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“Catch you guys later.” I turned Layla toward the door.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Wyatt called.
“That doesn’t leave a lot.” I waved at him over my shoulder.
As I guided Layla toward my truck, although the urge to ask her to come back to my place was huge, I wanted to offer her an easy out, so I asked, “Did you want me to take you home?”
She cleared her throat and scrunched her nose in the cutest of ways. “I never told my parents exactly where my research was because they would never have approved, and I certainly don’t want to greet them after eleven months away looking like this.” She raised her arms, showing all the cuts and bruises. “I wasn't supposed to be back here for another seven months.”
“In that case, you’re coming to my place.” I opened the truck door and helped her in.
My heart pounded to an excited beat as I raced around to the driver’s side.
Grinning at me, she said, “So, is this our first official date?”
I keyed the engine. “I guess it is.”
She giggled and as I laughed with her, I drove onto the winding road that passed dense forests and open meadows.
Our conversation was about anything but the Amazon jungle and what had happened there. I told her about Luna, my one-eyed rescue dog.
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She’s going to lick you to death, so be prepared.”
“After what we’ve been through, I think I’m prepared for anything.”
As I cruised up my driveway, the view beyond my home was snowy peaks that pierced the sky and yellow pastures that filled the land in between.
My heart swelled with pride as I helped Layla from the truck and led her toward the large fenced-in area filled with obstacle courses and drill equipment.
“Here's where I train the dogs.” I pointed at the small arena.
I led her toward the holding pens where a few dogs wagged their tails and jumped against the fence.
“I work with multiple breeds, some specially bred, others rescued from bad situations. This is Neptune.” We paused at the German Shepherd’s cage. “He’s as hyperactive as a Jack Russell, but we’re working on that.”
“He’s beautiful.” Layla's eyes sparkled as she scratched his head through the fence.
I soaked in Layla’s beauty. Despite everything she’d been through, she was still stunning. When she licked her lips, my damn cock throbbed to attention.
“Right.” I turned away from her before the bulge in my jeans couldn’t be ignored. “Let me show you around inside.”
As I marched away, Layla raced to my side and slipped her hand into mine. Her grip was so natural, like we’d been holding hands for years, and the throbbing in my groin let me know that it felt so damn good.
I pushed open the door, and Luna came bounding toward us. I scooped up the shagpile and ruffled the hair between her floppy ears. “This is Luna.”
Luna squirmed in my arms, trying to lick Layla.
“Hello, Luna.” Layla giggled as she ran her hand over Luna’s back. “What breed is she?”
“She’s a bitsa,” I said, kissing the top of Luna’s head. “Bitsa this and bitsa that. I think she has about six different breeds in her. That’s why the poor thing is so confused.”
“She doesn’t look confused to me. Just happy.”
“She is now. She was far from it when I rescued her.”
Layla scratched behind Luna’s ear, and Luna wagged her tail. “Some people can be so cruel.”