Talking Dog II: Never Send a Dog To Do a Woman's Job

by Shelley Munro

  The burning itch at the back of his neck continued making him edgy and unsettled. He climbed into the passenger seat, leaving the door open for Killer to clamber inside. Nope, still nothing out of place. As Killer jumped over his legs and settled in the rear seat, Alex decided the problem was his conscience. Despite the bonding, he still intended to leave. Pursuing his dream meant the difference between self-respect and defeat. It was about pride, too. Unfortunately, Lily had only entered his life one week ago. The battle for pride and self-respect was much older and very important to him.

  * * * * *

  “I don’t like this,” Killer whined. “The floor moves.”

  “It won’t feel so bad once we’re up on deck in the fresh air,” Lily said patiently.

  Alex wanted to wring the bloody dog’s neck. Once they’d left Martinborough, she started right in on him, throwing Janaya and her prowess as an Imperial guard in his face. Alex was all for tossing the devil creature overboard. But in the interests of peace and his sanity, he suggested the one thing that would take the dog’s mind off her uneasiness at being on the water. “There’s food upstairs.”

  “Food?” Killer’s tail gave a half-hearted wag and her ears perked up as much as a pair of floppy ears could. “Did ya mention food?”

  “Yeah, I don’t quite believe it myself. Let’s go.”

  They walked past several parked vehicles and still more drove slowly up the ramp to park on the lower deck. The noise grated and exhaust fumes were heavy in the air.

  Killer sneezed. Twice. “Don’t like down here,” she grumbled. “Tickles nose.”

  “Walk faster,” Lily whispered, her blue eyes full of silent laughter. “Before you blow a fuse.”

  Alex frowned at the unfamiliar saying. Sounded painful to him, so he increased his pace as he led the way up the narrow staircase.

  Up on the main deck, the exhaust fumes were replaced by the tang of the sea. White birds wheeled through the sky, other passengers chatted with excitement and waves caused by other boats surged and retreated with soft swishes against the side of the ferry. A sense of wellbeing flooded Alex as he curved his arm around Lily’s waist and balanced on the deck. Perhaps bonding with Lily wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened to him. For the first time in years, he felt content within himself. Something to consider, he thought.

  “Food. You promised,” Killer yipped.

  “What would you like?”

  Killer cocked her head. “Maybe pie. Steak pie. Or sausage roll. They nice. And like biscuits. Ice cream good. Maybe—”

  “One steak pie coming right up,” Alex interrupted. Hell, if he let the dog chose, they’d be here all day. He joined the line at the self-serve counter, purchasing a pie for Killer and coffee for him and Lily.

  Lily guided Killer to a corner table and sat.

  “Boat moving,” Killer said.

  Lily ran her hand over Killer’s glossy coat in a soothing manner. And it wasn’t just to soothe Killer. She didn’t mean to, but every time they went out in public together, she watched other women eye Alex. Then she became nervous and anxious and it colored the way she acted.

  “Who Alex talking to?” Killer asked.

  Lily’s stomach roiled, and it had nothing to do with the swell that rocked the ferry. The dark-haired woman who talked and laughed with Alex was beautiful. The green-eyed jealousy monster nipped at her self-confidence. Yet again. Her hand slowed, finally coming to a halt on Killer’s back.

  “Don’t stop,” Killer said, nudging against Lily’s leg in an insistent manner. “What you look at?”

  “Alex.” His name came out before her brain engaged. Lily bit her lip and hoped Killer would refrain from commenting.

  “You like Alex?”

  And maybe the sun would stop rising each morning.

  “He’s okay.”

  “You share room.”

  “Yeess.”

  “What you do?”

  Holy heck. “We…um…talked…and then…um…slept.” And a whole lot of censorship in between.

  “Hmmm,” Killer said, peering at her closely. “Then why you look tired?”

  “Alex snores.”

  “Moon heart, here’s your coffee,” Alex said.

  Talk about great timing. “Oh! Thanks.” She caught sight of the dark-haired woman standing almost right behind Alex. Lily placed her hand on Alex’s arm in a statement of ownership and smiled up at him. She caught the astonishment then resignation as the woman turned away. Unladylike triumph shot through Lily as she restrained a smirk.

