if she was venting as much as it sounded like, my gut instinct was that she was definitely hot for her bodyguard.
Only time would tell.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Look at this good boy,” I cooed at Brutus as he brought me back the tennis ball I’d thrown as far as I could down the stretch of grass at the dog park Killian visited.
It was my first outing in the last two weeks since this all started, and I planned to enjoy every minute. I lobbed the ball once more and off Brutus went after it at a dead run. The Rottweiler was super-fast for a big dog.
“Do you think he’d be nice to Amber?” I asked Killian who was leaning against the metal chain link fence typing something out in his phone.
He finished texting and then shoved his phone in his back pocket. “He’ll do whatever I say. If I introduce him and use commands to express my wishes, he’ll follow along. He’s been very good with dogs in the past that were here. He has a great personality; it’s just he’s meant to protect me and now you. His breed takes that commitment seriously.”
Brutus ran back, his tail wagging excitedly as his dad pointed to the ground and told him to drop the ball. He did so immediately, then sat, waiting for his next command. Killian picked up the ball and threw it much farther than I did. The dog didn’t so much as twitch until Killian gave the command for Brutus to retrieve it.
“He doesn’t do that with me?”
Killian smiled. “Because you didn’t set up those parameters with him out of the gate. You’re a huge pushover. He has you wrapped around his big ass paw.”
“I love him, I can’t help it.” I looked at the sweet boy dashing back.
“Baby, you’ve made it clear to him who the boss is in your relationship…and I hate to say it, but it’s not you.” He grinned.
My mouth dropped open as the shock of his statement hit me. “He’s not the boss of me!” I fired back as Brutus returned and looked to me then his daddy waiting for his command.
“Come here, Brutus.” I pointed to the ground near my feet. Brutus looked to Killian who lifted his chin. The dog went over and sat by my feet.
I narrowed my gaze as Killian smirked and I pet Brutus on his boxy head. “Okay, baby. Give me the ball.” I took the ball from his mouth which he let me do no problem. “See! I got the ball easy!” I held it up so Killian could see the prize. Then I tossed it as far as I could. “Now…” But before I could get the command out of my mouth, Brutus ran for it straight away.
Killian chuckled, then whistled and Brutus brought the ball back to him, not me, and sat right next to his daddy’s leg.
“Show off,” I grumbled.
“Just because he listens to my commands doesn’t mean he won’t listen to you too. You’re the good cop and I’m the bad cop. How about that?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I guess it’s better to be the good cop.” I crouched down. “Come here, boy!”
He didn’t move from his dad’s leg but started to whimper and wiggle his tail as though he were dying to come to me but knew better than to do so after his dad had made a command.
Killian gave the order and Brutus happily came to me and licked up the side of my face. Killian passed me the leash and I hooked it around Brutus’s thick neck and kissed his brow. “Next time we’ll show Daddy who’s boss. Huh, boy?” I rubbed my nails down his spine in a move I knew he adored.
Brutus barked as though he were answering.
“See!”
“Oh, you showed me.” Killian laughed as I rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue against my teeth to get Brutus walking.
“Baby, that’s the sound you make when you’re leading a horse.”
I groaned under my breath and moved ahead, Brutus happily taking the lead until Killian caught up and interlaced our fingers. “Don’t be surly. I’ve had him since a week after I got back. He’s been with me the entire time. Helped me through a lot. We have a different bond but you’re building your own and however that plays out is a good thing.” He nudged my shoulder playfully.
“Hmmphff,” I huffed yet continued to hold Killian’s hand all the way back to his apartment.
What we saw when we got there