Page 64 of Operation K-9 Brothers
Chapter Eighteen
Jack’s doctor’s appointment was today, and Nichole waited for his promised call.Things had been going great since they had committed to each other.Almost too great.
They were spending their nights together, Rambo was a new and improved dog under Jack’s tutelage, Mark was evolving into someone she actually liked—again because of Jack—and, no kidding, she could actually tango.Not at Jack’s level of expertise, but she wasn’t embarrassed to dance it with him in public, which they’d done twice now.
He hadn’t lied when he’d said it was making love with their clothes on.The second time he’d taken her dancing, when the music had ended, she’d dragged him to the ladies’ room, pushed him up against the door so no one else could enter, and then had her way with him.
“Damn, baby, that was hot,” he’d rasped afterward.“I might have to tango with you every night if this is what it does to you.”
“It’s you that does this to me,” she’d said.
There were so many facets of Jack, which made him endlessly fascinating.There was the SEAL who was a protector as she’d learned firsthand each time Lane made an appearance.And living inside his ripped body, under all those hard muscles, was a soft heart.One that had tracked down his wounded dog, bringing Dakota home to heal.He was a man who gave hours of his time away volunteering at the service dog place.
For a highly trained warrior, he was a surprisingly patient man, whether he was teaching her to dance or dealing with her rambunctious puppy.What she loved the most about him, though, was the way his eyes turned soft when he looked at her.She was falling hard for him, but that didn’t worry her anymore.Not since he’d admitted to feeling the same and wanting to continue their relationship through his deployments.
It would be hard, knowing he was in danger and worrying that he’d return safely to her.But he was a man worth every single sleepless night she knew she’d have, wondering if he was safe.
She glanced at the clock.His doctor’s appointment was three hours ago.He should have called her by now.Apprehension curled its slithery fingers around her.Something was wrong.Jack always kept his promises.
“Where is he, Rambo?”Her dog looked up from his place next to the edge of her table where he’d been quietly watching people passing by.Quietlywas the key word and something she appreciated.She called Jack, getting his voice mail.
“Hey, it’s me.I was just thinking of you.Give me a call when you get a chance.”
Unfortunately, she was stuck here until at least five, or she’d go to him.When her phone vibrated, thinking it was Jack, she swiped the screen, belatedly realizing it was Turner Hutchins’s name showing.What did he want?
“Nichole speaking.”She was still furious with him and didn’t want to talk to him, but she was too curious to hang up on the man who’d given Rat Bastard Trevor the commission he had promised her.
“This is Turner Hutchins.How are you, Nichole?”
So now she was supposed to play nice after what he’d done?“Is there a reason you’re calling me?”
“There is.I haven’t been able to get ahold of Trevor.Since he said you’re teaming up with him on my dishes, I thought I’d get an update from you.”
Damn Trevor!“I am not and will not be helping Trevor with your dishes, Mr.Hutchins.I would, however, appreciate getting my samples back.”
A few seconds of silence, and then, “Trevor has those.”
Just as she thought.“I see.Then we have nothing else to say.Good day.”
Let him stew on that.Obviously, Trevor was avoiding Hutchins, which meant that Trevor wasn’t going to deliver what he’d promised, at least not on time.Turner Hutchins hadn’t blinked when he’d given Trevor the commission she’d been promised, so she didn’t feel any sympathy.
It was a hard lesson learned, but she had more important things to think about, namely, where the devil was Jack, and why hadn’t he called?There was probably a reasonable explanation—the doctor was running really late, maybe Jack met up with Deke for a beer, or...well, she couldn’t think of another reason why he wouldn’t have called.
Those were explanations, but she didn’t believe they were true.One thing she’d learned about Jack was that if he said he was going to do something, he did it.Even if he was meeting up with Deke or anyone really, he would have called her.Something was wrong.She just knew it.
The building’s manager wasn’t going to be happy if he came by and saw her booth’s night-gate closed, but she didn’t care.She couldn’t ignore the feeling that Jack needed her.
After she locked up for the night, she loaded Rambo into the car.She’d drop him off at home before heading for Jack’s house.When she walked inside, Mark grabbed her and danced her in a circle.
“What was that for?”she asked when he let go.
A big smile lit his face.“I just got off the phone with Jack’s gamer friend.He likes my game, and he has some suggestions for improving it.”
“That’s great, Mark.”There were so many things to thank Jack for.She just needed to find him so she could thank him properly—lots of kisses would be a good start.
“Have you talked to Jack this afternoon?”
Mark shook his head.“No.I called him as soon as I got off the phone with Clint...that’s his friend.Got Jack’s voice mail, so I left him a message.I was kind of hoping he might want to meet up for a beer.You know, a little celebration.”He shrugged.“I know it’s not a done deal, but it’s cool that someone in the business is actually going to give me feedback on my game.”
