Chapter 19

Brooke

I’m in my car, following Landon’s shiny BMW. It’s been a rough morning, and I still can’t believe that all of his Chihuahuas were adopted. In some ways, it’s hard to believe that all four of them found homes so quickly, but then again, they are cuter than words.

Before Landon opened up to me about his past, I wasn’t sure what to make of him. Scratch that. He behaved like a total asshat. But I still had an undeniable attraction to him despite every attempt to deny it.

I take a deep breath to gather my composure as we turn onto Landon’s street. I park behind him in the driveway. He gets out of the car, and my eyes sweep over him. There’s a butterfly in my stomach fluttering around that hasn’t left since the day I met him. I haven’t felt like this in so long. Not bogged down and focused on work. With him, things seem brighter, more exciting. There’s no talk of bills to pay or clients to appease. I’m not completely convinced he even wants to make a go of a real relationship. Which makes me want to take the risk for both of us.

I follow him to the front door, and he unlocks it. We walk inside together. “Don’t worry, all isn’t lost. I promise.”

“You keep telling me that,” he says. “It’s just not so easy for me to believe it. My only hope is that whoever adopted the little terrors gets fed up fast with their barking, condom stealing, and hair licking, and decides to bring them back to the shelter.”

“Landon!” I gave him a mock frown. “I thought you stopped calling them that.”

He laughs and shrugs. “I was just trying to make a joke. Humor helps me process the pain of it all. They’re still my little angels.”

I give him a playful swat on the butt. “I’m happy to hear that.”

“Even Chili. Especially him.” He pauses like he’s trying to figure out whether to admit something or not.

“Good. Where’s your laptop?”

“In the kitchen. Why?”

“I need to look up a couple of things online.”

“No problem. You in the mood for some tea?”

We lock eyes. “Of course.”

After I follow him into the kitchen, I glance around, always amazed by how clean he keeps it. I wonder if he’s a neat freak in his bedroom too. We haven’t made it there yet. My body still burns with fire for this man, and thoughts of him naked ricochet around my brain like tiny hail balls of lust. “You know, I’ve never met a guy who cleaned more than me.”

“If you haven’t noticed already, I can be a bit anal.”

Christ Almighty, he just said anal.

“Naw, not you.”

He moves around the kitchen, fetching cups and loose leaf. “If you must know, it’s mice.”

“What?”

“I have a thing about mice. I detest them. That’s why I always keep my kitchen really clean.”

“Oh, mice are harmless. They’re kind of cute, if you think about it.”

“Not to me. They’re rodents, Brooke. They’re unsanitary.” He fills the tea kettle with water and places it on the stove.

“Come on, they’re like so freakin’ tiny.” I indicate the size with my fingers.

“They scare me. With their whiskers and their eyes and their tiny razor-sharp fangs that want to pierce my skin and infect me with rabies.”

I chuckle at his specifics. Landon looks almost edible in his True Religion jeans that hug his powerful thighs and his yellow pullover. The color brings out the chocolate in his eyes. A Rolex encircles his wrist, adding a touch of class to his otherwise casual appearance. Things in the author space must be good. He’s always stylishly dressed, and I can’t think that the upkeep on this house is cheap. The taxes alone are well into the five figures from what I’ve heard.

“Go ahead. Laugh. Live it up. You’re such a meanie.”

“I’m not a meanie.”

“Are too!” He mimics a child by stomping a foot and slapping his hands on his hips.

“How can I make it up to you?” I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his shoulders.

He turns his head away. “I’m too hurt. There’s absolutely nothing you can do.”

I gently direct his chin back towards me so that I can devour him with my gaze. Then, I steal a kiss. The warmth of his lips against mine makes my panties moist. “Do you forgive me now?”

“Depends…”

“Could you turn on the laptop for me?”

“Sure. Just don’t go spying through my files.”

“What are you hiding? Internet porn?”

His eyes grow wide as he shakes his head. “No.”

“I don’t care about that, Landon. I just want to help you find the dogs.”

“I get that, but just for the record, internet porn doesn’t do it for me. I prefer the real thing.” He wraps his arms around my waist and playfully smacks my butt.

I giggle. “You’re too much.”

“Like I said, only if you let me be.” He walks over to the table and turns on the laptop. “What website are you looking for?”

“Maybe you should start by searching for animal rescues in the area.”

“Okay.” He types on the keyboard.

I walk over and look at the Google search results. “Is it okay if I take it from here?”

“Have at it. Just don’t go snooping around through my private files. I have important stuff on there for my editor. No one ever reads my works in progress. I’m anal about that too.”

“Mmm, I’m beginning to wonder if you aren’t a mystery writer at all.”

“What?” His eyes narrow at me.

“Do you write erotica?”

“Do you want me to? I’d write it for you, if you asked me to.”

I laugh as I click on an animal rescue website located fifteen miles away. “This might be a good lead.”

“Really?”

“I’m gonna call them right now.” I grab my cell phone out of my purse.

Landon prepares the tea and walks over holding two steaming mugs. I’m beginning to like how he pampers me with his hand-crafted concoctions. It makes me feel special in his life.

The phone rings as I press it to my ear. Landon hands me a cup. “Thanks.”

“You’re not welcome at all, you big meanie.” He smiles as he sits across from me.

I let out a laugh. “I’m not a meanie.”

“Are too!”

A woman answers the phone. “Hello, thanks for calling Last Hope Animal Rescue. How can I help you?”

