Page 16 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)

CHAPTER TEN

CHASE

“You’re seriously doing amazing work here, Chase.”

“It’s all him,” I mutter, my voice coming out raspy.

My gaze lingers on the husky mix playing with two other dogs, completely at ease in his surroundings.

A few months ago, something like this wouldn’t have been possible.

Duke was rescued from a fighting ring, and his hostility toward people and dogs alike was severe.

He almost bit my hand off the first time I tried to approach him.

Then again, considering everything he’s been through, it wasn’t really surprising.

He was wild, hurt, underfed, and abused by his previous owner, and when somebody found him, he was so badly wounded that the people who reported it thought he was dead. Thankfully, I went to check it out as soon as we got the call and brought him back to the shelter so Mae could help him.

Since then, Duke’s physical wounds have healed, and he’s filled out after he started eating properly.

Once matted fur that had been torn in uneven patches has been shaved off, and is now growing evenly.

After a few months of love, care, proper nutrition, and training, Duke has slowly started to adapt to his new life.

“It’s all you .” Maisie snorts, her hand falling on my forearm.

My muscles jerk instinctively at the touch, the need to pull my hand away almost overwhelming, but I force my body to lock into place. Still, Maisie must see through me because she quickly lets her hand drop and gives me an apologetic smile.

“Nobody at the shelter wanted to even go near him with how aggressive he’d been acting.” She gives me a pointed look, the corner of her mouth tipping upward as she twirls the end of her brown braid around her finger. “I swear, you’re a dog whisperer or something.”

A dog whisperer . Only Maisie could come up with something like that. But that’s Maisie. She sees good in everything and everybody, regardless of the darkness that’s surrounding them.

“I’m no such thing,” I huff, shaking my head.

“We’ll have to agree to disagree.”

I turn my attention to the animals once again, feeling the darkness creeping under the surface. It’s always there, simmering softly, taunting me quietly, reminding me that no matter where I am, or what I do, it’s there. It’ll always be there.

That’s the real reason I’m so good with wounded, damaged animals. They call to me, unlike anything else. I can understand them. I can understand their hurt and lashing out. I understand the beast lying inside of them. It’s like the monster that’s been hiding inside of me for the last few years.

Maybe Maisie sees it too, because she’s the reason I’m volunteering at the animal shelter.

Last year, she brought in a stray that was unfriendly since it was most likely abused by its previous owner.

She asked me if I could try and work with it; otherwise, it would have to be put down, and something about that didn’t sit right with me.

A warm body brushes against the side of my leg.

Shadow.

I lower my hand, letting my fingers sink into her thick fur, the warmth of her body grounding me.

Shadow and I’ve been together for years.

We were paired early in our careers and have gone through hell and back.

Once it was determined that neither of us was capable of returning to the military after we were injured, they allowed me to adopt her.

It was a good thing, too, because she was the only thing that kept me sane in those early days after we returned home when the pain was unbearable, and the memories of that day haunted me day and night, the loud blasts?—

“Chase?”

Shaking my head, I turn around to find Maisie watching me, that smile replaced by a worried expression. I’m pretty sure she called me at least a few times, but I didn’t hear it, too lost in my own thoughts.

She tilts her head to the side, her hand moving, as if she wants to touch me, but she stops herself at the very last second. “Are you okay?”

Shit .

Maisie knows me too well for my own good, and although she’s younger than me, she doesn’t have a problem calling me out on my bullshit.

Her piercing brown eyes stare into me, reminding me of another time, of another set of those same chocolate eyes, and a broken promise.

The bile rises up my throat, leaving a bitter taste on my tongue.

“Y-yeah,” I croak out, running my hand over my face.

Maisie presses her lips in a tight line, disapproval written all over her face. “Chase?—”

“I know you want to put him up for adoption, but I want to try something different,” I say, not giving her time to argue.

“Like what?” she asks slowly, her eyes narrowing at me. She knows I’m trying to distract her, but she loves her animals, so she’ll let it go, at least for the time being.

“I think he could be a good K9, or if not, maybe a search and rescue. He has a lot of energy, and I think with proper training, he could be a good working dog.”

Maisie tilts her head to the side, mulling over my words. “I can see that. He’s really energetic, so he’d need an active family, but if you wanna give it a try…”

“I’ll look into it. Now, if you don’t need me, I think we’ll get out of here.”

