Home Is Where the Bark Is

by Kandy Shepherd

  Her shoulders touched his and he stilled, breathing in her nearness, enjoying the intimacy and the subtle joy of just being beside her.

  For the past two nights Serena had stayed over at Sausalito. Mack had slept through the night. He and Serena had not. They had been the most wonderful two nights of Nick’s life.

  He wished that the world of dogs and Halloween and identity thieves did not have to intrude on precious time getting to know this woman.

  “I can’t tie this damn thing so your logo shows,” he grumbled.

  “Tsk-tsk,” she pretended to admonish him. It brought back sizzling memories of what it was like when she took charge in bed. Now that was a boss lady . . .

  He had to force his mind back up north to the Halloween bandanna. Serena took it out of his hand, then deftly tied it around Cleo the basset hound’s neck. Serena tweaked it and fluffed it until it sat all perky and crisp with the Paws-A-While logo prominently displayed.

  “Let me watch while you do the rest of them,” he said. Tweaking and fluffing were not in his skill repertoire.

  She sighed. “They have to look good, I spent so much on them before . . . well, before. At the time it seemed like a good marketing idea to give each dog its own Halloween bandanna.”

  “Of course it is,” he said. “When they all go out for their walks today they’ll look so cute people will ask where they came from and want to send their . . . their . . . dogs here.”

  Nick couldn’t believe he’d come so close to saying “dog-kid.” He thought back to the day when he’d made a conscious decision to cross the line and fight on Serena’s side. He was now so firmly entrenched he would fight any battle for her. But he still balked at schmaltzy doggy talk.

  “You think so?” she asked.

  “I know so,” he said firmly. Though already one of the dogs had managed to pull his bandanna to the front and chew it to shreds. “And your regular clients will be very pleased at such a clever gift.”

  He wanted to lean over and kiss her, but she still insisted they try to maintain the façade he was just an employee. It was a lost cause. There wasn’t a staff member who hadn’t guessed their secret. But if that was the way Serena wanted to handle it, then he would play it her way.

  Serena gave the basset hound’s bandanna a final tweak and scratched her behind the ears before sending the droopy-eared dog on her way.

  Ruff-ruff, thought Nick, remembering how Serena managed to turn scratching behind his ears into erotic foreplay. He could hardly wait to get her alone again. Be her sex slave. Or vice versa.

  “Cleo is coming to the party as a hot dog,” said Serena.

  Had he heard right? “Say that again.”

  “A basset is a great shape for a hot dog costume,” she said. “She’ll look adorable. Cleo’s mom is still in hospital, but her son brought along Cleo’s costume.”

  “You mean . . . the human son?”

  “Who else would I mean?” Serena sat back on her bottom and smiled at him. “You still don’t get what it means to live in dog world, do you?”

  “For your sake I’m trying,” he said. “But I don’t get this hot dog costume. You mean like a sausage between a bun with mustard on top?”

  “That’s right. Only Cleo is the sausage. The bun halves go on either side. The costume works really well with a dachshund, of course.”

  “Of course it would,” said Nick. Serena was right. He was still a stranger in a strange land when it came to dog world. “I know the humans are wearing costumes this evening, but the dogs . . . ?”

  “Sure, the dogs will be in fancy dress. That’s what Halloween is all about.”

  “So why the bandanna?”

  “It’s just for the daytime and for those dogs who are too skittish to dress up. Or whose owners don’t want to dress them up. Besides, it wouldn’t be safe for the dogs to wear their costumes all day. Barry’s alligator costume, for example.”

  “The pug will be wearing an alligator costume?” Nick said faintly.

  Serena frowned at his ignorance but her eyes danced. “It’s so cute. It’s a bit too big for him and it kinda looks like he’s been swallowed by the alligator.”

  “I . . . I guess I have to see it . . .” Nick said. Even then he might not believe it. “But I didn’t get a costume for Mack. Or Bessie.”

  “Done,” she said. “Kylie . . .” She paused. He knew Serena was upset that she still hadn’t heard from Kylie. “She . . . she organized their costumes. You have to plan well ahead for Halloween in San Francisco.”

  “And their costumes are?” He dreaded what he might be about to hear.

