That’s when I know. He’s not only protecting me from his true nature but also holding back from me. He’s not allowing himself to get too close to me. That’s the look I’m seeing in his eyes, the vicious control he’s practicing at all costs.
And that’s when the knowledge sinks like ice into my chest.
As much as I’m his, he’s never really been mine.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Dante
* * *
When Reino’s truck pulls up in the driveway, I walk down the steps to greet him. Having warned me that he was on his way to the house, I waited outside.
Once he’s parked, I lean through the open window on the passenger side and come face to face with a wiry-haired mutt.
Reino leans an arm on his window. “The vet book is in the glove compartment. His shots as well as his tick and deworming treatments are up to date.”
Kent baptized him Flash when he adopted him from a shelter. From the few encounters I’ve had with the dog, it was clear that Kent trained him well.
Flash tilts his head this way and that, studying me with one ear standing up and the other flopping down.
“Hey, boy.” I scratch his chin. “You need a new home.”
“He passed the socialization test with flying colors.”
As he’s a mature dog, I wanted to be sure he’s compatible with kids.
Reino strokes Flash’s back. “He’s a good boy. Intelligent too.”
I open the door. Flash doesn’t hesitate to jump down. That’s a good start. At least he’s not scared to explore a new territory.
After closing the door, I hold up a finger. “Sit.”
Flash sits down immediately, his brown eyes trained with eager attention on my face.
“I think he’ll do.” Reino chuckles. “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll be happy to take him.”
“Thanks,” I shoot over my shoulder as I flick my fingers at Flash and start walking back to the house.
We stop on the porch. “Do you like balls? Want to meet someone who loves playing with balls too?”
Flash wags his tail.
“Come.”
I open the door and go ahead, keeping an eye on him over my shoulder. He looks around and sniffs here and there, but he doesn’t run off to investigate on his own, which is another reassuring sign. He’s been taught to obey commands without getting distracted easily.
His nails clack on the floor as he runs behind me with his tail in the air and his head held high.
Good.
He’s behaving confidently and not scared.
Tatiana exits the kitchen just as Flash and I arrive at the door.
She gasps. “Who’s this?” Going down on her haunches, she holds out her hand for him to sniff. “Hey there, cutie. Look at you. What a handsome boy you are.” She glances at me. “Can I touch him?”
