Noah was so different she hardly knew what to think. Not bad different, not yet anyway. She wasn’t the type to moon over a man, yet here she sat, fingers hovering over her phone like a giddy teenager texting with the hot guy in her English class.
Sabrina: What time?
Sexy SAR Expert: Now? Unless you’re still working.
She glanced at the time on her phone. Her shift had technically ended an hour ago. She’d only stayed to finish up the application.
Sabrina: Send me the address.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into Noah’s driveway on the outskirts of Dark Canyon, excitement bubbling in her stomach. And something else she had no idea what to call.
She’d spent hours reliving that first kiss in the parking lot. The unexpected one. The others had been good too, but the way he’d jumped in before they’d even taken a step toward the restaurant, as if he couldn’t wait to get to the next stagespoketo her.
When Noah opened the door, her stomach did a little dance. His worn jeans hugged solid thighs and a faded T-shirt highlighted his shoulders, reminding her exactly what that muscle definition felt like.
His hair killed her. He wore it a little long, messy and made for a woman’s fingers.
She made a fist so she didn’t actually reach out. Though she had a feeling he wouldn’t think twice about it if she did. It was liberating to think she could go with her natural tendency to fling herself off the cliff with no apologies if she wanted to.
“Hey.” His smile widened as he took in her uniform with a once-over that set her insides on simmer. “Come straight from work?”
“You said ‘now.’ Here I am.” Could he tell she’d broken the speed limit multiple times to get here? That her whole body had hummed in anticipation the entire way?
She stepped inside, cataloging details of his home. Neat but lived in. Training gear organized near the door. Dog toys scattered around.
A furry blur launched itself at her from the hallway. Not Dancer. This dog was chocolate brown and slightly smaller. And way more enthusiastic.
“Sabrina, meet Ripley.” Noah’s voice carried a tinge of something she couldn’t quite identify. “She’s been looking for the right partner.”
“Ripley?” Sabrina stared at the chocolate lab who had plastered herself against Sabrina’s legs, tail wagging furiously.
Noah’s grin widened. “She’s perfect for SAR work. If you like her.”
“She’s what?” The pieces clicked together in Sabrina’s mind. “A SAR dog? Forme?”
She’d only just completed the application. Was it even legal to start working with a dog?
“Offering you a potential partner.” He crouched down next to them, scratching behind Ripley’s ears. “She’s young, smart and has the right temperament for search work. My trainer spotted her at a shelter last month. She’s been waiting for the right handler.”
Which was her?
Sabrina sank to her knees, letting Ripley snuffle her hands. The dog immediately rolled over, exposing her belly. Adorable. Was it possible for your insides to actually melt?
“I thought we were going to talk about the case. You don’t waste time, do you?” She meant it to sound teasing, but her voice came out all wrong. And she had no idea what emotion had clogged it.
“Life’s too short to wait when you see the right fit.” Noah’s hand brushed hers as they both petted Ripley, and it wasn’t an accident. “And you two? Definitely the right fit.”
He wasn’t wrong. Already Ripley had climbed right inside Sabrina with those soulful brown eyes and eager energy. But this was a huge step. A dog meant commitment, responsibility. Stuff she hadn’t fully reconciled in her head yet, figuring she had time.
“I just turned in my SAR application today,” she said slowly. “I haven’t even been accepted to the program yet.”
“You will be.” The certainty in his voice made her look up, meeting his concentrated gaze. “Besides, you can get certified outside of the partner program you applied to, if for some reason you don’t get a slot. There are all kinds of volunteer organizations, especially in this area. Take the dog, get acquainted, and we’ll figure out what the next steps look like together.”
Heat bloomed in her chest. Both from his faith in her and the realization that he’d been thinking about her future, planning this surprise—with the full intent of being right by her side the whole way.
“This is—”Crazy.Fast. Overwhelming.
But when had she ever shied away from the deep end? She was just used to being the one at the rudder, the one everyone else was telling to slow down.
