“That’s people food,” Nick groaned. Kate ignored him and squatted down, softly pleading with the animal to approach her. The dog eyed the MRE, its rumbling growl eking out. Lifting its nose to the air, it caught the scent of the food. The dog stepped toward Kate with hesitance until it was inches from her hand.
Nick raised the rifle in silence so as not to alert Kate to his action. He put his sights on the dog's head. Just in case. Kate squeezed the brown package so that some of the tuna oozed from the opening. The dog sniffed the tuna, then sent out a cautious tongue to get a taste. One lap of the meat was all it took before the lab was licking at the MRE ravenously.
Kate turned back to Nick and smiled. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, though an amused expression hid behind his annoyance. As the dog continued its meal, Kate reached out a hand and scratched behind its ears. The lab drew back,inspecting her hands, so Kate let him smell her knuckles. The dog looked between her hand and her eyes, then continued its meal.
“That’s it. Good boy,” Kate said. “Can we keep him?”
“Keep him? Keep him where, Kate?” Nick asked, narrowing his eyes at her. Kate squeezed the remainder of the MRE packet out and set it on the ground, allowing the dog to eat the rest on its own. She stood, moving the gun barrel out of the way again, and pressed a hand to his chest.
“We can take him back to the fort with us.” Kate’s eyes were wide and full of hope. Nick fought against them as he thought of all the repercussions of bringing back a strange dog.
“Babe, we don’t know his temperament. He could have a disease. What if he bites someone?” Nick said, pleased with how confident he sounded. Surely, she would see reason and leave the dog behind.
“Please?” Kate smiled a toothy grin at him. Her hands intertwined behind his neck, bringing her face closer. The feel of her fingers at the base of his hairline sent shivers through him.
“Fuck, how do you do this to me?” Nick’s clenched jaw gave way to laughter. “Fine. But one more growl, one slightly aggressive movement, and I’m putting a bullet in that thing's head.”
Kate’s nose crinkled in a smile, and she pressed a quick kiss to Nick’s lips.
“You’re the best,” Kate said.
“I’m a sucker. That’s what I am.” Nick shook his head while one side of his lips curled into a smirk. Kate knelt and called for the dog, who ran excitedly into her embrace. For the next several moments, she ran her hands across the dog’s matted fur, petting and talking to it.
“I’m going to call him Loko,” Kate decided.
“You’reloco,” Nick retorted. Kate stood and cocked her head.
“So? You love me.” Kate displayed a tormenting smile that sent Nick’s desire for her into overdrive.
“Yeah, I do.” Nick leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, pulling away just before they connected. “Let’s pick a house and get settled.”
“Eenie meenie miny mo?” Kate asked, pointing at a house with each syllable.
“Just pick, Kate. We both know I have no say-so in any of our decisions,” Nick said.
“That’s not true! You, umm. Well, you…”
Nick grinned and lifted Kate’s chin so that his lips were close to her ear.
“Letting you take the reins on things, it’s not a complaint. You can order me around all day. I like the way it brings you to life.”
The decisions Nick was having to make as of late were fatal. If things kept on this way, the dread that rose up in him each time a choice was to be made would have his hair turning gray in a month. Nick was content letting Kate decide. He would call them small things, except they were far from it. Nick called the shots that kept them alive. Kate chose the things that made living worth it. Both mattered. God, both mattered.
“Iorderyou to escort Loko and me to…that one,” Kate giggled and pointed to a home on the left side of the cul-de-sac. She took off, calling for Loko to follow. Nick shook his head and tried to hide the smile forming on his lips.
“Damn dog.”
Chapter 55
After clearing the home and settling into the master bedroom, Nick pulled the sheets down, ready to slide into the silky comfort of the bed. Loko jumped onto the mattress and curled up on one of the pillows. Before Nick could protest, Kate rushed out of the bathroom.
“Come here,” she ordered with a wide grin on her face.
“Uhh, sure.” Nick let her take his hand and lead him into the bathroom. Kate pulled the curtain away from the window, displaying that it was open and the screen had been removed. Kate dropped his hand and climbed through the opening. Sitting on the roof, she pushed the curtain aside and stared at him.
“Well? Come on!” Kate said. Playfulness danced in her eyes, and Nick could not help but smile. Clutching the window frame, Nick pulled himself out onto the roof of the house. The shingles grated against the bottoms of his feet as he sat next to Kate.
A pleasant breeze brushed their bodies. Crickets chirped in the distance, and the croak of bullfrogs echoed through the air. Kate’s head was arched up toward the sky.
