When We Met (Fool's Gold #13)(40)

“Every day for the rest of my life.”

“I’m kind of okay with that.” Dellina sighed. “Now you know why he’s not thrilled at the idea of working with me.”

Taryn drew in a breath. “Of course. He’s terrified of you. It’s settled. You are so planning that party. If nothing else, I’ll be entertained watching him squirm.”

“You could explain about the misunderstanding.”

Taryn shook her head. “No way. Let him man up and ask you himself. Until then, he deserves to suffer.”

“Remind me never to cross you,” Dellina said.

“Advice to live by,” Taryn told her with a grin.

* * *

“SERVICE DOGS HELP people in different ways,” an obviously pregnant Montana Bradley said. “Who here has seen a service dog before?”

Angel and his Acorns sat on a wide expanse of lawn. They’d all come to K9Rx Therapy Dog Kennels, outside town, to learn about their community service project. As promised, Denise Hendrix had set up everything. The girls would visit the puppies once a week for the next six weeks. They would play with them, learn how to teach simple commands and generally enjoy being kids having fun with puppies.

Taryn was there, as well. She sat on the grass, surrounded by girls and puppies.

“While all dogs need to be socialized,” Montana was saying, “it’s even more important for service dogs. Who can tell me why?”

Several of the girls raised their hands. Angel noticed Chloe put hers up by her shoulder, as if she knew the answer, but didn’t want to draw attention to herself.

Montana talked more about the dogs and how they worked in the community. She mentioned a reading program and one of the girls said her best friend’s brother had been a part of it. Angel waited until they stood to sort out the puppies and divide them among the girls to approach her.

He quietly explained about Chloe, and Montana motioned to one of the puppies that seem to hang back from the rest. Angel scooped up the small blond Lab mix and carried him over to Chloe.

“Hey,” Angel said as he sat by the girl. “I need your help with something.”

Chloe looked at him with big green eyes that were more sad than confident.

“This is Riley,” Angel told her. “He’s a little more shy than the other puppies. I wondered if you could make him your special project. He’s going to need one-on-one attention to help him become social. Montana thinks he has real potential, but only if he can be a little more outgoing.”

Chloe’s big eyes widened. “What happens if he doesn’t make it in the program?”

“Nothing bad,” Angel told her. “He’ll be adopted by a family. He’s a cute guy—he’ll find a home easily.”

Chloe took the puppy from him and settled him across one leg. “Hey, Riley. Are you sad because you miss your family?”

The puppy rolled onto his back and wagged his tail. Chloe giggled. “He’s funny.”

“He’s a good guy.”

Chloe nodded as she patted him. “I’ll help Riley be braver with the other puppies.” She stood and patted her leg. “Riley, come on. Let’s go walk around.”

Angel watched her lead Riley across the grass. The puppy scrambled to keep up at first, then started to run. The other dogs joined in. When Riley stopped, as if not sure what he was supposed to do with all the attention, Chloe got on her hands and knees right next to him. A couple of the girls joined her. Soon there was a giant Acorn-puppy tumbling game going on.

He’d noticed that Chloe’s first question to the puppy had been about missing family. Because of her father, he suspected. The loss— Well, he could relate to the pain.

Had it been like that for Marcus? he wondered, having his father leave all the time? Marie had never tried to make him feel guilty when he was deployed and she’d counseled Marcus to be strong, but it had to be hard on a kid when a parent went away.

For a second he thought about trying to say something to Chloe. About being a soldier and serving. But how would words make her feel better?

Angel let his attention drift to where Taryn was helping Montana and the rest of the Acorns teach a couple of puppies to sit. The session seemed to be more about laughing than actual instruction. Taryn grabbed one of the puppies and held her up in the air, then leaned in so the dog could lick her nose.

“Too cute,” Taryn said with a sigh.

He had to agree, although his interest had nothing to do with the Acorns or the puppies.

He stood and checked in with each of the groups of girls. They got a big game of tag going with all the Acorns and all the puppies. Soon there was plenty of laughing and yipping. When the puppies started to get tired, the girls helped get them all water, then sprawled on the grass with them.

The two hours sped by quickly. A few minutes before the parents were due to arrive for pickup, Angel got out the bag of beads and passed them out to the girls.

“For service,” he said. “There’s a second bead when we finish with the puppies.”

The girls put the bead on their leather bracelets, then watched as he and Taryn did the same. Once they were done, he walked them all to the waiting area.

When the last of the girls had been delivered to her parents, Taryn turned to him and adjusted the leather thong around his wrist.

“Lucky for you accessories are very hot this year,” she told him.