gonna need some TLC. And she’ll require some work. Doubt she’s housebroken if they had her chained in the yard.”
“We’re willin’ to put in the work. I promise.” He peered down at Tesha. “Can you tell her breed? She looks like some sort of German shepherd mix.”
Kennedy gently held Tesha’s jaw, pulling back her upper lip, then opening her mouth wide. “I think you’ve got yourself a Belgian Malinois.”
“A what?”
“Very similar to a GSD in appearance and traits. They’re from the herding family, too. A little smaller though. She’s definitely underweight. Should probably be close to fifty pounds.” Kennedy continued to touch Tesha’s face, leaning in closer, petting her gently. “Like GSDs, they need a lot of exercise. She won’t like to lounge around. Might consider giving her jobs to do. Training will be easier than with some. Incredibly smart breed. Based on her teeth, I’d say she’s right at a year.” She looked up at him. “Have you named her yet?”
“We’re callin’ her Tesha. It’s an Indian name for survivor.”
Kennedy’s eyes lit up when she smiled, stood tall. “I like it. You ready to come with me, Tesha? I bet I can scrounge up another treat. Maybe two.”
Those big brown eyes lifted to Kennedy and Reese saw so much hope there. It warmed his heart and reminded him once again that everything happened for a reason.
Chapter Six
“He was still at the girl’s house?” JJ asked, her eyes wide. “Seriously?”
Brantley nodded, leaned back in his desk chair. “Can’t say I blame him. If you’d seen the house…” Christ, he still couldn’t believe the parents had been so nonchalant about the whole thing. “The place was a pigsty. Dirty dishes piled everywhere, clothes on the floor. It reeked of cigarettes and mold. Dog chained up in the backyard, half starved.”
JJ sat up straight. “Please, God, tell me you didn’t leave the dog.”
Brantley chuckled. “Not a chance. Reese strolled right into the backyard and took her.”
Her eyes widened as a slow smile formed. “Really?”
“Yep. He’s got her at the vet right now.”
“You’re keepin’ her?” she exclaimed.
“Looks that way.” He couldn’t say he was disappointed, either. Brantley was constantly thinking back on the dogs they’d had embedded in his SEAL team over the years. His memories were good ones, and a part of him had always thought he would one day have a dog or two of his own. Since he didn’t see kids in his future, a couple of four-legged fur balls seemed appropriate.
“Next thing I know, you’ll be gettin’ married.” JJ’s green eyes narrowed. “You’re not gettin’ married yet, are you, B?”
“Not yet.”
“Holy shit. You didn’t bat an eyelash when I said it. Who are you and what have you done with Brantley Walker?”
“He’s in love,” Baz chimed in, looking up from his computer for the first time. “You can just throw everything you knew about him out the window.”
Brantley peered over at the detective. “Yeah? You speakin’ from experience, Buchanan?”
“Not me. Hell no. But I’ve watched my old man fall in love a few dozen times in my life.”
“Really?” JJ seemed surprised. “Your dad?”
“On his sixth marriage. One more hopefully-ever-after.”
“What about your mom?” Brantley asked, curious.
“She’s on husband number three. Believe it or not, my folks’re still good friends. Even go to dinner a couple of times a month. Probably the reason they keep runnin’ off the significant others time and again.”
Well, there you had it.
“How old are you?” JJ asked Baz.
Brantley watched him, wondering if the detective knew this would make or break any chances he had with JJ. If she found out he was younger than her—which he was—Baz would have no chance in hell of making a move. For whatever reason, Brantley’s best friend since childhood had an issue with younger men. The five-year age gap between them would send her running for the hills.
“Old enough to know better,” Baz said, smooth as silk.
Smart man.
“Tells me nothin’,” JJ countered.
“Does it matter?” Baz shot back.
“Maybe it does.”
The detective grinned. “I can promise you it doesn’t.”
JJ mumbled something that sounded like whatever, then turned her attention back to her computer.
Baz met his gaze across the room, and the smile he shot back told Brantley he could hold his own when it came to JJ.
“I haven’t had much luck on this social media thing,” Baz said, “but reached out to a couple of buddies in other departments to see if they could get the word out that we’re lookin’ into it. I had JJ create a couple of profiles we