Page 60 of Her Intense Protector

“Oh, aren’t you handsome?” Samantha said as Tabitha rubbed her nose against Sam’s arm.

“Her name is Tabitha. She’s trying to get the two of you to come out and play.”

“What do you think, Duchess? Want to fly this coop, and come outside with me?” Samantha scratched beneath the collie’s muzzle, and she gave a little yip of delight.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Sam smiled. She kept her head bent as she got up. Ezio reached in and she took his hand. Tabitha and Duchess trotted out of the pen behind Samantha. She was like the Pied Piper of dogs.

Who would have thunk it?

“In the back is an exercise yard for the dogs. Tabitha and Duchess are used to playing together, so this should be fun. Usually, it’s just the three of us, and Duchess isn’t real excited about men.”

“She isn’t? But she seems just fine. I don’t see anything wrong with her.”

Ezio looked down. Sam was right, she was in between them. Granted, Tabitha was beside Ezio and then Duchess and then Samantha, but he’d never seen Duchess so relaxed around him before. Yep, Sam was magic.

On the way out to the back, Ezio picked up two tennis balls and a rope. Samantha’s eyes lit up, as did Tabitha’s. “You look as excited as Tabitha. You said you had a dog growing up, right?” he asked.

“Yep, he was a standard poodle. Mom hated the idea of a dog shedding, so dad got a poodle. I loved Curly.”

Ezio smiled. “Curly?”

“I named her when I was five. She passed the year I was a senior in high school.”

Ezio threw two tennis balls. Both dogs ran for it. Even though Duchess was much smaller than Tabitha, as a collie she gave a good run for her money, but Tabitha beat her to the first ball. Tabitha brought the ball back to Ezio, and Duchess brought the ball back to Samantha, both of them pleased as punch.

Sam got down on her knees, unafraid to get her jeans muddy. “Good girl.” She gave the dog a friendly rub. “Wanna go again?” She threw the ball. Duchess made a mad dash.

Ezio watched in amazement as he threw Tabitha’s ball. They continued for a good twenty minutes before Ezio explained that there were more dogs that they needed to exercise.

“Okay,” Samantha said with a wide grin. “Let’s go.”

When it was time to leave, he found Sam in Duchess’ pen. Both of them looked sad to see it was time for them to part.

“You know, I have never seen Duchess respond as well to anyone as she did you.”

“She’s a love. I know you told me when she came in that she was most likely abused by some man. But surely there have been other female caretakers that she’s responded to,” Samantha questioned.

“Nope, nothing like you. I asked Fred, he runs the shelter. Have you ever thought about adopting a dog?”

“It hasn’t been feasible. Kevin was allergic to dogs, and I travel at least four times a year. I haven’t really thought of it since I came to live here. What about you? It’s clear you love them.”

“You do know that I can be gone sometimes over a month at a time, right?” He pulled to a stop at the red light and watched her face.

“Yes, Eden has explained that fact to me.”

“So no, I can’t have a dog. Cullen has dogs, and before he met Carys, his sister always housesat and took care of them. Leo has a part-time dog who lives with his mother, and she’s offered to take care of any dog I were to adopt, but I just can’t do it to her.”

He watched her carefully to see her reaction about his lifestyle as a SEAL. She didn’t seem surprised or concerned. That was a really good sign.

The light turned green, so he took the left onto the freeway.

“But there’s nothing stopping you from getting a dog, is there?”

“What about my travel?”

“I thought you were working on the Billingham Hotel, and that was local. Why do you have to travel?”

“Right now it is. But when this project is done, I foresee travel in my future,” Same sighed.