Page 16 of Surge

“Wow,” Walker said. “He’s more beautiful than the picture Sam showed me.”

Oh, that’s right. She remembered now . . . “You were the chief for the team Sam was on.”

He smiled. “I was.”

“This boy may be a working dog, but you can pet him. He loves being petted.”

Walker clicked his tongue, and Surge responded. KONG dangling, he popped up and came toward the SEAL, who smoothed a hand down the Mal’s spine, then gave him some solid chest rubs.

Heath clapped her shoulder. “Maverick here will be at the briefing tomorrow, so y’all can get acquainted between now and shipping out.”

Walker jerked, his gaze snagging hers. “Wait,thisis Maverick?” He scowled. “She’s a woman!”

“Yes . . .” She glanced between him and Heath. “That a problem?”

“Yeah, it’s a problem—I mean, no—” He huffed, then turned to Heath. “No way, man. I thought Maverick was some operator you knew.”

“That right?” Calm and controlled, Heath reached over and took Surge’s lead.

Delaney frowned and tensed. But something in his gaze told her to trust him, so she released it.

He shifted to Walker and extended the end of the leash to him.

Walker took a step back. He’d spent time with Sam and Tsunami, so he likely was well aware of what these dogs were capable of, how one wrong move could mean a gnawed-off limb or worse. “I’m not?—”

“Exactly. You’re not.” Heath’s jaw muscle jounced. “But if you can get Surge to go through that tire side and not the window, I’ll reconsider.”

Walker’s angry fists were like rocks he was about to throw at her. He snatched the lead away.

First mistake . . .

And stalked over the yard.

Second mistake.

“Emotion travels down lead,” she murmured, seeing the way Surge closed his mouth and trotted alongside. “He’s tense.”

“Both of them,” Crew muttered. “Think Surge will eat him alive?”

“Let’s hope our boy takes a chunk out of the SEAL’s pride.” Heath folded his arms, then cupped his hands over his mouth. “Put him in a sit, then send him.”

The guy walked him over to the last obstacle and faced it, his shoulders still bunched. “Sit.”

But Surge glanced back at her, as if asking why he got stuck with the jerk.

“Hey. Sit.” Walker’s commands were louder.

Surge watched Delaney and finally lowered his backside to the grass.

“Now . . . do it! Go!”

Surge rushed forward, then diverted to Delaney.

The explosion of relief in her chest almost made it hard to breathe as Surge came to a heel at her side. She secured his lead and tried hard not to gloat at the SEAL. And failed miserably.

“Okay, okay, point made,” Walker said as he came back to them. “But you have to admit, the odds were stacked against me here.”

Seriously, who was this guy? “No wonder they call you Bear.”

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