See Her Die
Page 29
“I need the job.”
“You need a job.” Dana set down her spoon, then moved to the cutting board and began slicing bread. “If you don’t get reelected in three years, you’ll find another one. Or Adam will write you a giant check. Hell, I have my pension. You and the kids will never starve.”
“I like to be independent.”
“You like to control everything.” Dana paused to make eye contact. “But it isn’t possible, and you’ll make yourself crazy trying.”
Dana was probably right.
Outside, a vehicle door slammed.
Dana glanced out the window and grinned. “Speak of the handsome devil. Oh, he shaved. I don’t know how I like him best.”
Bree couldn’t decide either.
Dana whistled. “He’s fine any which way.”
Bree agreed.
Matt lifted Brody out of the vehicle and set him gently on the ground. The big dog moved toward the house. His gait was stiff, but he seemed better. Ladybug rose and greeted Brody with a wag of her tail stump and a feminine arch of her neck. Flirt.
Bree knew how the dog felt.
“I think your dog is sweet on Brody.” Dana laughed.
Matt went into the barn while Brody and Ladybug sniffed each other. Bree relaxed and set the table. When dinner was ready, she called everyone in. Dinner with her family—and Matt—was just the tonic Bree needed. Adam showed her the sketch he’d done of Kayla. Luke and Matt talked about the latest video game. Kayla chattered nonstop. It was loud and chaotic and perfect.
After dinner, Adam went home, the kids settled in with homework, and Dana cleaned up the kitchen.
“I’ll do barn check.” Bree put on her coat and boots.
“I’ll help.” Matt followed her outside. They walked in silence to the barn. The night was cold and clear, the black sky dotted with stars.
The barn smelled like warm animals and fresh straw. Bree checked water buckets and tossed hay.
Inside Pumpkin’s stall, she looked over the pony’s rump at Matt. “You wouldn’t know where Earl Harper’s dog is, would you?”
“I have no idea where Earl Harper’s dog is,” Matt answered. His deadpan expression reminded Bree of the way she’d answered Stella’s question about calling Morgan Dane.
He wasn’t lying, but Bree could sense he knew something. Matt had stood between her and Earl’s dog. He’d risked taking a bite so she wouldn’t—probably because he also hadn’t wanted Todd to shoot the dog. Earl had risked getting his dog shot. He didn’t deserve to own an animal.
She let it go. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
Matt leaned on the half door. “I talked to Luke tonight before dinner.”
“Thank you. What do you think?”
“He’s having a hard time, but he doesn’t want you to worry. He sees himself as the man of the house. He wants to help you carry the burden, not add to it.”
“He’s just a boy.”
“But that’s just it. He’s not.” Matt moved backward so Bree could exit the pony’s stall.
“You’re right.” Bree had been seeing him all wrong. Luke was on the brink of manhood. “What do you think I should do?”
“He wants to feel useful right now. Let him do the heavy work on the farm. Ask him for his help. Contributing to the family makes him feel part of it. He needs to be needed, if that makes sense.”
“It does.” Bree ducked into Cowboy’s stall to adjust the paint gelding’s blanket. “I’ll just have to be patient.”
“Try not to worry. I’ll keep checking in with him.”
“Thank you. He needed a man to talk to. I can’t be that for him.” Bree patted the horse and left the stall. “Adam is trying really hard, but he can’t read people.”
“Anytime.” Matt closed the door for her. “I have a proposal for you.”
Bree turned.
“You want a K-9.”
“For the department, yes.”
“I’m working with a young German shepherd. She needs another four months or so to mature before she can start training, but I think she would be an excellent police K-9. She has the drive, the confidence, and the intelligence.”
“I have no money in my budget for a K-9. I’m going to have to raise the funds. It’ll take me a few months.”
“This dog is a rescue. She’d be free. You’d only need to raise money for training and equipment, and I’m sure Cady would help with that. She’s great with fundraisers. People like dogs. They’ll give.”
“And you think this dog will work? Because I’d rather invest in the right dog than cut corners.” Bree saw no point in saving a few bucks only to have a subpar K-9.
“I do. She’s the whole package, very much like Brody when I first started working with him.”
Bree stopped him. “I trust your judgment on all things canine.”
“You trust me.” He grinned and walked her backward until she was pressed against the wall.
“I do.”
His face sobered. “The last time I tried to kiss you, you shut me down.”
“Did I?” She rested her palms on his chest.
“You did.” He pressed his big body against hers. “It was a huge blow to my fragile male ego.”
She snorted and patted his pecs. “There is nothing fragile about you or your ego.”
“Why do I have the urge to flex?”
She laughed. “I’m sorry I shut you down.”
She was. Very. At this moment, she couldn’t think of anything she’d like more than to kiss him.
He leaned close. His breath was warm on her cheek. “So, you’re saying if I try to kiss you now, you’ll let me?”
She tilted her head back and looked up at him. His blue eyes had gone dark. His intense focus felt like a touch. Her toes curled. If she was going to give up some of the tight control she held on her life, she may as well enjoy the ride. “I’d say it’s a sure thing.”
He lowered his head a few inches, then paused. “But you also have to promise me we’re going to spend time together when we’re not standing over a dead body.”
“Deal.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It truly takes a team to publish a book. As always, credit goes to my agent, Jill Marsal, for ten years of unwavering support and great advice. I’m thankful for the entire team at Montlake, especially my managing editor, Anh Schluep, and my developmental editor, Charlotte Herscher. Special thanks to Rayna Vause and Kendra Elliot for help with various technical details, moral support, and plot advice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2016 Jared Gruenwald Photography
#1 Amazon Charts and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. Melinda’s debut novel, She Can Run, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She’s garnered numerous writing awards, including two RITA nominations. Her other novels include She Can Tell, She Can Scream, She Can Hide, She Can Kill, Midnight Exposure, Midnight Sacrifice, Midnight Betrayal, Midnight Obsession, Hour of Need, Minutes to Kill, Seconds to Live, Say You’re Sorry, Her Last Goodbye, Bones Don’t Lie, What I’ve Done, Secrets Never Die, Save Your Breath, and Cross Her Heart. She holds a second-degree black belt in Kenpo karate, has taught women’s self-defense, and lives in a messy house with her family and a small herd of rescue pets. For more information, visit www.melindaleigh.com.