Sizzling days of danger...

Introducing the K-9 Ranch Rescue series

Devastated after her father’s murder, Amber Belott wants to keep his legacy alive by saving his K-9 ranch. Her first move? Hiring Evan Colluro, a former military K-9 trainer, who impresses—and attracts—her. If only she weren’t his boss...and his past didn’t trouble him. Evan joins Amber in investigating. But when chaos erupts, it threatens all that’s drawing them together.

LINDA O. JOHNSTON loves to write. While honing her writing skills, she worked in advertising and public relations, then became a lawyer...and enjoyed writing contracts. Linda’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won a Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year. Linda now spends most of her time creating memorable tales of paranormal romance, romantic suspense and mystery. Visit her on the web at www.lindaojohnston.com.

Also By Linda O. Johnston

K-9 Ranch Rescue Series

Second Chance Soldier

Undercover Soldier

Covert Attraction

Alpha Force Series

Alpha Wolf

Alaskan Wolf

Guardian Wolf

Undercover Wolf

Loyal Wolf

Canadian Wolf

Protector Wolf

Back to Life

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Second Chance Soldier

Linda O. Johnston

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07873-3

SECOND CHANCE SOLDIER

© 2018 Linda O. Johnston

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“Maybe this is a prelude to learning, at last, who killed my father.”

“Maybe, but it would be a good thing if you stayed alive long enough to find out.”

“Yeah, there is that little angle, isn’t there?” Now she seemed to be calming a bit. Appearing more speculative—which worried Evan.

What if she put herself into more danger?

Damn, but this gorgeous—and foolish—woman exasperated him.

And that wasn’t all she did to him...

“Look, Amber. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you need to be especially careful now. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She turned and looked him straight in the eye.

Not long ago, he’d have been highly uncomfortable with that.

Not now, though.

He started to reach over to pull her into his arms, but she beat him to it. They were suddenly both standing. Amber pressed herself against him—and raised her mouth to his.

Dear Reader,

Those of you who know my writing are aware I’m a dog lover. That’s one reason I’m delighted to be writing the K-9 Ranch Rescue stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. They take place in the fictional town of Chance, California, and involve dog training, suspense...and, of course, romance.

In Second Chance Soldier, the first in the series, Amber Belott has returned home to the K-9 ranch begun by her father, who was recently murdered. In his loving memory, and to help her mother, she’s determined to keep the ranch going despite her dad having never taught her to train dogs. She searches for the right head trainer—and is highly impressed by the demonstration provided by former military K-9 officer Evan Colluro. She hires the sexy and skilled trainer on the spot—without realizing he has a mild form of PTSD.

But Evan’s skills outweigh his past—and as Amber and Evan work together to bring more students to the ranch for pet and K-9 dog training, and to find the truth about what happened to Amber’s dad, their attraction becomes undeniable.

I hope you enjoy Second Chance Soldier. Please come visit me at my website, lindaojohnston.com, and at my weekly blog, killerhobbies.blogspot.com. And, yes, I’m on Facebook, too.

Linda O. Johnston

Second Chance Soldier is dedicated to all dogs and those who train them, including police and military K-9s.

And, as I always do, I dedicate this book to my wonderful husband, Fred. Good thing he likes dogs, too.

Acknowledgments

Since I have been well trained by my dogs so far, and not so much vice versa, I want to thank everyone who advised me about dog training. That includes the Hollywood Dog Obedience Club and its wonderful officers, trainers and members I’ve met. They have shown me what pet dog training is all about.

I have also watched several demonstrations of police K-9s in the Los Angeles area, which have proved to be fascinating and useful, and I have additionally been privileged enough to have had discussions with some K-9 officers. I particularly want to thank the Glendale Police Department and its K-9 unit, most especially Officer Shawn Sholtis and his K-9, Idol.

Thank you all!

Of course, Second Chance Soldier is a work of fiction, so if anything seems incorrect that’s because I’ve modified reality to fit the story.

Many thanks also to my wonderful editor, Allison Lyons, and my fantastic agent, Paige Wheeler.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Extract

Extract

Chapter 1

Was this demonstration going to be as unimpressive as all the others had been so far?

Amber Belott could only wait and watch—and hope that, finally, she and her mom, Sonya, had found their answer at last, a skilled person who could take over training potential police K-9s and other dogs, as well as additional trainers, now that her father was gone.

Evan Colluro was the eighth person who’d come to the Chance K-9 Ranch, just outside Chance, California, to perform a demonstration. A tryout. An audition of sorts.

Evan had just arrived. At least he was right on time, unlike most of the others, whose excuses tended to be how remote this place was. At the top of the driveway near their house, he exited his black sedan along with his dog, who was, unsurprisingly, a German shepherd.

His résumé had described his extensive work with dogs, particularly in the military, but nothing had prepared her for how good-looking he was. He was tall and slender with broad shoulders, and the fit of his charcoal knit shirt implied strong muscles beneath. He wore black slacks and new-looking athletic shoes, somewhat informal attire, yet he looked ready for both a job interview and a critical dog-training test session.

Again unlike some of his either more formal, or more sloppily dressed, predecessors...

Amber, on the other hand, wasn’t dressed particularly to impress. Neither was her mother. Both wore casual blue work shirts tucked into jeans. Amber didn’t care what Evan thought of her, except as a potential employer.

She approached the man with short black hair who now stood beside his car, his dog at his side. “Evan?”

“That’s right. And you’re Amber?” Though he stood facing her, he didn’t quite look at her. He had a hint of dark beard stubble on his long, angular face, a cool expression in his deep blue eyes that gave no indication at all as to what he was thinking or feeling. Maybe he was watching her mother. Or looking at their black Labrador retriever, Lola, who stood beside Sonya.

“Yes. Welcome. And who’s this?” Amber gestured toward his dog, wanting to approach to pet him but recognizing that was a bad idea with a trained K-9 without asking permission.

“This is Bear.” There was a note of pride in Evan’s voice. “He’s been with me for a while.”

Which suggested he might be a former military K-9.

“May I pet him?” Amber asked.

“Sure.”

While she stroked the apparently pleased dog’s head behind his ears, she next asked, “Would you like to come inside for a cup of coffee?” That would mean a chat about Evan’s background, which Amber already somewhat knew from their online conversations, or the job, which he’d learned about the same way. “Or just start with the dogs?”

“The dogs,” he said with no hesitation.

“Fine.” In fact, that was good. Talking with the guy now wouldn’t tell her what she needed to know.

Watching him in action would.

“First,” she said, turning away from Bear, “I’d like you to meet my mother, Sonya, and our dog, Lola.”

Lola, though restrained by a leash held by Sonya, had leaped forward and now traded nose sniffs with Bear. No animosity that Amber could perceive—a good start. Whatever his background, Bear also appeared well behaved.

“Hi.” Her mom stepped forward. She held her hand outstretched and Evan grasped it but didn’t look straight into her eyes, either. Amber wondered once more what was on this guy’s mind.

“Hi,” he responded, letting go right away.

Amber exchanged a brief glance with her mother, then turned back to Evan. “The first puppies who need training are over there.” She pointed toward the location just beyond the wide driveway that he had probably noticed before.

Three German shepherds about six months old stood watching them from a small area surrounded by a chain-link fence, just beyond the main wood-plank fence at the edge of the rolling lawn. The pups had been selected by Amber’s dad when they were even younger as having the temperament to potentially have a future as skilled police K-9s.

By Amber’s now-deceased father...

Now wasn’t the time to think about that.

For the first time since he arrived, Evan smiled. “I noticed them,” he said, not taking his eyes off the canines. “Okay if I join them and check out where they are in their training?”

“Sure,” Amber said, but almost before the word was out of her mouth he began striding in that direction.

Trading glances once again, Amber and Sonya followed, not far behind. Her mother still held Lola’s leash, restraining their dog from getting too far ahead—and in Evan’s way. Bear stayed at his side, though, without a leash.

It was May, and the air was warm, the sky a brilliant blue. A lovely day—if there could be such a thing in this family any longer. A good day, at least, for this kind of test.

As Evan reached the fenced area, the ranch’s barely trained K-9 German shepherd puppies—Rex, Hal and Lucy—all stood as they saw him, clearly excited. Rex started barking, the sound shrill and loud, inciting the others to do the same.