“Actually, I was thinking…” There is no missing the hope shining on her face. “A few of us are going to grab dinner. You could join us?”

I wince inwardly. “I’m not really the best company, Mae.”

“Because you’re not trying. You can’t hide forever, Chase, you know.”

I can damn well try.

She must see the determination on my face because she sighs. “We’ll be at The Hut if you change your mind.”

I nod noncommittally. “Call me if you need anything.”

Putting the car in park, I kill the engine and get out. I turn around to wait for Shadow, but she’s already jumped out of the open window.

“Show-off.” I close the door and walk around to find her waiting for me. “You know, one day you’ll face-plant, and I’ll just point out that I told you so.”

Shadow huffs, clearly calling my bluff.

“C’mon, we’ve still got work to do.”

I stop by the counters that are still outside, the dark gray wood shining in the late afternoon light. It took a few coats of paint to get the color just right and have it dry properly, but it’s finally done, so I’m hoping to put it all back in place tonight.

I start for the door when I notice Shadow’s not following me. Glancing over my shoulder, I find her gaze locked on the woods. She tilts her head to the side, her ears standing at attention for a second before she looks in my direction and lets out a soft whine.

Running my hand over my face, I let out a sigh. “Don’t take too long.”

She doesn’t need to be told twice before she dashes between the trees. Usually, she liked to chase squirrels, but now, I wasn’t so sure what got her attention, squirrels or our new neighbors.

My gaze darts toward the direction of the cottage. Were they home? From here, I can’t see anything, so I can’t be sure, and it’s not like I’ve noticed any kind of pattern to their comings and goings.

It’s none of your business.

Shaking my head, I turn around and go inside, not bothering to close the door.

Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge that is still standing in the hallway, I take in the space.

This morning, I took off all the protective tape I’d put down before painting the walls and mopped the floors, so I can bring in the cabinets inside and put everything together once again.

Tossing the used bottle, I first move the fridge back in place before making my way outside.

“What’re you doing?” a voice asks me just as I’m lifting one of the cabinets.

My fingers tighten around the wood as I straighten to my full height, and sure enough, Kyle and Shadow have snuck up on me on my right side, which is why I haven’t heard them approaching.

“Bringing these inside.”

Kyle nods, his tongue sliding over his teeth. Or better said, the gap in them.

He notices my gaze and grins. “My tooth fell out yesterday.”

“I can see that. And we didn’t even have to pull it out.”

“No.” He giggles, shaking his head. “And I got ten dollars for it!”

My brows shoot up. “You should introduce me to that tooth fairy of yours.”

“I didn’t see her, silly. She sneaks into your room late at night, takes your tooth, and leaves the money and fairy dust.”

“The best kind of visitor.”

The cabinet digs into my shoulder, so I make my way toward the house. I expect Kyle to stay outside with Shadow, but they both follow after me.

I put the cabinet on the floor inside the kitchen, swallowing back the groan, and dust off my hands. Kyle’s gaze narrows as he looks at the cabinet. “They don’t have doors.”

“I have to put them back on.” I point at the corner, where all the doors were already waiting with the new handles attached. “But first I need to bring them all in.”

Kyle glances toward the doors, so I decide to leave him to it and go back outside. It takes me a few runs until all of them are in the kitchen, my back aching in protest as prickles of pain make my muscles spasm.

Cursing under my breath, I grit my teeth as I fight through the pain, that buzzing in my ears growing stronger. I press my hand against the side of my leg, massaging it slightly until my muscles relax.

When I open my eyes, I find Rose’s son watching me; his head tilted to the side. He opens his mouth, and I have to zero in on his lips so I can understand what he’s saying.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

Leave it to kids to tell you the truth without missing a beat. He presses his hands against the counter and lifts himself up, his legs swaying underneath him as he watches me, Shadow sitting by his side. “Did you paint them?”

“Yes.”

“They’re boring.” My eyes narrow at him, but if he notices my annoyance, he ignores it and continues, “You should paint them blue. Or green. Green’s my favorite color.”

“I like them like this.”

The kid sighs dramatically. “Okay, I guess.”

There is a moment of silence, so I turn around and grab the first door.