Brooke rolled her eyes. A text message filled her screen.
I need professional help, Liam wrote.
That’s a private matter between you and your therapist. Her thumbs flew across the keys.
Funny. Just what I need. A comedic dog trainer.
She huffed out a breath. I’m not a dog trainer.
Colbie said U were.
She sighed. Colbie is a meddler.
That doesn’t change the fact I need a dog trainer. U interested?
The image of his face, of the amused, easygoing gleam in his striking blue eyes, came to her as easily as if he stood in front of her. Definitely a bad sign and a hint that maybe she should turn down his job offer.
But, come to think of it, she could use the work. Clearly Oscar could use some help adjusting to his new home. Her thumbs tapped out an answer. Maybe.
I’ll pay whatever U want. His words seemed frantic. Just help me.
I’m not sure U can be trained, but I can try.
Me? What about Oscar?
For his sake, I’ll do it. She hit Send, shaking her head. So, she had a job of sorts after all.
Her phone chimed with Liam’s next text. Great. Whew. I need your help desperately.
With a little training up, I think you will make a fine dog owner, she typed and hit Send.
“I haven’t seen you smile like that in a decade.” Hunter ambled up, carrying two loaded trays of sandwiches. “Got a boyfriend we don’t know about?”
“He’s not even a friend and that’s the way it will stay, so don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you know something I don’t.” Brothers. She grabbed the rest of the sodas and joined her brother at the two tables the family had claimed. After she handed out the drinks, her cell chimed again.
Me? I don’t need training. I already know how to sit. How to fetch.
She could imagine the manly crinkles in the corners of Liam’s eyes as he grinned, typing those words. She eased into a chair, tapping out an answer on the keys. It’s a start. Text me your address and I’ll swing by after court.
“Brooke, we’re waiting on you to say grace.” Hunter frowned as if annoyed as he stacked the emptied trays. His annoyance was pure show. His dark gaze shone with gentleness.
“Oops.” She stuffed her phone into her bag and bowed her head as Hunter began the prayer. She added silent thanks for her blessings of family and a plea for poor Oscar. If things didn’t work out, she would hate for him to go back to living behind barred doors. She shivered, breaking a little inside at the memory. She knew exactly how heartbreaking that existence could be.
* * *
Squinting against the late afternoon sun shining in her eyes, she pulled to a stop at the curb. The small pickup she’d borrowed from Brianna idled roughly as she put it in Park.
This was Liam’s house? She studied the bungalow shaded by two broadleaf maples. The front porch framed two spacious windows and a front door, giving the home a smiling look.
A bark erupted the moment she opened the truck’s door. A golden blur streaked across the tidy lawn as she rose to her feet.
“No, Oscar! No!” Liam’s laughter held no sting as his command echoed in the front yard. He raced into sight but not fast enough to stop the golden blur from springing over a row of low shrubbery.
She caught sight of ears up, tongue lolling and bright canine eyes gleaming. She braced for impact, just in case. “Oscar, sit.”
Did it work? Not a chance. Paws hit her shoulders, a tongue swiped from her chin to her forehead and she sat down hard on the sidewalk, eighty pounds of dog in her lap.
“Brooke, are you all right?” Liam’s concern, Liam’s hand on her arm, his caring blue eyes meeting hers.
“I’m fine.” A dog’s happy kiss swiped across her face again and she laughed. Really laughed. After a hard day dealing with ghosts of her past and worries of how the trial was affecting Brianna, Oscar’s exuberance felt like a gift, a true blessing that was as welcome as the warm May sun and the song of the breeze through the maple leaves. “Oscar, you are a great boy. Do you know that?”
Chocolate eyes twinkled a happy answer. The big dog leaped and danced on the sidewalk, caught a whiff of her purse and tried to stick his nose beneath the leather flap.
“Oscar?” Liam caught his collar. “No more destruction. You’ve maxed out your daily limit, buddy.”
“I think he’s going for the dog biscuits I picked up on the way over. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Careful. Leather is edible, at least to him. So are most materials known to man.” He held out his free hand to help her from the ground. She reached without thought, her palm sliding against his. A jolt of awareness whispered through her, the oddest of sensations, a charged sweetness. What on earth? She’d never experienced anything like that before.
Did he feel this, too? She couldn’t tell. His face remained unchanged as his hand fell away from hers, leaving her palm tingly. Somehow she made her feet work, falling into stride beside him. Oscar bounded between them on the walkway, sniffing her purse.
“How is Brianna holding up?” Kindness layered Liam’s question. “This had to be a hard day of remembering.”
“Yes, but she’s awesome. She’s been through a lot of trauma but she’s handling this better than I could in her shoes.”
“Have she and Max set a wedding date yet?”
“Word is they want a Christmas wedding, although nothing official yet.” She tapped up the front steps and onto the cozy porch, keeping a good hold on her bag. Oscar had begun to drool. “They are going to wait until all this court stuff is over.”
“Smart. Finish one chapter, then start another.” He pulled open the front door, giving her a new view of the destruction. “I haven’t been home long enough to tackle this.”
“Oh, Oscar.” She gaped at the scene. The pictures Liam sent hadn’t begun to tell the whole story. Amazed, she walked into the ruin, stepping over DVD cases and fluffs of stuffing from the couch pillows, shocked at Oscar’s thoroughness.
The Lab whined, worry furrowing his doggy brow.
“You know that was wrong, don’t you?” She kept her voice gentle but didn’t hide her disappointment in him.
Oscar’s head sank. His haunches went down. No whine had ever sounded as sorry.
“See? This is my problem.” Liam’s gaze speared hers, full of sympathy for his canine friend. “He loses his head and then regrets it later. He’s not