“Yes, my name is Brooke Kirkland. I’m a dog trainer in Prior Lake. Do you happen to have any Chihuahuas?” I take a sip of the tea. It’s just as delicious as I remembered.

“No, I’m sorry, ma’am. We don’t have any Chihuahuas. But if you’re looking for a small dog, we have an adorable miniature schnauzer.”

“Thank you, but that’s okay. I’m looking for particular dogs that have been rehomed. If you hear of any, will you give me a call at Bark Buddies?” After I give her my contact information, I hang up the phone. It can’t hurt to get the word around the rescue community about Landon’s missing dogs.

Landon leans forward, and I can see the disappointment on his face. “Damn!”

“I know, but you can’t get frustrated so easily. There are plenty more places to call.”

“What if they’re gone for good?”

“You can’t be so negative.”

“If I never see those dogs again, I don’t know what I’ll do. Grandma Nancy will turn over in her grave.”

“Landon, I’m not going to let that happen.”

“It’s out of your control. That asshole Guy had it in for me from the start. But he’s right about one thing. It wasn’t his fault. The day he showed up at my doorstep to take the dogs, I should’ve cold-cocked him, and that would’ve been the end of it.”

“No! Guy’s not like that. I’ve known him for a long time. He just really cares about animals, especially dogs. And if you would’ve hit him, you’d be sitting behind bars right now.”

“Yep, and all I would have to look forward to would be a conjugal visit from you.”

I smile. “They don’t do conjugal visits in the Super Max, which is where you’ll be.”

He laughs at my teasing. “But seriously, I really appreciate everything you’re doing. I just hope it’s not a lost cause.”

“Like I said, it’s only a lost cause if we give up.” I call the second animal rescue location.

The man who answers the phone tells me that he doesn’t have any Chihuahuas either. I hang up and say, “No luck there, but I’m gonna keep trying.”

Landon takes a deep breath. His forehead creases with worry and frustration. I want to reach out and smooth them away. Take his pain away. I should. But he holds me in place with his searching gaze, giving me comfort even when he’s the one on the verge of losing his shit. “Damn! Why did I have to spank Chili? What the hell is the matter with me?”

I look into his eyes. I know that the answer to that question is complicated. But there’s no need to go into all of that right now. We need to focus on bringing the dogs back home.

I tap my lips with my finger as an idea occurs to me. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before.”

“What?” His eyes light up.

“I need to search for Chihuahua breeders too.”

“That makes sense. Who else would adopt four Chihuahuas at once? I feel stupid for not figuring that one out. Grandma Nancy was a breeder too. Very well-known and respected. Westminster and everything. Her office is covered wall to wall with ribbons and trophies.”

“I remember.” I open a new tab on the browser and type in a search for breeders. I click on the first website. “I found one in Savage.”

He smiles and waggles his eyebrows. “A ‘savage’ breeder, eh?”

I chuckle as I call the phone number. A woman answers, “Hello?”

“Hi, miss, do you breed Chihuahuas?” I ask.

“Yes, I do as a matter of fact. I’d be glad to help you. Do you want one?”

“Actually, my name is Brooke Kirkland, and I’m a local dog trainer.”

“I don’t need any trainers, ma’am.”

“No, this isn’t a sales call. I’m calling because my friend’s Chihuahuas were adopted from an animal shelter here in Prior Lake yesterday and I wanted to find out if you were the person who adopted them.”

“Sorry, but it wasn’t me.”

“Okay, thanks for your help.”

“You bet. I’m friends with all of the breeders in the Midwest. If I hear of anything, I’ll get back to you.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.” I give her my information and hang up the phone. “Another dead end.”

“Are you sure? I was eavesdropping a little bit. That lady seemed to be holding something back. Maybe we should make the drive to Savage. It’s only a few minutes away.”

“I don’t think she was lying. What would be in that for her?”

“That’s because you’ve got such a positive outlook on life. You need to step over to the dark side. Then, maybe you’ll see people for what they really are.”

“Are you always this cynical?”

“Pretty much. Why did you even bother to ask?”

I shake my head and call the next breeder. They don’t have Landon’s dogs either. I stay on the phone, trying more locations. None of them have any new Chihuahuas.

“There is one more thing we can try,” I say.

“What?” Landon looks defeated.

“Do you have any pictures of the dogs?”

“Yeah, a few. Why?”

“Let’s post it on social media and see if we get a response.”

“That’s really reaching, don’t you think?”

“We can at least try it.”

He takes a deep breath. “Okay.”

A few minutes later, Landon uploads some cell phone pictures of the Chihuahuas on his laptop. I post them on several social media websites and a few blogs. We both add them to our Facebook page. We also take the opportunity to become “Friends,” but in all honesty, we’re so much more than that.

“Okay, let’s see what happens.”

“I’m not gonna get my hopes up.” He flashes me that tragic look again, and my heart sinks.

“I understand that, but just don’t lose all hope.” I lean in close to him and steal a kiss for support and comfort. I’ll get his dogs back for him.

I have to.

Landon smiles a little bit which lightens the somber mood. “I’m sure you would never let that happen.” He runs his fingers through my hair before caressing my thigh. “Brooke, I want to make love to you.”

I look into his eyes. I want him too. Damn! For once, I wish I didn’t have to go back to the training center, but I have a zillion appointments this afternoon. I’m booked solid, and it’s too late to cancel private sessions. Not to mention rude. “I’ll have to take a raincheck. I really have to get back to work.”

“When can I see you again?”

“Soon, I promise.”

He smiles wide and winks. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”