Page 46 of The Night Belongs To Fireman

“You knew I was going to bring him!”

“That was before you had a sexy bodyguard with a killer ass. Oooh, have you seen him naked yet? Like, when you’re waiting for the shower, and he just happens to forget his towel when he comes out of the bathroom?”

“He has his own bathroom.”

“Judge, please direct the witness to answer the question.” Cindy lifted a gold, sparkly-tipped finger, as if signaling a judge.

“I haven’t seen him naked.”

“Half naked?” Cindy asked hopefully. “Throw me a bone, here. Not you, Sir Giggles.” At the sound of his name, Sir Giggles trotted over to the table where they were sitting. “What degree of sexy fireman nakedness have you witnessed?”

Rachel always did have a hard time lying. “Okay. I saw him without his shirt once, and then another time I brought in his clean laundry while he was changing.” Even though she’d backed out right away, the image of his muscular butt in that dark blue underwear was seared permanently into her brain. He looked like some kind of model with his arms overhead, his back muscles rippling, his head caught in his white T-shirt.

It wasn’t easy sharing living quarters with someone you were wildly attracted to.

“And?” Cindy asked impatiently.

“And nothing. A lady doesn’t spy and tell.”

“Then who’d want to be friends with a lady?” Cindy looked genuinely outraged. Rachel couldn’t help laughing.

“Okay, I will say that … as good as you might imagine he looks … multiply that by …”

Cindy leaned closer, her mouth, red as her pedal pushers, open in anticipation.

“Mmmm … maybe a thousand.”

Cindy sat back, surveying Rachel as if she’d just handed her a box of chocolates. “What was that you said once about a hidden camera system at your place?”

Just then, Sir Giggles apparently decided he wanted in on the party. He rose onto his hind legs and put one paw on the table.

Cindy turned to him, scolding in a playful voice. “Down, you goofy boy, you know better than that.”

Ears twitching eagerly, he put a paw on her arm. She gently pushed it off, then went for his collar. “Down, boy, don’t you remember anything those trainers taught you? Honestly, I think it was all a big waste of money. Down, you, down!”

Sir Giggles’s tail wagged madly back and forth. He put both his paws on her arms, as if they were about to dance, then mouthed her right forearm. Finally, with a constant, breathless running commentary, Cindy wrestled him to the floor. She sat back, exasperated. “See what I mean? He’s impossible.”

Rachel nearly burst out laughing. “He thinks it’s a game. He’s not being aggressive at all.”

“A game? But I keep telling him to get down and he won’t listen!”

“But you’re interacting with him the way a dog at play would. If you want him to stop playing, you need to be very still. And your voice has to be serious, not fun. I know that’s hard for you, because you’re a fun person. Watch me. And don’t say or do anything.”

The next time Sir Giggles put his paws on the table, Rachel gave a stern, no-nonsense gasp and kept her body ominously still. Surprised, he dropped back down to the floor.

“Good dog, very good dog,” she told him, and offered him a liver treat, which he gobbled up.

They went through the same routine again, a few times, until Sir Giggles finally got the point. Staying feet-to-the-floor meant a reward. Jumping on the table brought no fun. Cindy watched, mouth ajar, as Sir Giggles settled quietly and happily next to her chair.

“I don’t get it. What have I been doing wrong?”

“Dogs pay attention to your body language even more than your words, so you have to make sure you’re communicating what you intend to. Be careful about rewarding him for bad behavior with something that looks like pure fun to him. Sir Giggles is very smart, so he’ll get it. He just wanted to play.”

“So he’s not just a big rascal trying to get away with something?” Cindy bent and patted Sir Giggles on his side.

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to play, that’s what dogs do. Dogs don’t have hidden agendas, and they don’t hide what they want. They’re always truthful. The problem is, we don’t always understand what they’re saying. Dogs aren’t like people. They don’t know how to lie or manipulate, the way people do.”

Cindy’s hand stilled, and she gave Rachel an uncharacteristically grave look. “Oh honey. You’re breaking my heart.”

Rachel bit her lip. Had she revealed too much about her take on the world?

Cindy stood up and hooked Sir Giggles’s leash onto his collar. “Thanks for your tip, Rachel. You’re amazing. Here’s a tip for you, because I love you. Ditch Bradford and bring Fred to my wedding.”

While Rachel was busy doing whatever she did with her “clients,” Fred used the time to explore the Refuge. More specifically, to scope out the security. The place had ten staff members, four of whom were security guards. Two were veterinarians, and the rest were called “techs,” but their jobs seemed to be mostly feeding animals and tending to the structures and grounds.

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