Baby, Hold On - By Stephanie Bond Page 0,20
was destroyed. And then the storm blew in, but Sheridan wouldn’t stop searching.”
“How did the search end?” She held her breath.
“Thankfully, someone found the girl. She escaped with only a few scrapes.”
“Someone found her—not Sheridan?”
“Right. She had run to her grandmother’s house, ending up several streets from where we were.”
“You said an SAR dog’s reward is when he finds what he’s looking for and gets his treat.”
“That’s right.”
“What happens when he doesn’t find what he’s looking for?”
“Sometimes we plant volunteers or other handlers in the debris, just to reward the dog so he doesn’t get discouraged.”
“And is that what happened in Missouri?”
Again, Mike had to think. “No. The storm blew in and the conditions were so hazardous, we didn’t want to risk putting a plant in the rubble.”
“So maybe he did get an electric jolt, and now he associates loud noises and water and the color pink—if he can even tell something’s pink-with the frustration of an unfinished mission.”
Mike pulled on his chin. “That’s a stretch.”
“But worth pursuing?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Take the toy from him, but this time, use it to let him find me.”
He splayed his hands. “We have nothing to lose at this point.”
Speak for yourself, she thought. Because she realized when she’d returned and set eyes on Mike that she was head over heels for him.
He squinted. “You look…different.”
Good God, was it written all over her face?
“Did you change your hair?”
She’d forgotten. Lacey gave a nervous laugh and lifted a hand to finger the unfamiliar sleek texture. “Yes.”
“And your clothes?”
She looked down at the preppy outfit. “Yes.”
“Hmm, pity.”
Lacey blinked.
Then he looked at Sheridan and clapped his hands. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Chapter Ten
Mike tried to listen as Lacey suggested a plan for allowing Sheridan to complete his unfinished mission. But he was so distracted by the shape of those pink lips he hadn’t yet kissed, he barely heard what she was saying.
Besides, she’d already said the magic words take the toy from him, and that’s all he needed to hear to be on board.
While Sheridan was napping, Mike removed the pink toy from the dog’s bed, then extended it to Lacey. “We need your scent on it.”
She suddenly looked nervous. “How does this work?”
“Dogs follow the scent of human skin cells that are constantly being sloughed off when we sleep or sit or walk,” he explained. “They can even detect skin cells that are expelled through the exhaust of a car a person is riding in.”
“Amazing. What’s the best way to get my skin cells onto the toy?”
“Allow me,” he said, then took the stuffed toy and proceeded to drag it lazily over one shapely arm, then the other. And although it wasn’t necessary, he couldn’t resist the temptation of leaning over to drag the toy down one toned leg, then up the other, ending midway up her thigh, at the hem of her skirt. The woman had a hot little body, and considering how she’d rejected his kiss that first night, this might be the closest he’d ever get to it.
His sex hardened and he set his jaw against the lust that bolted through him. Being so close to Lacey in the tiny cabin these past several days had kept him on a slow burn, and he was ready to ignite. He stood slowly, hoping she didn’t notice his erection.
“N-now what?” she asked, keeping her gaze above his waist, he noticed.
“Now,” he started hoarsely, then cleared his throat. “Now you take a walk and hide somewhere out of sight so he can track and find you.”
“How far?”
“It doesn’t have to be miles, just enough to make him work for it. I’ll text you when we leave here, so you can get into place.”
She nodded, then left the cabin.
Mike stared at the closed door and rubbed at a sudden twinge in his chest. There it was again—the same sense of loss he’d felt when Lacey had left this morning with Sheridan. He told himself at the time he was uncomfortable handing his dog over to someone else, but he now admitted he’d grown accustomed to Lacey’s laugh and the way she seemed to bring light and softness to everything she touched.
Sheridan would miss her when they left Sweetness.
Twenty minutes later, his dog roused from his nap and as expected, began frantically searching for the toy Mike held behind his back.
“Sheridan, come,” Mike said, and was relieved when the dog obeyed.
Mike revealed the toy. “Sheridan, this is Lacey.” He held out the toy, knowing this was the