Evan looked down into the face of the initially guilty dog, gestured and said, “Sit!” softly yet firmly.

Amber was both amazed and pleased to see Rex immediately both sit and quiet down, and the others followed suit.

“Wow,” whispered her mom at her side, obviously equally impressed.

Was it this man’s body language, his clear intent to take control? Amber had no idea, but it felt different, very different, from the others who’d been here before him. Some had yelled orders above the barks, some had shoved the pups into place, and some had done both. Others had bribed them with treats.

Evan’s approach was different. So was his attitude. He seemed strong yet caring.

And that was just the beginning. Without looking toward Amber or Sonya for consent, Evan opened the nearby gate to the lawn, and he, Bear and Lola—whose leash he’d removed—then entered the smaller fenced area.

“Hi,” he said to the pups, who all squirmed on the ground beside him. He appeared to study them for a while, then Rex dashed around and the other two rolled on the grass as if wanting to be petted. He didn’t touch them but asked Amber for their names. He repeated the names, watching each dog to see their reactions. “Okay,” he finally said. “Let’s do it.”

The three young shepherds plus Lola were then subjected to a whirlwind of instructions, including commands they might not have heard before. Bear, too, participated, clearly knowing and obeying each order.

Evan’s large, strong hands moved in an assortment of gestures that were each tied to one of those verbal commands. He sometimes repositioned his large, lithe body while getting the dogs to move, too. His hand movements were gentle as, looking straight into their faces, he guided them into the positions he wanted them to achieve. Each time they obeyed a command, a touch or both, he rewarded them with praise.

His tone was encouraging, as if the dogs understood every word, and maybe they did thanks to his accompanying gestures or their limited prior training.

Evan seldom scolded them, but he did distract one or another when they didn’t obey by walking in front and grabbing the dog’s attention by movement and a strong tone of voice.

He also rewarded them now and then by extracting a toy that resembled a small fabric suitcase handle that Amber knew was called a tug from one pocket, and at other times a ball out of another pocket, each time tossing it for an obedient dog to chase and bring back.

Meanwhile, Bear followed all of Evan’s commands, as if he provided an example each time.

The pups that Amber found so adorable, so sweet—and so disobedient—now acted as if they couldn’t wait to receive and obey the next command.

After about twenty minutes, when Evan had worked with all the shepherds—plus Lola—several times, he turned and looked toward Amber and her mother, who both watched him over the fence. It was the first time he’d glanced at them since starting.

“I gather that these pups have had a small amount of training,” he said, “but they’ve a lot to learn. I’ll want to hear more about their background. I assume the intention is for one or all of them to wind up as police K-9s, so I could start their initial training for single-purpose use—just finding and attacking bad guys. But most police departments prefer dual-purpose dogs, those that can also do drug or explosive sniffing, cadaver location, search and rescue or more, and I can help prepare them for that, too, though what they’re taught will depend on their individual skills and what their ultimate handlers will want from them.”

“And you can provide all that training?” Amber asked. She was definitely impressed. None of the others she’d invited here had come even close to what Evan had already accomplished.

“Well, sure,” he said, as if that was a foregone conclusion. He briefly looked her straight in the face, as if trying to read her mind, but only for an instant before he glanced away and turned back toward the dogs.

Amber started walking away and gestured for her mother to follow. They didn’t go far before she stopped, looked at her mother and asked in a low voice, “What do you think?”

“Grab him while you can,” Sonya said equally softly, but with a large smile.

Amber nodded, then called to Evan, “We’d like to discuss a possible job offer with you.” She walked toward him and added, “Please shut the pups into their enclosure, then let’s go into the house and discuss it, okay?”

“Okay,” he agreed—and Amber knew her responding smile was even larger than her mother’s.

Unsurprisingly, after more commands, followed by petting, verbal rewards and a few more tosses of toys, Evan got the three young pups to sit and stay while he locked the chain-link fence gate behind him, as if the dogs lived to obey him. Amber could only grin about that.

But surprisingly, rather than join them directly, Evan held back as they walked toward the house. Amber turned often to look at him, admiring the wide smile on his angular face that was leveled only on the two canines still with him, Lola and Bear.

Maybe it was a good thing he was so wrapped up in communicating with the dogs...for now. Once they reached the house, only the humans would be speaking.

“I’m really surprised,” Sonya whispered from beside her. “I’d figured we’d find the right choice thanks to one of your dad’s cop contacts.”

All the others who’d come to try out for this job had either been sent by nearby police departments after Amber had contacted them, or were recommended as skilled trainers by the law-enforcement associations her father had joined because they had K-9 handler members.

But none had worked out. And this guy, from what Amber had seen online, had appeared potentially perfect.

She knew from his résumé and the references he’d provided that Evan Colluro was in his early thirties, a couple of years older than her. His credentials were impressive: seven years in the military, the last three working in a K-9 unit. He had earned several commendations and had left the military just over a year ago after an injury.

“Hey, I know you’re not an internet fan,” Amber replied softly, smiling as she looked down at her mom. “But sometimes people even meet their true loves thanks to websites. It’s worth a shot at trying to find the right employee there.”

Amber winced at her own words. She had badly misstated her thought. A shot? How stupid of her to use that term.

But, of course, she thought about gunshots constantly since the morning two months earlier when her mother had called to tell her that her dad had been killed.

She hazarded another glance at her mom, who was shorter than Amber and somewhat heavier. Her wavy auburn hair—which, unlike Amber’s, was not its natural color—blew in the breeze.

Amber had worried about her mother, too, before she’d returned home, since her dad had been killed for no apparent reason on the ranch’s grounds. She still worried about her but had seen nothing threatening since she’d gotten back. And the local cops seemed to think the killer could have been a former student, since her dad wasn’t always as nice to the people he taught as he was to the dogs, or maybe it was a robbery gone wrong.

“So how are you going to handle this offer?” Sonya asked, fortunately not latching onto how Amber had misspoken.

“We’ve discussed some terms in emails,” she told her mother, focusing again on what she needed to. “He must be okay with that part, at least, since he’s here.” But however she phrased the actual offer, she wanted to make sure the guy liked it. They needed him to accept it.

Of course, despite that impressive demonstration, no one could ever be as good at training as her father had been. No one could ever fill his shoes. He had worked alone, with no assistants, and had been wonderful at it. But Dad was gone. Dead.

Murdered.

By...who?

The K-9 Ranch was still here. And thanks to her dad’s loner attitude, there was no one skilled enough to take over where he had so abruptly, and terribly, left off.

Amber had no intention of closing the ranch and ceasing the dog training that had been so important to the whole family. Unfortunately, she’d never been taught the necessary skills. She could only hope that Evan Colluro was the right person to take over as their first new trainer, to make sure that the Chance K-9 Ranch survived. “We’ll see.”

They reached the base of the porch and she turned to face the potential employee, who was only a few steps behind them. She tried to look him in the eye, but though he seemed at first to mirror her smile, he quickly lowered his gaze back down to the dogs.

Interesting.

Was this really going to be a wise decision?

* * *

Evan knew he should be more outgoing, talk about all his experience and what he could do here, rather than walking behind the two women as if he only wanted to be in contact with the dogs. Which, in some ways, he did.

But he ought to make small talk, thank this gorgeous and sexy woman who’d communicated with him online and invited him here to possibly teach dogs and other trainers and, most important, to also train police K-9s and their handlers, and perhaps eventually service or therapy dogs, too. He’d have some learning to do himself to accomplish it all, but it was still his ideal situation.

He at least thought his audition had gone well.

Even so, was this a bad idea?

He’d been wondering that before, particularly as he’d driven here from Los Angeles. That was where he’d hung out over the last months, to be near its veterans’ facilities, as well as police K-9 units and instructive handlers. He’d taken some classes himself, and eventually landed jobs teaching others how to train dogs.

But he hadn’t felt comfortable there.

Well, here he was. This sounded like the perfect long-term job for him—working with dogs and some human trainees, way off the usual grid of stress and having too many people around.

And Bear was with him. Dear Bear. They’d saved each other’s lives in more ways than one...

The two women reached the front porch of the main house on this vast piece of property. They stopped, turning to look at him.

