Smiling, Jodi looked down at Hound, petting him. “I think I like you, too. Which is saying something because I’m more of a cat person than a dog person.”
I snorted, causing Jodi to look up at me. “What?”
“I’m allergic to cats.”
She let out a laugh and turned back to Hound. “You know he’s not actually a hound, right?” she questioned as we rounded the hallway into the lobby.
I chuckled. “I’m aware. He’s a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Perfect for taking out on the trails with me in the mornings and hunting when it’s needed.”
“You’re a hunter?” She gave me a scathing look.
“Please don’t tell me you’re some kind of animal rights activist?” I teased, as we strolled through the parking lot in the direction of her truck.
“No, I’m not like a member of Peta or anything but, hunting is just …” She shivered. “I don’t like guns.”
“They come in handy when needed.”
She frowned.
“I didn’t mean hunter in the typical sense. I don’t go out and shoot bucks to bring home to cook. I meant hunting for work.” I dipped my head at Hound. “He’s trained to help when I’m tracking down someone, or to watch my back.”
She nodded. “Why’d you name him Hound?”
“I didn’t name him. I let Sy do the naming when we got him five years ago. Why I let him do that is beyond me.”
Jodi laughed.
“Sy and Bass are your whole team?”
I shook my head. “Manny is out training the new guy right now. Then there’s Jax. He’s out on the West Coast on an assignment.”
She nodded. “Leona is the only woman in the office.”
“She can hold her own.”
“I bet she can.”
“She doesn’t mind. She worked for my father, but I’ll have to replace her soon.” I frowned at realizing that.
“Why?”
“We’ve paid her too fucking much over the years. She saved up enough to retire and tell us all to kiss her ass. That’s how she puts it,” I joked, making Jodi laugh.
“I’m sure she’s worth it.”
I nodded. “She is.”
I took a step back and let Jodi open the door to her truck to climb in. My chest began to feel hollow at the thought of not seeing her the rest of the day.
“Go get some work done.”
“Not before I do this.” I reached inside the window with both hands, cupping her face, and pulled it to meet mine. Our lips made contact, and she let out a little groan. My entire body sizzled.
Reluctantly, I moved back. “Now, I can go back to work.”
I pushed away from the truck. I stood there as she backed out of the parking space, and turned out of the lot. Without a doubt, it was becoming real that taking on this case was leading to a hell of a lot more than I expected. After a few short days, Jodi had me rethinking a fifteen year promise to myself.
Chapter Twelve
