“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” She hops in, and I hand her the coffee I just went out to get.
“I’ll give you a hint… it was your idea.” I wink at her and start the drive. Luckily the breeder isn’t too far, because I’m terrible about surprises.
She stares at me blankly. “I suggest a lot of off-handed shit that you say you can make happen. So I’m not sure what we could possibly be doing.”
“That’s the beauty of being with me, Goddess. Your wish is my command.” Getting on the highway to head north, I rest my hand on her thigh, squeezing her soft skin.
She rolls the window down, letting the warm air roll through the truck.
An hour later, I turn down the bumpy dirt road that boasts a sign for the dog breeder, her rescue, and the police K9 training business.
“Um. Wyatt.”
“Yes, Goddess?” I ask her, unable to contain the grin splitting my cheeks and sending a stab of pain through the sensitive skin that’s still healing.
Totally worth it to see her sitting on the edge of her seat, bouncing up and down.
“Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”
“If you mean am I getting you a guard dog that failed out of the police training for being too nice and snuggly, then yes, I’m doing exactly what you think I’m doing.”
“A guard dog… that’s too nice?” She giggles.
“She wouldn’t bite her handler for bite work. But she will still protect her handler. Chief got her okayed for scent detection, but it’ll take a minute to get her approved. So in the meantime, weget to bring her home to start on her training.” I look out my window and try to secretly dab at my cheek to see if it’s bleeding, but she doesn’t miss a thing.
“Are you okay? It's bleeding a little.” Reaching into the glove box, she pulls out a napkin and gingerly takes my chin in her fingers as she blots at the skin.
“Yeah. It’s just a little dry. I think it cracked when I smiled at you.”
I can’t even smile at my fucking woman.
“I’ll put some Vaseline on it tonight when we get home. You’ll be good as new.”
I scoff and don’t answer. I’ll never be good as new.
“You know your lopsided grin is my favorite. Because I see it when you’re about to cause trouble with me. And that means you love me for who I am. Don’t ever knock that smile that’s only for me.” She kisses the sensitive skin, leaning over the center console.
Turning to face her after I put the truck in park, I say, “I love you, Sophia Chiave.”
“I love you, Officer Keaton.”
Pulling her in, the need to kiss her lips takes over my brain. But it doesn’t take long for her to pull away.
“I think someone is waiting for us.” She nods her head in the direction of the house where an older woman stands with her arms crossed and a smile on her face.
“Let’s go get your puppy,” I say before we both hop out of the car.
“I take it she’s happy about the surprise?” the woman asks.
“She is. Carol, this is Sophia.” I gesture toward the beautiful woman next to me.
“It’s so nice to meet you. I can’t wait to meet her. Does she already have a name?” Sophia lets go of my hand to shake Carol’s.
“Athena. What have you been told about her?” The three of us walk around the back of the house.
“Just that she’s too nice to be a K9,” Sophia answers.
“Well. She’s a fifteen month old Belgian Mallinois. Pure black. And while she is too nice, she’s still a little malligator. She loves to chomp, bite, and chew. Just not her friends.” Carol opens a door that leads into a hallway of kennels that look like a bedroom in a house. “She’s the best girl; she can’t wait to be a guard dog for the right people.”
