Page 32 of No Sweet Goodbyes

Daisy isn’t just a service animal. She isn’t just another working K-9 partner. Daisy started as Danny’s partner in the Marine Corps. And after he died, Remy moved mountains to make sure that she could come home, to be with family. When Remy got home, he fought for Daisy to go to work with him.

Daisy’s entire life has been spent serving with Remy, Danny, Linc, and me, along with the rest of our team. Losing her will be just as bad as losing Danny had been.

“Life’s too short, man.” Remy’s words catch me by surprise.

“I know.” I can’t remember a time when Daisy wasn’t there, reminding all of us about living our best lives.

“I don’t think you do.” He lowers his voice. “You’re going back. To the sand. I don’t blame you, because you were always the best over there. But you’re going back without us. I know we’re all butting into your business, and I know you’re tired of it. Believe me, I know. But you’ll be a fool if you leave without trying.” He doesn’t have to say her name. He doesn’t have to say anything else because I’m stuck and he knows it.

Like she knows we’re talking about her, Emma and Daisy both look up. My eyes are locked on Emma, and I can’t look away when she brushes a strand of her bangs out of her face. Her hazel eyes flash with unrestrained humor as her eyes lock on mine. Then that little minx winks at me.

Winks.

Right in front of everyone.

Remy snorts, not missing a beat. “Daisy.” He whistles sharply. “Time to go to work.”

Immediately, Daisy stops what she’s doing and sits back on her haunches. Her chest heaves and her tongue lolls out of her mouth, but she sits at attention like she’s been trained to.

“Thank you, Remy.” Emma smiles brightly. “I needed that after that headache earlier.”

“No problem,” he answers with a pat on her shoulder. Then he and Daisy walk out without another word.

Work gets back to normal, as much as it can with the shift change happening.

I check my watch and then decide I’ve done enough for the day. Besides, I need to get home and get the fire started, because Linc is going to show up whether I want him to or not. With everyone from our unit in tow, too.

I’m walking out, doing my best to ignore the women’s locker room where Emma has vanished to change, before the door opens and I’m caught completely off guard.

Well, not completely. I was staring at the door even if I want to lie to myself and say that I wasn’t.

She walks out with her duffel hanging on her arm and a familiar shirt on her back, almost big enough for it to be a dress.

It’s dark blue, emblazoned with bright silver letters reading MCJA across the front. Her leggings poke out from under it, and her blond hair is wrapped in a bun on top of her head, making her look like she’s sixteen all over again.

Except when she walks by, leaving me with my mouth hanging open, I see the name plastered across the back.

“Hey,” I call out, not caring who’s watching. “That’s my shirt.”

“Yeah.” Emma looks at me over her shoulder, not quite turning all the way around. “It is. If you want it back, you know where to find it.”

“Where did Emma get your shirt?” Stryker scratches his head, not understanding the implication in Emma’s words.

Linc, however, claps his hands together with glee. “Oh shit, I get it now. That’s what happened to your truck.”

Another one of the officers who works nights, Carter Malone, snorts. “Avery stole my truck once. That was a fun night. I mean, fun for her. Not so much for my balls.”

Ignoring the growing crowd of people who can’t mind their own business, I turn and walk right back into Alex’s office.

That’s what I was headed to do earlier.

I almost forgot.

When he looks up at me with a surprised expression at my sudden intrusion, I bite my tongue for about a second before deciding to hell with it.

“I can’t be her training officer anymore.”

“You said the kiss didn’t mean anything.” His eyes flash, and I want to punch him for the reminder, even if he is my boss. “In fact, I seem to recall you assuring me that you were leaving for deployment, so it wouldn’t be an issue.”

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