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Whimpering.

Stone turned his head. Pinky had dropped her head in full grieving mode. Body shaking, little moans of distress emitted from her mouth. A shiver raced down his spine. No. Oh, God, this was worse than a woman crying. He rubbed his hands over his face and prayed for it to stop. How could she go from isolated silence to codependency so soon?

“Don’t. I can’t take you to work. I drive in a police car and you’d hate it.”

Pinky lifted her head and whined again. Took a few steps toward the door, cocking her head as if asking the all-important question. Can I go with you please?

“Absolutely not. You’ll be fine. Hang out, take a nap, chew on a bone. I’ll be back later.”

He shut the door. A few steps toward the car, he stopped cold, listening to the eerie, sad whine of the dog. Crying.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

He opened the door, grabbed the ridiculous pink collar and leash Arilyn had bought, and scooped Pinky up in his arms. The dog barely took up his whole hand, and immediately snuggled into the crook of his arm. Then Stone did the unthinkable, the impossible, and the insane.

He brought Pinky to work with him.

Devine was still staring in shock through the window at the dog sitting in the backseat. “That thing is a dog?” he asked in a high-pitched tone. “Are you kidding me? Trying to pull a practical joke? Is it real?”

Stone rolled his eyes. “Just get in the damn car, please, before the rest of the dingbats come out here. It’s a Chihuahua.”

Devine slid into the front seat, glancing back. “I know what a Chihuahua is, and that ain’t one. Where’s its fur?”

“Gone. Well, I called it Rat Fink, but Arilyn got pissed.”

“Ah, now I get it! This is the one you tried to get me to take. You slept with her, and this is your punishment!”

“Shut up, Devine.”

His partner belted out a laugh, shaking his head. “Thought you hated dogs.”

“I do, but like I said, this one was abused, and the shelter was crowded, and she couldn’t take the dog because it has issues.”

“Issues, huh? You two are perfect for each other. What’s the rat fink’s name?”

“Pinky,” he mumbled. He winced, waiting for the inevitable.

“You’re fucking kidding me.”

Damned if he didn’t feel a flush stain his cheeks. So humiliating. “No.”

“Her collar is actually pink. I told you she’s a foo-foo dog!”

“She’s tough. Arilyn named her, for God’s sake, not me. And she’s only mine temporarily.”

“Why does it have to come with us? Dogs are left home all the time.”

Stone made a right and headed into the neighborhood where they’d nabbed Pinky. “I know. I tried. She was shaking and crying, and I was afraid if I didn’t take her, something bad would happen.”

Devine laughed harder. “You are such a sucker. Dogs hate being alone, they all do it.”

“I’m telling you, this is different. Look, it’s only tonight. I’m begging you not to tell the guys or I’m gonna have to take shit for this stunt for the rest of my life. Then I’d have to transfer.”

Devine wiped his eyes, looking happy over this complication. “Fine. But you owe me.”

“Fine.” They drove in silence for a while, scanning the quiet surroundings. Pinky was surprisingly well behaved. She sat perfectly still and stared out the window. Stone could use a little action tonight, but Verily seemed determined to keep the peace. “You find anything else out on that property I told you about?”

“Bluebird? Nah. Let’s go check it out and see if anything’s cooking. Night seems pretty dead.”

“Yeah.”

“So, how was the sex?”

Stone hesitated. Usually he enjoyed sharing details with Devine. They liked to rib each other, all in good fun. Sometimes compare. “Great.”

“First time?”

He shifted in the seat. “Yep.”

“Cool. Do it on the bed? Against the wall? Floor?”

He concentrated on his driving and made a left, heading toward the outskirts. “Normal stuff. You know.”

Devine didn’t answer. When Stone glanced over, his partner sported a shit-eating grin that was pure trouble. “Holy crap, it finally happened. You won’t give me details because she’s important.”

Stone snorted. “That’s ridiculous. Well, of course she’s important; I don’t sleep with women I don’t like. Just don’t feel like getting into it.”

“Bullshit. You care about her, so you won’t give me the down-and-dirty details.” Devine shook his head in glee. “This is the best night ever. You got taken out by a dog and a woman in one shot.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Maybe. But I’m also right.”

Stone refused to answer. After all, his friend was being ridiculous. Just because he couldn’t stop thinking about her? Just because he felt addicted to her scent and taste and legs wrapped around his hips as he pumped inside her sweet body? No, it was the early flush of a new affair. A few more days, and the crazy need for each other would fade away.

He turned the car onto the dead-end street, but this time lights flickered around, and a variety of vehicles were lined up and down the street. A fire gave off smoke from the backyard. Stone’s instincts flared. Oh, yeah, something was going on here, and it was time he figured it out. Catching Devine’s excitement at some real action, his partner nodded and checked his gun.

“We got something, dude. Ready?”

Stone nodded, his cop radar going off in shrieks. “Let’s do this. Pinky, stay here.”

The dog perched on the seat, not blinking, and quietly watched him get out of the car and shut the door. She didn’t whine or cry or move.

Pride shot through him. She might not be a drug-sniffing warrior, or have the genes of a shepherd or Lab, but something told him she’d be a good partner for the road. She was, after all, a survivor.

Stone quickly pushed the thought aside and followed Devine down the road.

THE BUST WAS EVERYTHING he’d wished for and more. Drugs. Dog fighting. And finally, some damn justice for not only Pinky but Arilyn. They ended up rescuing a bunch of other dogs and nailing a major drug dealer. Stone was buzzed for hours and reminded once again why being a cop was worth it.

He couldn’t wait to tell Arilyn.

seventeen

ARILYN LOOKED AT the men before her. Dressed in shorts and tanks, they gazed at her a bit warily. She’d recruited them to the Tuck-N-Pack gym, where she occasionally taught a yoga class to help out the community. The private room she reserved was used for a hot yoga class, which incorporated steamy temperatures and a rousing ashtanga workout. She’d used it for many of her clients, including Kate’s husband, Slade, back in the day, and found the technique a good tool in breaking down barriers, especially ones leading to anger.

Unfortunately, she was quite distracted today. If Arilyn admitted the truth, she’d been fighting for focus the moment Stone took her to bed. Even now, her gaze kept getting stuck on his powerful bare thighs dusted with dark hair, the way his tank showed off his corded arms, the wicked glint of satisfaction in his inky eyes when he looked at her. Like he knew what she was thinking. And wanting.

Because he did.

Five days. Only five days, and already she craved him like all the bad things she kept away from her body. Sugar, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, all the wonderful, terrible items in life that made one happy in the moment and miserable later on. Sex with Stone had now topped any impulse and appetite she’d ever owned before. It was awful.

It was wonderful.

They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Between their work schedules, driving back and forth to care for Pinky, and the scattered visits with Poppy and her newly adopted dinner guest Mrs. Blackfire, they met when night fell, tumbling into bed with an endless yearning that never seemed to be satisfied.