At the checkout line, he’d behaved like an asshole. All to cover up his real feelings. He wanted her. Bad.
That’s why he was here now, staring at her ass while barely registering the presence of the other vets, dogs, and trainers. He checked his phone. Three hours until his flight. It was an hour’s drive to Little Rock’s airport. He should leave now.
To his surprise, his stride carried him toward, not away from the class.
Across the room Kelli welcomed Jori back into the semicircle of people. “Why don’t you give us a quick refresher on the gentle lead, Jori.”
Jori ignored Battise as he took up a position a little apart from the rest, his back to the wall. “We use gentle leads because even the tiniest tug on a leash will turn your dog’s head in your direction for commands. This type of leash is a bonus for someone in a wheelchair, or an amputee using one or more prosthetic devices. You won’t get jerked off your feet, or out of a chair by a stubborn animal. Not that we have those here.”
To demonstrate, she took a few steps then made a sudden right turn, surprising Samantha. After the slightest tug on her leash, Samantha instantly changed directions.
“Very good.” Kelli waved her back into the group. “Right now one of our puppy raiser families is training a hundred-and-five-pound black Lab named Bronco. Their seven-year-old daughter Harley can completely control him on a gentle lead.”
“And a little child shall lead them.” Abe, a Vietnam vet in from Michigan and the eldest of their clients in this graduating class, was missing his right leg above the knee. He wore a T-shirt that read: THIS SHIRT COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG. I GOT IT ON DISCOUNT. His new dog was Ginger, a big blond shelter dog who was part Lab and parts unknown.
When each veteran had been allowed to test his skill with the gentle lead, Kelli stepped in again. “Before we break up into individual sessions, do any of you have problems or successes from last night that you want to share?”
Seth, a fresh-faced twenty-eight-year-old from Vermont in a wheelchair, raised a hand. “Does falling out of bed at three a.m. constitute a problem?”
“Depends on what you did while you were down there,” Abe answered. “I’ve been known to locate quarters and missing socks while lying there waiting for help. Even found a busted TV remote under my sofa one time.”
That drew a round of friendly laughter from all five vets.
Seth reached out to pat the big chocolate Lab sitting by his chair. “Johnny, here, is stronger than he looks. Between us we had me back in bed in no time. Then he climbed in beside me and laid on the outside. Guess he didn’t want to be awakened by me falling out a second time.”
Kelli grinned and patted Seth’s shoulder. “So you’re happy with Johnny?”
“Beats all the hell out of spending the night on the floor, or calling my parents for help.”
“Or using them toddler bed rails,” the man beside him contributed.
After each of the other vets had related a story about his first night with his dog, Jori glanced at Battise. At least he was still here.
She approached and offered him Sam’s leash, which he took, if reluctantly. “Is there anything you’d like to share, Mr. Battise?”
“Share with you? Sure, sweetheart.” A toothy grin appeared in his beard. “But right here, in front of God and everybody?”
The other men smirked or tried to hide their smiles. Right. She’d handed him a big slow-pitch softball of a line that didn’t mean anything. She just shook her head and moved away.
“All right,” Kelli said briskly. “We’ll take a break to allow our dogs to be walked and watered. Then we’ll begin our day’s one-on-one training. Mr. Battise, you’ll be with Jori. Abe, your trainer will be Will.”
As Kelli paired up the remaining vets and trainers, Jori’s heart began to pound in slow heavy strokes. Battise was looking at her with the light of battle bright in his gaze. She smiled but made the gesture for drinking. She needed a moment to collect herself if she was going to go one-on-one with him all afternoon. At least he hadn’t left.
The drink machine was located in the hallway. Abe and Ginger had beaten her there.
Abe rolled his chair back out of her way while Jori dug in her pocket for change. “That was a nice bit earlier about the soft leads.” He cupped Ginger under the chin, stroking her with the familiarity that one would expect from a longer association. “Did you two put that together to make the rest of us feel better?”
“What are you talking about?” Jori fed the machine her change.
“That business of Sergeant Battise pretending like he doesn’t know how to handle dogs. Since the others bought it I guess I’m the only one who recognized him.”
She collected her bottle. “What do you mean?”