"It's more than that, and you know it."
Dev's expression flickers—not quite a smile, but close. He shakes her hand, nods once, and heads back toward the kennel building, leaving me alone with Callie and a fence full of adoring Ranger.
"I'll drive you back to your car," I offer.
"I can walk. I remember the way."
"I know. But escort duty doesn't end until you're off base."
She considers this, then shrugs. "Fine."
We drive in silence again, but it's different this time. Less frozen, more thoughtful. Ranger whines behind us as we leave the training yard, and I make a mental note to bring him an extra treat later.
"The consultation," Callie says as we approach the gate. "I'll need access to handler training schedules and veterinary records for the dogs. Can you arrange that?"
"I'll talk to Dev."
"And I'll need to observe actual training sessions. Not just the facilities."
"That can be arranged too."
She climbs off the cart and stands beside her car, keys in hand, and turns to face me. "This is a professional arrangement, Captain."
"I'm aware."
"I'm here to do a job. Not to—" She stops, pressing her lips together.
"Not to what?"
"Nothing." She pulls open her car door. "I'll email my availability for the follow-up meetings."
"Looking forward to it."
Her eyes narrow. "Are you always this..."
"Charming? Persistent? Devastatingly handsome?"
"Annoying."
"Only when it's working."
"It's not working."
"Your eye's twitching."
Her hand flies to her face before she can stop it, and I file that tell away for future reference.
"Goodbye, Captain Mercer."
"Goodbye, Dr. O'Connor." I step back as she slides into her car. "Drive safe. Watch out for runaway dogs."
She pulls the door shut without responding, but I catch the corner of her mouth twitching as she starts the engine.
I watch her drive away—past the gate, past Brooks's cheerful wave, past the boundary of Ridgeway Base—and I don't move until her car disappears around the corner.
Dev materializes beside me like a ghost. "You're in trouble."
"I know."
