjusting the focus. After snapping a few photographs, I couldn’t stop thinking about Tank.

“What’s this for?”

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