Page 82 of Kage

“You sure of that?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure. We’ve bonded.”

“You know what? He’s a sweet dog. Surprising given how grouchy you are.”

I snorted as I opened the door. “Not what you said two days ago.”

“A lot has changed in two days.”

“So it has.” The place smelled of old wood, stale liquor, and cigarette smoke, although a sign was posted about no smoking being allowed. Maybe I was being a gentleman or just keeping up the act she’d created, but I kept my hand on the small of her back as I led her to the long bar.

“Well, if it isn’t our newest local hero,” Jarvis said as soon as we approached the bar. “And who is this lovely creature? I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Very funny,” I groused.

She slipped onto a barstool, studying the two of us with a gleam in her eye.

Tank woofed, announcing his presence.

“Tank. Hey, boy. I wasn’t certain if I’d ever see you again, buddy.” He leaned over the bar and Tank jumped up, planting his two front paws on the bar’s surface.

“You know Tank?” she asked.

“Sure do. A Marine used to own him. They were inseparable. How’s he doing?” Jarvis scratched behind his ears.

“Doing great. Tennis balls. That’s the key.”

“What happened to the Marine? Why did he give up his dog?” she asked, darting her head from Tank back to me.

Jarvis looked at me as if asking permission to tell her. I shrugged in response.

“Killed in the line of duty. Broke his heart to leave his dog behind.” Jarvis was straightforward with the information.

She sat back, a forlorn look on her face. “That’s terrible.” When she looked at me again, I could tell she was searching for more answers.

She wasn’t going to find anything she wanted to hear.

“What can I get the two of you?” Jarvis reached under the bar, pulling out a canister. Tank sniffed out what he was getting, his tail thumping back and forth. The older man was playful, teasing the pup before giving him the biscuit.

“Red wine if you have it,” Juliette told him. Her pretty face was pinched.

“Just a Budweiser and a whiskey chaser.” I shook my head as I watched Tank inhale the dog treat.

“You got it. Starting a tab?”

“Just one drink,” I told him.

Jarvis nodded, walking away.

Juliette shifted in her seat, trying to act like she was interested in the bar. There was no doubt she had something else on her mind.

“What?” I barked.

“The perfume. What’s the deal?”

How the hell was I supposed to answer that? Briefly, my mind wandered to the last time I’d inhaled the sweet perfume. The pain was still fresh. “Nothing. Just not into flowers.”

“What are you into?”

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