Search and Seduce

Amy nodded. “We’re going. Today. Right, Rosie?”

The dog lifted her head, tail wagging.

Amy picked up Rosie’s harness. “While I’m down there, we’re going to drive over and visit her brothers and sisters at Lackland. See how their training is going.”

After months of training, Rosie’s four littermates had been purchased by the military. Her business, her dream, was a success.

Securing the harness, Amy paused, staring at her kennel through the kitchen window. Part of her wanted to be here when Nova and Bullet’s second litter was born. But Mark would only be home for a short time. And there would be another litter of puppies once the new female dog—the one Elizabeth Benton had graciously agreed to pick up for her—arrived from Europe. Her mother-in-law intended to visit Paris and London first. Amy was glad to see Elizabeth doing something for herself. Life shouldn’t only be about waiting.

Leading Rosie to the door, she gave Jango one final pat on the head and hugged her cousin. “Please, call me if you need help.”

Eloise squeezed her tight. “I will. And I won’t be alone the whole time. T.J. promised to come up and help if he could get away. If not, he’ll send one of his brothers.”

Amy laughed. “Because the rest of the Benton boys have so much control over their schedules.”

“Either way, we’ll be fine,” Eloise said. “I don’t need a Benton to help look after your dogs.”

“Of course you don’t. I should go. I don’t want to miss the flight and start all over convincing the airline to give Rosie a seat. The woman I spoke with this time was so eager to help, she upgraded both of us to first class.”

“Now you’re just making me jealous.” Her cousin gave her a playful push. “Go.”

Amy led an eager Rosie to the truck. “You know we’re going to see Mark, don’t you?”

The dog gave a series of sharp, happy barks and then hopped into the passenger seat without a backward glance. Amy went around to the other side and did the same. It was a lot to leave behind—her kennel and her dogs—but she had help, and she’d be back soon.

Right now, she needed to give Mark a proper homecoming.

* * *

DIRTY AND TIRED after the long flight from Afghanistan, Mark shouldered his rucksack and walked into the gymnasium. Homemade posters and banners filled the space, all bearing the same message—welcome home.

In the past, he had bypassed this leg of the journey, knowing that no one would be waiting to greet him. He’d counted himself lucky to be spared the tears, never stopping to think about the joy he’d cut out of his life.

Today, for the first time, he navigated through the children and signs. He searched the unfamiliar faces and read the messages on their poster boards. Not one said his name. Maybe it had been too much to ask. Amy had a life at home. And he’d been adamant that she keep it—her kennel, her dogs, all of it.

It would prove challenging when he was stateside. He needed to be near the base. Picking up and moving to Oregon until he deployed again wasn’t an option. But Amy seemed committed to making it work.

Talking about it over video chat and getting on a plane were two different things, however.

Woof! Woof!

Mark turned and spotted them. Rosie danced in circles at the end of her leash. Around her neck she wore a big yellow bow. He crossed to them, pushing his way through the crowd, needing to get to the beautiful blonde and the dog at her side. They were his family, his homecoming, everything he needed to feel loved in this world.

“Amy.” Mark gathered her in his arms, holding her close. “You came.”

“I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered, her lips kissing his neck, his ear, anything she could reach. “Of course I came. I told you I’d be here.”

He drew back and looked down into her eyes. “I wasn’t sure if you could get away.”

Months ago, when she’d told him she loved him, he’d believed her. He still did. But saying the words and making room in her life for him were two different things.

“Eloise can handle things for a while. I’m staying for as long as you’re stateside. Rosie, too.”

Mark dropped down on one knee to greet the puppy who had grown into a dog while he’d been away. Amy had sent pictures, but it wasn’t the same. Rosie licked his face, scrambling to climb up onto his lap as if she didn’t realize she wouldn’t fit anymore. He’d hoped the dog would remember him, but he hadn’t expected her joy.

“We should get out of here soon,” Amy said. “I don’t think dogs are allowed.”

Mark stood, and Rosie pressed up against his legs as if she needed to touch him to know he was here and not a two-dimensional image. “I think they’ll make an exception for her.”