I Need a Hero (10 page)

Her mother paused with the coffee cup at her lips, then took a sip, as if considering what she was going to say. “No, Evie, I’ve never regretted marrying your father or the life we built. And it’s not that I don’t want you marrying into the military, that’s more your father. I just saw the way that boy hurt you, and I honestly thought you were too young to get serious with anyone. Especially men in the military, who grow up fast and hard.” She set her coffee down and asked, “Is there someone in particular you’re interested in?”

“Yes, but I’m pretty sure I blew it by telling him I don’t go for guys in uniform,” she said.

“Who is he? Do I know him?”

Eve hesitated. “Not . . . really.” When her mother raised her eyebrows expectantly, Eve sighed. “His name is Oliver Martinez. He’s been working on the charity event with me.”

“Martinez. Why do I know that name?”

“He was the soldier who got into a fight with Hank the night he was arrested,” Eve offered.

“Oh, dear.” Her mother covered her mouth, and Eve thought it was in horror at first, but then she heard a snort escape.

“Are you laughing?”

Her mother exploded into a fit of giggles, wiping at her eyes when they teared. “Of course you would be interested in the one man your father and brother despise.”

“To be fair, Oliver said Hank was drunk and getting handsy with some girls. When Oliver told him to stop, Hank threw the first punch.”

“And that may be so, but it doesn’t change the fact that you two are going to have a battle on your hands with your father,” her mother said.

“But not with you?” Eve asked.

“Not as long as he’s good to you.”

“I think he would be, but it’s hard to tell since we’ve never really gotten that far. I mean, we’ve hung out and kissed, but it hasn’t exactly been a normal courtship.”

Her mother patted her hand and smiled. “Normal is boring. At least now you’ll have a real story to tell my future grandchildren.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Mother. I’d like to get through at least one date with the man before you have me barefoot and pregnant.”

Chapter Ten

O
N THE DAY
of the charity event, everything was running smoothly as Eve left the gym where the educational demonstrations would be held. The military and police dog trainers would be up first to explain the process of training the dogs and even do a takedown demonstration. After they finished, search and rescue would do a mock rescue. There would be an hour-long break for lunch, and then the therapy dogs would complete the demonstrations.

The Rio Linda High School campus had turned out to be the perfect venue for the event. All the vendors were in place in the football field, wristbands were being purchased in the Quad, and she’d hired extra security, just in case. The dogs in training were all wearing their new Alpha Dog outfits, and they looked even better than Eve had hoped. The number of people who had turned out already was incredible.

The auditorium was being readied for the auction, and the adoptable dogs were being groomed just behind the large building. It was all going according to plan.

But there was one thing missing, and it had Eve ready to pull her hair out.

Oliver.

She hadn’t seen or heard from him in two days, and she was worried. She’d even called his cell phone, but it had gone straight to voicemail.

Eve caught sight of Best working with one of the dogs outside the gym and asked, “Have you seen Oliver? I can’t find him anywhere.”

“Yeah, I saw him a few minutes ago,” Best said. “I think he was taking Beast over to get fitted for an Alpha Dog shirt.”

“Thanks.” She headed toward the open classroom the school had offered for them to store things. She hated that Oliver was avoiding her, but she couldn’t really blame him after what she’d said at his place. She needed to apologize and make things right with him.

But she had to find him first.

“Hey, Eve, we got a problem!” someone called out.

Ah, hell, and everything was going so well.

Eve turned, pushing up her glasses as they slid down her nose, and found Sergeant Sparks coming toward her. “What’s up?”

“One of our trainers was involved in a car accident and can’t make it,” he said grimly.

“Which one?” she asked. “Are they okay?”

“It’s Rivers, and yeah, she’s okay, but her car is mangled.”

Double shit.
Rivers was an attractive blonde woman scheduled to lead out the third dog during the auction.

“Okay, we just need someone to fill in. Someone who has experience with dogs . . . ” She racked her brain, willing herself not to panic.

“Maybe we can just have one of the trainers double up with a second dog,” Sergeant Sparks suggested.

Eve hated that idea but didn’t say it. They could probably scrounge up another male trainer, but there were so few female members of the Alpha Dog program . . .

“Megan!” Eve hadn’t meant to shout, but she was just too excited. She’d asked Megan to come along and help, so she was here somewhere. She had MP training and had done guide-dog training in 4H.

“Megan who?” Sparks asked.

“Never mind, I’ve got it covered.” Oliver would have to wait a minute or two until she talked to Megan.

Near the vendor tents, she found Megan grabbing a deep-fried Twinkie.

“I need you,” Eve said, panting.

“Aw, I know. That’s why I stick around,” Megan said.

“I need you to stand in for a trainer who can’t be here,” Eve said.

“Ha-ha, you’re funny,” she said.

