“Really?” She struggled to figure out when he was talking about, but there’d been a lot going on that first weekend, and he’d been out and around Revolution MMA with Souze on her behalf multiple times.
“Yeah. I was caught up in one of my…moments. He poked and nudged me until I came out of it.” He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. “It could’ve been bad, but Souze brought me out of it. Natural instinct. His behavior could be positively reinforced. He could be trained to recognize the signs earlier and respond. There’s a lot of other behaviors he could do to help me in public places. He could be trained to sit facing the opposite direction I’m facing when I stop so I don’t have to worry about what’s on my six. He’d be keeping watch over the rear approach for me. He could be trained to circle around me to make people in a high traffic area give me room and create a safe personal space. He’s smart enough to learn several other behaviors to help deal with situations as they come up.”
She lifted her head and nodded. “He’s a big, intimidating dog. Some people would give him space just because he is the dog he is.”
He smiled. “Exactly. I’ll need to work it out with Forte and probably coordinate with the psych over at McGuire, but Souze could become a PTSD service dog. And if he can help me function, I can be there for Boom whenever and wherever she needs me.”
Elisa couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m so glad for you all.”
“All?”
She stretched her neck and kissed his jaw. “Yes, all. Serena gets you. You get Serena and Souze. Souze gets to stay here with people he likes, doing interesting things that have nothing to do with chasing down awful people. I think it suits him.”
And she was attached to the black and tan fur monster, too.
Alex was silent for a moment. “Will you come out with Souze and me for our first outing to test this?”
“You and Souze have been going out in public.” Confused, she tipped her head to the side.
Laughter danced in Alex’s eyes. “Yes, but this time it’ll be with this purpose in mind and I can’t think of something I want to do more than take you out to dinner.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip and blinked back emotion. “I’d like that a lot.”
More than that. To be included, be a part of it. She’d love to.
“Good. After work, I’ll get Cruz or Forte to give you a ride with a two-hour head start over to Revolution to get freshened up. Then Souze and I’ll come pick you up for an early dinner. Sound good?”
She smiled. “Absolutely.”
He kissed her then, and his hands roamed over her.
Laughing, she came up for air. “We do have work today.”
He growled against her throat. “And it’ll still be there for us.”
“I refuse to be late!” She squirmed and gasped when he slid a finger inside her.
“We’ll be quick.”
She clutched at his shoulders and answered, breathless, “Okay. Quick. Quick is good.”
He was ready. It was hot. And oh wow, his idea of quick blew her mind.
*
“I’m home!” A ten-year-old whirlwind blew into the front reception area.
Elisa smiled. Or maybe she was still smiling from when Alex and she had made it back to Hope’s Crossing just a couple of hours earlier. “Welcome back. Your dad’s wrapping up the first morning agility class and then he’ll meet you up at the house for second breakfast. Mind if I join you two?”
She loved the idea of second breakfast on the weekends. Actually, the men of Hope’s Crossing did it all through the week because they ate like training athletes. Five to six small meals a day. But on weekends, they did it so Boom could snack with them and get in quality time with her father.
“Duh. Food is always better when you join us. Dad actually talks.” Boom stampeded past the front desk. “Heading up to the house now.”
Elisa actually glanced up from entering the data for the latest new client and did a double-take. “Whoa. Hold it.”
Boom froze, ducking her head and lifting her shoulders as if cringing would hide what Elisa had already seen.
“Let’s see.” Elisa stood up to see over the high counter of the reception desk better.
Slender shoulders slumped, and Boom turned to face her.
No laughing. Laughing would be bad. “I take it you ladies had a sort of makeup experiment last night?”
Boom heaved an exaggerated sigh. “This morning before breakfast.”
Oh, dear. So the raccoon-style eyeliner and mascara had been on purpose and not the result of a night sleeping with it on. “I see. And all of you have similar…looks?”
“Maybe?” Boom scrunched up her face. “Marlene brought her mom’s makeup kit, and we each did our own. Grace and Marlene have more practice.”
“Ah.” Elisa struggled for a light tone. “Even with someone teaching me, it takes me a couple of tries to get it the way I want it to look.”
A dam burst inside Boom. “I don’t get it. I don’t. You and Lyn and Sophie always look like yourselves. I don’t want to look like somebody else. What’s wrong with me?”
“You’re incredible,” Elisa said simply. “Nothing’s wrong with you.”