Page 20 of Only Her (K2 Team)
“Go play.” Off they went, and this time, they did their tossing-the-balls-to-each-other game. “I’ll be damned.” Pleased that she had stumbled on the trick Cody had alluded to, she leaned back against the bench and watched them.
“I’ve never seen dogs so well behaved,” Brooke said. “Is he a dog trainer?”
“I have no idea.” If he wasn’t, he should be. She’d never doubted Cody loved those dogs. Okay, maybe she’d wondered if he did when she’d embarrassed herself that first time she’d taken him to task for letting them play near the street.
She thought back to that first morning when he’d walked out onto his porch wearing nothing but his sweatpants, showing off a male body the likes of which she’d only seen in magazines. What she wouldn’t give to slide her fingers over his sculpted chest and muscled arms.
His declaration that it wasn’t the right time or place for them had her wondering at his reason for saying such a thing. Maria had said he’d been the SEAL team’s sniper, and Riley had the feeling that whatever Cody’s issues were, they had something to do with that time in his life. She hadn’t planned to watchAmerican Sniper, but maybe she should. It might help her understand him better.
Her phone buzzed with a text.
Police are here to take your report.
Riley texted Michelle that she’d be there in a few minutes.
“Time to go back. Thanks for coming with me.”
“It was fun,” Brooke said, sliding the strap of her purse over her shoulder.
Riley called to the dogs and they came running to her, standing still as she clipped their leashes to their collars. As she walked toward her car with Brooke alongside her, she noticed a woman standing outside the fence, watching her. She wore a bulky coat, a ball cap with the brim pulled down, and large sunglasses, hiding her face. The dogs playing with their balls had probably caught her attention. Riley waved, and the woman stared at her for a few more seconds before walking away.
“Weird,” Brooke said. “Guess she didn’t like you waving to her.”
Actually, it had creeped Riley out. She loaded the dogs into her car. On the way back, she glanced into the rearview mirror. “You guys have fun?” Both dogs barked, assuring her that they had.
“Would’ve been more fun if their daddy had come with us,” Brooke grumbled.
What Riley didn’t say was that if Cody had been with her, Brooke wouldn’t have been invited.
At the clinic, she got Sally and Pretty Girl back into their kennel before going to the waiting room. A uniformed officer awaited her, which was disappointing. She’d hoped for a detective.
“Hi. I’m Dr.Austin.” She held out her hand.
“Officer Kilpatrick.”
After shaking hands, she led him back to her office. “Would you like something to drink? I’ve got water and sodas.”
“No thank you, ma’am. I understand you think someone’s poisoning pets?”
“I don’t think, I know. Have a seat.” He was maybe a few years older than she, and with his short blond hair worn in what she thought of as a typical cop cut, and cornflower-blue eyes, he was definitely good-looking. Although he wasn’t as muscled as Cody, he was close. And why was she comparing him to her neighbor? The two men were as opposite in appearance as could be.
“How about you call me Riley? Ma’am sounds so old.”
“Trust me, Riley, you’re far from old. I’m Mike.”
Well then. That grin he gave her should have melted her bones, and a week ago, it might have. Instead, she had to be hung up on a moody bad boy who couldn’t tell her exactly what he did and never seemed to sleep.
“Glad to meet you,” she said. “Here’s a statement of the timeline and the pets involved, along with all the information I have.” She handed him the report she’d created. “Thought it would save time to have it ready.”
Mike took the pages. “This is great. Do you mind if I take a few minutes to read it? See if I have any other questions.”
“Sure. My first patient is waiting, so why don’t I take care of that while you’re reading? I won’t be long. Just routine vaccinations.”
“No problem. If you don’t mind, though, I’ll take that water you offered.”
She took a bottle from the mini fridge and handed it to him. His fingers brushed over hers, intentionally, she was sure. Yep, he was interested. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“Man, I’m digging all the hot guys coming in here lately,” Brooke said after they finished with their first patient of the afternoon. “The cop is like a beautiful angel and the other one is all dark, dangerous, and sexy.”
