Page 53 of Jolene's Justice

“Hey, you here for lunch?” she asked Brodhi, glancing over his shoulder for Finch.

“Yeah. And some rest.” She could see the weariness etched into his face, his eyes heavy with fatigue. At forty-four years old, Brodhi was one of the oldest Nighthawks, but his fitness level was on par with the rest of them. His well-defined muscles, including his broad shoulders, wide chest, and bulging biceps, were proof of that.

His grizzled appearance hinted at his age, even though he was able to out-compete men who were much younger. The wrinkles on his face and his salt and pepper hair betrayed his years. He was a handsome silver fox, yet a bit of a loner. He kept his distance from everyone except Sorcha, who seemed to have a special connection with him.

“Where’s Finch?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t reveal the longing she felt to see him.

“He stayed to make sure the helo got fueled up again.”

Trying to mask her disappointment, she simply said, “Oh.”

Brodhi’s sly smile made it clear that she hadn’t done a very good job. “Don’t worry. He said he was right behind me.”

“Okay.” That pepped her up a little. The rain had slowed, and the rescue workers took advantage of the lull to regroup and assess the situation. There had been more mudslides, which were hampering ground rescues. Hence why Brodhi and Finch had been working nonstop. “Can I get you anything?”

He eyed the pan of the bubbling lasagna. “I wouldn’t mind a hunk of that.”

“Sit down,” she said, pointing to a stool at the counter. She sliced up a large portion of the lasagna and set it down in front of him with a bottle of water and a couple of slices of garlic bread. Then she got a bowl and filled it with water before setting it on the floor for Sorcha.

Brodhi pulled out a packet of food from one of the many pockets in his vest. “Can I get another bowl for Sorcha’s lunch?”

“Sure thing.” She handed him a second bowl, then bent over the counter, resting on her elbows, as she kept him company. The room filled with the sounds of Sorcha chomping down on her food. “Is Sorcha the first K9 you’ve worked with?”

His expression turned hard, which made Jolene almost regret her question. “No. I’ve had others.”

“That’s nice. Did they retire? You were a K9 handler in the military, right? I can imagine that’s a hard job for a dog to do long term.”

“Unfortunately, no. They died.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Lost in action?”

“No. There was a fire at the kennel where the dogs were housed.” Jolene’s jaw dropped as she looked at Brodhi in disbelief. A shadow seemed to pass over his eyes, lending them a dark and foreboding look. It was clear that the loss had left a lasting impact on him. And who wouldn’t be affected? She could only imagine how devastating something like that would be for the handlers who worked so closely with the dogs. She could see the strong relationship between Sorcha and Brodhi. It was probably even more intense when you were in a war zone and could have to risk your life for the other.

As if sensing her handler’s dark mood, Sorcha ambled over and sat beside him. She leaned against his leg and looked up at him as if he hung the moon. As Brodhi scratched her behind the ears, the dog’s tongue lolled out in a relaxed grin.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, the words feeling inadequate.

Brodhi shrugged. “It was a long time ago.” Jolene had the sense there was more to the story, but she didn’t want to push. Frankly, she was surprised he’d disclosed that part of his past with her. Brodhi was a private person who didn’t share much with others, and she respected that. At least for now.

Her phone rang, and she looked at the screen, delighted to see it was Finch calling. “Hey,” she said after swiping to answer.

“Jolie,” he answered, sounding breathless.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. We just got a call for another rescue. I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn’t worry. I’m hoping to be done by dinner. Save me a seat.”

“Sure. Brodhi’s here. Do you want me to send him back to you?” Brodhi sat straighter in his seat, Sorcha almost matching his stiff posture.

“No. I can handle this one on my own. I’m just getting one person from a cabin on River View Drive. Should be a piece of cake.”

“All right. Be careful.”

“Always. I . . .” He trailed off, hesitating as if he had more to say but stopped. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah, see you soon,” she replied before clicking off, feeling inexplicitly disappointed. It was then she realized she’d been waiting to hear three little words. Was she ready for them?

Her gut said yes. Her head cautioned it was too soon. But was it? Too soon? She felt like she’d always loved him in some way. Even when she was so incredibly mad at him. She had been developing a strong like for him before the bombshell that had been dropped on her. A like that felt as if it had the potential to grow into more. Perhaps she’d been kidding herself and the like was already more. And that was why his perceived betrayal had cut so deeply.

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