“Come on in,” Amber said. Before, when he first introduced himself, he had looked her straight in the face only long enough to see how pretty she was, with smooth skin and full lips, and wavy hair that was a pretty reddish color. He’d also noted how intense her deep brown eyes were as they regarded him. That was why he’d quickly looked away.

He’d observed the rest of her then: Amber was curvaceous in her casual clothes.

Her mother, Sonya, who resembled her, was an older, shorter version. Again without looking her straight in the face, Evan had observed her. He knew she had recently lost her husband, had suffered pain.

He identified with that, though the circumstances were very different.

Now Amber had invited him into their house so they could chat for a while. Discuss a possible job offer.

And maybe interrogate him.

Well, she would be his boss if all went well. He had to deal with it. Once, he would have considered how to lure someone as gorgeous as her off to bed. Now, he had to decide only if he could put up with her giving him orders.

“Fine,” he said. “Is it okay if Bear joins us?”

The amazing shepherd, at his side, heard his name and snuggled against Evan’s leg. Evan couldn’t help smiling down at the wonderful dog.

“Sure. I’ll bring Lola in, too.”

Evan stopped briefly behind the women as they walked up the tiled stairs to the wide porch at the front of the ranch house. It was a two-story home, its facade made of long slats that looked like redwood, with decorative lighter wood arching over the door and around the windows at either side and on the second floor, as well as framing the entrance. The sloping roof was covered with contrasting black shingles. In all, it was a nice place and fit the rural, sparsely populated surroundings Evan was seeking.

Once they were inside, Amber led them into the moderate-sized kitchen, where Sonya started bustling around, brewing coffee. Amber gestured for him to sit at the round wooden table, and put a plate of cheese and crackers in front of him. She seemed like a nice person. An attractive woman...a very attractive woman. A welcoming woman. He started to relax, at least a little.

“Okay if I leave Bear loose?” he asked. It was.

Soon all three humans sat at the table with coffee in front of them. Bear lay down on the tile floor beside Evan, and Lola settled near Amber.

Then the fun began... Not.

Amber started with easy questions. How long had he liked dogs? How long had he worked with them? Where had he worked with them? He could answer those without much angst.

But then she began asking about the military experiences he’d had while working in the K-9 unit in Afghanistan.

It was all he could do to remain sitting there, answering, not looking at her...while the pain throbbed inside him.

Even so, he remained honest. Yes, he’d enjoyed what he’d done...but, yes, he had been wounded overseas. Bear had been there for him. Had saved him, bringing help when he had been injured by an improvised explosive device. And then...

Evan cringed. He saw again the IED’s explosion. Heard the concussive blast. Felt the pain. Watched Bear bring the other human member of his team who saved him...and saw Bear as he was shot by an unseen sniper.

Never mind Evan’s own injury, his agony. He’d stood and found a way to lift his dog and get him into the armored vehicle his comrade had driven there.

“Evan, are you all right?”

He hadn’t noticed Amber rise and rush over to him. Now she stood at his side. Bear, too, was standing.

He glanced toward the area around Bear’s hip where he had been shot, where his coat had grown back over the scar. Then Evan closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep, calming breath. For the first time, he looked up and stared deeply into Amber’s brilliant brown eyes and managed a smile.

“I’m fine,” he said. “Just a touch of PTSD. But working with dogs? That’s what I do. Did you say you wanted to discuss a possible job offer?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice cracking. “I do.”

* * *

Was this a mistake? This man she’d considered handsome and sexy and more, apparently had a messed-up mind.

PTSD. She was aware of it, of course, without really knowing how it worked.

It wouldn’t make a difference if this guy truly could train dogs and handlers the way he’d claimed.

He’d certainly looked good at it. And hopefully, with his experience, he’d do much better than the others.

“Okay, I’ll tell you what I’ve been thinking.” She knew her smile wavered a bit. But before she pulled her glance away she felt gratified that, for the first time, Evan Colluro had actually looked her straight in the face for more than a nanosecond.

His PTSD might be why he hadn’t before, but his stare at her now, his wry grin, made him appear different: vulnerable, sad, damaged, yes, but also even sexier.

He listened as Amber told him that the first classes he would teach would be to a core group of her father’s students from this area who’d been helping each other with their pet dogs to keep the skills they’d already learned here fresh. They would be at the ranch tomorrow afternoon, and Evan could start right away by working with them.

“But we’ll want you to go into it deeper, teach them more—just general training skills, though, not K-9. You’ll work with our three shepherd pups for that, and we’ll hopefully place them with police departments when they’re ready. Plus, you can provide new and refresher classes to other police K-9 handlers soon. But tomorrow’s students? We’ll use them as our basis for bringing in even more students who have their own dogs. Some can become therapy dogs, and we may also acquire younger puppies to start training as service dogs. If classes increase the way we hope they will, we’ll hire additional trainers to assist you, and you’ll get some say in who we bring on. Does all that work for you?”

“Definitely,” he responded. “We’ll need to figure out the scheduling, of course, and we’ll also need to talk about a hiring protocol once bringing in other trainers becomes more likely, but it’s a good way to start.”

Their earlier correspondence had included what Evan’s base compensation would be if he was offered the job, and how it would be increased depending on expansion of their classes. Plus, he would get a home to live in here on the ranch, rent free. So, though they were talking terms, it was more about how he’d teach rather than his salary and benefits.

To be fair, she had also mentioned why they were looking: her father’s death. Detailed news reports were online, so Evan was likely aware that the situation remained unsolved, although the cops didn’t think there was any residual danger. Amber hoped not, of course...but couldn’t be certain. And she’d be willing to discuss the difficult situation with Evan if he happened to bring it up sometime.

“If all that is okay,” Amber finally told him, pushing some paperwork and a pen toward him from across the kitchen table, “I’ve had this agreement drawn up. I’d like us both to sign it.”

“Sure.” But Evan took his time reading it, probably a smart thing to do. Soon, though, he picked up the pen off the wooden table and signed and dated two copies of the contract as indicated, then pushed them back to Amber. She was the one to sign them, not her mother. They had previously agreed that Amber would take charge of the ranch.

“Great,” she said after placing her signature on both copies and passing one back to Evan. “Now, let’s go show you your new home.”

Chapter 2

Okay, it was done.

Rather, it was just beginning. Amber continued to hope she hadn’t been too impetuous, too impressed by a tryout that appeared wonderful...but might not mean Evan could produce the many elements of dog training they needed him to do. Still, he’d been great with the puppies. That was what was important. The other stuff—his quiet demeanor, his admitted PTSD, his seldom looking straight at her—was just peripheral to what he needed to do around here to start fixing Chance K-9 Ranch until it was as successful as it had been under her popular, skilled and versatile father.

They were all back outside now, including the two older dogs, who now cavorted as if showing off to one another and to the humans around them. If Amber tried to motion to them or give them a command she doubted they’d change their ways. But if Evan did... Well, not now, though.

“There.” Pointing, she drew closer to the end of the paved path away from the house. It traversed the middle of the rolling green hills within the ranch’s enclosing wooden fence, and along it were some of the other homes on the ranch property. Those were for staff, and some located in the other direction could be rented out to students as they came to learn training methods, although there were also hotels nearby, including the one next door.

Four houses stood in a row here, all compact, single-story structures also constructed with redwood-resembling exteriors. Her mother and she led Evan past the first three to the one at the far end, then Amber turned to look at him. He stared at the house with an expression that appeared both assessing and pleased. Good. That was another plus on his chart.

“This one will be yours.” She walked up to the front entry, a plain wooden door with a window at the top. Having already dug the key out of her pocket, she unlocked the door, pushing it open to let him enter first.

Instead, he gestured politely for her to go in, then her mother. They both did so along with the dogs, though Amber had hoped to see more of Evan’s reaction to the place. Not that the house was anything fancy, but she’d checked its condition when she’d started looking for a trainer and thought it was adequate. The house had been built for ranch hands and their families by a prior owner, but had been rarely used recently, since her dad had had few live-in assistants. He’d kept it up, though, and always believed in treating any employee well.

The door opened into the compact living room, where a fluffy brown sofa and matching chairs faced a small wall-mounted television. A hallway led from it to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

“Bear, come.” Evan headed first to the kitchen doorway. That was sweet, Amber thought. He appeared to want his dog’s opinion. Evan peered in as Bear ran inside, then back out again, followed by Lola. By then, Evan had moved to look through the bedroom door. The furnishings in both rooms were as utilitarian as those in the living room—adequate, but not particularly decorative.

