Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“Are you sure? I don’t know the first thing about handling a tracking dog.”
“You’ll learn,” I said, yanking off my T-shirt and rubbing it under my arms before handing it over. “Besides, it’ll be good practice for both of you.”
Tommy’s eyes blinked a few times in rapid succession as he stared at my bare chest before glancing up at my eyes with a dazed look on his face. “Practice makes perfect.”
For the next thirty minutes, I coached Tommy through handling techniques while I laid trails with volunteer scent articles from other students while hiding others. This worked much better—Chickie actually had to use her nose to find the target, and Tommy learned how to read her body language, when to encourage her, and how to reward success.
“You’re good at this,” I called from behind him as Tommy guided Chickie through a particularly tricky section of trail. “She’s actually working now instead of just running to her favorite person.”
“She’s incredible,” Tommy called back, and I could hear the genuine pride in his voice as Chickie successfully navigated around a fallen tree to continue following the scent. “Look at her go!”
When Chickie finally found the target, she sat and waited for her reward like she was supposed to, tail wagging but focused on Tommy for direction.
“Good girl!” Tommy praised, giving her a treat and lots of pets. “You did such a good job!”
The sight of them working together, Tommy’s patient encouragement and Chickie’s growing confidence, did something dangerous to my chest, and I had to admit that exactly what I’d been afraid of had come to pass. It wasn’t just physical attraction that made me crave him the way I did, but this. The way he fit into my world like he’d always belonged here. The way he looked at Chickie like she was his dog, too.
The way he looked at me like I was something more than… well, something more.
“You try being the victim again,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “And this time, make the trail more challenging.”
We’d just started the next round—thankfully with my shirt back on—when I heard voices approaching through the trees. I turned to see Robyn striding toward our meadow, her blonde ponytail swinging as she walked.
“There you are!” she called out cheerfully. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you two.”
My jaw clenched automatically. “We’re training.”
“I can see that,” she said, her attention immediately focusing on Tommy as he emerged from behind a boulder with Chickie trotting proudly at his heels. “Tommy, you’re so good with her! You have such a natural way with animals.”
I watched as Robyn stepped closer to Tommy, her hand briefly touching his arm as she praised his technique. The casual contact set my teeth on edge.
“It’s all Foster,” Tommy said, completely missing the way Robyn was looking at him. “He’s an incredible trainer.”
“I’m sure,” she said, but her eyes never left Tommy’s face. “Actually, that’s why I was looking for you. We’re planning the evening campfire program, and I thought you might want to help. You’d be perfect for it.”
“Oh.” Tommy glanced at me, then back at Robyn. “It’s nice of you to ask, but—”
“It’ll be fun,” Robyn continued, stepping even closer. “We could use someone with your people skills. And your…” She grinned up at him. “Your way of explaining things.”
I felt something hot and possessive flare in my chest. Mine. The thought came unbidden and unwelcome, but I couldn’t shake it. Tommy was mine, at least for now, and watching Robyn flirt with him like I wasn’t even there made me want to mark my territory in the most primitive way possible. Like the predator he’d once jokingly accused me of being.
That was impossible for several reasons, of course.
First, he wasn’t actually mine. At no point had we made a commitment to anything other than hooking up. We’d never said we’d remain exclusive, not even for the summer.
And then there was the fact he wasn’t out. Or… whatever. It wasn’t my business to even act in a way that might imply Tommy was less than the straight man he appeared to be.
“Foster and I have training to finish,” Tommy said politely.
“I can send a student to take your place,” Robyn said, tilting her head at me. “Maybe one of your search and rescue students?”
“No need,” I said, my voice flat. “Come on, Chickie. Let’s take a walk.”
I turned and started walking toward the trees, Chickie’s leash tight in my hand. Behind me, I heard Tommy say something apologetic to Robyn, then the sound of footsteps following me.
“Foster, wait up.”
I kept walking, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of—that I’d start thinking of Tommy as mine when he wasn’t. When he never could be.
“Foster.” Tommy’s hand caught my arm, spinning me around. “What the hell was that about?”