“I’m sorry. He what?”
Chief rocks back on his heels and nods. “He’s a good boy for Clover though, and she needs the protection.”
Wrecks settles between my legs, but not before gnawing on a steel door behind me.
“I’m here for protection.” And I’m better than a fucking dog. Most of the time. At least I don’t eat power tools.
“You’re a human.” Chief scratches behind the dog’s ears. “Wrecks is a hundred pounds of chaos that’ll bark at anything that moves. Plus, he gives you an excuse to spend time with her.”
“I don’t need an excuse.”
“Sure ya don’t.” He raises an eyebrow at me. “But Wrecks here will also get her out of the house. Clover won’t leave her fortress right now without a reason, and Savvy’s not here to drag her out. It’s how she was when she first moved here. Took the girls months to get her to leave their dorm room. Years to get her comfortable enough to go out on her own.”
He nods down at the dog.
“Wrecks gives her a reason. She’ll have to take him for walks multiple times a day, and you’re gonna go with her so he doesn’t drag her all over Happiness. You can get to know her. See what she’s about, and learn that big heart of hers is just waitin’ on the right fool to snatch it up.”
Is this guy for real? “You’re using the dog as a matchmaking tool?”
“I’m using the dog as a security measure that happens to require regular outdoor activities which will also require a bodyguard. Can’t help it if dog walking is also conducive to relationship building.” He shrugs as if he isn’t giving it a second thought, but that spark flares to life again in his eyes.
This man is trouble protected by a fake badge of innocence.
I can hear Roman’s barely contained amusement from the corner.
“Fine,” I say. “The dog can stay.”
“Wasn’t askin’ permission, son. Just letting ya know to get your runners ready.” Chief heads for the door but pauses at the threshold. “Oh, and you might want to shower before you go over there. You smell like fear, sweat, and loneliness.”
“Oh, shit,” Roman gasps through a fit of laughter that doesn’t suit him.
“I don’t smell like?—”
“You’ve been in the same clothes for thirty-six hours. Trust me. You smell.” He winks. “Good thing this fancy tank of yours has a shower.”
He’s gone before I can respond, leaving me with Roman’s laughter and Wrecks’ continued invasion of my personal space as he noses my crotch with more enthusiasm than a virgin on prom night.
“I hate him,” I mutter.
“No, you don’t.” Roman’s still grinning. It’s irritating as fuck. “And he’s right. You should shower. Maybe change. Try to look like you haven’t been on a three-day stakeout.”
“It’s been two days.”
“Exactly my point.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
VALEN
Showering made me feel like a new person, and I spent the rest of the day with Rip, securing an airtight plan for Clover’s safety. But now I’m standing on her front porch with a dog the size of a small horse and absolutely no idea what to say.
A protection detail has never been so…complicated. It feels like a first date, and I don’t date. Not really.
“Knock, ya big ninny.” Chief hisses from the side of the house.
I take one step back to find him and Roman hiding behind a bush.
Jesus Christ.
