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But he didn’t mind the break from his own pack as he set it on the ground. He and Allie both drank. With this heat, even in the shade of the tall trees, it wouldn’t take much to succumb to heat exhaustion. As Allie checked Scout’s paws, Dakota studied her.
Thankfully, no signs of paleness or fatigue. Her hair was longer than a year ago, the pointed chin and big hazel eyes exactly the same. Her smooth skin was a dark tan, a shade that seemed to enhance the light color of her eyes—an intriguing mix of amber and jade.
In another life, another situation, he probably would’ve asked her out. But she barely acknowledged his presence, and he was in no way ready for a relationship.
A year out of rehab? A new job? The timing was all wrong.
“We should get going.” He hefted his pack to his shoulders.
Scout lapped up the last of his water and sat on his haunches, watching Allie gather his dish and empty bottle. She didn’t acknowledge him.
Weird. With Dixie, she had constantly been talking to her, petting her, giving her lots of attention. But like she’d said, Scout was still training. Maybe this was part of the technique, not to coddle him.
Still, he felt bad for the mutt. Couldn’t hurt to give him a little attention while she put things away. Dakota whistled to him. Scout came immediately.
“Hey, you’re gonna help us find those boys, right?” Dakota scratched around the dog’s ears and collar. Scout leaned into his touch. “Good boy.”
Allie slipped her arms through the straps of her own backpack. “Let’s go, Scout. Find!”
Scout leaped to his paws and started sniffing, trotting back and forth on the trail.
“He seems like a good dog.” Dakota held back an overhanging branch for her.
“He’s very driven when he has a scent.”
“Why are you training all the way out here? Do you have family in this area?”
“No.”
“So…”
She sighed. “I came with a friend. She lives back in our hometown in Idaho, and the plan was to spend some time together, but her husband freaked out about the fire, and she left earlier this morning.”
“You’re from Idaho, huh? Where abou?—”
Allie stopped and faced him. “Look, I know you’re trying to be friendly and everything, but let’s not pretend. We’re here to find those boys. We’ll do the job and go our separate ways again,just like last time.” She gave him a tight smile. “This doesn’t need to get personal.”
But he needed to protect this job. He had Will, Dani, and the boys, but this—this was the one thing he had going for himself, and he couldn’t screw that up. She didn’t want to be buddy-buddy, fine. But he also needed Allie to see that he wasnotthe same guy she’d driven to rehab. He’d have to shoot straight with her.
“You don’t trust me, do you?”
Her side-eye glance showed surprise. “I barelyknowyou. And what I do know…” Her words trailed off. She shrugged and focused her gaze on Scout up ahead.
Like she didn’t want to say what she was really thinking.
He stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop and look at him. “You saw me at my worst. You saw what I did to Will. So I get it. I have no excuse for the things I did then. But that’s not who I am now. I’m just asking for a chance.”
“A chance at what?”
“To show you that I’m one of the good guys too, like Will. I might not be SWAT anymore or a federal agent like my brother, but I’m trying to build a new life here. I finished my rehab. I’m starting over. So maybe you could help me out. Let me start over with you too.”
She stared at him. It wasn’t a fast refusal. That was a start.
“I can understand not wanting to be defined by your past.” Her voice was so soft he almost missed her words.
“You’ve got regrets too, huh?”
Her sharp intake of breath surprised him. “Doesn’t everybody?”