  “Here’s your pie, Killer.” Alex pulled the pie from its brown paper bag and placed both beneath the table. Then he sat opposite Lily and smiled at her, his lips curling up at the very corners. His attention was solely on her—Lily didn’t see him so much as glance at any other woman. Her heart flip-flopped as she remembered making love early this morning. Lily fidgeted on the hard plastic chair, recalling memories of her and Alex. Naked skin. Entwined limbs. Slow, lazy strokes. Moisture pooled between her legs, dampening her panties at the thought. Lord help her, she was ready for another go-round with his sexy blue equipment. A smile curved her mouth at the thought. She was becoming addicted to the big blue.

  “How long to ground again? Don’t like.”

  “I’m not buying you another pie,” Alex snapped.

  “Why not? Janaya—”

  Lily couldn’t help her grin. If she pretended hard enough, they sounded like a family. Mom. Dad. Bickering kids. The grin died a rapid death. Something she wouldn’t have because Alex intended to leave. Killer cuffed Lily’s leg with her paw. “Lily, how long?”

  Lily glanced at Alex’s watch. “Another two hours.”

  “Two hours! Need ‘nother pie. Need strength to earn collar.”

  “All right. All right! I’m going,” Alex muttered, giving the dog a dark glare. She talked a load of gobbledygook sometimes. “You know I read they eat d—”

  “Alex!” Lily protested. “Killer doesn’t need to know that.”

  After Killer ate her second pie, they wandered around the deck—some of the time hand-in-hand. And not at her instigation. It was Alex who picked up her hand and retained possession. He didn’t notice the adulation and silent whispers of the team of netball players. When the coast of South Island came into sight and they were almost in the port of Picton, they made their way back to the lower decks where their vehicle was parked.

  “Door open,” Killer said.

  “Hell, the dog’s right,” Alex said, quickening his pace. He jerked the door of the vehicle fully open and cursed softly. “Some of our bags are missing.”

  Lily peered into the back of the vehicle then searched the vicinity. Other people were returning to their vehicles, ready for disembarking. “How about if we split up and do a quick search in case the thieves have tossed our bags in the rubbish?”

  “Shit. Hell. Damn. Fuck.” Alex used some of his Earth vocab as he stalked down a line of parked vehicles, his gaze probing any likely drop-off spots for their missing bags. The rest of his anti-bonding pills were in one of the bags along with his top-up spell from the crone. He probably wouldn’t miss the pills since they hadn’t worked too well. But the spell. That was a problem. The old crone who had sold it to him had said he needed to administer the spell in exactly three weeks. More than two of the weeks had gone. As Alex stormed up another row, he searched for solutions. There weren’t any. He’d have to finish up with Lily before the spell wore off or she’d see him in his normal guise. It wasn’t the worst-case scenario since his research here was almost done, but he wasn’t ready to leave Lily either. Dammit, he liked her because she treated him like an equal. Sighing, Alex made his way back to the car.

  “Any luck?” Lily asked.

  “No,” Alex said.

  The ferry slowed and the sound of the engines changed as the captain backed the boat into the berth ready for the passengers to disembark.

  Lily tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “We’d bet
ter get ready. We can report the theft once we’re ashore.”

  Two hours later, they finished with the paperwork.

  “I didn’t think it would take so long,” Lily said. “But at least we found one of the bags.”

  Alex shrugged. Minus his pills and the small metal pillbox that contained his spell. Nothing was going to get his spell back. He was doomed.

  “When we go?” Killer demanded. “Smelly here.” She sneezed, punctuating her remark.

  “Might as well head to our next stop.” Alex opened the door for Lily and Killer, and they filed out of the Inter Island Ferry office, heading for the car.

  “Strange man,” Killer said, stopping dead in front of Alex.

  Alex took a huge step in his efforts to avoid falling but stood on one of Killer’s paws. She let out a screech loud enough to attract the attention of everyone in the vicinity then ran to hide behind Lily.

  “Oh, look at that poor dog,” an elderly woman said to her husband.

  The man cupped his hand over his ear and shouted, “Fog, you say? Do you think they’ll cancel the sailing? I can’t see any fog.”