  “A king costume for Mack. You know, a crown and a fake fur-trimmed cloak.”

  “Appropriate,” Nick said. “And for Bessie?”

  “What else but a fairy? Kylie chose an adorable little yellow tutu and a matching headband with gold stars. I’m sure your aunt would approve.”

  Nick groaned. But, oddly enough, he was sure Aunt Alice would love the idea. “We’ll have to get some photos for her,” he muttered.

  “Helen O’Brien is bringing her camera. And we’ll all take shots of course.”

  He was glad the O’Brien family would be coming. He could do with some moral support from Tom.

  He had to go pick up his own costume at lunchtime. He wondered again what Serena would be wearing. He’d asked, but she wasn’t telling. At one stage, he had thought of suggesting matching costumes. Then sanity had kicked in. That would have really freaked Serena out. Not because the idea was ridiculous but because it would look too much like commitment. For all the intimacy they’d shared, the barriers they had broken down, he still sensed she was holding back from him. If it were up to him, their relationship would be on the fast track.

  “I have a thought for Mack’s costume,” he said. “Adam fixed the receiver for the camera and dropped it off here. I know you don’t like the studded collar, but I’d like to put it back on Mack. With all the people coming here this evening we might pick up something useful.”

  “Good idea,” she said, but he noticed she paled. For a few minutes they’d been able to forget the identity fraud and the fact that they were no closer to solving it.

  Oh. My. God. Serena thought she might faint with desire at the sight of Nick in his Halloween costume. He strode around Paws-A-While flourishing his sword at the staff and making them laugh.

  He’d come as a Roman gladiator. Russell Crowe as Maximus in the movie had nothing on Nick. The dark chest plate molded to the ripped muscles of his powerful chest and arms, and the short tunic and leather skirt showed off his strong legs, with the laced-up leather sandals that went all the way up to his knees. The leather wristguards were hot, hot, hot. He wore a short black cloak that he flipped back as he menaced a giggling Adele—dressed as a sexy Queen of Hearts—with his sword.

  And then he was there with her. “Bullets and bracelets,” he said, his eyes hot with admiration. “My very own Wonder Woman.”

  “You like?” she asked, striking a model pose. Her Wonder Woman costume had the traditional tight red top with the eagle emblem, blue, star-spangled high-cut pants, gold headband, and metal cuff bracelets. Best of all were the high-heeled red boots that made her feel like a real superhero.

  “You have to ask if I like it?” His voice was gruff.

  “I wore this costume for a modeling job. They gave it to me, but I hadn’t worn it since.” If Nick hadn’t come in to her life, she would not have dared to wear Wonder Woman tonight; rather she would be shrouded in a flowing witch’s costume.

  Nick’s eyes narrowed. “Was that job for a big apartment complex downtown?”

  “Yes, I narrated a virtual tour of the different apartments. Why do you ask?”

  “I was out of the country during the chocolate campaign. I swore I never saw you and yet you seemed somehow familiar. I did a lot of house hunting on the Internet before I came to San Francisco.”

  “You must have seen me twirling my golden lasso to open the do
or to the show apartments.” She laughed. “That was hardly the highlight of my modeling career.”

  “I remember thinking if there were women like that in San Francisco, it was the place for me.”

  “Really?” she said.

  “Really,” he said, as he pulled her close for a kiss.

  She hesitated for only a fraction of a second before kissing him back. She no longer cared if the entire party saw her; she could not resist her gladiator.

  She kept on kissing him as he bent her over backward in a theatrical flourish. When he swooped her back upright it was to the collective applause and “woo-hoos” of the Paws-A-While staff and guests.

  Flushed and laughing, she linked her arm with his as she pulled him along to chat with the guests. A pleasing number of clients had accepted the invitation to stay after hours with their dogs. She just wished Kylie was here; she’d helped her plan the whole event. After she’d chatted with the Godfreys and admired Freya’s cowgirl costume, she headed toward the O’Briens.

  Maddy and Tom were into animated movies. They’d come as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, and they certainly looked incredible in matching red-and-black superhero outfits.

