Only until the training is finished and she’s firmly ensconced in the K9 Unit. Not that anything would stop him from seeing her tonight. He was already in town, and she only lived another twenty minutes away. He’d already called her, asking if he could come over once he’d finished making sure Brianna was safe, and Sylvie agreed. They’d thought of getting a hotel room, but with the festival, early-comers had already booked everything for miles around. They’d just have to be careful.
More than agreed—she couldn’t hide her eagerness. Which had made Alex melt inside.
Alex finally cleared his throat, putting as much amusement as he could into the sound.
Brianna pulled away from Brock. “I, uh.”
“Hey, Alex,” Brock said, his eyes burning at Alex’s amusement. “Great timing, brother.” But to his credit, he dropped down and scratched Valkyrie’s head. “Hey there, pretty lady. You ready to go to work?” She wagged her tail and licked his hand. She was one of their best, in Alex’s opinion and she’d keep Brianna safe.
“Is this the surprise?” Brianna asked. She looked confused, her eyes darting from Brock, to Alex, to Valkyrie.So Brock hadn’t told her?
“It is.” Brock straightened up. “Brianna, this is my co-worker, Alex Hoff. He’s in charge of the kennels and dog-training program at Watchdog.”
“More like the people-training program,” Alex said, shaking Brianna’s hand. “The dogs are often smarter than their humans,” he added, trying to get her to relax. Brianna rewarded him with a tentative smile.
Brock gave the dog another pat before standing up. “And this lady is Valkyrie. She will be accompanying us back to your apartment and staying with you tonight. I have a meeting first and then I’ll be by after.”
“Excuse me, what?” She looked back and forth between Alex and Brock. “You’re giving me a dog for the night?” She looked upset again.
This is not going well.
“Does your apartment allow dogs in?” Alex asked. That would be a problem and they’d have to come up with a new plan.
“Of course. This is Colorado; it’s practically illegal not to own a dog or two. I’m surprised I haven’t been arrested yet.”
Yeah, everywhere except Sylvie’s HOAAlex thought. “Then you’re getting a dog for the night.” Maybe that wasn’t the problem. “I hope you like dogs,” he added, hoping she wasn’t afraid of Valkyrie. Some people had a problem with Malinois, German Shepherds, and Dobermans. He’d have to make sure she was perfectly comfortable and knew that Valkyrie would never hurt her.
But to his relief, she said, “I love them.” Brianna dropped down in front of the dog. “Is it okay if I touch her?”
“Absolutely,” Alex said.
Finally, Brianna’s smile was genuine and happy, not the tentative one she’d given him earlier. “Hey, girl,” she said softly as she scratched the dog’s ears. “I guess we’re roomies for the night, which is cool because I think you’re amazing, but I don’t know why you’re staying with me.” She glanced up at Brock.
“After today, you really have to ask that?”
Brianna ran her hand over Valkyrie’s head once more, then stood up. Her easy smile was gone and all the trepidation was back when she looked at Alex.
“I’ve been briefed a little,” Alex said as gently as he could. She was so skittish and he couldn’t blame her, with a brother like hers coming around and making threats, especially after the day she’d had.
She still dropped her shoulders and looked down in shame.
“Hey, no judgment from me, I promise,” Alex said. “Family is tricky. I know that from experience.”
Her eyes met his and she smiled. “Thank you.” She shifted her attention to Brock. “But I’m not in danger. My broth…Brian is in custody and he’d have no reason to come after me for anything anyway. We don’t get along, but we don’t hate each other or anything. And the sergeant said the car wasn’t intentional.”
“You noticed Jerold wasn’t here tonight?”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t at dinner last night if you’ll recall. It’s not mandatory, and maybe he felt weird about coming.”
Brock shook his head.“A man like that has no shame. Look, I’d feel better if, for the time being, you’ve got someone protecting you round the clock. For now, that’ll be Valkyrie, and after my meeting, it’ll be me, too.”
“You?” She glanced again at Alex and he could read her embarrassment in her blush. If only she knew he was hiding his own love affair.
Brock continued. “Yup. I’ve been assigned as your personal bodyguard.”
“So, you’ll be coming back to my apartment? For the night?” Again, she glanced at Alex, who put on his best poker face as much out of respect for her as worry that if he didn’t, he’d give his own secret away.
“I hope you have a comfy couch,” Brock said.