“Come on, you have the experience. You can smile, charm them, and show a couple basic behavior tips. Just go home and get your uniform.”

“Girl, I am not—”

“Do you remember the time that I picked you up from that bar in Bakersfield you weren’t supposed to be at when your car wouldn’t start and you didn’t want to call your parents?” Eve asked.

“Oh come on, that was nine years ago!” Megan said.

“And it’s time to pay the piper, baby,” Eve said.

Megan bit into her Twinkie aggressively and mumbled, “You are an evil wench.”

“Yes, and you love me for it. Now hurry up! I need you back here in”—Eve checked her phone—“an hour and a half.”

Megan threw her container away and stomped off, but Eve wasn’t worried about her friend staying mad at her.

And now, to find Oliver.

“W
ILL YOU HOLD
still?” Oliver griped at Beast, who looked a lot like the dog version of Frankenstein. The veterinarian had stitched up several large lacerations on his head and neck, but the shaved skin and wounds still looked gnarly. Oliver had picked up a doggie turtleneck at PetSmart per the vet’s suggestion as an extra barrier in case he tried to scratch at the stitches on his neck. The trouble was getting it on Beast, who, after two days of pain meds and antibiotics in hotdogs, had become a spoiled brat. And he hated the shirt.

“Dude, at least its green camo. I could have gotten the pink one, so count your blessings,” Oliver said. They had just picked up Beast’s Alpha Dog jacket, but the turtleneck had to go on first or he was afraid the strap would irritate Beast’s neck.

Since Oliver couldn’t leave Beast on his own, he’d been switched from the auction to selling raffle tickets. It wasn’t such a bad deal, especially since it gave Beast a job, and he wouldn’t have to spend an hour trying to make small talk with a stranger on how to make a dog sit. Wandering around the event also gave him the best opportunity to take pictures and videos to share online, since according to the very curt text message from Eve, he was still her right-hand man.

At least the job would keep him from obsessing over wanting more.

Finally getting the shirt over the dog’s head, he lifted one paw and then the other into the sleeves until it was finally in place. Smoothing it down over Beast’s body, Oliver grimaced. “I’ll tell you, buddy, I never thought I would be the type of guy to put clothes on his dog.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, I think he looks adorable,” Eve said behind him.

Oliver turned, and when she got a look at his face, she paled.

“Oh my God, Oliver, what happened?”

Oliver had known she was going to freak when she saw the massive bruising on his cheek, but he hadn’t expected her to race toward him and reach up like she was going to touch it.

He leaned back away from her hand. “Careful, it’s sore.”

“Of course it is, I’m sorry,” she said, dropping her hand. “What did you do?”

“What makes you think I did something?” Beast had already pushed his way between them, waiting for Eve to notice him.

Eve knelt down and stroked Beast’s head, studying both dog and master behind those dark-framed glasses and shaking her head. “You two are a mess.”

Beast’s whole body wiggled body when she spoke, and she kissed him on his nose, earning a wet, slobbery tongue lick.

“You poor baby, you look like someone sewed your head back on,” she said.

“He’s lucky. The vet said if he’d kept struggling much longer, he could have hit his jugular and bled out,” Oliver said.

“Well, I’m glad he’s okay now,” she said, standing back up. “You didn’t answer me. Why do you look like you joined a fight club?”

“Bumped into a guy I don’t care for, and it was just the wrong place, wrong time,” he said.

“Do I need to ask what the other guy looks like?” she asked.

“He looks worse, trust me.” Oliver hadn’t actually seen Tate, but he remembered the blood oozing from his lip, the swelling of his eye, and the red imprints of Oliver’s fists across his cheeks and nose. They had dumped him in his car after Tate knocked him out, and he’d woken up sore, sweating, and pissed at himself. At least they hadn’t arrested him, though.

“Well, that’s good, I guess,” she said.

They stood silently for a moment, until Oliver said, “On Monday I go back to being an MP.”

A shadow crossed over her face, and he saw the disappointment in her eyes. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” He debated telling her that he’d tried to transfer, but what good would it do? Neither one of them could change the outcome. Besides, maybe it was stupidly romantic, but if she wanted him, really wanted him the way he wanted her, then it shouldn’t matter.

Fuck, he was an idiot.

Eve stepped forward, moving around Beast to be closer to him, and the sweet, fruity scent of her perfume curled around him.

“Oliver, I—”

“Eve, thank God I found you!” some guy said, rushing toward them.

Eve groaned, and Oliver wanted to tell him to get lost, but she was already turning away from him, back on the job. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a vendor who isn’t on the list, and we’re having a hell of a time getting him to calm down.”

Before she could tell him she had to go, Oliver let her off the hook. “We’ll see you later.”

Eve caught his eye and mouthed,
I’m sorry.

As she walked away, Oliver resumed getting Beast ready, but he couldn’t help wondering what she was sorry for.