  Their dogs were in costume, too. Brutus had started the party with a lion’s mane around his neck, but he had wriggled out of it so many times Maddy had given up. Now he just wore his Paws-A-While bandanna.

  “The girl dogs look adorable,” said Serena.

  Coco was a fairy-tale princess in a pink conical hat and flowing chiffon headdress. Tinkerbelle was dressed as Tinker Bell in a pale green dress and gossamer wings.

  “Pity Tinkerbelle keeps turning around to gnaw at her wings,” said Maddy with a laugh. “Why do we inflict this on them, Serena? You’ve got Snowball dressed as a devil.”

  “Because it doesn’t hurt them and it makes us laugh?” Serena suggested. “The dogs are happy if they make us happy.”

  “No comment,” said Nick. “I’m not saying a word.”

  “Wise man,” said Tom.

  Jenna came over to join them. “You look sweet,” said Serena. Jenna was dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.“I love those red shoes.”

  “I love your red boots,” said Jenna in turn. Then blundered into her usual tactlessness. “Even if they are kind of . . . well . . . tacky.”

  “Tacky?” said Nick. “I think they’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” He pulled Serena even closer. “Because they’re worn by the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.” He glared at Jenna.

  “Hey, what about my black boots?” said Maddy, sticking her leg out in front of her.

  “They’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Tom dutifully. He really was a sweetheart of a husband, Serena thought.

  “Where’s Tony?” she asked Jenna. She smarted from the boot comment but, as she’d done so many times during the course of their friendship, she didn’t say anything. Jenna could be thoughtless and inappropriate sometimes, but Serena was sure she never meant any harm.

  “He couldn’t make it,” said Jenna.

  “That’s a shame,” lied Serena. They’d have a lot more fun without that creep.

  “But he’ll meet us all at the Castro,” said Jenna.

  “Great,” Serena forced herself to say.

  Going on with her friends to a bar in the Castro had seemed a good idea at the time. After all, the Castro, San Francisco’s vibrant gay and alternate lifestyle neighborhood, was still the place to be on Halloween, despite the city’s attempts to encourage people to celebrate elsewhere. But that was before her run of sleep-disrupted nights. Serena had to stifle a yawn. Heather was sleeping over at Paws-A-While to look after the dogs. Right now Serena could think of nothing better than to pass on partying in the crowded streets of the Castro and go straight home with Nick.

  The last thing Nick wanted to do was socialize with a suspect. Nick didn’t believe for one moment that Tony Cross was a reformed man. There was something about the way Jenna’s boyfriend was too polite, too eager to please. And for someone with his record to choose a police costume for Halloween was more a taunt to authority than an homage.

  And he didn’t like the way the guy looked at Serena in her Wonder Woman costume. Not that he could blame any man for admiring her. She looked sensational as the TV goddess he remembered from his childhood. With her tall, slender figure and masses of dark hair, the tight, sexy superhero costume was perfect for her. Tom had let out a loud wolf whistle when he’d seen her. But Nick knew Tom’s admiration was completely lacking in lechery.

  Serena had gone white when she’d first seen Cross in the dark pants and shirt of the local police department. The costume seemed so authentic Nick wondered if it was, in fact, the real thing obtained with the idea of some future impersonation.

  But he did his best to calm Serena. “I’m sorry,” she said in an undertone so the others couldn’t hear. “He’s such a creep, and I’ve got this hang-up about cops. Present company excepted of course.”

  “Why is that? The anti-cop thing?” he asked. He slowed his pace so he and Serena dropped behind the others as they pushed their way through the crowded sidewalks of the Castro. He practically had to shout to be heard over the noise of the crowd and the music that blared from every bar and restaurant.

  “My uncle, my mother’s brother, was arrested and beaten in the Berkeley student demonstrations in the 1960s. The family was left with a distrust of police. A distrust they passed on to me. Then I had a bad experience with a cop myself.”

  “But you’re over it now?”

  “Not really. But I’m trying. And then to see him all dressed up . . .” He felt the shudder run through her body.

  She was still so fragile, not physically but emotionally. No wonder after first that terrifying stalker experience and then the identity theft. Nick felt an overwhelming urge to shield her from any further bad experiences. For the rest of her life. He tightened his grip around her shoulder. “Serena, you know I’m here for you now.”

