Search and Seduce

Inside, she found Mark and Luke putting the finishing touches on the whelping room, the puppies’ new home. Nova would have her own quiet space at the other end of the kennel beside Bullet.

“Morning,” Mark said from the top of a ladder. He was hanging a speaker in the corner of the room.

“Hey there, Ames,” Luke said. “How’s the ankle feeling today?”

“Better.” She scanned the metal crates, each containing a dog bed. “Are we ready for the puppies?”

“Hanging the last speaker now,” Mark said, glancing down at her with a teasing smile. He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable about last night. She felt a tinge of disappointment. Maybe she wanted to see him rocked off his axis after the way he’d touched her on the way home.

“Amy,” Mark said. “Mind telling us why the puppies require surround sound?”

“In the beginning I’ll play different noises,” she explained. “Cars, planes, explosions. I use sound-effects tracks to get them accustomed to different environments so they won’t flinch later on.”

“I can’t imagine my girl reacting to the sound of an explosion,” Luke said, referring to Zulu, his K-9 partner. Having chosen the army instead of the navy, Luke worked with the military police’s K-9 unit, joining different teams to detect explosives.

“She’s well trained,” Amy said. Outside, a car door slammed. “I’ll go see who’s here.”

“Probably Gabe,” Luke said. “He was running late, but said he’d bring doughnuts.”

Amy frowned. She had a good idea why the oldest Benton brother was behind schedule this morning. Eloise. With Jango at her side, Amy headed for the kennel’s reception area. Inside, she found Gabe opening a box of doughnut holes and popping one into his mouth. Her cousin stood beside him, setting out coffee, cups and creamer.

“Morning.” Amy walked into the room. “Eloise, I didn’t expect you today. Don’t you have patients to see?”

“Nope.” Her cousin turned, her face shining with the happy glow of someone who’d enjoyed he

r fair share of orgasms the night before. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot from too little sleep. “I’m taking the day off to help you move the puppies.”

“Thanks.” Amy forced a smile while alarm bells sounded in her head. Eloise rarely did the morning-after thing with the men she dated. But here she was, standing beside Gabe, handing him a cup of coffee. “Why don’t we head up to the house and start bringing them down? Gabe, would you mind seeing if T.J. needs a hand in the field?”

“Will do.” Her former brother-in-law nodded, grabbing a handful of doughnut holes.

Eloise watched Gabe leave, smiling like a punch-drunk fool. “You know, I think I was right.”

“About what?”

“I think Gabe looks the best without his shirt.” Eloise selected a doughnut from the box. “Not that I’ve seen the others, but I can’t imagine a man with a better body. His—”

“No, no, no,” Amy jumped in. “No details. I saw enough last night in the parking lot. More than enough.”

“Sorry. We thought about waiting, but then...” Her cousin shrugged.

“I just hope you know what you’re doing, El. He’s leaving any day now. And who knows when he’ll be back.”

Or if he’ll come back.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Amy added. Jango moved to her side, and she started stroking the dog’s head.

“It was one night. Just fun. I’ve known Gabe forever. I feel safe with him. I’ll spare you the details, but trusting him allowed me to take risks I wouldn’t with another man.”

Like being tied up in the front seat of a truck.

“But there is a difference between wild sex and emotional risk,” Eloise continued. “I’m not falling in love with Gabe. I’m a big girl, Amy, and I know better. I was torn apart when we lost Darren. But what I felt, it was nothing compared to your loss. I’ve watched you crawl your way back. After witnessing that, I’d never hand over my heart to a soldier.”

“What if you fall in love anyway?” Amy challenged.

Eloise raised an eyebrow. “In one night? Maybe two?”

Amy shook her head. Maybe Eloise was right. A night or two with a man she could trust did not spell true love and heartbreak.