Page 18 of Saving Meadow (The Next Generation #1)

The amount of training Nick had to go through to become a dog handler was crazy.

I was so impressed by his hard work and dedication to both the Vets and the dogs.

He’d already fostered four and Sally was his fifth.

He was waiting for Petty Officer Gabe Rowling to recover from his latest surgery to take Sally.

The placement was supposed to happen last month, but Gabe had a complication with his last surgery.

Sally also required additional training.

Gabe had complete hearing loss; while he could still speak, he was self-conscious ab out doing so and opted to learn ASL.

Sally is trained in both verbal and hand commands, as well as trained to alert her owner of sounds and lights.

She was a smart pup. I’d miss her, but knowing what Gabe was going to gain from her made me feel kind of bitchy for wishing Nick could keep her.

Before I was ready, it was time to head back to work. Nick had snatched the bill from the table and the waitress was prancing away with Nick’s credit card, laughing as I tried to call her back over to take mine.

He grabbed my hand the same way he had on the walk over and threaded his fingers between mine.

Every couple of feet he’d bring our joined hands up to his lips and kiss the back of mine.

I was surprised how small my hand was in his.

That, of course, led to me scrutinizing his height.

I only came up to his shoulder, and I was in a pair of strappy wedges giving me an extra couple of inches to my normal five-feet-five inches.

His bulk, coupled with his height, made me feel safe walking next to him.

He chatted about his buddies from the FBI, telling me he was the youngest agent of the bunch.

I’d already guessed he was by the way all the other men in his unit were beginning to gray.

I’d also assumed correctly we were about the same age.

I was older than him by only a couple of months .

“So, I’m a cradle robber?” I joked when we got to the elevator.

“I’d hardly call a month and a half robbing the cradle.” He held his arm out for me to proceed and waited for the doors to close before he continued. “Have you ever made out with a younger man?” he asked.

He turned, caging me in with his palms on the metal behind my head. I didn’t have a chance to think, let alone answer before his lips were on mine. It took a moment for the shock to wear off before I remembered to open my mouth when I felt his tongue grazing the seam of my lips.

I opened, and he deepened the kiss, taking it from sweet to three-alarm hot in two seconds flat.

Holy shit. My world was spinning, and I struggled to keep up.

His tongue glided and twisted with mine, and I fought to catch my breath as he took what he wanted, forcing me to follow his lead.

The elevator came to a stop, and Nick pulled away, using his thumb to wipe my lip.

“Wow,” I whispered, trying to regain my composure.

“Red?” he called.

I had to blink several times before his face came into focus. “Yeah?”

“The door’s open. Come on.”

He tugged me close to him and guided us off the elevator int o the reception area. He stopped but didn’t release me. “Thank you for lunch.”

“I should be thanking you,” I corrected.

“I have to take Sally to meet with the trainer tonight. Can I call you later?”

I thought about playing it cool and shrugging off his question like it was no big deal.

But one thing I really liked about Nick was he didn’t leave me guessing.

He said he was going to call and he did.

Well, he sent a text, but he’d done it the next day after our first date.

He didn’t give me time to wonder if he liked me or talk myself out of what I felt. He deserved the same in return.

“I’d like that.”

“Good. Come on. I’ll walk you in before you’re late and Beth gives you more shit.”

He bent down and gave me a soft peck before he grabbed my hand and steered me through the double doors and didn’t let go until I was safely at my desk.

With another kiss and a promise to call, he was gone.

I stowed my broken purse, reminding myself to stop by the mall on the way home to buy a new one and pulled out my cell.

Me: Date number two in the books.

The response was immediate just as I knew it would be .

VV21: What? When?

Me: Lunch today. Sigh. I think I’m in love.

VV21: WHAT?! Love? Isn’t it too soon for that? Meadow, you need to be careful. You don’t know anything about him. And remember he needs something from you. Are you sure he’s not using you? Sounds too good to be true.

I stared at the screen in disbelief. I’d thought Veronica Venus would be happy for me. I was hurt she was so negative about my relationship with Nick and this was the second time she told me he was using me for information.

Me: Stop worrying. It was a turn of phrase; I’m not really in love with him. Back at work. Talk later.

So, that might have been a small white lie. I wasn’t in love with Nick – Veronica Venus was right, it was too soon for that - but I was well on my way to falling. I could definitely love him, and the thought gave me butterflies.

“Meadow! The reports,” Beth yelled from her office door.

Sigh.

Why was Beth always so miserable? Would it kill her to smile every once in a while?

“Coming,” I answered, and sent one more text.

Me: Best kiss ever! To answer your question in case you were wondering – no, I’ve never made out with a younger man. Or anyone in an elevator before. I approve. We should do that again, and SOON. Have fun with Sally tonight. Give her a scratch for me. xoxo

I turned my phone off and tossed it in my drawer and grabbed the file Beth wanted. With a deep breath, I prepared to enter the den of doom and gloom, reminding myself it didn’t matter what Beth said to me, it never had, I was happy. I wouldn’t allow her to steal that from me.

Not today.

Not ever again.

I was back!