I just hoped my gut didn’t get me or anyone else killed.
12
Hound
“AMELIA? AMELIA DAVIS? Is that really you?”
Mila and I had just collected our drinks from the coffee shop pickup counter when a man wearing tan slacks, leather loafers, a light blue button up shirt, and thick horn rim glasses approached. A bright smile was stretched across his face, and his attention was focused solely on the beauty standing beside me as if the rest of the coffee shop wasn’t even there.
I understood exactly how he felt, because the world tended to melt away for me as well whenever I was with Mila.
Although he looked harmless enough, his hurried pace put me on edge. I stepped between him and Mila, ready to dump two steaming tumblers of coffee over his head if he tried anything. Not exactly the manliest defense, but I wasn’t too prideful to work with the tools I had on hand, and hot coffee would do some damage.
“Toby?” Mila asked. “Toby Mayer?”
Ignoring my protective stance, the man held his arms out to her. “The one and only. Wow! Itisyou! Come here.”
Squealing with excitement, Mila stepped around me and embraced him, careful not to spill her coffee. “I can’t believe it! I haven’t seen you in forever.”
She seemed ecstatic, but since we hadn’t vetted whoever the hell this was, he had to be treated as a threat. I sized him up. He was lean, possibly a runner. Considering the condition of my spine, that could be a problem. If he tried to snatch Mila, I’d have to disable him before he made it to the door, or I’d probably lose them for good.
Although I didn’t feel fully equipped for guard duty, I’d be dammed if I let anything happen to Mila.
She and Toby pulled apart. Still wearing matching smiles, they looked each other over like long lost friends.
“Can you sit down and catch up?” Toby asked Mila.
She hesitated for the briefest of moments before nodding. “Sure. I can spare a few minutes for my oldest friend. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to and why you’re in Seattle.”
I followed right behind her, keeping an eye on him.
Toby led us to a table for two that held an open laptop and a large coffee. “I come here to work sometimes and I… Sorry. I’m having a hard time believing you’re really here. I don’t even know what to say. This is so wild. Here, let me get that for you.” He pulled out her chair before taking the other one. Closing his laptop, he gave her his full attention. “And my job brought me to Seattle.”
I eyed the adjacent table. A woman sat alone, her attention on her phone.
“Hi.”
She looked up and flashed me a smile, setting down her phone. “Hi.”
“Do you mind if I sit here?”
The woman shook her head. “Not at all.”
“Hound!” Mila threw me an apologetic smile as she stood. “I’m so sorry. Toby, this is my friend, Hound.”
“Hi, uh, Hound?” Toby eyed me suspiciously. “Did I hear Mila right? Your name is Hound?”
Stepping between the two tables so we could lower our voices, I replied, “Yes.” Then, because I didn’t want him to think I was some thug who’d named myself after an animal known for sleeping around, I added, “It’s a nickname I picked up in the Navy.”
The suspicion in his eyes was replaced with respect. “Thank you for your service.”
I wasn’t looking for his thanks, and that wasn’t why I’d shared my backstory with him, but I nodded.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hijack Amelia. I didn’t realize you two were together. Please forgive me.”
His tone was very matter of fact, not at all snarky or insulting, and he made a good point. I wore off-brand khakis and a button-up I’d picked up at Walmart, while Mila sported designer jeans and a trendy purple shirt, looking like an incognito model or actress. Her sandals alone probably cost more than my entire outfit. Nobody in their right mind would think we were together.
“It’s fine, man,” I replied. “Good to meet you.” I would have shaken his hand, but mine were both full.
