Page 79 of Every Little Kiss
Heart in her throat, Liv watched in silence as Paxton shook his head.
“All right, then just have him sit, and you know the rest.”
Paxton turned to face Bullseye, who was on his side on the floor. As soon as Paxton made eye contact, the dog stood up. Paxton stood taller, and taking a big breath, he said, “Sit.” And the dog sat. “Good boy. Salute.”
Paxton stuck his hand on his forehead in example, and Bullseye saluted. The table erupted in applause, and when Paxton turned around, he didn’t look scared. He looked proud.
Happy.
Liv hopped up to give him a big hug, but Ford slid her a gentle look. “Good job, Bullseye. Look at all the pretty ladies who want to hug you.” Then he turned to Paxton and lifted his hand. “That was awesome.”
“Awesome,” Paxton said, smacking Ford a high five.
And Liv understood. For Paxton the reward wasn’t the praise—it was being treated like any normal kid who’d taught a dog a trick.
“Amazing,” Liv said to Paxton, her gaze locking with Ford.
With a toothy grin, Paxton grabbed Bullseye’s leash and ran back out the front door, joyous laughter rising in his wake.
Ford stood on the threshold silently looking at Liv, which worked for her because she couldn’t stop looking at him. Her friends, she noticed, were looking at what was happening, so Liv excused herself and walked Ford into the other room.
“I feel like I keep saying thank you, but thank you.”
“He’s a strong kid, Liv. And you’ve done a great job,” he said, brushing his knuckles against her fingers. “I’d better go grab Bullseye. He stole one of your masks.”
“That one’s all his,” Liv said, wondering what it would take to make the man in front of her all hers. “I have five hundred more if you want one too?”
His lips twitched. “You into outlaws, cupcake?”
Her entire body reacted. But Liv knew better. He might flirt like an outlaw and even go from town to town looking for trouble like an outlaw, but Ford didn’t have the heart of an outlaw, because while he appeared to be a lone gun, Ford craved deep connections.
Otherwise he wouldn’t make a point to keep checking in on his friends. Ford was on the outside of all his relationships looking in, just waiting for an invitation.
“I’m into you,” she said, pressing her hands to his chest, and he groaned.
“A statement I’d love to explore.” Ford grabbed the loops on her pants and tugged her close, her nipples perking up for a nice hello. “In a place that doesn’t have so many ears listening.”
Liv turned to find both Avery and Grace craning their necks to peek. “How about that dinner you promised? I have Saturday night off. I just need to see if Carolyn is free to take Paxton home after camp.”
“You’re going to ask Carolyn to sit while you go out on a date?”
“No, I’m going to ask Carolyn if she wants to spend some time with her grandson. Celebrate his big day.” Spread her wings.
“I work until four,” he said—to her mouth.
“Does that mean you’ll be showing up in uniform?”
“Only if you agree to play assisting nurse,” he said, and with that he walked out the door.
Saturday, Ford had finished his second dog-training class, surprised to find that his students had shown up prepared, eager—and all in matchingWAG ANDWADDLEPATROLshirts and vests. The dogs in vests, the ladies in shirts, and everyone in neon pink—Dorothy had overseen the design.
They’d focused on dog cues and managed to get though leash techniques with only three inappropriate comments from Mavis. When it was over, the ladies presented him with a shirt of his own.
Which was how he found himself driving to Liv’s house in a pink muscle shirt that readLEASHMASTER.
Liv.
He’d spent most of his week on the phone, burning through his network of search-and-rescue guys trying to find a few willing to work the ropes course—for free. And the rest of it fantasizing about his dinner with Liv.
