Cole chuckled, easing the tension as he squeezed her hand and released it. “Lord help the man who tries to make a move on you,” he said, tipping his head toward Robo, “threatening or otherwise.”
Mattie smiled, swallowing her pain. “He’s my buddy.”
“That he is.” Cole sobered, looking thoughtful. “I can’t believe how much power you have harnessed in that dog. He would do anything for you. It’s amazing to watch.”
Robo returned to his chewing.
“Not always. He was being a bad boy just the other day. It takes a lot of time and effort to keep that much power and will focused in the right direction.”
“I guess that could be said about all of us.” Cole looked down at the floor. “I feel bad about pointing a finger at Gus Tilley. And here he’s the one that led us to Sophie.”
“You’re not the only one who feels bad about suspecting him. I do too.” She sorted through what she could say. “He’s going through a tough time, but he’s getting back on track. He’ll probably start acting more like himself again soon, though he might still require your attention over the next few days.”
“He’s got that, as much as he wants. I’m forever grateful that he made the call that got you headed in the right direction.”
Mattie nodded, feeling like she’d said all that she could.
Cole faced her. “Mattie, life is going to be messy for us at our house too, but please don’t pull away. We—the kids, me, even Mrs. Gibbs—we enjoy having you around. Even if all we do is sit and watch a movie together.”
She had to ask. “Will Olivia return to your lives now?”
He seemed to be observing her closely. “I think so. I hope she and the girls can have a relationship, and I hope she’s willing to let them visit her in Denver. But we’ve got a lot of work to do with Angie. She’s not too keen on the idea.”
“It’s good for them to be with their mother.” Again, she struggled to contain her tears.
“One would think so. We’ll have to see if it turns out that way. I’m not willing to let her hurt them again.”
She remained silent, forcing herself to not ask what Olivia’s return meant for him.
“I’ve had an epiphany regarding the term ‘irreconcilable differences,’ and now I fully understand what it means,” he said. “I think I can let go of some of the resentment I’ve been feeling toward Olivia and move on. I want her back in the girls’ lives if it’s good for them, but as for me? It’s hard to put into words, but my feelings for her have changed. I guess I’m ready to bury the hatchet, but I don’t want to tear down the fence. Does that make any sense?”
“It’s most important that it makes sense to you.”
His eyes searched her face. “I admire you, Mattie, and you’re good for me and my girls. Would you be willing to spend more time with us?”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and this time she didn’t try to hide them from him. “I can do that.”
He stood, took her hand, and pulled her into his arms. “Oh, Mattie. I hate to see you in pain. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
She pressed her face against his chest and savored how wonderful it felt to be held by him again. This helps, she thought, but she couldn’t say it.
Robo growled.
“It’s okay, Robo. Quiet,” she said, her voice low and tremulous, as Cole leaned back slightly to check on him while he continued to hold her. Robo scrambled up from his bed, leaving his rawhide to come press his nose between them, following up by inserting his whole body and forcing Cole to take a step back.
Still, Cole kept her in a loose embrace, leaning forward to lower his face close to hers. “I don’t intend to be aced out by your dog.”
She realized he was going to kiss her, and she closed her eyes, fighting the panicky feeling that threatened. His warm lips pressed against hers, soft, undemanding. Nothing to fear. A warm feeling of joy blossomed inside her as she kissed him back, holding onto the moment for a few seconds until Robo pushed her with his nose and barked.
Cole leaned away so that he could look at her. His dark eyes twinkled. “I guess your dog’s not going to give up that easily,” he said, taking a step back.
“Giving up really isn’t a part of his nature.”
He smiled. “It’s not in mine, either. But for now, I’d better go back home before the kids send the cops out after me.”
He ruffled the fur on Robo’s shoulders and turned to leave. “Good night, you two. Take care of your girl, Robo.”
Mattie followed him to the door, closing it softly behind him and then turning to lean against it. She touched her fingers to her lips, confusion edging out the joy she’d felt when he kissed her. Did he feel the same way about her that she did about him? If she allowed herself to love him, would she be opening herself up for more loss and heartache?
You’re thinking too much. You’re okay right now.
She shook her head. If she was ever going to get a handle on this trust thing, she’d better get to work on it. She joined Robo on his dog bed, lay down next to him while he chewed his rawhide, and cuddled against his warm furry body.
She fell asleep within minutes.
Acknowledgments
I want to express my gratitude to the readers of the Timber Creek K-9 mysteries and to those who’ve spread the word about the series and encouraged me along the way. I appreciate your support tremendously.
My sincere appreciation goes to the professionals who’ve helped me with law enforcement and veterinary procedures: K-9 Officer/Trainer Beth Gaede (Ret.), Lieutenant Glenn J. Wilson (Ret.), and Charles Mizushima, DVM. Misinterpretation or fictional enhancement of any information provided by these folks is mine alone.
Special thanks to my agent, Terrie Wolf, who assists me in so many ways; to my editor, Nike Power, for her editorial skill and storytelling talent; to my copyeditor, Danny Constantino, for his sharp attention to detail; and to publisher Matt Martz, editorial and publishing assistant Sarah Poppe, and everyone at Crooked Lane Books for believing in this series and bringing each episode to print. I consider myself lucky to team up with these special people.
Thank you to manuscript readers Nancy Coleman, Scott Graham, and Susan Hemphill for their input and suggestions and also to friends and family whose encouragement kept me going, even when the going got tough.
Special thanks and hugs to my husband, Charlie, for helping me plot and making sure I have time to write, and to my daughters, Sarah and Beth, and son-in-law, Adam, for their input, love, and support.
Because of its mental health theme, Hunting Hour is a book of my heart. Millions live with mental health conditions, and I want to acknowledge the work of two organizations that provide services, although I know that these are just two of many in the United States. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides educational programs and support groups for individuals and families; you can find more information at their website www.nami.org or call the NAMI hotline at 800-950-6264 to find a local affiliate near you. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International is an organization that seeks to bridge the gap between law enforcement/first responders and the community mental health system through the implementation of CIT programs; learn more about the CIT program at www.citinternational.org. And by all means, if you have mental health concerns about yourself or a loved one, reach out to the NAMI hotline, your primary care physician, or your county public health department or mental health service to find local help. As Stella LoSasso would say, you’re not in this alone.