Well, if he didn’t like anything, he could always replace it for as long as he was here.

Which, Amber realized, she hoped would be a long time. Provided, of course, that his teaching skills were as good as she believed they were thanks to his demonstration.

“Very nice,” he said. The compliment added to Amber’s estimation of him. He was polite to the point of exaggeration.

He’d turned toward her mother, his craggy facial features lifting into a smile. Amber realized she liked his smiles, despite their rarity and how short-lived they were. She liked it even more when he aimed them at her, but she had the impression he felt more comfortable with Sonya.

That was okay. Amber also liked the idea of her mom getting more involved with the ranch and dog training. It might help her move on with her life a little faster.

“Do you think Bear likes it, too?” Amber asked.

“Oh, yeah. It’s compact enough that he should feel pretty comfortable sleeping near me.” He bent to pat his dog’s head as Bear looked up at him.

Lola, meanwhile, was now beside Amber, sitting on the hardwood floor of the living room as if given a command to do so. Amber couldn’t help bending down to pat the black Lab’s furry head, too, and followed with a quick, warm hug. Similarly, Lola slept in Amber’s bedroom of the main house and had done so since her return to the ranch, though Amber had tried encouraging the dog to sleep in her mother’s room.

But Lola’s staying out of that room appeared to be a sign of her grieving, since Sonya remained in the master bedroom of the house even now that her husband was dead.

Amber didn’t mention that, despite a wave of her own grief pulsating through her as it did so often.

When she looked up from Lola’s back, she noticed Evan watching her.

“Well,” she said cheerily, handing him the house key, “were you optimistic enough about this job to bring any belongings with you?”

“Yes,” he said, “I knew you’d hire me. How could you resist?” That must have been partly a joke, since Amber saw the slightest of grins appear on his face as he continued looking down toward Bear. “My stuff’s in my car. I’ll get it in a bit. But—”

He seemed to hesitate, then turned toward Sonya.

Her mother smiled, though her smiles these days were a lot more serious than when Amber’s dad was alive. “Anything we can do to help you get settled in here, Evan?”

“Not really, thanks. Although—”

What was causing his hesitation? Amber got right to the point. “What else would you like us to do?”

His gaze moved this time to land on her. He didn’t look away immediately, and in fact appeared to center his attention right on Amber.

A strange current of confusion and interest swept through her. Not good. A new employee was supposed to be just that: someone to perform the job he was hired for, and that was all.

But Amber found herself highly curious about Evan Colluro. Highly interested in him.

In more ways than one.

“I’d like some additional information about the Chance K-9 Ranch and how training has been conducted in the past. I looked it up on the internet but I’d like to know more before I start conducting classes. Could we all go out to dinner tonight to discuss it?”

A frisson of some kind of emotion tickled Amber, but she sloughed it off. It wasn’t like he was asking her on a date—even chaperoned by her mother.

But what was it about this man that strummed at her sensations so much?

In a completely businesslike tone she said, “Of course. Sounds like a good idea.”

Only then did she glance at her mom—and couldn’t read her expression. Sonya remained an attractive woman at her age, yet since her husband’s death her facial features had seemed to go slack a bit, and there were more lines—definitely not laugh lines—at the corners of eyes, which were brown, like Amber’s. Right now, her pink lips were drawn up on one side as if in wryness, or pain.

“Sorry, dear,” she said in a low voice. “I think it’s a good idea that the two of you get together and talk more before the class tomorrow, but I won’t be able to join you.”

“Really? Why not?” Amber prepared herself to convince her mom that this was simply a business get-together. She needed to ensure she wouldn’t be alone with Evan on this outing. Not that she’d ever consider it a date, but she also didn’t want her mother, or anyone in town who happened to see them together, to think it was.

She was floored a bit by her mother’s response. “I’ve agreed to join Nathan for dinner tonight.” She glanced toward Evan. “That’s our neighbor, who owns the resort next door.” She returned her attention to Amber. “He’s been so—so kind since we lost your father. It’s just a nice gesture on his part, not a date or anything like that. You know I’d never do such a thing. But, well, he invited me, and—”

“I understand, Mom,” Amber interrupted, lying somewhat but not wanting her mother to suffer any further because of anything she did or said. “It’s probably a good thing for us to go out with friends right now.” But was this, unlike her prospective dinner with Evan, actually a date with their next-door neighbor, Nathan Treggory? Unlikely, especially since her mom recognized how it could look and rejected the idea.

But Amber still would want to hear more about it after the fact.

“Thanks for understanding, dear. And, Evan, I’d be glad to talk to you nearly anytime, answer questions and all. Just not tonight.”

“I get it,” Evan said. “Let’s talk some other time.”

So, date or not, Amber found herself committed to going out for dinner with Evan tonight to discuss the ranch and business and whatever else came up in the conversation.

About him, though. She had no intention of talking about herself.

And yet... The idea made Amber’s insides churn even more. What was it about this man that made her get all mushy and weird? The fact that he appeared to be sad and needy?

The fact that he clearly was a damn good dog trainer?

She’d have to keep in mind that she’d just broken up with the guy she’d thought was the love of her life and had no interest in getting involved with another man.

“All right,” she said brusquely, heading for the front door. Her mother was at her side with Lola. Evan and Bear were behind them. She turned. “It’s four o’clock now. Come over to the main house at six and we’ll decide where to go downtown—somewhere without our dogs?”

Why did Evan’s look seem as uncomfortable as she felt? And then he glanced up, briefly met her gaze and nodded. “Fine with me.”

And Amber, despite feeling trapped, felt herself smile.

* * *

Evan followed the women outside along with the dogs. Dinner with just Amber? Should he call it off? Tell her he’d forgotten other plans? Tell them he’d wait for a time when Sonya could join them?

But heck, some of what he wanted to discuss would be helpful at that first class he would apparently teach tomorrow.

Besides, being with Amber—lovely, in-charge Amber—might be one more step toward his forcing himself to leave old issues behind, plant himself firmly in this new life with all its promise.

“See you at six,” he said to her, then noticed a man walking up to the small house next to his along this row. He nodded toward him. “Who’s that?” he asked.

Both Sonya and Amber turned. “Oh, that’s our ranch hand, Orrin Daker,” Sonya said. “Come on. We’ll introduce you to him.”

Another new acquaintance? The idea felt unsettling to Evan, yet meeting someone else he should know as long as he lived here would be another step into his new existence.

“Thanks.” With Bear at his side, he followed the two women and their dog past the nearest houses to where Orrin, who’d apparently seen them, waited.

“Hi, Orrin,” Sonya said. “I’d like you to meet our new dog trainer, Evan Colluro. Evan, this is Orrin.”

“Hi, man,” Orrin said. Probably in his early twenties, the guy had a tall head of light brown hair and a matching beard and mustache. He wore a red Chance, California, T-shirt over scruffy-looking jeans. He stared—no, glared—at Evan as if he was an interloper out to steal his job and his home.

Which made Evan highly uncomfortable, yet he stared right back at the guy despite the effort it took—at least for a few seconds.

“Hi. Good to meet you. Make sure you let me know what you’re up to if you think it’ll affect my training here, and I’ll do the same with you.”

“Yeah. Right.” Orrin then slipped into his house.

“He’s really a nice guy,” Amber said unconvincingly. “He does a good job for us, and my dad even used him sometimes when he was all dressed up in a protective outfit as the guy the K-9s he was training attacked. His family has lived in Chance forever but his being right here on the ranch makes it easier for us to let him know what we need to have done.”

“Makes sense,” Evan said. It also made sense, judging only by this first, uncomfortable meeting, that they might want to fire the guy and get someone more personable and accommodating.

Did Orrin really like being an agitator during training sessions, or did he feel forced into it?

Well, Evan would find out. He was the newcomer. He was the one with the most to learn—and, hopefully, would have the most to give—in his new position.

Amber was standing beside her mother, and appeared impatient as she looked at him.

“Like I said, see you at six at your house,” Evan told her, hoping this entire situation wasn’t a big mistake.

Bear sidled up to him as if feeling his unease and wanting to make it go away. He hadn’t been trained as a service or therapy dog, but his effect on Evan these days was similar.

