I had stopped mid-step before I stepped off the trail. I spied the sheriff’s cruiser and cursed.

“You just can’t let go, can you, you bastard?”

But my eyes strayed over as I spied a dark-haired man sitting in my chair on the front porch. His shoulders were broad and square as he bent over the dog at his feet, giving him a hearty hug. But when he sat up and showed his face, I stopped breathing for a few seconds. The man was more than handsome. High cheeks angled into a strong jaw bristling with a day’s worth of beard. But it was his eyes, those incredible crystal blue orbs, that grabbed my attention. I felt my body wake up and start to respond in a way that it hadn’t in a long damn time. And then our eyes met, and the man broke out in a wide heartwarming grin as if I were an old friend.

“Meleyna, dear,” said my grandmother. “Come meet Matthew Rees. He’s looking for boarding for his dog Parker here.”

I quickened my steps and bounded up the stairs.

“Please don’t fall” I murmured to myself as I eventually made my way to them.

“This is Parker,” my grandmother smiled.

“Well, hello Parker,” I said to the German Shepherd, “how are you doing, boy?” I held out my hand so the dog could get my scent.

Parker wagged his tail enthusiastically, but instead of coming closer to the offered hand, he stayed between Matthew’s legs. That’s when I fully noticed Parker’s service vest.

“Sorry,” said Matthew. “He’s trained not to respond to others.”

“Oh, sure. I understand,” I said. “May I ask why are you looking for boarding for him then?”

“Actually, I’m looking for work here,” he replied, “and bringing a service dog with you on interviews doesn’t usually win over employers. It’s hard enough for a vet to get work without hanging a sign around your neck that says ‘can’t function without dog.’”

“But if you need him?”

Matthew shrugged. “I do what I have to. I’m not comfortable leaving him in the car while I talk to people. The danger of heat stroke for one thing. And I’m okay for short periods of time.”

I nodded as if I agreed, but I thought the whole thing was puzzling.

“Well, let me show you around.”

“It’s late,” Randy interjected, speaking in a low warning voice. “You should come back tomorrow.”

Matthew’s dog picked up his ears and studied Randy. I had to hand it to Parker. He was very smart.

But even I felt the aggression that rolled off Randy. He could be a jealous son-of-a-bitch, and at this moment his shoulders were bunched as if he was ready to throw a punch.

“Sheriff, don’t you have to get on to your patrol?” I said with a nod to Randy’s cruiser.

“So where are you from?” demanded Randy, ignoring me. “You don’t talk like a southern boy.”

“He’s from Idaho,” said Gram.

“And what exactly are you doing here?”

“I told you—”

“You told me shit,” said Randy aggressively. “No one boards a service dog. I don’t care what your excuse is. Your story is bullshit.”

“Randy,” I said in a warning voice.

Matthew jumped to his feet quickly. “What the fuck is your problem?”

Parker looked from Randy to Matthew. He tried to lick Matthew’s hands, but he pushed Parker’s muzzle aside and took a step forward.

The dog moved between both of the men, then pushed against Matthew with his eighty-pound body forming a barrier between them.

The two men stared at each other, and I was suddenly afraid the situation would spiral out of control. I needed for Randy to leave—now.

“Sheriff, it’s time you leave,” I said firmly. “We are discussing business with Mr. Rees, and that’s between my grandmother, me and Mr. Rees.”

“Now, Meleyna,” interjected my grandmother.

I ignored her and stared pointedly at Randy.

“All right,” growled Randy. “I’ll check in on you another time.”

With a scowl on his face, Randy brushed past me, deliberately bumping into me, and then his heavy boots clattered down the steps. I swore under my breath when I heard Parker give a low growl in his throat. Randy threw a malicious shot over his shoulder to me, and then to Matthew.

I crossed my arms, and for emphasis, nodded toward Randy’s cruiser. He turned away toward the vehicle, but I could see him huffing angrily.

Too damn bad. I turned my attention to the handsome man standing near my chair and his dog. It was damned unusual for a properly trained service dog to make threatening noises to anyone.

“Is your dog okay?” I asked.

Matthew gave a surprised glance to Parker. His face was twisted in consternation.

“Yeah, he’s fine, aren’t you, boy?” he said bending and clasping his arms around Parker’s neck. Parker lifted his head and licked Matthew’s face. Matthew turned his gaze to me and smiled, and I melted under his warm gaze.

God damn. Why did the man have to be so sexy? My eyes traveled his well-formed biceps that strained the sleeves of his plaid shirt. For the first time in a long time, I was well and truly attracted to a man other than Randy Barker.

I swallowed hard, reminding myself Matthew might not be available, that he probably wasn’t even remotely interested, and also, that he had a reason to have a service dog.

“That dog,” said Gram. She studied Matthew with her mountain woman’s sharp gaze. “That’s some unusual training.”

“Yeah,” said Matthew petting Parker behind the ears. “He’s part guard dog, part emotional support.”

“Part guard dog?” I asked, curious.

“Yeah, he guards me against doing stupid things. Since Iraq, I have problems with impulse control. Not such a good thing for an ex-Marine.”

“You served there?” asked my grandmother.

