It was nearly miraculous how he actually appreciated her drive instead of being threatened by it. She couldn’t get over how perfectly suited they were for each other. It was like the universe figured she needed a break from the usual guys and dropped a whole different species of male in her lap.
“Ready for something new?” he asked.
“Always.”
“This one’s about scent discrimination.” He pulled what looked like small canvas pouches from his pack. “SAR dogs need to learn to identify specific scents and ignore others. Even the most tempting ones.”
She watched him demonstrate with Dancer, admiring the way his shoulders moved as he planted the scent articles. Dang, this guy was crafted finer than anyone she’d ever met. As if her exact specifications in a perfect male had been plucked from her subconscious.
“The real trick is teaching them to stay focused when there are distractions,” Noah explained, laying out what looked like beef jerky near one of the pouches. “Most dogs would go straight for the food, but watch this.”
Dancer moved through the course with laser focus, ignoring the treats to indicate the proper scent article. The quiet pride in Noah’s voice as he praised his partner made something squeeze in Sabrina’s chest. They had the bond she needed to replicate with Ripley. It seemed nearly impossible to imagine being at that place. Her—the woman who spent twenty-four seven making sure everyone knew she could do it all herself.
“That’s incredible,” she said, meaning it. “How long did it take to get to that level?”
“Months of work.” He grinned. “But the bond you build during training? Worth every second. Nothing better than having someone you trust completely at your side.”
“Ripley’s turn?” She needed to move, to do something besides think about the weight of his words. “Let’s see if we can match that focus.”
“Start her about twenty yards back.” He positioned the scent articles differently. “Remember, you’re her anchor point. She’ll take her cues from your energy.”
To her surprise, Ripley worked the scent problem perfectly, bypassing the food to indicate the proper article. Pride bloomed in Sabrina’s chest, fierce and unexpected.
“See?” Noah’s hands settled on her shoulders again, thumbs working the knots she hadn’t realized had formed. “You’re a natural at this. At all of it.”
She nearly groaned in pure bliss.
How did he know the right things to say and do? It was like he could read everything about her written on her skin or something. The idea of being that transparent sent a tiny warning flicker through her brain, but his fingers felt too good to pull away. Everything about him felt too good. The way he touched her, the way he looked at her, the way he seemed to actually see her.
She couldn’t figure out why this was a problem. But it might be soon enough, as they inevitably drifted apart.
“I have excellent taste in teachers,” she said with a laugh, because that at least was true.
“You have excellent everything.” His voice dropped lower, sending shivers down her spine that had nothing to do with the January cold. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Sabrina.”
Her pulse fluttered at his pretty words. But this was just Noah being Noah—intense about everything, even her.
“Flatterer.” She leaned back against his chest, savoring his warmth. “Trying to make sure I come back for more training?”
“Trying to make sure you know exactly how amazing you are.” His lips brushed her temple.
When this thing between them fizzled out—which it surely would, given how hot and fast they’d burned from the start—she’d really miss this way he had about him. How good he made her feel.
She planned to savor it all for however long the fun lasted.
“Keep telling me and maybe it’ll sink in,” she told him and stepped back. “I have plans tonight. Is this a good place to stop?”
“Yeah, it can be. I was hoping to take you to dinner though.” Noah didn’t hide his disappointment. Yet another odd aspect of him that she couldn’t get used to. He never pretended or pulled punches.
Which was exactly why they worked. Why it was different from all those other relationships that had crashed and burned when guys couldn’t handle her full-throttle approach to life. He’d tell her if aspects of her personality bothered him or if he was getting tired of her.
That was the great thing about Noah. They were on the same page. They were both having fun while it lasted.
“Sorry, I promised my mom I would drive over to visit. She’s in Durango,” Sabrina explained. “I usually spend the night.”
Noah’s grin widened. “That’s an acceptable excuse for ditching me. Call me tomorrow night so we can talk until dawn again.”
“It’s a date.”
