“Why would that man be afraid of your new dog?” Mom asked.
“Donna, you know that’s not a dog right?” my dad asked.
“Get down, show off.” I pushed Doggo off the bed.
His head was even with my mom’s. Okay, so she was sitting in a chair, but that’s still a few feet up. Typical dogs aren’t that tall.
“Bailey.” She spoke my name quietly.
“Don’t intimidate my mom,” I told the wolf.
He sat, and gave her a big doggy grin, and slapped his tail against the floor.
“Guys, I think you should take Max out for a walk.”
Gage leaned against the doorjamb. Tall and built, but not in uniform, he was a presence to be reckoned with. I wanted out of this hospital so I could do a bit more than reckon with him.
“You heard the man.” Travis stretched as he stood up. It was so hard to not stare at his abs as the T-shirt lifted and exposed him.
“After you, Max.” Zeke stood with his arm extended, inviting the animal to go with them.
“How come everyone else calls him Max? Hmm?” Mom looked at me over the tops of her glasses. Now that I was back in arm’s reach, I guess it was safe to nag at me.
“His name is Max, but Bailey didn’t know that when she first found him. I guess Doggo has stuck. And he doesn’t seem to mind. Actually, he seems to like it. A special nickname from the beautiful lady.” Gage didn’t go to my parents to shake hands. He came to my bedside and smoothed my hair back from my face.
I flinched and then every muscle melted and all nerves in my body started to thrum. That wasn’t the protective instinct of a sheriff. That was a man making a move. Yeah, baby!
“And who are you?”
He gave my arm a squeeze. The type of action someone does when they aren’t into kissing in public, but if they were, it would be a kiss, not an arm squeeze. Demeter and Isis, what was going on? Gage walked around the bed and approached my mother first.
“Sheriff Gage Masterson.” He shook Mom’s hand and then Dad’s. “My guys were out on a team building expedition when Max alerted us to someone needing help in the area.”
“So, you follow some big dog around? What is he, Lassie?” Mom was sharp as cut glass today.
“Ma’am, Max is a wolf. He was raised to be a tracking animal, so when he alerts me to a possible situation, I pay attention. Canines are remarkable creatures. Don’t underestimate Lassie.”