“Come, boy,” Evan said as the women and Lola walked off in the direction of their home. He began to follow at a discreet distance. He needed to move his car along the driveway extension they’d shown him behind the houses and park behind his new place. Then he could unload the clothing and few other items he had brought along.

He was about to start his new life—and that night, while he was with Amber, he would find a way to ensure he get along with her—and also turn off any totally inappropriate attraction he felt toward her.

His job here was to work with trainers...and dogs.

* * *

It was nearly six o’clock. Amber waited outside in the cool, brisk air beside her silver SUV, which she’d retrieved from the garage at the rear. It was now parked at the front of the driveway, near her house, right beside the main dog-training area, as she watched for Evan to appear. He had apparently moved his car since it had previously been parked right here. She assumed it was behind his new quarters. Good. For now, it should stay there.

This would be an interesting evening. For one thing, her new employee had invited her to join him for dinner. Her mother, too, of course, although that wasn’t now the situation.

Earlier, after returning from showing Evan his house, she had left her mother watching her favorite afternoon talk show on TV, and, in her own bedroom, used her laptop to do some online research about PTSD to see what she might learn about Evan.

From what she read, PTSD could involve quite a few different symptoms, from ongoing nightmares and depression and even suicide wishes, to just wanting to avoid people, including family members—and strangers.

But he’d invited his new employers to join him in a strange environment for dinner. Though Amber didn’t know what went on in Evan’s mind, his avoiding eye contact a lot indicated he wasn’t much for socializing.

That suggested he really wanted to work here. Maybe it was because he’d be dealing with dogs even more than people. That was fine with her.

Her mother had driven her own car to go meet Nathan a short while ago. That was good. He hadn’t come to the house to pick her up—which would have appeared more like a date, highly inappropriate considering how recently they’d lost her dad.

Just before Amber got ready to leave, she’d brought the pups in training inside the home, along with Lola. She enclosed the pups in the family room that her dad had outfitted to accommodate young dogs, since her mother would be gone, too. It contained crates and dog beds, and a washable linoleum floor. Fortunately, the dogs were all trained well enough already to be loose and not closed into crates for now.

She spotted Evan striding up the walkway in front of the employees’ houses. He cleaned up well, she thought as he drew closer. His interview and demo outfit had been nice but fairly casual. Now he had on a beige button-down shirt tucked into brown slacks, though he still wore athletic shoes.

She, in turn, had donned a blouse and midlength skirt, both in pale green. Her shoes were casual pumps with low heels.

They were both dressed as if this was, in fact, a date. Well, she’d make sure he remembered, as the evening progressed, that she was his employer.

“Hi,” she said as he approached. As they’d decided earlier, he hadn’t brought Bear, and she had left Lola in the house with the pups. That would give them more leeway about the restaurant they chose. She had a pretty good idea where to suggest. First, though, she asked in jest, in an attempt to ease any tension Evan might feel about spending this evening alone with his new boss, “What? A dog trainer without his dog?”

She liked his quick smile and shrug. “And a dog-ranch owner without her dog?”

She laughed. “Come on. I’ll drive us to town.” She motioned toward the passenger side of her car. An expression she couldn’t quite read passed over his face but he said nothing. Surely he wasn’t some male chauvinist who expected to drive, even under these circumstances, when she knew the town a lot better than he did?

Or...was that somehow related to his PTSD? Had he somehow been injured in a car?

She wasn’t about to ask.

“I intended to meet you here first to make sure we were still on for tonight, then go get my car,” he said.

“No need.” She motioned for him to get into the passenger’s side, and with only another second’s hesitation, he complied.

Chapter 3

Amber started the engine and headed down the country road toward town, only a ten-minute journey. They soon passed the resort owned by Nathan, and Amber wondered how things were going with her mother’s non-date with him.

Evan remained silent. “How’s Bear doing?” Amber finally asked, determined to cast aside thoughts of her mom.

“Fine. I left him in the kitchen, though he’s a good boy and should do fine with the run of the house in the future.”

“I’ll bet.” She searched her mind for another topic he might be interested in discussing. “How was your drive from Los Angeles?” That was where he had been living when they first began communicating about the job.

“Some traffic, but not bad.” He looked straight ahead, not at her. She, though, glanced toward him. He appeared relaxed—and was as good-looking as she’d considered him before.

“Good.” She again watched the road in front of them. “I hope you don’t mind, but we’re making a couple of stops before dinner.”

“Really? Where?” He did look toward her now. Was he concerned about the location, or how many people he’d see, or...well, she had no idea.

“The local Pets and Products first. I need to pick up some dog food.” She’d also see one of her closest friends around here at the shop, the local franchise’s owner Mirrisa Jenkins.

Mirri would be happy for Amber, that she’d finally found someone to restart classes at the K-9 Ranch.

“I’d like to visit there, too,” Evan said. “I need some supplies for Bear.” He paused. “Where else?”

“You’ll like this one.” She hoped. “I need to see a guy at our local tech store. He maintains the ranch’s website, and I want him to let the world know that we’ll be starting more classes again.” When Evan said nothing, Amber wondered if he felt uncomfortable about the concept of “letting the world know.”

“Of course, if you don’t want your name mentioned, just tell me.”

He seemed to hesitate, but only for a second. “No, that’ll be fine—although, don’t you want to wait until you see how the classes work out before you start promoting again?”

“Are you saying you may mess up?”

Again a hesitation, but then Evan said, “Absolutely not. You’ve hired the right guy.”

“That’s what I figured.” Amber couldn’t cross her fingers easily since she was driving. But considering the other candidates, she believed what he’d said was true.

* * *

They were finally at the restaurant called The Joint.

Evan allowed his prior tension to ease up, relaxing his shoulders and breathing evenly. He would now get to start the conversation he had planned.

Not that he’d minded being at that Pets and Products shop. It was like every other one he had gone into over the years, and it sold the wholesome food that he always fed Bear, as well as the healthy treats he gave his dog, though not part of any training.

That friend of Amber’s—Mirri—kept looking from him to Amber and back again, as if assessing whether there was more than a new employer-employee association. He fought down the urge to tell her that what she was looking for was simply not there.

So far he liked Amber...sure. But if he finally got to the point, ever, when he was ready to start some kind of relationship with a woman again, it wouldn’t be one in a position to tell him what to do.

He’d had enough people doing that while he was in the military. Although his connections with his senior officers had been as expected and appropriate, he’d not been close friends with any of them. And now that he was fighting with his own psyche to regain internal balance, he wasn’t about to make things more difficult by getting involved with yet another person who was able to give him orders.

When they’d completed their purchases, they had gone around the corner from the pet store, which was on Chance Avenue, to the Cords and Clouds shop on Mercer Street. It was a small tech store run by a guy named Percy Relgin, who looked like the stereotype of geekiness: he was young and thin, with puffy hair and glasses. Amber had introduced them, then told Percy she wanted him to update the ranch’s website again, as he had recently. But this time he was to focus on Evan and add a description of his excellent lessons for pet dogs and potential trainers, which were about to begin, and to say that more classes, including police K-9 training and instruction for therapy dogs and possibly service dogs, too, would be scheduled eventually.

Evan sloughed off his concern about being able to meet her standards. He could do it. He would do it. And he forced himself to give Percy all the information about his background and skills that he asked.

Amber and Percy then talked briefly about the ranch’s email. Apparently the guy had figured out her father’s password, which now meant Amber could access what was there. Then they left.

The Joint was between the two shops, on the joined corner of their respective streets. He had noticed it when he had first driven through Chance on his way to the ranch. The restaurant owner knew Amber and greeted her right away. “I’ve got just the right table for you now,” he said, which was good since the place was crowded.

“Thanks, Gus,” Amber said. “By the way, this is Evan, my new dog trainer.”

“Hi, Evan.” Gus reached out to shake hands. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans, less dressy than the servers, who had on gray knit shirts and dark trousers. “Glad to meet you.” He preceded them between the tables, and Evan watched as Amber said hi and waved to several seated patrons.

At an empty table in the middle of the room, Gus handed them menus, then walked away.

