Page 46 of Operation K-9 Brothers

Chapter Thirteen

“I hit the bullseye a couple of times at the end,” Mark said as he sat at the kitchen island eating a bowl of ice cream.“Next time we go, I’ll hit it every time.”

Nichole added a lemon slice to her glass of iced tea, then leaned back against the counter.She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.He’d been bouncing around like a kid on a sugar high ever since coming home, and she loved that he was excited about something.It was the guns she wasn’t crazy about.She hadn’t said anything to Jack because she hoped spending time with him would be good for Mark.She just wished they were doing something together besides her brother learning how to shoot.

“And I’m going with him in the morning.”

“To the gun range again?”Once was one thing, but on a regular basis?That didn’t please her.

“No.He won’t tell me where we’re going.Said it was a surprise.What do you think we’re gonna do?”

“I can’t imagine.”But she was sure going to call Jack later and find out.Mark’s phone buzzed, and since it was face up on the counter, she could see the screen.Lane!Damn it, why couldn’t he leave Mark alone?

“Yo,” Mark said.He listened for a moment.“Nah.I’m gonna pass.I have to be somewhere early in the morning, so I’m hitting the sack soon.”

Thank you, Jack.It was the first time she’d heard her brother turn Lane down.

Mark glanced at her.“Ah, she’s in the shower right now.”

She frowned.Whatever she might be doing was none of Lane’s business.

“Yeah, later, dude.”He set his phone down.“He wanted to talk to you.”

“I have nothing to say to him.”

“Figured that.”He pushed his empty bowl aside.“So, he really did hurt you?”

“I would never lie about something like that.I know you’re an adult and can choose your own friends, but he’s bad news, Mark.”

“He’s always been cool with me.”

With that said, he walked away.She sighed when she heard the guest room door close.Lane was using Mark as a means to get to her, but her brother refused to see that.Her ex-boyfriend could care less about anyone but himself.Unfortunately, Mark was going to have to figure that out for himself.If she tried to tell him, he would only dig his heels in.

She grabbed Rambo’s leash, clipped it to his collar, picked up her phone, then walked outside.“Go potty.”While he sniffed the bushes, she called Jack.

“It’s magic,” he said in greeting.

“Pardon?”

“I was sitting here thinking about you and you called.That’s magic of the best kind.”

She smiled.“Yeah?”He was such a charmer, and she didn’t think he even tried to be.It was just natural to him.And she liked that he was thinking about her.

“Mmm-hmm.It would be even better magic if I wished you here and poof, there you were on my lap.”

“If you could make that happen, I’d be super impressed.”

“Sadly, my lap is still empty.Sure wish you were here, Nichole.”

So did she, but she’d spent all of last night with him, and she didn’t want him to get tired of having her around.“Um, I wanted to thank you for spending time with Mark this afternoon.That’s all he’s talked about since coming home.”

“Okay, change of subject here.I preferred talking about you straddling my lap, but hey, I can go with the flow.You’re smiling.”

“How do you know that?”She totally was.

“I just do.So, Mark.I enjoyed spending time with him more than I thought I would.He’s a good kid—”

“He’s twenty-two.”