“Grandma,” I said, protesting her prying.

“Yes. But when I got slammed into a wall, not even my service helmet helped me. So, they sent me home.”

“Sounds like you regret it,” I said.

“You can take a man out of the Marines, but you can’t take the Marine out of the man. It feels like I left my buddies back there without me to help. But,” he said, spreading his hands, “they don’t want me to help anymore. So here I am.”

I studied Matthew’s face again. The last bits he said seemed truthful, but still, the question remained. Why was he here?

“Have you had dinner yet?” asked Gram amiably. “Meleyna was just about to put something on the table.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“Nonsense,” she said. “Usually it would be me doing the cooking, but since I broke my hip Meleyna has been working double duty. And after dinner, maybe you can help my granddaughter feed the animals. She could use a hand.”

“Grandma, don’t be imposing on Mr. Rees.”

“Please,” said the stranger, “please call me Matthew. And I don’t mind paying in trade for my supper.”

“Good,” she said. “We don’t often have other people to dinner since Randy stopped coming around.”

“Oh my God,” I said more sternly this time. “At times, I think you need obedience training.”

Matthew’s eyes crinkled with amusement at the exchange between the two of us.

“Oh, pish,” Gram said with a dismissing wave of her hand. “Matthew, dear, Help me into the house.”

She held out her arm, and he gently helped her out the chair. I pursed my lips and walked into the house. What was Gram up to? She was unusually friendly to this man from Idaho.

“Is everything healing well?” I heard him ask my grandmother.

“Yes, the doctor says I can start physical therapy. But I’m worried. Meleyna and I could be in town for half a day doing that, and I don’t want to leave the animals alone.”

“Don’t you have anyone else to help you?”

“No. It’s just my granddaughter and me. I suppose I could hire some help, but I can’t take just anyone on, can I? After all, twenty dogs and the various other animals we house are a big responsibility for any length of time, and it takes a special person to be able to handle all these animals.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake, I thought, cringing slightly. She was blowing our situation out of proportion. There were any number of neighbors we could rely on for help. After all, that’s what neighbors do.

I opened the refrigerator and thought the leftover Sunday ham would do just fine, along with the mac and cheese I’d made the previous night. I pulled both of those out the fridge to warm in the microwave. A salad would complete the meal.

“Meleyna,” said my grandmother a bit too sweetly. “Make some of those biscuits of yours.”

“You really do cook,” said Matthew with an admiring smile.

Oh damn. Why did that smile make me shake in the knees?

“You know, Grandma, the mac and cheese are enough carbohydrates.” I flicked a glance over at him. “Diabetes. We have to watch the diet.”

“Pre-diabetes,” she said derisively. “And why are you telling people my personal business?”

“Just in case you try doggie begging behind my back.”

“I should whup you.”

I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You could try,” I retorted. And then in a low voice, I hoped Matthew couldn’t hear I whispered. “Behave.”

But my grandmother’s eyes twinkled with mischief. Whatever was churning in her head would result in something embarrassing to me. It usually did.

Parker watched me as I moved through the kitchen. He sat very still, just observing me.

“Here,” said Matthew as he rose from his seat. “Let me help.”

I almost said no, but thought better of it.

“Carve the ham, and I’ll pop the slices in the microwave to warm them after I get the mac and cheese heated.”

He took the knife I offered, and as he turned to the ham, I thought I heard him mumble something like “talk about heat.” But that was just wishful thinking on my part. It was against the odds that he shared the strong attraction I was feeling.

And yet, did I catch a glimpse of interest in his eye?

Disgusted with myself, I shoved a hunk of mac and cheese into a bowl and stuck it in the microwave. I was getting myself excited over nothing.

“That’s enough,” I said, looking over the pile of slices Matthew cut from the ham. There are only us three.”

“Yes,” said Matthew with a handsome smile. “But you don’t know how much I like ham.”

“So,” said Gram, “your dog has some impressing training.”

“Thanks. We worked together for two months learning how to read each other.”

“So, you know dogs?”

Matthew shrugged. “I picked up credentials for dog training along the way, but that’s not why I have him.”

“And you’re looking for a job.”

He shrugged again. “I’m unemployed.”

“And not sure what you are going to do with yourself, are you?”

“Grandma, you’re being rude,” I chided.

“No. I’m taking a good look around here, and there is a lot of work you haven’t gotten to. You need help. I think,” she said folding her hands under her chin, “the good Lord has sent an answer to a prayer. Matthew, how would you like to work here?”

“Grandma!” I protested.

“Now, who is being rude,” she said.

“That’s a nice offer, but—”

“But what? You’re looking for work, and we need help. The perfect solution to both our problems.”

Matthew’s face paled as if he was caught in a trap. I suspected that half of his story was bullshit, but I wasn’t sure just how deep it went. Or how much I could trust him.

Parker poked his muzzle in his leg. “Sorry, buddy,” said Matthew. “I’ve got to feed him.”

“Let’s go to the kennel, and we’ll discuss my grandmother’s proposal.”

“Meleyna, don’t you go scaring him away.”

“We’re just going to have a little talk. What do you say, Matthew?”