  “Dog! I said dog!”

  “But this is a town. Why would they have bog?”

  “We go,” Killer said.

  Alex rolled his eyes. “For once we agree.” He turned to Lily. “You want me to navigate again?”

  “Please, just until we’re on the main road to Nelson.”

  They managed to find their way out of the port town without any difficulty, and Alex sat back to watch the scenery and catch glimpses of blue water and beautiful sandy inlets. So different from Dalcon’s wide, sparse plains.

  Killer stirred in the backseat. “Car behind.” She poked her head in the gap between the front seats. Her breath wafted across Alex’s cheek. “Men behind. Same men at port. Look a bit like men who smell bad.”

  “Are you sure?” Lily asked, her gaze shooting to the rear vision mirror.

  “You watch too much TV. Too many cop shows,” Alex muttered. “Look, they’re overtaking.”

  Killer sniffed and pressed her nose against the window as a green BMW sped past. “They following,” she stated. “Shifty faces. Not trust. Clever to pass us.”

  She seemed so certain. And if there was one thing Alex knew, it was that the devil creature had enough intelligence for several males. Perhaps he shouldn’t shove her concerns aside so easily. Hell, with the way his luck was running, it was likely the strangers were Imperial guards. The thought made him bolt upright. He squinted, trying to get a good look at the driver and passenger.

  “Watch out!” Lily shrieked. “Oh, my God. They’re going to hit that cow.” She stomped on the brakes. The SUV shuddered. The brakes squeaked. The tires burned rubber as they fought for purchase on the tar-seal road. Finally, they stopped on the shoulder of the road.

  Up ahead the cow let out a startled moo. The BMW swerved. Loose metal from the side of the road sprayed, tires screamed, but the driver didn’t slow.

  “The driver’s an idiot,” Lily snapped. “He must have found his license in a cereal box!”

  “He missed the cow,” Alex pointed out.

  “Stupid animals.” Killer shook her head. “Cows can’t talk. Just say moo.”

  Would an Imperial guard know how to operate an Earth vehicle? Alex wasn’t sure. But one thing he was sure of was the need to follow his dream and become a self-made, useful male. He was so close now, he couldn’t let the thought of Imperial guards from Dalcon faze him.

  “I’ll tell you what, Killer. How about keeping an eye out for the men? Let us know if you see them again.” Alex caught a glimpse of the speeding green car before it disappeared around a bend.

  “Spy?” Killer shook her head abruptly. “I not think so. Bad manners.”

  Okay, bad choice of words. “No, I was thinking more along the lines of a bodyguard.” Ah, better. He saw distinct interest in the dog.

  “Like Janaya?” Killer asked.

  No, definitely not like Janaya. Hell, one weapon-enthused bodyguard was enough! Alex thought rapidly, trying to find the correct phrasing. He’d heard Janaya muttering about shooting when they’d visited Lily. He sure as hell didn’t want to encourage the dog.

  Killer peered out the back window as though contemplating his suggestion. “You’d have to pay. Can’t do for nothing. Have expenses.”

  “Pay you?” Alex spluttered. “What expenses?”

  Beside him, Lily chuckled. “What’s the going rate for being a bodyguard? We’re poor. We can’t afford to pay much.”

  “You poor. He not.”

  “Great,” Alex muttered.

  “I want shiny tag for collar. Gold. Engraved with name.” Killer moved closer to Alex to emphasize her demands.

  Alex stared, unwilling to look away first. Eye contact was a big thing in the canine world. He wasn’t about to give in and let the devil creature think she was above him in the pecking order. “You don’t have a collar.”

  “I—” Killer snapped her mouth shut so quickly her teeth clacked.

  Alex could see thoughts running through her head. He just wished he could read the sneaky creature.

  “Janaya promise to buy in Alaska. She bring one.” Killer turned away to look at the passing scenery.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Lily said. “Killer?”

  “What?”

  “You know your friend, Maxwell?”

  Killer sighed long and hard. “Yeah. Dog with nice bottom.”

  “His owners are going to visit Nelson, too. In fact, they’re staying at the campground. You’ll be able to visit since it’s not far away. Maybe Max can help you watch out… I mean be a bodyguard.”