  “I do know,” she said. “But it might take me some time to get used to that.” She softened the words with a sweet kiss on his cheek. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just need time.”

  “I intend to give it to you. All the time in the—”

  Suddenly she broke free from his arm. “Stop. Look. I see Kylie! I swear it’s her. Dressed in a Minnie Mouse costume. C’mon, let’s go find her. I have to talk to her.”

  She twisted away from him and pushed her way into the crowd of revelers. Nick found himself stuck behind three tall vampires, and by the time he got past them Serena was gone.

  Ohmigod, she just had to find Kylie. Serena hadn’t realized how much she’d missed her until she caught that glimpse of her in a spotted red dress and mouse ears. Kylie. She had to apologize. Explain. Beg her to come back to Paws-A-While.

  “Kylie!” she shouted but realized her voice was swallowed by the noise of the crowd and the music. That old Halloween favorite “Monster Mash” blared out of a nearby bar in a relentless beat that throbbed through her head. Pulsing neon lights on the shop fronts dazzled her.

  She stopped. Desperately scanned the crowd. Was that a pair of black mouse ears and a red bow? She took a step forward. No Kylie. She tried to move to the side but was blocked by a hideous Voldemort, arms linked with a Grim Reaper. It was hopeless.

  She cursed. Felt tears prick her eyes. Her shoulders slumped. She turned back to Nick. “I can’t see her—” And found herself smack-dab up against Tony Cross, his face just inches from hers.

  He clamped his hands down hard on her shoulders. “Gotcha,” he said.

  She yelped.

  “I saw you were lost,” he said. “I came to find you.” Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.

  “I don’t want to be found. Not by you.” She tried to push him off but his grip on her shoulders was too strong. “Go back to Jenna.”

  A group of girls dressed in raunchy nurse costumes and shouting out the lyrics of “Monster Mash” shoved h
er right up against Tony’s chest. She gagged at the smell of his sweat, the musty odor of his costume.

  “You like me. Good. Because I like you,” he said. “I’ve always liked you.” His hands slid down her shoulders, fondled the sides of her breasts over the tight Wonder Woman bodice. “You’re so sexy in those chocolate ads.”

  She shuddered her revulsion. “Get off of me.” She tried to knee his groin, but he shifted sideways so all she did was rub her thigh against his. Bad move. His hands slid down to her bottom. Panic rose in her throat. All her fear of cops and remembered terror of her stalker welled up inside her. She gathered all her strength to push against his chest.

  He reeled backward.

  But it wasn’t just her shove that had freed her of him. Suddenly Nick was there. Gladiator versus cop. Nick swayed sideward to duck Tony’s fist, then grabbed Tony’s right arm and pinned it behind him to immobilize him. Tony’s other arm flailed wildly but couldn’t connect with anything. He grimaced with pain and frustration and screamed a string of profanities. Serena didn’t think even Jenna would find Tony handsome at that moment. “Move and I’ll snap your elbow,” she heard Nick snarl.

  Serena felt woozy with relief, but then Maddy was there to hold her when her knees buckled. Tom helped Nick restrain Tony. Then Kylie was there in her Minnie Mouse costume. She was holding hands with Adam, who was dressed as Dracula. Dracula wearing glasses. Kylie caught sight of her, waved, and smiled her familiar, open, friendly smile. Thank heaven.

  They weren’t far from her but because of the noise and the crush of the crowd she couldn’t hear what Adam was saying to Nick. But Nick’s face got grimmer as Adam spoke. Then Tom went away and came back with two policemen. Real ones.

  “I’ve got to see what’s going on,” Serena said to Maddy, as she pushed forward closer to Nick.

  Now the policemen were cuffing Tony.

  “What the heck—?” she started to ask Nick.

  “He assaulted you and he assaulted me. In front of witnesses. That’s enough to get him arrested. But there’s more. Adam’s been going through the surveillance tapes from the cash point where stolen credit cards were used. Cards belonging to the Godfreys and other victims in Marin County whose houses were burgled. Kylie came to Adam’s house to meet him for their Halloween date—”