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“Good news. Captain Bryson’s vehicle registration is expired, so I had a valid reason to run his license and record.”
“And?” Elizabeth glanced in the rearview mirror at Bruce, his head out the window, enjoying the breeze.
“His hair looks longer than military regs length. Brown eyes. Nice looking.”
“Not what I was asking.” She already knew all that.
“He’s six foot five.”
He’d looked big in the picture with Bruce, but six-five? It’s not like Bruce would be her protector against his former owner.Take a breath.It’ll be okay.
“He has a clean record. Not even a speeding ticket. Though he’s not happy with me right now and seems a bit on edge. I’m about to cut him loose. I’ll stick around for a bit since they’ve had a few car break-ins recently at parks.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you in a minute.” She looked back at Bruce again. “It’s up to you, boy. If you don’t want to go with him, just let me know.” This sucked. Somebody was going to end up heartbroken. Probably her.
She exhaled as she drove past Bruce’s towering owner and his truck to park several cars down. If the captain didn’t take no for an answer, they might not have a choice, even though Jillian’s police cruiser was parked in the shade at the end of the lot.
Bruce sniffed the air and barked excitedly twice. Then, he scrambled into the front seat to get out.
“Calm down. I’ll come around and get you.” She hadn’t even exited the driver’s seat before Bruce’s oversized owner strode her way. Though she tried to block Bruce long enough to clip on his leash, the canine pushed past her, nearly knocking her down. By the time she regained her balance, Bruce had his paws on the man’s chest, licking his face as the man hugged him.
As she watched their joyful reunion, her eyes got misty. When she closed in, she saw she wasn’t the only one getting emotional. Tears made the guy less intimidating, despite his size.
He kept Bruce off him long enough to extend a hand to her. “John Bryson.” He firmly gripped her hand in his much larger one.
“Elizabeth Carroll.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.” His voice cracked. “My ex-girlfriend was supposed to be taking care of him while I was deployed—”
“You left him with an ex?” She had to ask.
“She wasn’t my ex when I left. Didn’t know until I got in last night that things were over, and her current boyfriend didn’t like having my dog around.”
Ouch. The guy had come home to a double whammy.
“Things are over with her but seeing that Boss is okay . . .” His words broke off. He affectionately rubbed the dog’s head.
“I thought his name was Bruce.” Though he was clearly John’s dog.
“His full name is Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springweiler. I call him Boss,” he said with a grin.
“Okay,” she laughed. That explained why the dog had responded better when Jillian jokingly called him Hoss.
“Do you have kids?” he asked with some hesitation and discreetly checked out her left hand.
“No.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. She guessed why he was asking and wouldn’t make him beg to have his dog back. “I’m glad you were able to track him down. I didn’t think to bring his bed and toys. I can drop off his things tomorrow if you give me an address.”
His eyes widened, and he swayed back slightly. “My priority was finding Boss. I didn’texactlythink this through. I was living with the ex before I deployed, so I’m, uh, homeless at the moment. I slept in my truck last night.” He rubbed a hand over his face that was sporting a serious five o’clock shadow. “I planned to get a hotel room until I find a short-term place to rent, though hotels that allow pets usually have a size limit way under a hundred pounds. I can probably sneak him in.”
“Sneak him in? What about leaving him all day when you go to work?”
“I’ve got leave for the next week, but you’re right, I can’t leave him in a hotel room or my truck while I’m looking for a place to live. Would it be an imposition for you to keep him for another day or two until I can find a place? I’ll pay you back for adoption fees, food, and vet bills.”
“It’s not an imposition, and you don’t need to pay me.”
“I insist.”
Jillian’s cruiser rolled up on them. “Everything okay here?” she asked.
