“And Bo didn’t realize Brunhilde is the warrior maiden—female—who guides heroes to Valhalla?”
“He heard it in one of the books my sister was reading to him, and he liked the sound of it. I tried to convince him that he meant Hildebrand for battle sword, but he said that a Panzer Tank was more powerful than a little sword.”
Rylee pulled a towel from her bag and sat on it. “I remember that the UK had an online thing going on to name their new ship that was doing polar exploration. As a group, they named it Boaty McBoatface. So I feel like you dodged a bullet with Brunhilde Von Panzer Tank.”
“I knew the risk. I think I got out of it with something useful. And Tank’s girlfriend doesn’t seem to mind.”
Dry suit cleared from her feet, shivering in the skimpy pink bikini, Dakota shifted his attention safely to Tank. “Tank is in love with the poodle next door, Fifi La Cute.”
“He is not.” She laughed as she pulled a hoodie over her head. “There’s no such neighbor dog.”
“I promise you.” Dakota pulled out his cell phone and showed Rylee a picture of the two dogs lying belly up, side by side. Heads pressed together, looking very content.
He accepted the phone back and swiped right. “Fifi’s mom is planning a wedding. This is Fifi’s mom.” Dakota handed his phone back to Rylee with a picture of an elder woman knitting a cupcake hat. “Swipe to the next picture.” Tank and Fifi posed with matching cupcake hats.
“You can see the indignity in Tank’s eyes, poor guy.” She handed the phone back. “What a man won’t do for the woman he loves?”
“Everything in his power, every time,” Dakota said as their gazes caught.
She released the phone and reached for her sweatpants. “About Tank’s name, that I can understand. My niece named my parents’ dog Sir Reginald Barks-a-lot.”
“It’s a mouthful.”
She pulled her pants up her thighs and reached for her socks and tennis shoes. “We called him Roofy for short or Roof for shorter. He was a Newfoundland. Such a glorious goofball. When Roof wanted sympathy, which was quite often, he would lift a paw and walk with a whine that was pure pain. ‘I love you, and I’m coming, but it’s so terrible!’”
“And you’re sure it was affected?” Dakota asked.
“My parents spent a couple of grand trying to figure out how to make Sir Barks-a-lot better, and the vet couldn’t find anything. But if my folks said, ‘Roof, let’s go get an ice cream, the paw went down, and he would bolt over to the car and sit at the door with a wagging tail. I’m telling you this dog gave an Emmy-worthy performance.”
She was tying a bow on her shoe when Tank wriggled around to put his nose on her knee and sighed contentedly.
Dakota had never seen his dog so obviously in love with a woman before.
“Tank, you have beautiful eyes. I hope you have a wonderful wedding and many happy days to come with Fifi.” She kissed him on the head, then gently stood.
Neesa and Jasper were walking shoulder to shoulder as they made it back over.
“Temps are dropping, how about a hot chocolate?” Rylee asked.
“I have to get back to the office,” Jasper said. “I’m expecting a call from the West Coast.” He looked down at Neesa, “I’ll pick you up for dinner around seven?”
“Looking forward to it.” Neesa smiled.
“Nice meeting you, Rylee.” Jasper gave Dakota a nod, then raised his hand and loped back toward his office.
“Hoa about you, Neesa?” Rylee asked. “Hot chocolate?”
Neesa looked at Dakota, then back to Rylee. “You know, I forgot a thing.”
“A thing?” Rylee asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got to do a thing,” Neesa said as Rylee bent over, collecting her belongings back in her bag.
Dakota was just going to venture forward. “I’m starved. Would you be interested in grabbing a bite, Rylee? I have my car at the parking lot about a block away.”
“Yes,” Neesa sent Rylee the wicked grin. “Rylee’s starving. She was just talking about chicken soup.” She moved Rylee over next to Dakota, scritched Tank’s ears, then took a step away from them. “You three enjoy.”
Chapter Sixteen
