Thoughts about Piper and who might have broken into her home. Whether they were done with Piper or if she was in continued danger.

  When the first rays of light pierced the edges of the shades, Shane was still awake. He was still worried about what was happening with Piper, but for today, it was time to try and get back to normal.

  * * *

  SHANE WAS LEANING against the fender of his pickup, waiting for her, when she walked out of the house, Decoy and Chipper dogging her heels, happy to be outside.

  At the sight of him, her heart skipped a beat.

  He was so handsome. His jeans hugged a flat midsection and long lean legs. The hoodie he wore against the slight morning chill stretched tight across his shoulders.

  His blue eyes were as bright as the morning sky, but there were shadows beneath, as if he hadn’t slept well.

  She walked up to him and laid a hand on his chest, sensing he needed soothing. The muscles beneath her hand were hard, his heartbeat strong and steady. “You look a little beat.”

  His shoulders went up and down in a careless gesture and he covered her hand with his. Rubbed it gently. “I’m okay. A little tired. How about you?”

  Surprisingly, she’d slept better than expected. “I’m good. I slept well thanks to these guys.”

  She bent to rub the heads and ears of both dogs, who ate up her attention, but when she looked up, her gaze locked with his and she realized he needed her care just as much, maybe more.

  She straightened and cupped his jaw. Ran her thumb across his lips, the gesture meant to comfort, but it did anything but.

  Her heart pounded in her chest at the heat in his blue-eyed gaze and the way he laid a hand at her waist and drew her close. She took a step closer to him and rose on tiptoes, but the sudden sound of a car pulling up jerked them apart.

  A police cruiser had stopped in front of her home, but it wasn’t Ava and Brady who stepped out. Lieutenant Margaret Avery, one of the most senior officers in the Jasper PD, exited the car with rookie Officer Jason Wright. Tashya’s Jason.

  “Good morning,” Margaret said as Jason and she approached them. Her keen gaze assessed the situation between her and Shane, bringing a smile to the police officer’s face, but hot color to Piper’s cheeks.

  “Good morning. This is Lieutenant Avery,” Piper said, introducing her to Shane.

  Shane shook the older woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “I wish it was under different circumstances, Shane. We have good news, however. Would you like to provide a report, Officer Wright?”

  Clearly this was intended to help Jason learn some of the ropes and if he was working with Margaret, he was lucky. A longtime veteran of Jasper PD, she’d earned her colleagues’ respect with her wonderful investigative work and her compassion when dealing with sensitive circumstances. Normally that would mean domestic violence or special victims, but she suspected Chief Walters may have decided to treat her case as one of those sensitive circumstances, explaining the unusual visit from the officers.

  “Yes, Lieutenant. We were able to get a useable partial print from one of the doors and are processing it against the various databases for a match. We likewise have solid casts of shoe prints and tire tracks and are working on identifying them. We also have DNA samples from some cigarette butts that are being processed.”

  “Thank you, Officer Wright,” she said, having to bite back her more familiar use of his given name.

  “We will find out who is behind this, Piper. And we’ll be keeping up our patrols in case he comes back,” Margaret said, the blue gaze beneath her bangs of brown hair filled with kindness.

  But the thought that her intruder might come back sent a chill through her and she wavered, leaning back into Shane, who offered her support.

  Margaret reached out and laid a hand on Piper’s arm. “We will get him. And I understand you’ve taken precautions.”

  Shane was the one to respond since she was still too shaken by the thought of the intruder’s return.

  * * *

  “WE HAVE. WE’VE INSTALLED a security system and I’ll be staying here until we know Piper is safe,” Shane said, but omitted any mention of his own investigations into the identity of the burglar and the reasons for the mayhem he’d inflicted on Piper and her home.

  The lieutenant nodded. She was a handsome woman with chin-length brown hair and intelligent blue eyes, and she was in excellent physical shape. She looked like she could take care of herself and others, which reassured him.

  “Thank you for watching out for Piper. We really appreciate what she and Emma do for Jasper PD,” the lieutenant said and gazed at Piper with real affection.

  “Let’s get going, Officer Wright. We need to check the local pawn shops for Piper’s rings,” Margaret said.

  Jason smiled at the lieutenant, not fazed by her order, which hinted at how much respect he had for his superior.

  He faced them, touched the brim of his baseball cap and said, “See you later.”

  “See you, Jason,” Piper said and once the two officers were gone, she faced him, her features filled with worry.

  “Even if he comes back, we’re ready for him, Piper. Don’t worry,” he said, even though he knew the words would do little to appease her. But what would help was to get her back to work and her normal routine.

  “I’m ready to get back to training if you are.”

  She nodded and gazed at the two dogs who were peacefully snuggled together at their feet. “I’m ready. We have only a little more than a week before you go.”

  He winced as she said it, well aware of the looming deadline for his departure.

  Her words prompted them into action and a tense silence as they loaded the dogs into his pickup and did the short drive to the DCA grounds.

  The silence persisted as they walked into the training ring and resumed their exercises with Decoy, having him run through the various verbal and hand signals as well as the agility course.

