Breakfast with Rhett was wonderful. He was easy to talk to. Lydia was nice too. Talking to her about her problems with her brother had taken Joseline's mind off her own issues. It made her feel like a regular person out to breakfast and not like someone in witness protection.

Rhett spent most of the meal reassuring her that Lydia was not an ex-girlfriend, but he didn't need to do that. She didn't care who he used to sleep with, but it made her feel nice. Maybe he really did like her, or at least didn't want her to think he was a womanizer. Either way, the one thing she knew for sure was that he was a nice guy who was going to protect her.

She didn't know why she wasn't more worried. She had been before breakfast. There were moments she was scared, but mostly she was okay today. The only reason she could think of was his calming presence. This was a potentially dangerous situation, yet here she was, walking along like it was a normal, peaceful fall day.

In fact, this was probably nicer than her regular days. Her vacation was going to be spent at her apartment alone, trying to clean as best she could and trying out new recipes. Now, at least she had someone to try the recipes with and get feedback. Yes, she was going to hang out with her friends, but most of them were busy during the week. In a way, this whole ordeal was much more of an exciting adventure vacation than anything she could have planned. As long as no one got seriously hurt, this whole thing would be a great story to tell one day.

As they walked back to his place, up ahead she spotted a woman sitting next to a box. The woman's legs went on for days and were the first thing Joseline noticed. That was saying a lot, since she had a box full of puppies next to her. This lady was hot. Even hotter than Sheridan or Lydia. This one had to be a shifter too. There was no way that women this perfectly beautiful were mere mortals. Lake Magnolia was a pretty little town, but everyone here was too good-looking.

This woman could've put any model to shame. She was wearing short-shorts that showed off her long, tanned legs to perfection. She was also wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. It wasn't the usual look for the women from around here, but Joseline mentally gave her a pass. This woman could wear whatever she wanted, including a vest without a bra underneath, it appeared.

Joseline glanced at Rhett. He wasn't drooling like she would have expected. His eyes were trained on the box.

When they got closer, she glanced inside. It was filled with precious little golden retrievers.

"Can I pick one up?" she asked the woman.

The woman tipped her head at her. "You're welcome to test them out. Any friend of Rhett's would make a great dog owner. I'm Nora."

"I'm Joseline. These dogs are so precious." She picked up one of the puppies and held it to her face. It was a perfect little ball of fluff, love, and light. "I've always wanted a dog, but I can't have one at my apartment."

"I guess they're okay." Rhett looked at the box, standing as far away as possible.

"You can come closer and pick one up too," Nora said. "I know you can have a dog at your house, Rhett."

From the sly look she gave him, Joseline could tell Nora was hinting about her. She was trying to convince him to take one of dogs. Get the dog, keep the girl, or something.

It wouldn't have been a bad play if they had been together. Nothing would have made her happier than being able to come home to a beautiful dog like this and a beautiful man like Rhett.

Rhett came closer and pulled the smallest dog from the box by its scruff. "Look at this little guy. He's so small."

The runt of the litter. It struggled and wiggled in Rhett's grasp. He chuckled and cradled the dog. He rubbed the puppy's little belly until it was barking with happiness. His little tail was going a mile a minute. It was all too precious.

Rhett would look good with almost anything in his hands, but his holding that puppy like he would a baby sent a shot straight to her ovaries. She couldn't help but imagine what he would look like holding a child of his own. She knew that shifters were very family-oriented. It would be wonderful to see him like that with a child.

She had a feeling he would be a great father. He was the Keeper, which was like a shifter police officer. He had come to help her and had put his life in danger even though he didn't know her, and he did the same thing for others every day. There was no way a man like that would be bad with kids. She bet if she asked around, his friends would say the same thing. She'd already met three beautiful women who had nothing but nice things to say about him. Eddie the tow truck driver, too, and Tucker.

The only people who didn't like him were the people he wouldn't allow to hurt her. Damn, this was a good man.

Even though he tried to pretend to be all gruff and serious, now she could see his softer side too. Even at breakfast, he'd spent a lot of time reassuring her of his single status.

"I'll give you the runt for free," Nora said. "He hasn't had anyone interested in him at all. I'll waive the ten-dollar fee if you'll take him. I'd keep him if I could, but I can't have another dog at my place right now."

"Nora takes in strays," Rhett said. "She's one of the best people around here. And, honestly, if you want another dog, we won't say a word. But don't tell anyone. The police won't look too kindly on us playing favorites, but screw 'em. You're doing good for us all."

Nora beamed. "Thanks, but I really can't house him. And would it matter if I told anyone how many animals I have? No one else is gonna want to have that many animals at their place."

"You do rescues?" Joseline said, picking up a second puppy. "That's so cool. I worked for a rescue once, when I was in college. I know how hard it can be."

"You're telling me," Nora said, shaking her head. "I fundraise all the time, so money isn't the problem. It's time."

Joseline nodded. "I can only imagine. Do you have any help, or is it just you?"

"Just me by my lonesome. Although I do have some volunteers coming every now and again. Especially when I'm getting a new batch of animals."

"You mostly send animals out to sanctuaries, don't you?" Rhett asked. He was bouncing the runt in his arms like a child he was trying to quiet.

"Sure do. My space is more of a hotel. I find these animals a forever home and send them to someone who can take good care of them like they deserve." Nora picked up one of the puppies. "Except guys like these. These go quick, but I always try to give the town folks first shot."

It was always strange to Joseline that shifters had pets. It was like a dolphin having a pet fish. She'd never been able to talk about it with anyone before. She didn't want to offend any of her shifter friends. But now that she was staying with Rhett, she had the idea that maybe she could ask him shifter questions without fear of repercussions. He just seemed so laid-back.

The puppy in his arms swatted at his face. He put it on the ground and started wrestling with it with his hand. The little guy went crazy, jumping around and barking.

"I'm telling you, that's your dog," Nora said.

"He's a good guy," Rhett said. "Does he have a name?"

"That's for you to give him," Nora told him. "You're his daddy now."

"You want to take this one home?" Joseline asked. She could see a puppy fitting in great at his shabby-chic home. There was already a perfect space in his living room for a doggie bed.

"No," Rhett said regretfully. "I'll give them a chance to find a better home first. If nobody wants him, then I guess I'll take him home with me."

Joseline a put a hand on his arm. "I think yours would be the best home for him. You don't have to pretend you don't want him."

She looked to Nora for encouragement and saw how she was looking at Rhett. There was a sadness in her eyes that told Joseline something else was going on here. Why would Rhett be so scared to bring a puppy into his home?

"Actually, it's cool," she told him. "You do what you want. If it's meant to be, it'll be."

He might have a beautiful home, but he didn't have a beautiful complete life. Something was missing, and she couldn't tell what. She hoped that maybe she could get him to open up about it at a later time. Maybe he had lost a dog recently. That would be so sad, and she'd feel like such a jerk for trying to force a dog on him.

"Uh-oh." Nora looked behind them. "Here comes trouble."

A handsome man was headed their way. He was dressed in casual jeans and a T-shirt, but from the way his eyes glinted in the sun, she could tell he wasn't a friend. He looked much more like a dragon, even though he was dressed down. It was the eyes that gave it away, like he was dead inside.

From the way Rhett pulled her close and picked the puppy up, she knew she'd judged this man right. This guy was trouble.