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“I thought you’d like it. They’re almost ready to open, although there are at least fifty animals already in the living quarters.” His tone was changed entirely, more playful than before.
“Like it? I’d live here. This is incredible. It had to cost a fortune.”
“With their state-of-the-art veterinary facility, including for large game animals, in the millions. But Phoenix and his wife aren’t the only ones paying for it.”
There was an entirely different glitch in his voice. When I shifted my gaze in his direction, I’d be damned if he wasn’t blushing. Or maybe it was the LED lighting. Whatever the case, I couldn’t help myself, the giddiness I felt releasing several emotions that had been buried deep inside. I raced toward him, tossing myself in his arms. “You invested in this?”
“Maybe a little bit of money. It’s for a good cause.”
“This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I would love to see the veterinary facility.”
“I thought you might. I know Phoenix and Wren need a lot of help. They’re planning on doing some hiring in the next few days.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me, cowboy? Make me work all the time?” When Sam threatened to jump into the pool, which was still partially green, I raced after him. “Don’t do that, baby. It’s not ready yet.”
“He’s used to swimming in streams and lakes. He can handle it.”
“You don’t understand what imbalanced pool chemicals can do to a dog’s intestines. Not only can they developing gastrointestinal issues, the chemicals can burn the pads on their paws. And if they ingest even a small amount, it can damage their lungs.” I spouted off a few other maladies until I realized he was looking at me funny.
Maverick walked closer, a shit-eating grin replacing his sourpuss expression. “Why do I have the feeling you know more about the health of animals than you’re letting on?”
“I read a lot.”
“Uh-huh. Maybe one day you’ll learn to trust me.”
“I do trust you,” I said then shooed Sam away from the pool, tossing him several balls, one right after the other.
“Then tell me something about yourself that I don’t know.”
“What do you think you know, cowboy?” I asked playfully as I came closer, not enough for him to grab me, just enough to tease.
He rubbed his fingers across his beard. “You don’t like people telling you what to do. You buck against authority. You need constant discipline. How am I doing so far?”
“And you’re pigheaded and arrogant, refusing to take no for an answer. A match made in heaven.” It was easy to laugh around him, even if we were both skirting around secrets and lies from our past.
Shrugging, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Guilty as charged.”
I wrinkled my nose as I came closer. When he swept me into his arms, the wave of electricity shooting through us was powerful enough to create a heated shiver.
A moment of commotion could be heard from just outside. Then the door was thrown open, Houston racing inside
“Is Snake in here?” Houston demanded, his chest heaving from his ragged breathing.
“What’s going on?” Maverick asked with a start.
“Something’s wrong with Apollo. He’s having a seizure, not anything I’ve seen before in animals.”
“Apollo?” I asked.
“A dog. A special dog who belongs to Snake,” Houston said.
“Where is he?” I moved closer.
“A couple hundred yards away.”
I gave Maverick a look, handing him my wine. “Take me to him.”
The two exchanged glances but Houston led the way, Maverick tossing the drinks in the first trashcan we passed. We ran to the scene, my pulse skyrocketing.
