Page 38 of Operation K-9 Brothers
Chapter Eleven
“He’s a hundred percent better since I’ve started working with him,” Nichole said at the end of Rambo’s training session.He was even behaving better when she brought him with her to the River Arts District.He still had his puppy moments, but they were fewer and farther between, thankfully.
Jack leaned down and massaged Rambo’s shoulders.“I’d be questioning my training skills if he wasn’t.”He straightened, then glanced at her.“But a hundred percent better still isn’t the dog he can be for you.We’ll get him there.”
She especially liked thewepart, meaning that Jack would still be around to help her train Rambo.He seemed different tonight.Happier.He was quick to laugh or make a joke, but there’d always been something lingering in his eyes that had made her think his laughter and joking around was a front for the pain he tried to hide.She didn’t know if it was physical pain or mental or a combination of both, but it had been there from the first day she’d met him until tonight.
“Something’s different about you,” she said.At his raised brow, she lifted her hand to his cheek.“You seem happy.”
He leaned into her palm.“You make me happy.”
“I hope so, but so is something else.”
His eyes glittered like a child’s at Christmas.“I had a great day.”He took her hand.“Come on.I’ll pour you a glass of wine and tell you about it while I make you one of my favorite dinners.”
“Can I help do anything?”She was sitting at the small table in his kitchen.He handed her a glass of wine, then twisted the cap off a bottle of beer for himself.
“Nope.You just sit there and look pretty while keeping me company.I did all the prep this afternoon.You like Mexican, I hope.”
“Who doesn’t?Although if we’re having Mexican, I think I’d rather have a beer.”She pushed her untouched wine aside.
“My kind of woman.”He popped the cap off another bottle and brought it to her.“Trade you for a kiss.”
“Seems fair.”
He set the beer on the table, curled his fingers around her hair and tugged her head back, then covered her mouth with his.As he kissed her, his hand drifted to the curve of her breast, and he lazily drew circles with his thumb.Even with the barrier of her T-shirt, his touch sent shivers flowing through her.
“How important is dinner to you?”she said somewhat breathlessly when he let her up for air.
“Oh, no you don’t.I’m romancing you by way of feeding you my best meal.No dirty stuff is happening until after I’ve impressed you.”He brushed his thumb over her nipple, sending more quivers through her, then winked as he stepped away.“And then all bets are off.”
“Oh,” she whispered.“Can we eat fast then?”
He waggled a finger at her.“Nichole, you need to learn patience.Good things come to those who wait.”
“Says who?”
“Hell if I know.”
God, she loved that mischievous glint in his eyes.She bet he’d been a handful as a little boy.“You’re funny.”
“I used to be.”
“But not anymore?”Why did he think that when he easily made her laugh?
“Didn’t have much to laugh about after getting hurt.Things are starting to amuse me again, though.A part of that is that I’m healing, and I’ll be back with my team soon, and a part of that is because of you.You make me happy.”
How was she supposed to resist falling for him when he said things like that?When he looked at her as if she was the reason for that sweet smile on his face?Did she even want to try?Not really, but she had to.Once back with his team, he’d forget about her.But he was here now, and she was going to enjoy him while she could.
“I had an interesting day,” he said, leaning his back on the counter.“Did you know there’s a service dog training facility out on Old Mill Road?That’s out past Leicester.”
“No, I’ve never been out that way.”
“It’s a pretty drive.We’ll take a ride there sometime.Anyway, I stumbled on the facility and met the owner.”
“That sounds like something you’d really enjoy,” she said when he finished telling her about the volunteer opportunity.She loved how his eyes lit up with excitement.
A buzzer chimed, and he shot her a grin over his shoulder as he opened the oven door.“Yeah, it does.And I’m going a little stir crazy with nothing to do except physical therapy three days a week, so it gives me someplace else to go.”
