“Only a couple of bruises. I’m fine to work. I want to work.”
“Good.” Kelli resumed her perch. “Because I’ve got a proposition for you. As you know, service dog training programs nationwide can’t keep up with the needs of our veterans. I’d like to raise our graduation number from thirty-five dogs a year to fifty-five. To do that I’ve had to think about the financial resources that requires. Because of recent events, we’re being approached with funding proposals from foundations both private and public. There are two proposals that will take me to D.C. next week. Even the governor’s wife called to inquire how she might get involved. Frankly, all this has my head spinning. I can’t run this place and do all the socializing required to keep money flowing in.” She paused. “You’re a good trainer, Jori. Sarah Williams called this morning to thank you because she’d seen your picture in the news.”
“My picture’s in the news?” A cold feeling slid down her back. “What pictures?”
“Some taken at the rescue site of you and Sam and Trooper Becker. I suppose you were busy with other things to notice. And, yes, there are photos of you taken from our website.”
“You mean pictures of me in prison garb.” She hadn’t even glanced at TV or the Internet yet.
Kelli nodded. “You’re a media sensation. They grabbed what they could find.”
Jori subsided into a chair. “My poor parents.”
“No.” Kelli shook her head. “I’ll bet that’s not what they’ll say if you ask them. I’m proud of you. I’m doubly proud of our program at the women’s prison. Those women need to see rewards from hard work and determination. I’m so certain of your abilities that I’m trying to work up to asking you to become the spokesperson for WWP.”
“Me?” Jori laughed.
“After all you’ve done to bring our attention to the public. You’re a good trainer, but you’re equally good with people. I saw you work with Mr. Battise, a hard case if there ever was one. And the other day you were great with Sarah and Mike Williams. I need someone who’s articulate and can think on her feet to go out and talk to church groups, garden clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis, heck, anyone who wants to know more about what we do here. We need to be on everyone’s charity list. I’m already stretched to my limit.”
“I’d have to think about it.”
“You do that. Now, being a spokesperson won’t substitute for being a trainer. It’ll be in addition to. I’ll try to scrape together a little additional money for you. But you won’t be out of pocket for speaking and traveling.”
Kelli stood, an indication that she was done.
As Jori came out of the office Maxine and the other trainers were staring at the flat-screen TV in the main room.
Reluctantly, Jori moved toward them. “What’s up?”
“Luke Tice has withdrawn from his senate race, citing family issues.”
“I guess he does have issues. His father’s been portrayed as part of a drug trafficking ring.” Jeff shook his head. “Some people never have enough.”
Jori turned away. She almost felt sorry for Erin.
*
He was waiting for her by her SUV at the end of the day. The weather had tempered a bit in the wake of the storm. The sun had shone all day, enough radiant heat at thirty-eight degrees to make life normal again. But the heat she was feeling had nothing to do with the day or the sun. Its source was the man she was walking toward.
He looked better than he should have after all he’d been through. Had it only been two days ago? And not a word. She hadn’t expected anything else. Even so. Damn.
Jori took her time walking up to him, looking her fill. He was off duty in jeans, a dark cord shirt, and a well-worn puffer vest that looked like he’d owned it next-to-forever. Tall and broadly muscled and on two feet again, even if one was state-of-the-art tech. The absence of a beard still surprised her. But she liked his bare face just fine. In fact, she liked several things about him bare. Maybe not the thought to be having while he was staring back at her. Better to think of something else. Like, if not for the black eye, a stranger would never guess he’d recently been in a near-fatal accident.
Her heart lurched in her chest, knocking aside lust. It would be a long time before she could think about that day without her breath catching. Probably never.
She stopped a few feet away. Time for honesty. “I didn’t know if you’d turn up.”
Law noticed she said if, not when. Did she really think he could keep away from her after all they’d been through? “How are you?”
He reached out and snagged her chin, turning her face one way and then the other. “No bruises on the face. What about your wrist?”
“All better.” She held up her arm as proof. “Where’s Sam?”
“Still at the vet’s. She’s his star patient so he’s taking extra-special care of her.”