The restaurant appeared to cater to everyone. Evan noted the assortment of families and couples and groups of men and women seated around tables similar to theirs: plastic with a wood-grain finish. The acoustics were what he’d anticipate in a place like this, with a hum of conversations that was loud but didn’t drown out the server’s voice when she asked what they wanted to drink.

Since they were here to discuss his questions he didn’t want any alcohol, not that he feared he wouldn’t stay sober, but because he wanted to appear professional. He ordered a cola.

“So,” Amber said once the server had gone. “What did you want to discuss tonight?”

He first asked about the ranch: how Amber’s father had started it, why it was at such a remote location and how he’d nevertheless lured in people from all over to learn how to train not only pets, but also police K-9s and therapy dogs. She responded that her dad believed in himself and wanted students to come to him and learn, with dogs, in a comfortable environment. And it had worked well, she told Evan, which he knew from Corbin Belott’s reputation on the internet rating sites and the numbers of classes he’d apparently taught. But Evan recognized her worry about the future and was both grateful and concerned she would be relying on him.

In answer to further questions, Amber said her dad had loved working with dogs and even training other people to work with them, but had enjoyed doing it all himself, so he’d had no backup employees. She said he’d made a good living at it.

Evan also wanted to know what the family believed had happened to Corbin Belott, though he wouldn’t mention that now. Corbin had been murdered, Evan knew from his research. Shot, and his body was found on the grounds of his ranch by a ranch hand, whom Evan now believed was Orrin.

According to news reports, the case remained unsolved. Did his family have any idea about his enemies? Might his wife and daughter be in danger, too?

And Evan wondered how Amber and her mother handled such a horror. Sure, he had seen and dealt with death in many tragic ways, had nearly died himself—and would have, had it not been for Bear. But he had been at war, in a dangerous situation that he had chosen, somewhat, to face.

That was very different from what had happened here.

But this wasn’t the time or place to ask Amber about what had happened to her dad. It might never be appropriate, despite his curiosity.

Evan instead went to another item on his mental list that was more critical to him and his new job. “I know I’ll be working with some of your long-standing students tomorrow, which is great. I’ll get a taste of the classes your father taught both to potential pet trainers and to their dogs that need training, and that should help a lot. But I gather there aren’t other classes of any kind scheduled right now.”

He looked across the table directly into the brown eyes that studied him so intently. “Not yet,” she said. “I hope we can get other kinds started fast, which was why I wanted to update our website right away. You’ll need to work with our shepherd pups, too, but I know enough to understand it’ll be a while before they’re ready to be sold to police handlers and become actual K-9s, although I want word to get out that it’ll be coming. It would also be good if we get some interest now from officers who bring working K-9s in for additional training.”

“I agree,” Evan said. “And as for these pups, you’re right that it’s usually best not to turn them over to handlers until they’re a bit older and well trained, but if they progress well things could go faster.”

“Really?”

He liked the way Amber smiled at him, although he glanced over her shoulder after meeting her eyes.

“Really,” he said.

Their server returned with rolls and butter, so the conversation stalled just when Evan had thought it most interesting. But when they were alone once more—as alone as they could get in this crowded restaurant—he continued. “You’ve talked about therapy and service dog training, too.”

“That’s right,” Amber said, looking down toward the menu, then back at Evan’s face. “Assuming I find the right trainers to assist you. I recognize they’re not your specialty. I’d eventually love to do even more than my dad did. But I want to do things right and not rush into anything.” Those eyes narrowed a bit, as if she was trying to look into his mind, determine how quickly he could settle in and get down to work—and what he thought about service dog training.

Uncomfortable, he glanced away but made himself look back at her. “I understand. I’ll want to know more of your expectations about those other classes, including K-9s, though we did touch on the possibilities when we communicated by email. But for now, tell me about the people you expect will be here tomorrow. What’s their background in being trained so far, with just pets, right? Did they all start their classes with your father at the same time? And—”

He stopped abruptly as Amber’s eyes looked away from his and widened hugely. She looked troubled, and he ignored his sudden urge to stand and take her into his arms for comfort.

He wouldn’t—couldn’t—have done that even if she hadn’t been his employer. Instead, he turned to see where she was looking.

A woman was making her way between the people seated at the crowded tables, heading toward them—a woman in a cop uniform.

And Evan hoped that he was about to learn at least something about Corbin Belott’s murder.

* * *

It wasn’t surprising to see anyone in town here at The Joint, Amber told herself. Although, this evening, no one here that she knew had done more than toss a few friendly greetings toward her and return to their meals and conversations.

But Assistant Police Chief Kara Province was clearly heading in her direction.

Amber had met Kara after a local parade, then chatted with her at various town functions when she had come home to visit her parents. She was glad now that she had, since even though Kara wasn’t the primary cop assigned to investigate her father’s murder, she was at least somewhat forthcoming and kind, and kept Amber as apprised as she could about anything the police found.

Which so far hadn’t been much.

She reached their table at the same time their server did. “I’ll come back in a minute to take your order,” the server said, looking with irritation toward the cop as if she didn’t like the delay. Then she hurried away.

Kara was a tall, slender woman who looked completely at home in her black police uniform. She was only in her thirties, yet she had already risen through the ranks to become assistant chief of police, which Amber had admired even before she had any need to know a cop.

“Hi, Amber.” Kara’s soft voice was surprisingly audible over the louder voices around them. She glanced briefly down toward Evan, then back at Amber.

“This is my new dog trainer, Evan Colluro. Evan, meet Assistant Police Chief Kara Province.”

Amber watched them shake hands as Evan stood politely and glanced toward Kara’s face, but only briefly. Kara’s eyes rolled down him as if assessing him with interest. Amber didn’t like the pang of irritation that shot through her. Kara was most likely looking him over as a potential suspect in something, maybe even the murder of her father, but nothing personal. And even if she was flirting, well, so what?

“We haven’t ordered dinner yet,” Amber said. “Would you like to join us?” She glanced toward Evan to see his reaction to the idea, and assumed he wouldn’t appreciate it. She was surprised, therefore, to see a positive expression on his face as he nodded his approval.

“Not for dinner, but I will join you for a minute, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.” But Amber felt her body go slack. Was Kara about to tell them something new in the case regarding her dad?

If so, something helpful—or not?

Not, as it turned out. “I just wanted to let you know that we haven’t forgotten about you or your father, Amber,” Kara said, taking a seat at the side of the table between Evan and her. “But so far we have no new leads. We’re still—”

“I’m sorry,” Evan interrupted, “but I hope you don’t mind if I ask a few questions. I’m not in law enforcement, but I have a military background, and have also been taught to work with police K-9s and other dogs.”

“Yes, I figured at least part of that from Amber’s introduction of you as a new trainer at her ranch,” Kara said.

The server returned and placed glasses of water in front of all three of them. She must have assumed Kara was joining them—which was true, if only for a short while.

“I don’t know much about the case,” Evan continued, “but I checked out the ranch before applying for the job. I understand Mr. Belott was found on his ranch’s grounds, and he had been shot.”

Amber closed her eyes and shuddered. She knew that, yet every time she was reminded of it, she wanted to break down and cry. She made herself open her eyes again and looked toward Evan, only to find he was watching her, maybe more directly than he had done since they had met.

His sympathetic expression only made her want to cry even more.

“That’s correct,” Kara responded.

“Does your department have a K-9 unit?”

Of course he would ask that. The question almost made Amber want to smile. Almost.

“Yes, although it’s a small one, only two officers. Both they and their dogs were partially trained by Mr. Belott, in fact. And before you ask, yes, we did have them examine the crime scene. That didn’t lead to any results.”

“I see,” Evan said. “Well...do you have any suspects?”

Amber noted Kara’s glare, as if Evan had told her she wasn’t doing her job, but she answered anyway. “There are several persons of interest, partly because we were told by a few of Mr. Belott’s students that he’d been arguing with some of their classmates. We’re more inclined to believe, though, that it was a robbery gone wrong, since his wallet and cell phone were missing, and someone attempted to use his credit card shortly after the murder—in Nevada. We’ve looked at visitors to this area then, including guests at nearby hotels, but haven’t yet zeroed in on anyone, including whoever attempted to use the card. Anyway, I’d better go back to my own table.” Kara stood as Amber swept the room with her gaze and saw other uniformed officers at a table at the far wall. “But please feel assured, Amber, that we’re still on the case.”