  “Maybe. Not sure. Maxwell high maintenance. Lots of bitches look. Be busy. Have to teach them respect.”

  “Must be where I’m going wrong,” Lily muttered. “Oops. I did not say that. Oh, look at the beach down there. What do you say to stopping?”

  Since Lily was pulling over anyway, Alex decided to let her change the very interesting subject. He could call her on it later. Alex shot a gaze at Killer. Much later, when the devil creature was preoccupied with her high-maintenance boyfriend. They needed a serious talk anyway. He’d have to tell her he was leaving sooner than he’d planned, especially since Janaya and Luke were likely to arrive soon to collect Killer. Without his top-up spell, he didn’t have any alternative. He didn’t want recognition before he was ready.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Come on, lazybones,” Alex teased. “It’s a beautiful morning for kayaking.”

  Lily nibbled on her bottom lip in the way she often did when she was unsure. Alex found it endearing. He was going to miss her so much. Just the thought made his gut tighten. Three more days then he’d leave. He’d come to the conclusion in the small hours this morning. With Janaya and Luke due back, it was best he left to sort out the other stops on Earth for Bellangere Grand Tours. Janaya would inform on him. It was her duty.

  “What if I can’t paddle properly and the kayak capsizes? What if I’m a jinx, and we keep tipping over?” Lily asked, a distinct thread of worry apparent in her wrinkled forehead.

  “Then we fall in and get wet.” Alex laughed at the thought. “That’s why we have our swim gear on. And it’s compulsory to wear life jackets or else the company won’t let you hire their kayaks.”

  Lily glanced down at her legs and her luscious mouth pulled to a frowning line. “I’m not sure about this bikini. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into buying it.”

  Alex’s gaze already lingered on her beautiful body. If there was one thing he wished, it was for her to regain her poise and feel good about herself. The black and silver cloth cupped her curves, showcasing her beautiful body for any male with a little sense. Unable to stop himself, he traced a finger over the slope of one breast then made a foray into her cleavage across the little brown dot. A sharp nip on his calf brought his explorations to an abrupt halt.

  “What you doing?” Killer asked
, sounding suspicious.

  “Lily had a spider on her. Some of them bite.”

  Lily’s eyes rounded but Alex stayed her with a wink. He didn’t want her to squeak because of an imaginary insect.

  “Where spider?”

  Alex wriggled his finger in Lily’s cleavage, making her laugh. “I’m not sure. They’re fast.”

  The suspicious look didn’t leave Killer’s eyes. Alex frowned inwardly. He was sick of being interrogated by the devil creature. Lily thought it was funny, but he was beginning to think there was more at stake here than nosiness. Maybe something sinister that related to Imperial guards and Dalcon.

  “Killer, you haven’t told us where you lived before you found Janaya and Luke,” he said, watching the dog closely.

  “Not talk about.” Killer glanced away, but Alex couldn’t tell if it was guilt or the attraction of the screech from the bird wheeling overhead. He made a mental note to ask Killer a few more questions when Lily wasn’t present.

  “You coming with us?” he asked instead of the questions that trembled at the tip of his tongue.

  “No. Visit Maxwell.”

  “You’ll be careful, won’t you,” Lily said. “Keep a low profile otherwise someone might think you’re a stray and lock you up.”

  “No one lock me up again,” Killer said with the peculiar sniff she used to portray disdain.

  Again? Interesting. Alex was about to question her further when a joyous bark rang out.

  “Maxwell! He here. Bye!”

  “So that leaves the two of us,” Alex said, not trying to hide his satisfaction. His last few days with Lily were precious, and he intended to show her how beautiful she was.

  Alex and Lily drove to the southern gateway of the Abel Tasman National Park, and parked the car near the information center.

  Half an hour later, Alex helped Lily into the double kayak and pushed out to deeper water before climbing in himself. The morning sun beat down strongly, making Alex glad he’d followed Lily’s advice and donned a hat. Small waves traveled at a leisurely pace, curling to grow white tips then racing to shore. Alex dragged in a deep breath, the briny tang giving him an odd sense of satisfaction.