Page 7 of Rekindle My Heart

“Come on, you want a treat?” She pulled out an extra-large dog biscuit. His butt instantly dropped to the floor, and his paw lifted to shake. “Good boy.”

Slipping the treat jar back to the top of the fridge, she kicked off her shoes and removed her blazer before taking her laptop outside. Her three-bedroom rambler had an office, but the weather was too nice to stay in the house. Besides, she and her father had spent all last summer redoing her patio with new pavers, a sunshade, and a built-in gas grill. She might as well enjoy it.

Karma checked out the yard before he found his favorite spot to stand sentinel. Her lips hitched up as she watched him, her bodyguard. He took his job seriously, at least for a while.

She checked the time. She’d give him ten minutes before he’d be chewing on a stick.

When her canine security system decided it was time for a break, she glanced at her screen. “Fifteen minutes. Not bad.”

Five minutes later, her email pinged.

“Yes.” The fire investigator’s report came in. She gave a little fist pump. Her notifications were set to let her know when the new files were uploaded. Downloading a copy, she scanned the content.

Confusion squeezed her chest as she read it. That can’t be right? She reread it.

Crap! She needed to notify Ryan. Exhaling, she tapped out a message and attached the report. Her lungs tightened as her finger hovered over the send button.

“Get over yourself, Erica.” There was a time she texted Ryan daily. She squeezed her eyes shut and muttered, “This is work.” Then she clicked the button.

“That wasn’t so bad.” She could do this. Be a grown-up. They had a working relationship whether she liked it or not. She shook out the cramping in her hands as she walked into the kitchen for a drink.

Water in hand, she chugged half the glass. The cool liquid soothed more than her throat. Locking the past back where it belonged, she sat back down to work.

Ten minutes later, Karma let out a fierce bark and stared at the side of the house.

Erica jumped. A second later the doorbell rang. Between his tone and the stillness of his tail, it couldn’t be her parents. Karma did a happy dance for Grandma and Grandpa.

As she got up, Karma bolted inside—the doggie flap swinging in his wake. He arrived first to the door. Erica reached the front room a few seconds later. She peeked out the window. All motion stopped.

Why was he here? Pushing away her annoyance, she commanded Karma to stay and flung the door open. “How did you know where I live?”

“Whoa.” To Ryan’s credit, he didn’t step back, but his eyes bulged at the sight of her dog. “Is he friendly?”

“That depends.” She laid a hand on her sweet pup’s head. Detective Daniels needed to be more worried about the owner than canine.

Ryan’s gaze locked on her furry companion. “I debated about wearing my Kevlar or at least a cup. And that was before I knew you had a monster of a dog.”

“What? Me, a vengeful woman? No.” She rubbed the dog’s large face and cooed to him. “I wouldn’t do that. Would I, Karma?”

“Really? You named him Karma?” He glanced over his shoulder, as if contemplating if he could dart to his vehicle before the dog.

A smile tugged at her lips. “Be careful, Daniels. Do you think you can make it before Karma bites you in the ass?”

He gulped. His gaze dropped to her protector before he slowly moved closer. He held out a hand, and Karma sniffed it. “As for your question, how did I know where you live? It’s not like you’re unlisted.”

Crap, she hadn’t thought of that. Her shoulders dropped, and she stepped back, allowing him to enter.

Karma moved forward, sticking his broad face directly into Ryan’s crotch.

“Hey now. That’s more action than I’ve had in months.”

Somehow, she doubted that.

He pushed the dog’s head away and knelt down to greet him. “He’s beautiful. I love the brindle coat.”

Her ferocious guard was now licking Ryan’s hand, and his bobbed tail was a blur of excitement. Traitor.