“Thanks, Kara,” Amber responded, even as she wanted to shout that they hadn’t gotten anywhere so far, so why try? As Kara left, their server returned to take their order.

Amber wasn’t surprised when Evan ordered a hamburger dinner with several sides, a substantial meal.

She, on the other hand, ordered a relatively small salad.

She had lost her appetite.

* * *

Evan had continued to watch Amber’s face when the cop was present at their table and afterward.

His new employer’s attitude had gone from “I’m in charge so listen to me” to “I’m lost.” He might not be thrilled that she could ultimately give him orders about dog training—his specialty, not hers—even though she was, in fact, his boss. But he hated to see her appear so sad.

Well, as he’d said, he wasn’t in law enforcement, but he did train K-9s and their handlers. He was also well aware that any help well-trained K-9s might have been able to offer before was probably impossible this long after the crime.

But he would be on that ranch with dogs he was training. Were any of the students he’d be working with tomorrow considered potential suspects? Would he wind up working with additional former students who were? Did any of them present a potential danger to Amber or her mother?

He’d try to check about who the primary suspects were. And it certainly wouldn’t hurt for him to learn exactly where the crime had occurred, in the remote chance that there still might be clues that a dog could sniff out.

Then, maybe, he might be able to get his gorgeous, sexy employer to smile at him...at a time he could smile back.

Chapter 4

But this evening came first. He wanted to get through it in a manner that could only help his future career here. In a way that would hopefully impress Amber.

That resulted in Evan surprising himself. Tonight, he was the one to start conversations.

It almost appeared as if Amber and he had traded personalities. She wouldn’t look at him as she ate her salad. She didn’t seem interested in talking to him.

Not at first. Not until he stopped attempting banalities, like how good his food was and how nice the crowded restaurant was with its homey decor, its tables filled with talkative patrons...and that police presence in the far corner.

Not until he jumped into a subject he knew would be difficult, but would at least grab her interest.

“So tell me.” To keep himself going, he picked up another wheat roll from the basket in the center of the table and started to butter it. “How did your father get into dog training? Knowing that will help me figure out the best way to follow in his footsteps—or paw prints, so to speak.”

She actually looked up from watching the fork she twisted in her salad greens and shot him a brief smile. “So to speak,” she repeated, “or so to bark?” Her tone was lighter now, and he felt damn good about it as her expression grew pensive. “Interesting enough, there are a lot of similarities, I think, between your background and my dad’s. He was career military, though. He stayed in the army for twenty years, so that defined my early life, too. I’m not sure how or when he became a K-9 handler, but he did.”

A look he couldn’t interpret passed over her face, but it seemed awfully sad. He wanted to reach out and hold her hand but didn’t. “Hey, he had to have been one smart, amazing, wonderful soldier, like all K-9 handlers,” he said instead, hoping his joke would cheer her a bit.

“Of course.” She shot him a look that suggested she was irritated, yet somehow appreciative of his attempted humor.

“Okay, continue,” he said. “Tell me more.”

“Well, when he got out, he decided to come to this area, near where he grew up in San Luis Obispo, but that’s a larger town than Chance. With my mother’s okay, he bought this ranch, which was vacant then, to train dogs here. Away from most people, except for us and minimal contact with others. I wonder now that I’ve met you...well, maybe he had some form of PTSD, too. His decisions after his military retirement may have been before PTSD was as recognized as it is now. Or maybe I’m wrong. But he seemed to have decided he’d spent enough time surrounded by people.”

“Yeah, I can identify with that.” He looked her straight in the face for a few seconds. Then he decided he needed some water and glanced toward his glass as he grabbed it. “So you lived with them at the ranch for...well, how long?”

“I was in my late teens when we moved here. I went off to college at San Diego State after about a year, though I always came back for holidays and the summer. But when I graduated with my business degree I stayed in San Diego and got a job with the home office of a big retail manufacturer—Ever Fitting.”

Evan had definitely heard of Ever Fitting. In fact, everyone who ever wore jeans and casual clothes probably had.

“Impressive. Do you think you’ll go back there?” He didn’t want to ask if she had quit or been fired or anything like that.

“I have a K-9 ranch to run now.” He couldn’t tell from her tone if she was unhappy or thrilled with the idea. He hoped it was the latter, but in any event how happy she was with this area might wind up depending on him.

That kind of pressure wasn’t what he was after. But working well with dogs and their training was. He could handle it. He would handle it.

For now, he needed to keep this conversation going. “So how did your dad start his training classes here?”

For the next few minutes, he listened as Amber, a pensive smile on her face, described their move here from her father’s last military assignment, which had been in Fort Leonard Wood, in Missouri, not far from St. Louis.

“I’m not sure how he found the ranch property, but my dad was always very goal-directed. He knew what he wanted to do and the general area where he wanted to do it.”

When they moved to the ranch, Corbin had apparently also found ways of getting word out about his K-9 training background and the kinds of classes he intended to begin, such as teaching others, in small classes or one-on-one, and how to train dogs, including their own pets. Plus, he’d contacted breeders of German shepherds and Belgian Malinois to acquire his first puppies to teach as potential police K-9s.

“For them, he went to a bunch of breeders who already had pups available and chose three at a time that he thought would have the best potential of being wonderful K-9s. All three were eventually acquired by smaller police units when they were older and trained. Their new handlers would come to the ranch for training, too, and to decide which to choose. My dad always acknowledged this was a small ranch in a remote location, but said it was definitely worth visiting by anyone with, or wanting, a dog.”

“Your father sounds like one smart and determined man,” Evan responded, then wished he hadn’t. His comment apparently reminded her of what had happened, not that it was likely to be far from her consciousness.

“Yes,” she said simply, “he was.” Her voice was gravelly and when he glanced at her he saw tears in her eyes.

Damn whoever had killed the man! Evan had already imagined trying to solve the crime while working for this lovely woman who was his boss. Now he was determined to dedicate himself to investigating in his spare time.

When he wasn’t busy training the dogs and handlers Amber had hired him to teach.

* * *

She hadn’t intended to do anything at this dinner besides answer Evan’s questions about how his new position should start and evolve. But after their conversation with Kara, Amber had let her emotions run away with her.

Especially now.

“Okay,” she said, gathering all shreds of bravery within her that she could find, “enough of this. Here’s what I want to do tomorrow. The first class you’ll teach will be in the afternoon. In the morning, I want us to go out on the lawn with Bear so you can run him through what he knows as a demonstration and a lesson to me on how you’ll be instructing those and other students. Does that work for you?”

She was amused that Evan not only glanced toward her, but also met her gaze, appearing surprised she’d gotten her guts back, or at least that’s what she figured.

“It sure does,” he responded.

They didn’t discuss her dad for the rest of the meal, a good thing. She missed him. She loved him. And she couldn’t replace him, but she had to get the K-9 ranch up and running again, return it to its former state, minus him.

Would they ever figure out what had happened to him? Who’d killed him and why?

She hoped so, but whether or not that occurred she still had her life to live, her mother to help and the Chance K-9 Ranch to run to benefit a lot of people, and dogs, too.

At least for the moment she believed she had found the right person to take over the training now that her dad couldn’t do it.

She’d find out for sure soon.

* * *

It was a business dinner, Amber had tried to convince Evan. And it was, but it had been his idea.

He didn’t have a lot of money as a partially disabled veteran, but he had been working in LA at random jobs at dog-training schools and even sometimes with police K-9 units.

He certainly had enough to spring for this dinner—but his new boss had made it clear she was in charge and she was going to pay. Period.

Which both annoyed and amused him, especially now that they were back in her car, with her driving back to the ranch she owned and ran.

Good thing he had no romantic interest in her, or her asserting her position like this, no matter how appropriate, would have destroyed it.

Yet now, as he sat beside her in her car, he found himself glancing at her often, admiring how pretty she was, how sexy despite her insistence about being top person around here.

Or maybe there was something about her being in charge that he oddly found sexy...

“What time do you want to start working with me in the morning?” she asked while driving along the narrow road up the mountain leading to her ranch.

He had no food at his place for breakfast and needed to factor that in. But before he suggested a time, she added, “Of course, you’ll eat with us first. I haven’t given you time to buy groceries. I know you have food for Bear, though, in the back of my SUV.”

