“Hey, Bell. Haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”
“I’m helping my parents out tonight. They’re out cutting a rug at the men’s club event.”
“You doing well?”
“Yep. We’re closing out a busy year at work.”
“How’s Magnolia doing?”
It happened often enough, she wasn’t sure why she was surprised any longer. The small talk as a method to ask about her sister. The pretend friendliness that was really just a fishing expedition.
“Maggie’s good. She had a hot date tonight so she abandoned me in favor of a night of dinner and dancing.”
Bellamy handed over the sub, not surprised when the coach’s face fell. And while she’d not-so-delicately delivered news he obviously didn’t want to hear, it didn’t make the facts of Maggie’s plans any less true. The besotted coach paid and was on his way out without saying much more.
“Did he even notice Alex was back here?” Donovan marveled once the guy was gone, the scent of his spicy sub wafting in his wake.
“He deals with teenagers all day. I suspect it takes a lot to rile him.”
“Maybe.” Donovan bent and took the now-empty paper plate. “Guess Alex got his appetite back.”
She dropped to her knee and rubbed the silky head. The puppy’s gaze caught on hers, his brown eyes trusting as he stared up at her. “He sure is sweet.”
“Don’t let him fool you. He’s a Lego thief.”
Bellamy rubbed a bit harder before laughing when the puppy presented his belly for additional petting. “He’s at risk of being spoiled.” Pulling her hand back, she realized the potential danger of her lavish affection. “Should I be doing that? Am I going to put his training at risk?”
“There are hard-core guys among my numbers who may not agree with me, but I think part of his training is also knowing there’s praise and affection. A few belly rubs after this evening’s trauma shouldn’t do too much damage.”
When Alex’s wiggles of ecstasy quickly faded to longer breaths and droopy eyes, she gave him a final pat and stood, coming face-to-face with Donovan.
Goodness, the man was attractive. His dark hair was cut close and showed off a sharply angled face and strong jaw. He was thick in build, but there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. Instead, he looked competent.
Capable.
And no one to mess with.
It made the warm eyes and sexy smile that much more powerful. Like she’d tempted him just the slightest bit to go against character.
“You mentioned closing out a busy year to that guy. You don’t work here?”
“This is my parents’ store. I grew up working here and can still be counted on to take a shift every now and again.”
“This place is a Whisperwood institution.”
She laughed at that, the description not quite how she’d have classified a small town corner store. “One they know about all the way up in Austin?”
“My family’s here in Whisperwood. I grew up here and Mr. Reeves could always be counted on for a summer popsicle or a late night cup of coffee. I just came down for the evening for a family Christmas party and to put my dog at risk of my niece and her Legos.”
She glanced at the clock and thought that eight was awfully early for an evening family party to end, but held the thought. Maybe they started early or maybe the kids had to go to bed. But...it raised questions.
“How long have you been a part of the APD?”
“I went in straight out of college, so a few years now. I’ve wanted K-9, and Alex is my first opportunity.”
She did the quick math, estimating he was about four or five years younger than her. The thought was briefly unsettling—she usually went for older guys—but there was something about him that made the question of age seem more arbitrary than anything else.
Perhaps you’ve been looking in the wrong places, Bellamy Reeves.
Catching herself staring, she refocused on Alex. “You’re responsible for his training?”
“A good part of it. There’s a formal program for the entire K-9 team and their handlers, but we’re paired. He lives with me and works with me.”
She glanced down at the now-sleeping puppy and considered what that must be like. Fun, in a way, but what a responsibility. “What will he be able to do?”
“Once he’s fully trained? He’ll run the gamut on what he can find, including humans, drugs and bombs.”
“Wow.”
As she eyed the jean-clad form that even now leaned against her counter, she had to admit Donovan Colton made an impressive figure. And it wasn’t just his body, though she could hardly deny that she found him attractive.
Wow was right.
There was an intensity about him. Some indefinable quality that intrigued her.
He was interesting. And she’d often found the opposite of attractive men, especially if her sister’s long list of past boyfriends was any indication. It was as if somehow masculine features, a firm jaw and a sparkling smile negated any sense of humanity or interest in the world around them.
But not this guy.
“The K-9 team is designed to work across cases so we can go where we’re needed. There are six others in the APD. Alex and I will make seven.”
“It’s impressive. And while he’s obviously got great promise, you’ve got a big year ahead of you. I wish you the best.”
“Thanks.” Donovan’s gaze dropped toward the sleeping puppy before lifting back to her. “So if you don’t work here, what do you do?”
“I’m an employee at Lone Star Pharmaceutical. I’m just helping out here since my parents had plans tonight.”
“LSP. That’s impressive. Are you a chemist or something?”
“No, I’m in finance.” Ignoring the whisper through her mind of Maggie’s continued admonitions to showcase herself in the best light, Bellamy pressed on. “They’re wise to keep me away from beakers. Other than warming things up in a microwave, I avoid anything that involves cooking or open flames.”
“Maybe I should consider inviting you to dinner, then, instead of risking you making anything behind that counter for me.”
“Maybe.”
“What time do you get off tonight?”
“I close up at ten and this is small town Texas. Nothing’s open then.”
“What about next week?”
“Sure. I—” She broke off when a distracted air came over his face, his hand dropping to the phone clipped at the waist of his jeans.
“I’m sorry. I’m getting a dispatch.”
He excused himself and moved around the counter toward the door, his gaze morphing from friendly and sexy to straight cop.
Alex stirred, his senses on immediate alert at the emotional change in the atmosphere. He was on his feet and scrambling toward Donovan in a heartbeat. When he reached Donovan, he sat immediately, his little body arrow straight.
Bellamy marveled at it, the ease and trust she could already see between the two of them. If the dog was this responsive to training at ten weeks, she couldn’t imagine what he’d become once fully grown.
The