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He was interrupted by barking that started in the distance but quickly grew in volume. The sounds of doggy nails on the hardwood floors announced Daisy’s arrival. She skidded to a stop at Bobby’s feet, catching him at mid-calf with her forehead.
Ah, damn! Bobby gripped the cane with two hands and locked his knees. “Thanks a lot, Daiz.”
“Come back here, you crazy mutt,” Zip called out, rounding the corner that led from the kitchen and adjoining family room. “It’s just Ace, and it’s about time. I was getting worried. Hey! If it isn’t my favorite cop.”
Leeann offered an easy grin. “And just how many cops do you know, Mr. Zippenella?”
Zip offered one of his lady-killer smiles. Bobby wanted to cross the room and give the guy a quick cuff to the back of his head.
“Not counting two of my sisters, three uncles and my pop?” Zip spoke over the dog’s continued barking. “And what’s with this mister stuff? Call me Dean—okay, Daisy, knock it off!”
She left Bobby’s side, making a beeline for her master, but continued with a vocal assault directed at Leeann so strong it had the dog’s hind legs kicking up off the ground.
“Oh, I’m not going to hurt you,” Leeann cooed, dropping to a crouch and holding out her hand toward Daisy. “Come here, come say hi.”
“Whoa, you shouldn’t—”
“Lee, don’t.” Bobby’s command overrode Zip’s as he hurried across the room.
She slowly withdrew her fingers and looked up at him, then to Zip and back to him. “What—why?”
“Daisy doesn’t like females.” Zip snapped his fingers to get his dog’s attention. She finally obeyed and sat at his side, low growls vibrating deep in her throat, her shaggy coat standing on end in a straight line down her back.
“Really?” Leeann rose. “How come?”
“We don’t know.” Bobby stepped closer, moving in front of his best friend. “She’s been that way ever since Zip found her.”
“Let me get her out of here or she’ll never stop.” With one hand scooped under her belly, Zip easily picked up the dog and headed for one of the matching glass doors that led to the covered deck. “Daisy’s still got lots of moxie for an old broad.”
“Oh, no, please don’t tie her up because of me.”
“He’s just going to put her outside,” Bobby said.
“But she might run off.”
“Naw, she’s only gone out as far as the closest tree to pee behind.” Zip plopped the dog down on the wooden surface and quickly closed the door.
Daisy whined, but stopped when Zip leveled a pointed finger in her direction. Instead, she started to pace back and forth, pausing at times to place one paw on the glass.
“I don’t think my baby is a forest kind of girl,” Zip continued. “She prefers the open beaches of the Jersey Shore. I guess sand’s in her blood.”
“So is mistrusting females,” Leeann said. “Poor thing, she must’ve been hurt pretty bad by someone in her past.”
“Yeah, well, a female will do that to ya.” Zip joined them again. “At least that’s what I know from my limited experience.”
Bobby rolled his eyes, wishing his buddy had gone outside along with Daisy. “Limited experience, my ass.”
“Come on, now, bro. Don’t be dissing me in front of our guest.” Zip grinned. “So where did you two run into each other. Oh, wait, I get it now. The law is a trespasser.”
“I wasn’t trespassing,” Leeann protested. “Well, not much.”
“And as a reward the master of the house offered a tour of his humble abode.”
Leeann looked around the room again, her gaze lingering on the signed Ansel Adams photograph hanging over the fireplace. As hard as he tried, Bobby couldn’t get a read on what she really thought of his home.
“Humble, indeed,” she said. “Plenty big enough for the two—ah, three of you, I guess.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Zip beckoned with a wave of one hand, backing through the archway behind him. “Come check out this killer kitchen.”
Leeann walk into the adjoining room and Bobby was pleased to hear a catch in her breath as she came to a stop.
The furniture in there was more casual in design. Built-in cabinets lined the far wall; a flat-screen television, state-of-the-art stereo and video gaming system lay hidden behind the doors. Books and artwork, mainly his collection of Frederic Remington bronze sculptures, filled the open shelving. The other wall held an original, one-of-a-kind oil painting by contemporary cowboy artist Michael Swearingin that dominated the space with its sheer size.
“Oh, how wonderful!”
Bobby followed her, eager to see which piece had caught her eye, but Leeann had gone straight to the floor- to-ceiling glass windows that allowed a breathtaking view of the forest and Laramie Mountains outside.
She spun around, a wide smile on her face. “This is so beautiful. What a view! Our kitchen used to be on this side of the house, but the windows never let in a sight like this!”
Leeann turned back to the scene and Bobby walked over to the bar that separated the open kitchen from the family room. He grabbed one of the water bottles Zip had taken from the refrigerator, ignoring his friend’s pointed stare.
“Museum-quality fingerpaints and enough bronze to sink a battleship, and that’s what impresses the lady?” Zip’s voice was low as he twisted the cap off a bottle, replacing it with the still-closed one in Bobby’s grip. “I like her.”
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