Why the fuck was I always in a trance around this woman?
It was like she made me stupid.
Like an automatic kill switch.
I hated it.
“Right then,” I said as I clasped my hands behind my back so I would keep them to myself, “follow me.”
“Oh my God!”
An ear piercing squeal came from Marla before she took off like a bat out of hell. The squeal leapt me into action, and immediately, I grabbed Miss Elizabeth and shoved her behind me.
“Marla!” I exclaimed as I whipped around, searching for the threat that made her take off like that.
I’d protect Miss Elizabeth with my life. No one would get near her again. So long as I lived, I’d?—
“Miles!” Marla exclaimed as she leapt through the air, rushing into Ranger’s arms. A low, happy whine followed heracross the yard. I hadn’t even clocked the dog until that moment—a massive all-black German Shepherd that had materialized at Ranger’s heel like a shadow that grew legs. He was enormous, built like something out of a military contract, with a broad chest and ears that swiveled independently like radar dishes.
Oh.
That was a good squeal. Smoke had already made his way to Marla, pressing his muzzle gently against her leg like he was running a headcount. She reached down without even looking and scratched behind his ear, the way she always had, and the dog leaned into it with the kind of quiet patience that had always made him unlike any other animal I’d ever been around. Ranger’s hand came to rest briefly on the back of the dog’s neck as Marla buried her face against him, and the three of them had their moment. I looked away to give them one.
“Do women not get excited around you or something?” Miss Elizabeth asked behind me.
I resisted the urge to grumble as I turned to face her again. “If you’ll follow me.”
“Ew,” she muttered.
I looked down at myself. I wiped at my face. Did I have something on me somewhere? But when I focused back in on Miss Elizabeth, I saw her peering around me. So I turned.
Only to find Ranger with Marla pressed up against the vinyl siding of the house.
Ugh.
I’d have to spray it down with the hose later.
“Come on,” I said as I ushered my arm toward the house, “let’s go get you checked out, Miss Elizabeth.”
3
LIZZIE
I couldn’t help but stare around the room while he stuck me with needles and poked at my aching bruises. I did my best not to flinch. After all, I had my pride as a soldier.
Sort of.
Fucking hell, I was going to be court-martialed for being AWOL for so long.
Did I even have proof that I could show my superiors?
“Are we taking pictures of my wounds and stuff?” I asked.
When Doc didn’t immediately respond, I turned my gaze down to him and found him paused while drawing blood.
“Would you like to take pictures, Miss Elizabeth?”
I blinked. “Just figured we’d want to catalogue the injuries for the DOJ, or whatever.”
