Page 27 of Colorado K-9 Rescue

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“We have to stay professional, don’t we, Mocha?” Mckenna said. Talking to her dog helped her feel better sometimes. And focus. She heard Mocha emit a deep, contented sigh. “Plus, what makes me think he’s even interested? Who apologizes for crossing a line after kissing a girl? A good guy who knows that we work together, that’s who. What do you think, Mocha? Is this a mistake? According to Cassidy it’s a mistake.”

There was no answer except for snoring sounds.

“You’re not much help.”

Mckenna thought about the conversation with her sister the previous night. Cassidy had called after hearing a rumor that oneof the secretaries in the office had seen Mckenna kiss Evan at the coffee shop.

“Why did I do that in public? Huh, Mocha?”

Cassidy had warned Mckenna that Evan was only out for himself. All he wanted was a promotion, no matter whom it hurt along the way. Evan was using her to solve this case and when it was over, he’d be done with Mckenna. Gone. Maybe even transferred again if by some chance the FBI did decide to promote him. Cassidy didn’t want to see her get hurt.

But the fact was, Mckenna was beginning to think it was worth the risk. Evan was everything that Cassidy said—driven, wanting a promotion, “work first, didn’t matter who it hurt” kind of guy—but she’d seen another side to him. One that she really liked and wanted to get to know better. He was the first guy she’d ever been with who seemed to want to get to knowher. Not the kidnapped girl who was famous, but Mckenna for who she was.

Deep in her thoughts, Mckenna glanced in her rearview mirror. Her heart thudded quicker as she gripped the steering wheel. There it was. The blue Jeep following her. Again. She couldn’t make out the driver. How could she manage to get the license plate and see the driver better? At a stoplight? Mckenna got off at the next exit and pretended to be going to a gas station. For once, she was hoping for a red light, but it stayed green, and she had to keep going. There was a gas station and small food mart up the hill.

Mckenna turned in and slowed down, making the Jeep also slow down. The driver was male, but he had on a hat and sunglasses. He sped up and she couldn’t identify him, but there was something familiar. She managed to write down the plate number to give to Evan. This was too much of a coincidence. She was being followed and she didn’t like it.

Turning back out of the gas station, Mckenna continued onto Lily’s house, keeping an eye on who was behind her, but the vehicle never appeared again. The person had to know she’d seen him. But what scared her more was that the driver was bold and didn’t seem to care.

Mckenna found the driveway for Lily’s house, and as she wound her way down the hill to the residence, was glad she didn’t have to clear this driveway in the wintertime. Evan was leaning against his vehicle. She saw him before he saw her. His arms were crossed, accentuating his muscles, and he was gazing off toward the mountain peaks, seemingly content. Even happy. She’d never seen him like that at the office. Ever. It only made him more appealing and attractive.

She parked and stepped out of the vehicle. When Evan turned in her direction, Mckenna’s heart pounded a little faster. Was it her imagination or was he admiring her? Before she did something she regretted, like kissing Evan with witnesses again, Mckenna went to get Mocha out of the vehicle.

“Morning,” Evan said behind her. “You need help getting Mocha out?”

He’d come over and was standing behind her, a slight grin on his face that made his blue eyes twinkle. His hair was still wet from a shower.

I’d love to shower with him.

The thought crossed Mckenna’s mind before she could stop it and her face flushed red. “No, I got him. Thanks, though.”

“You okay?” Evan asked.

Although thoughts of being with Evan had distracted her briefly, she was still feeling the anxiety from the Jeep following her. She stopped opening Mocha’s crate. “I saw it again.”

“It?”

“The blue Jeep. This time I saw the driver. He was a white male, but he was wearing a hat and sunglasses, so I couldn’t make out more than that. I pulled into a gas station, and he kept going. I was able to get the license plate information.”

“I can run the plates.”

“That would be great. Thank you,” Mckenna said. “I’ll give you the information after we talk to Lily.”

Mckenna went back to unloading Mocha. She set up the stairs for him to go down and when he touched the ground, Mocha started wagging his tail at Evan, a big doggy grin on his face. Evan crouched down and encouraged Mocha to come and say hello.

“Morning, buddy,” Evan said. “No drooling on me today, okay?”

Mocha wagged his tail in response and leaned up against Evan, almost pushing him over.

“Looks like you need some love this morning,” Mckenna said, instantly regretting her choice of words.

“I do,” Evan said, standing. “Ready to go to work?”

“I am.” Mckenna and Mocha followed Evan. This time she was mentally prepared for their talk with Lily. Whatever Lily shared wouldn’t be such a shock.

Mckenna wanted nothing more than to find the person who did this so she could quit being followed and they could all move on with their lives.

CHAPTER 18