“Of course. I know who’s important in my household.”

She laughed. “Dogs always come first. Anyway, why don’t you join my mom and me at about eight o’clock? We can decide then if we’ll start working together right after that or if you’ll want a break first.”

“Sounds good, as long as Sonya doesn’t mind.”

“My mom’s a lot easier to get along with than I am,” Amber said. “She’ll be fine with it.”

They soon pulled up the same driveway that had taken Evan to what was about to become a new chapter in his life. Another car was parked there, and Amber drew in her breath.

“Looks like my mom still has company.” She didn’t sound thrilled about it.

“Her dinner date?”

“It wasn’t a date,” she retorted quickly. “That’s our neighbor Nathan’s car. He’s been kind to her since—since we lost my dad. He must have followed her back here after they ate dinner together, like we did.”

Which Evan knew had been far from a date...yet he now, in a way, wished otherwise. Except for the fact she was his new boss. Amber parked, got out and popped open the back door of her SUV to extract the stuff she had bought at the pet store. She then hurried toward the house, leaving Evan behind as if she’d forgotten he was there. No matter. He was a mere employee, and, again, this hadn’t been a date.

Still, to be a polite employee he wanted to say good-night, at least to Amber and perhaps to Sonya, too. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to meet a neighbor, since he hoped to live here for a long time. He took out Bear’s food and closed the rear door. Leaving the food on the porch, he followed Amber and pushed open the front door that she had left slightly ajar. Good. She apparently expected he’d follow.

He didn’t see her right away as he entered the front hall but heard voices that he believed came from the kitchen. He headed that way.

Sure enough, Amber stood there near the doorway, and Sonya sat at the wooden table where Evan had signed the paperwork to join the ranch as an employee. A man sat opposite her. He looked to be in his fifties, with a full head of silvery hair and a concerned frown on his long and lined face.

“So glad you two had a good time this evening,” Amber said. “We did, too—we discussed a lot about Evan’s dog training.”

“How fun,” Sonya said. “And appropriate. I’ll want to hear about it.”

“Sure, Mom. I’ll fill you in on everything soon.”

The guy, meantime, glanced toward Evan and nodded a greeting. Evan did what he figured was expected and approached, hand out, though he avoided looking the guy in the face. He didn’t feel entirely comfortable with this nice, kind neighbor who apparently wanted to help Sonya. What would he think of a former soldier with PTSD being their new employee?

It doesn’t matter what he thinks, Evan told himself. Amber was clearly in charge and she made her own decision. He simply had to make sure she continued to believe it was the right one.

“Hi, I’m Evan Colluro,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”

The guy stood, his hand now out, too. He was dressed nicely in a white shirt and black trousers. His clasp was firm but blessedly brief. “Nathan Treggory. Sonya told me they just hired a dog trainer.” Although his tone remained neutral, an expression of dubiousness passed across his face.

“That’s right. I’ve got a lot of military and other kinds of experience,” Evan said, then wanted to kick himself. He didn’t need to justify his being here to this neighbor.

“I’m sure you’re a fine trainer,” Nathan said, though he sounded as if he wouldn’t be particularly impressed even if Evan was the premier dog trainer in the world.

Which suggested he wasn’t really a dog person. So did the fact that Lola had been lying on the floor at Sonya’s feet, but now rose and came toward Evan, as if the sweet Lab was taking his side in the discussion.

He kneeled briefly to give her a quick pat, then rose again to see Amber smiling at him. He grinned back and looked away, to see that Sonya, too, looked pleased.

Good. He was on the right side of the people in this room who really mattered, and the dog, too.

Everything would be fine. He hoped.

* * *

Evan said good-night and left nearly as soon as he’d greeted her mom and Nathan. That was appropriate, Amber thought, although she wished he’d stayed a little longer—at least as long as Nathan was there.

Fortunately, Nathan soon followed Evan without her even having to hint about it. “Call me anytime,” he said to Sonya at the doorway where Amber also stood to see the men off. “Thanks for joining me for dinner tonight.”

“Oh, thank you.” Sonya’s smile was soft and almost sad. Amber wanted to hug her, especially as they closed the door and faced each other in the entryway.

“You okay, Mom?” Amber realized that was a stupid question. Of course her mother wasn’t okay and might not be for a long time.

But she was a sweet and caring lady. “I’m fine,” she insisted. “It helps to have friends like Nathan and others here in town. They’re just being kind, but their company does help me move forward. And your company, well—” Sonya reached out and the two women hugged tightly.

Amber felt tears in her eyes and held on for a moment before releasing her mother and stepping back. “Your company helps me, too, Mom,” she said. Then, as Lola, who’d followed the crowd from the kitchen, nosed her side she bent and petted the dog’s head. “And yours.”

As her mother laughed, Amber’s mind inappropriately imagined Evan with them, too. And yours, she thought, picturing his handsome face. But instead, she asserted, “Almost time to go out, Lola. I’ll start with you soon.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you with one of the pups?” her mother asked. Amber had gotten into a routine of taking each outside individually, or two at a time every night, though they all were pretty much housebroken. The personalized walks would help with their ongoing training.

“No, I’ll be fine.”

Amber knew that the short walks outside with these canines were good for her as well as the dogs. But all the dogs had previously belonged to her dad and kept reminding her of him.

Well, the new regimen of Evan’s training sessions would start tomorrow. That should help Amber move on.

First, though, she went outside to pull her car into the garage. Then she returned to the kitchen, and her mom and she each had a small good-night glass of wine. Sonya briefly described her evening with Nathan—just a nice dinner where they talked about how things were going with Chance Resort, Nathan’s luxury hotel with corporate conference facilities on his nearby property. All sounded fine and successful, and he made it clear he’d be delighted to accommodate people who came to the ranch for their dog training—including their dogs, as long as they were well behaved.

Depending on who they were and how long they’d be hanging around, that was Amber’s idea, too, much as things were when her dad was around. Not everyone would stay in the small, nonluxury accommodations they had for visitors, or downtown.

They’d also talked about how Sonya was doing, and she’d said she was fine, especially now that the lessons her husband had started here were about to recommence.

“Sweet man that he is, Nathan wished us luck and said he hoped we’d hired the perfect person to back up what your dad did.” Sonya took her last sip of wine and looked into Amber’s face with her sad brown eyes. “I hope so, too.”

“I’m sure he’ll do great.” Amber wasn’t lying, though that might be an exaggeration. She definitely hoped Evan was the perfect choice. But tomorrow would hopefully do a lot more to convince her. “Anyway, we’ll find out soon. Now it’s time for me to walk the dogs—and for you to head to bed. ’Night, Mom.” She gave Sonya a kiss and told Lola to come as she headed toward the family room to grab her leash first.

She walked all four of the dogs one by one. Each outing took only five to ten minutes. Amber tried to prevent herself from looking toward Evan’s house. Even if he was outside walking Bear, so what? What did she want from him? A good-night kiss?

She grinned wryly at her silliness. She must be more tired than she realized. Evan was her employee. They had said good-night already. And she certainly didn’t miss the kisses she had gotten from her unreliable ex. No, she wanted no man in her life, for now at least, except as an employee or a friend.

She didn’t see Evan anyway, a good thing. Soon, Amber closed the three pups back in their room and got Lola to come upstairs with her. Her mom had apparently already gone to bed.

Amber showered quickly in the hallway bathroom, then closed the bedroom door behind her with Lola inside. And wondered...

She shut off the light behind her and, after glancing down to ensure her floral cotton pajamas were buttoned and nonsuggestive in the off chance she was spotted by anyone in the vicinity—Orrin or Evan—she opened the blinds at her window.

And saw in the distance, where the fourth house stood at the end of the row, an outside light, just as she had hoped.

As she had hoped even more, there were forms moving within the glow: Evan, tossing a ball or something else that Bear fetched and brought back. She simply hadn’t been outside late enough to see them...

They stopped, almost as if Evan sensed he was being watched and from where. He was far enough away that Amber couldn’t tell for certain, but he seemed to look toward her.

With no lights on near her, she doubted he could see her, but that didn’t prevent her from waving to him as she rested her other hand on Lola’s soft furry head beside her.

“Good night,” she whispered toward Evan. “And may we have a wonderful day tomorrow as an omen of even better ones to come.”

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