Page 28 of Armed ’N’ Ready

Before lunch, they’d put Saxon and Stray up in Andi’s garage kennel, and during the walk to the garage Stray had never left Andi’s side. The dog was devoted to her.

She gave a wistful sigh, still staring at the photo. “I can’t go through that again. It was too painful.”

He understood that for some, the death of a dog could be as painful as the loss of a human family member. He resisted the urge to comfort her, to reach out and stroke her hair. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. It isn’t that I haven’t thought about keeping Stray. After Orion and Venus died, the house was so empty without them. Empty and quiet. But this place”—she gestured to encompass the Wall of Dog and the dog run outside—“gives me my dog-fix every single day. This restaurant is my dream.”

A gentle smile lit her face, one that tugged at his own deeply buried dreams. Dreams that included growing old with someone. Something that would never happen now. “After suffering a loss, it takes time. For some, longer than others. A dog’s life is far too short, but our lives are far richer for it. When the time is right, you’ll open your heart again.”

For one infinitesimal second, he didn’t know if he’d been referring to her heart, or his. Then a shot of cold, hard reality hit him over the head. Not yours, that’s for damned sure. His heart had a big ol’ “Closed for Business” sign hanging on it.

She turned from the photo. Cornflower-blue eyes pinned him, and he couldn’t look away. He had the distinct impression that she knew he’d unintentionally revealed something about his personal life, and it left him feeling exposed and edgy.

Just as he cleared his throat, movement over her shoulder caught his eye. Eric stood just inside the front door, watching him. Nick subtly canted his head to the bar.

He returned his gaze to Andi’s, wishing there was something he could say to make her feel better. There wasn’t, and it was better that he maintained a professional distance, anyway. “I’d better get back to work. You never know when the boss is lurking around.”

“Funny.” She gave him a sarcastic look then eyed Eric. “He looks familiar.”

“He should. He was at your boyfr—” He’d been about to say boyfriend but caught himself. “Correction. At your ex-boyfriend’s house.”

“You’re learning.” She feigned a glare of indignation.

By the time he made his way behind the bar, Eric had settled onto a stool at the corner near the outside deck. Without asking, Nick poured a Sam Adams on draft. He tossed a coaster on the bar, then set the glass on top.

“On the house.”

“That’s mighty generous of you.” Eric lifted the glass and took a long swallow. “Nice place. How’s the food?”

“Kick-ass. I was about to order lunch.” He grabbed a menu and slapped it on the bar.

“No need,” Eric said. “I’ll have a turkey club.”

Nick placed their orders then leaned closer so they wouldn’t be overheard.

Eric took another swig. “You never said how Andi took it when you proposed working here?”

“Not well at first.” He turned to watch the subject of their conversation cooing at yet another baby. When he looked back, his friend was grinning stupidly. “What?”

“Nothing.” Eric held up his hands in surrender. “How’d you sweet talk her into it?”

“I appealed to her logical side. She wants to clear her name and get her money back.” Nick picked up the soda dispenser and squirted club soda into a glass for himself. Again, he watched Andi as she lifted a hand and gently caressed the baby’s cheek.

“She’s hot,” Eric said.

Nick set his glass onto the bar with more force than intended. Some of the contents sloshed over the rim.

Eric laughed. “Just checking.”

“On what?”

“To see if you give a shit.”

“I don’t. She’s a suspect, not a prospect.”

“Right.” He nodded, too emphatically for Nick’s taste. “I only came by to give you an update.”

“So start updating.” He grabbed a cloth to clean up the mess he’d made. What Eric had said about Andi had royally pissed him off. More irritating was that he didn’t understand why he cared.