***
On the way back to her apartment, MJ kept turning around to check on Maverick. “I don’t get it. Why would Kent Barnard want to mess with him? He’s a creep, but I don’t see why he’d want to make trouble for an innocent animal.”
“The only thing I can figure out is that he recognized Maverick and wanted to get back at me for causing him trouble with the cops.”
“Yeah, but wouldn’t that be risky? Sheriff Daniels could probably have arrested him. Or Maverick could have attacked him and done some real damage, right?”
“I suppose, but Maverick doesn’t attack unless the command is given. I don’t think he’d attack on his own.” Rob glanced over at her, and she saw some uncertainty on his face.
“Really? What’s his attack word?”
Rob glanced in the rearview mirror. “I’ll tell you another time as part of your training. If I use the word now, it’ll confuse him because he’ll think he’s supposed to attack somebody.”
“Oh. That makes sense. Is the word in Italian?”
“Yep. With a bit of a Southern twang.”
“Well, at least that part won’t be too difficult for me. I’ve lived here my whole life.” She looked back at Maverick again. “I hate that he got upset. Especially considering our conversation with Dr. Waring this morning.”
“When we get back to your place, why don’t we have some lunch, and then take Maverick to the park? It’ll probably help to wear off some of his tension with PT.”
“PT? I know that’s a military term, but I’m not sure what it means.”
“Physical training. You do plenty of that in the military. Both Maverick and I get at least an hour or more in every day. It’s helping both of us recover from our injuries.”
“Oh, okay. Maybe I should do it, too. I need to know what to do with Maverick.”
They rode in silence for several minutes before she spoke. “I’m not sure what I would have done if I’d been on my own with him and this happened. I’m glad you were there.” She paused and looked over at Rob. “Do you really think I’ll be able to get this stuff down? You know, handle him on my own?”
“Don’t doubt yourself. We’ll keep working until you feel comfortable.”
“Yes, but how can you put your whole life on hold to teach me this stuff? What if it takes months?”
“MJ, don’t worry. I’m out of the service. I don’t have any place I have to be. I’ve got enough money to live on for quite a while. I didn’t use much money while I was in. There wasn’t much to spend money on in the Sandbox. Trevor entrusted me with making sure both you and Maverick will be okay, and that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
How could he give up moving forward in his life for her? She looked at her lap, trying not to feel guilty.
“Hey,” he said as he reached over and took her hand in his. “This is important to me.” He maneuvered around a corner with his left hand on the wheel. He squeezed her hand in his. “You’re important to me, MJ.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked repeatedly to keep them at bay. What kind of man put his own life on hold to help the woman his best friend loved? Damn it. Why hadn’t Trevor admitted his feelings while they could have had time together? She’d loved him forever, but never told him. He’d known, hadn’t he?
She glanced over at Rob again. She wanted to ask him, but it didn’t seem right to ask if his best buddy had known she loved him. She sighed and rested her head back against the seat. Why did it feel so complicated?
He must have known she’d gone somewhere in her head because he squeezed her hand again and let it go.
She missed the warmth of his touch immediately. Why did that suddenly make her feel so alone?
Chapter Nine
They unpacked the groceries and Rob took Maverick out into the backyard. His four-legged buddy seemed to have bounced back from the visit to the vet and the messed-up episode in the IGA parking lot. Why the hell would that jerk want to hassle Maverick? Some people were sick, and apparently, Kent Barnard was one of them. Well, they’d keep their distance from him. The last thing they needed was a guy like that.
He and Maverick went back into MJ’s house to find she’d made roast beef sandwiches. She scooped out potato salad from a plastic container from the deli department and raised a brow to invite him to help himself to chips. He filled his plate and reached for mustard to slather onto his sandwich. Once he finished, he refilled Maverick’s bowl with kibble.
“I didn’t think to ask you—do you have any plans for today or this evening?” He’d assumed that they’d work together with Maverick, but what if she had a date?
“I don’t have any plans other than to spend time with you and Maverick.”
“No date?”
“Ha! No, I don’t really date. I always thought I’d be with Trevor.” She shrugged. “You know how you make plans that never materialize. Guess that one’s mine.”
“I’m sorry, MJ. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s okay. Maybe I’ll date, eventually. There aren’t a lot of eligible men in Ridgeview, though. Plus, working in the library doesn’t exactly put me in the middle of the social scene. I’m not somebody who enjoys going to bars. Occasionally, I go out with my brother and his girlfriend, or a group of friends. I go to parties once in a while, but I can’t remember the last date I was on.”
Before