  Shane was happy to see him go through the paces without hesitation, even when Chipper tried to chase after him, wanting to be like her pal.

  “Chipper, sit,” Piper commanded but had to repeat it several times before the little dog complied. Her frustration was obvious and unusual for her since she was typically more patient.

  “It’s okay, Piper,” he said when he thought he detected the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

  She sniffled. “I’m okay, Shane. I just want you to be as prepared as you can be when you go.”

  And there it was again, but in a way he understood. She was preparing herself for his departure by reminding herself that he would go. Reminding him that their time together was limited.

  He didn’t want her to think she was failing him. Laying a hand on her shoulder, he gave her a reassuring squeeze and said, “You’re doing a great job. We’ve learned so much.”

  She nodded and looked away, avoiding his gaze. “But there’s so much more to learn. Maybe we can start some scent training. I’ll go prepare it,” she said and didn’t wait for his reply.

  * * *

  PIPER RUSHED OFF, needing distance from Shane and the reminder that he and Decoy would soon be gone.

  She was determined that when they left, they’d be totally ready to continue their search and rescue training with another group.

  In the DCA offices, she went straight to the equipment locker and prepped the materials they’d need to start the scent work with Decoy.

  She carefully wetted some cotton swabs with birch oil, using gloves and tweezers so that the scent would only be on the object Decoy would have to find and not her.

  When she returned to the ring, Shane was playing with the two dogs, laughing and smiling as they circled him or jumped up onto his legs. She’d heard his occasional laughter in the last weeks, but nothing like this unrestrained carefree happiness.

  It chased away some of the worry that had plagued her ever since someone had trashed her home and stolen her wedding rings. Besides the few belongings she’d kept from David, mostly his military items, they were the only reminders of the husband she’d loved and lost way too soon.

  Well, the only reminders besides her memories of David. Happy memories mixed together with the sadness and worry she’d feel whenever he left for a deployment.

  Leaving being something that Shane would do as well.

  Pain filled her heart, but she sucked in a breath and pushed it away, intending to enjoy whatever moments she had left with Shane.

  She walked over to the trio and Shane pushed off his haunches, still laughing and smiling. He was even handsomer when he smiled, and it took years off his features.

  “Are you ready?”

  At his nod, she handed him a small tin with several holes punched in the top. “Hold this in one hand and a treat in the other. Let Decoy eat the treat and after, bring another treat to the tin and let him smell it. Reinforce that by giving him the treat and then switch hands.”

  He did as she instructed and Decoy, good boy that he was, immediately caught on. They repeated the exercise over and over, and Decoy obeyed. They challenged him by hiding the tin behind one of the fence posts and after giving Decoy the “search” command, he sniffed all around the ring. It took a few minutes, but Decoy finally paused by the fence post, sat and started barking, just like he’d been trained.

  “Good boy,” Piper said, then gave him a treat and rubbed his ears and head.

  “He is a good boy,” Shane said, standing beside them.

  “A champ,” Piper said and laughed as Chipper sat next to Decoy and barked as well, copying her friend’s actions.

  “You, too, Chipper,” Piper said and bent to reward the dog with a treat and affection.

  “Are you game to try this on the trail?” she asked.

  Shane nodded and said, “I’m game.”

  * * *

  SHANE WAS PLEASED with how the afternoon training had gone. Decoy had not only been able to find the little tin box Piper had prepared, but also a pair of her work gloves and a doughnut, courtesy of Barbara, who decided the doughnut’s sacrifice would help her watch her waist.

  When they returned to Piper’s home, there were no signs that anyone had been there, but he checked all around the grounds to make sure. Satisfied, they’d split up to shower and get ready to go to dinner together.

  Shane had no intention of leaving Piper alone just in case her intruder decided to come back.

  He was just getting out of the shower when his phone rang. He ambled over to it and picked up when he realized it was Walt calling.

  “Good afternoon, Walt. Please tell me you found something,” he said and wiped a towel across his hair to dry it.

  “Something, but I’m still working on it,” Walt said.

  “What have you got?” Shane asked, impatient to hear what his friend would say.

  “I reached out to some of my Marine buddies who were familiar with Lambert’s unit. Rumor had it that some of the men found a cache of relics that were believed to have been destroyed when ISIS occupied the Mosul Museum. The relics the Marines found were reported to their superiors and were supposed to have been safeguarded and returned to the Iraqis, but somehow they disappeared again.”

  Shane didn’t like where this was going but had to press forward to keep Piper safe. “Do you know who these men were?”

  “Lambert and some others. I’m still working on finding out more. My contact was going to ask around and possibly get me some paperwork with additional information.”

  Shane juggled the phone while trying to wrap the towel around his waist as a knock came at his door. “I have to go, but thanks for everything. I really appreciate it.”

  “Not a problem, Shane. You saved my butt more than once. It’s the least I can do,” Walt said and hung up.

  Shane dropped the phone on his kitchen counter, grabbed the towel with one hand and opened the door.