E
VE TOOK THE
stage of the auditorium at eleven, smiling out at the packed house despite her apprehension. She wasn’t completely alone—the auctioneer stood by the podium—but still her heart wouldn’t slow down. She had never been a nervous public speaker, but this was the largest crowd she’d ever addressed, so she figured it was okay that her hands were shaking a little.

Gripping the mic with one hand, she tilted it toward her mouth and spoke.

“Good morning, everyone, and thank you so much for coming out to support our local shelters and these amazing men and women. In the United States, one-point-two million animals are euthanized every year due to overcrowding in shelters and breed discrimination. The Alpha Dog Training Program wants to decrease that number by giving dogs who may have been overlooked a second chance.

“You’ve probably noticed the camo-wearing canines wandering about the event today with their young handlers. These dogs are future heroes, handpicked for this program, so if you get the chance, stop and hand them one of the bones from your goody bags. They have been working hard and deserve a treat. If you haven’t received a goody bag, they are located at the entrances and exits of the auditorium.

“But it’s not just the canines that benefit from Alpha Dog. This program gives at-risk youth a knowledge of animal health, training, and behavior in the hopes that they might turn their lives around. The program assists with job placement, and there is even a scholarship available for a student pursuing a degree in Animal Health.”

Loud applause greeted her words, and she relaxed a little.

“Today, the amazing trainers from Alpha Dog have donated their time and knowledge to you and the adorable adoptable dogs we are about to present. These dogs are from local shelters and have been given a grade of ‘A’ by an animal behaviorist. That means they would be an excellent addition to any home.

“In this auction, you will be bidding on a picnic lunch with both the dog and trainer, as well as a half-hour obedience lesson. All proceeds will be divided between the shelters and rescues participating in today’s event. That means that one hundred percent of the money we raise goes to medical treatments, food, and shelter for the animals while they wait for their forever home. Today, we encourage you to take lots of pictures and share them on social media. Use the hashtag #pawscause and tag Alpha Dog Training Program on any platform.” Taking a deep breath, she concluded, “So, what do you think? Are you ready to meet them?”

Cheers erupted from the crowd, and Eve laughed. “Well, all right, then. Our first cute canine is Thor, who is accompanied by Alpha Dog’s head search-and-rescue trainer, Sergeant Dean Sparks.”

As Sparks jogged onto the stage with a blond, medium-sized dog, Eve could almost hear the collective sigh from the women in the audience.

She grinned. “Aren’t they pretty to look at?” The crowd laughed, and Eve continued, “Thor is a five-year-old golden retriever mix whose favorite pastimes are playing fetch, swimming, and having his long, golden locks brushed. He knows basic obedience and would make an awesome jogging and camping buddy. He promises to bring unconditional love and laughter to his new home and to never leave your side. As for his picnic lunch, he’s chosen to share fried chicken, coleslaw, and buttermilk biscuits with the human who wins his time. Let’s start the bidding at a hundred dollars.”

Several paddles rose, and the auctioneer started taking the bids. As he rambled faster and faster, Eve nodded at Dean. Before the auction, she’d told the trainers to showcase their dogs by playing on their strengths. According to the shelter, Thor was quite the ham and, along with his basic training, could do a few fun tricks, one of which was playing dead.

“Bang, bang,” Dean said loudly, pointing his finger like a gun at Thor. Thor immediately fell and rolled onto his back, lying completely still but for his open mouth and lolling tongue. The audience laughed, and a collective “aw” rose up among the flurry of bids. Finally, a woman in her mid-forties won Thor and Dean for seven hundred and fifty dollars.

“Fantastic showing, guys!” Eve shifted Thor’s index card to the back of the stack and announced the next dog and trainer team.

As the auction progressed, she found herself getting into a rhythm, and even the trainers were strutting their stuff, cracking the audience up. When Megan escorted her dog out onto the stage, they did a whole bit where every time she talked to the dog, a big, beautiful husky named Siber, she would vocalize back at her. The audience was in stitches, and they went for nearly six hundred.

Eve turned to the last index card and stumbled a bit on the introduction as Oliver stepped out onto the stage with a black-and-white pit bull mix named Daisy. Now, he was going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and there was nothing she could do about it.

It’s just a picnic. No big deal. They’ll eat, talk, train, and say good-bye. Besides, you were the one who couldn’t open your mouth and tell him how you feel, so really, it serves you right.

Clearing her throat, she awkwardly tried to recover from her long pause. “Accompanying Sergeant Martinez is Daisy, who would love nothing better than to find a home where she can lay under your feet all day, getting belly and ear rubs until the cows come home. Daisy wants her new family to know that she loves dancing, tea parties, and especially Channing Tatum movies.” More laughter. “We’ll start the bidding at one hundred dollars.”