Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 72154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Normally you’d do this on the computer, but since we don’t have anyone here that can teach you how to navigate it, we’re gonna do it the old-fashioned way,” he explained.
I nodded. “Okay, where would you like me to do this?”
Dante stood up and grunted. “Follow me.”
I did, hitching my purse up higher on my shoulder as I did. Dante had long strides, and I didn’t even bother trying to keep up with him.
He went to a closed door and threw it open. “You can use Hannah’s office for today. She’s out with the flu…”
I held up my hand. “If she’s out with the flu, I’m sure you don’t really want me in her office.”
I didn’t really want to be in her office.
“The only other place I have is at the club,” he explained.
I’d take anything as long as it kept me from going into a confirmed germ-infested office.
I nodded. “I’m fine with that.”
He grunted. “Lines two and three are the lines that you’ll need to answer. Those are the numbers that the county will call if there are any towing needs. It’s also the line that customers use to call in if they need a tow.”
And so it went as Dante talked about what my duties would be for the day.
“Do you want me to go ahead and do the rest of what I was going to do today as well?” I asked as he walked me into the club and up a set of stairs.
The office he led me to was just off the main room where I’d been temporarily setting myself up when I was over here. He pushed the door open and gestured to the desk. “It’s not much. Baylor’s office is next door. If you need anything, call. Okay?”
I nodded, then Dante was gone, leaving me with a very long day ahead of me.
But then I got to call Parker for the first time, and my day looked up.
The second time I got to call him, it got even better.
Why?
Because his voice, that’s why.
Chapter 7
When you want to unsend the text you sent because you’re not the same person you were six minutes ago.
-Text from Kayla to Parker
Parker
I was walking down the stairs with Carmen, my German Shepherd, at my side when Kayla met me halfway.
Carmen tensed at my side, and I had to move my hand down to her collar.
Nobody ever took this set of stairs, so I hadn’t fitted Carmen’s muzzle in place yet.
Meaning she was only mere inches away from Kayla’s body.
I tensed and placed my hand on Carmen’s head, silently urging her to stay calm.
“Oh, hey, Parker! Who’s this?” Kayla asked, sounding tired.
She looked tired, too.
“This is Carmen,” I said, then held up my hand. “And before you ask, no, you can’t touch her.”
Kayla frowned. “Why?”
I pulled out Carmen’s muzzle and fitted it on over her snout. “Because Carmen has some PTSD, and she doesn’t do well around women.”
“Oh,” Kayla said, stepping down a step. “I’m sorry.”
I moved slightly to the side and down a step, blocking Carmen’s upper body and head with mine before gesturing. “You can go past.”
Kayla nodded and did as I said, but she tensed when Carmen started to snarl.
“It’s okay,” I said, tightening my hold. “She’s just pissy. She won’t do anything to you.”
Kayla went up a few more steps and didn’t stop until she was on the landing above us.
“Is she…okay?” Kayla asked hesitantly.
I nodded. “She’s adjusting.”
That was a lie. Carmen had been adjusting for five years now. Although there were some instances where she functioned well and had shown some improvement, she was also still as ornery and cantankerous as the day she’d been brought into my home.
Before the incident that made her the way that she was, she was a great dog. She was highly sociable. She loved being petted, and she honestly slept damn near anywhere.
Now…not so much.
She hated loud noises and women. She couldn’t stand to be petted—even by me. She didn’t want to be anywhere near anyone but me, and even that was only when she felt up to it. And, lastly, she was getting meaner.
Not even men could approach her anymore without her getting at least a little bit wary.
A woman?
Just a moment before with Kayla had been the first time Carmen hadn’t actually lunged at a female since the day she came home.
Now, to take her to the vet, I had to sedate her.
God forbid someone need to be let into my apartment—her safe place.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”
With that, she turned and climbed up the steps, and I was left staring at her pert ass as it disappeared around a corner.
Carmen gave an angry huff, and I started to descend the steps once again.
The moment we made it outside, she started to do her business. Then she waited for me to take her on her walk.