  Piper stood there, dressed and ready to go.

  Bright red erupted up her neck and across the creamy skin of her face as she took in his nakedness.

  “Um, um, I came over to see if you were ready,” she said and gestured to his chest before mumbling a curse and shaking her head.

  “I won’t be long. Do you want to come in?” he said although he wasn’t sure her being with him half-naked in such close quarters was the best idea. Mostly because he wanted her to put her hands on him.

  Her hesitation spoke volumes about where her brain was going as well, but something made him ask again.

  “So? Do you want to come in?” he said and hoped she wouldn’t refuse.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Come in? she thought. It was like the proverbial spider inviting in the fly, but it would seem rude to refuse.

  “S-s-ure,” she said, but tried to avoid the sight of his naked chest and legs. Not that she would forget the way he looked, all lean hard muscle. The scar on one shoulder and another farther down on his ribs. What looked like a burn angling down one hip and beneath the edge of the towel.

  Look away, Piper. Don’t touch, she told herself as she stepped into the spacious RV.

  Inside, he pointed to the couch in a living room area and said, “I’ll only be a minute.”

  He turned to walk to his bedroom, displaying the perfect line of his back and the marred skin on his right shoulder: the injury that had forced him to leave the Army and had brought him to her.

  When the door closed behind him, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was hard enough being around Shane while they were training. Having him close the last few days had been difficult because she was growing more and more used to having him around.

  That would only bring heartbreak.

  She reminded herself of that as she waited, and it didn’t take long for Shane to come out, dressed in jeans that hugged his powerful legs and a white cotton shirt with dark mother-of-pearl buttons. He’d gotten some color in the two weeks they’d been working together, and the tan popped against the white of his shirt. But the tan couldn’t hide the dark circles beneath his eyes, a testament to the fact he might not be sleeping well.

  “I’m ready,” he said.

  “Good,” she said and rushed to his door, eager to escape the confines of the RV, which seemed suddenly too small with his powerful presence.

  She stepped onto her lawn and didn’t wait for him to walk across to her Jeep. At his questioning glance, she said, “I feel like driving today. Is that a problem?”

  He grinned and said, “Not at all.”

  She hopped up into the driver’s seat and Shane joined her. “I’m a little tired of burgers and beer. There’s a nice Italian place not far from the brewery and diner.”

  “That sounds good. I haven’t had a decent plate of pasta in a while,” he said and rubbed his stomach.

  “Great,” she said and pulled out of her driveway.

  There wasn’t much traffic, and Shane seemed to notice. “Not many people around today.”

  With a shrug, she said, “It’ll start getting busier in May when the hikers and fishermen visit. People also come looking for the handmade furniture that’s made in the area. But the busiest time is in July when we have the annual Salmon River Festival.”

  “Sounds like a lot of fun,” he said.

  She shot a quick look in his direction and realized he was watching her intently. Her heartbeat raced a little at his perusal. She tore her gaze back to the road and said, “It is. You should think about coming back for it.”

  She nearly bit her lip at how it sounded, but Shane, gentleman that he was, said, “Thanks. I will think about it.”

  With little traffic, they were soon cruising down Main Street and past the diner and the alley leading to the brewery. Luck was on their side as there was an open spot just a few doors down from the restaurant. But inside the restaurant the tables were all full and they had to wait for about ten minutes before one opened up.

  Once they were seated, the waitress came over to hand them menus and take their drink orders. She ordered a glass of Chianti, but Shane just got some pop. At her questioning look, he said, “Need to stay sharp.”

  Sharp because he expected more trouble, which dimmed her generally good mood.

  She set aside her menu, knowing she would order her favorite. Shane did the same just seconds later and said, “What are you getting?”

  “Eggplant parmigiana with a big mound of angel hair pasta is my go-to,” she said and gestured with her hands to demonstrate just how big a mound of pasta she hoped to eat.

  He chuckled and mimicked her. “That big, huh?”

  She did the action again. “That big.”

  A lopsided smile slipped across his lips, but the waitress came over that moment to set down their drinks and take their orders.

  Piper placed her order, followed by Shane, but when he did, he teased her by showing the waitress just how big a pile of pasta he wanted.

  “A big man like you must get mighty hungry,” the waitress said, and eyed Shane in a way that Piper didn’t much like. She also lingered way too long after getting his order.

  “Thanks, Brandy” she said, making it clear to Brandy that it was time to go.

  * * *

  SHANE KNEW IT was wrong of him, but he couldn’t resist. “Jealous?”

  Piper laughed, trying to hide her embarrassment, but the flush on her face gave it all away. “She’s way too old for you, Shane.”

  Brandy was probably close to fifty and definitely not his type. He preferred intelligent, determined, barely-over-thirty dog trainers with intense green eyes and long red hair he could imagine wrapped around him as they made love.

  And at that moment, he was most grateful for the table that hid his reaction to that thought. Judging from the way Piper’s gaze darkened to the color of shadows in a forest at night, it was obvious she might have guessed where his brain had gone and that her brain had traveled to a similar place.