Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

" I 'm supposed to take off your collar, Rexy."

The dog just looked at her as Aspen took off the blue collar that she'd bought the large dog when the other one got too small.

Aspen turned it around in her hands and shrugged. "How do you think he knew it was dusty?"

She dropped the collar in the warm water filling one half of the kitchen sink and added some liquid dish soap for good measure. When the collar floated to the top, she rummaged in the cabinets for a pot and weighed down the collar so it would remain under the water.

Rexy stood and moved to the kitchen doorway, instantly on alert.

"What is it? Is it Jerico?" Aspen asked, grabbing a towel that hung from the stove to dry her hands.

When Rexy refused to move from the doorway, Aspen pushed him into the other room, struggling as the big dog tried to foil her efforts. "Stop protecting me. We're not back there anymore. These are the good guys."

"I feel like I should be wearing a white cowboy hat," one large man told her from the doorway, his hands filled with a large cardboard package. "I'm Hank. Jerico's right behind me."

"Hi, Hank. I don't know what to tell you to do with that box," Aspen said, holding up her hands in a helpless gesture.

Rexy lumbered forward and woofed at the man. Even the dog's most friendly greeting sounded deep and fierce. To her surprise, Hank didn't flinch as he walked inside, allowing Jerico to appear.

"Now that's a dog. What's his name?"

"Rexy," Jerico told him as the dog immediately zeroed in on Jerico. With a floofy bounce, the large dog greeted his new bestie by putting his front paws on the man's shoulders. The bag in Jerico's hands complicated things.

"Down, Rexy. I'll pet in a minute. Let us get these things stowed in the basement."

To Aspen's disbelief, the dog dropped to the floor and returned to her side. Automatically, she ruffled the dog's fur and scratched his big head. "Good boy."

One man after another walked into the house carrying something from her apartment. Each introduced themselves.

"Hi, Aspen. I'm Caden."

"I'm Zale."

"I'm Koa, the good-looking one."

Aspen had to roll her eyes at that response. They were all good looking and in amazing shape.

"I can help," she offered as soon as the parade inside ended.

"We've got it." Jerico walked over to join her. "I'm having the guys put everything in the basement. We'll take some time and go through it. Get a message to your landlord that the place is empty. Maybe he'll let you out of your lease early. Here are the pictures."

Jerico sent all of them to her phone. "Make sure you send those too for proof the place was clean."

"You're expecting someone to break in?"

"It would fit the profile of a guy out of control," Jerico confirmed.

"Thank you all for cleaning the place. You've done so much."

"With the six of us, it didn't take any time. Where's the dog collar?" Jerico asked.

"I dunked it in the kitchen sink. How did you know it was dirty?" Aspen asked, trailing him back into that room.

"Good girl. I'm not worried about it being dirty." He pulled out the collar and examined it.

"Are you looking for something?"

"Yep. And I just found it." Jerico pulled a pocketknife out of his pocket and used the blade to pry open the two layers of leather on one side. "The stitching is missing here, and there's a lump." He pulled out a white disc and twisted it apart to remove a battery.

"What was that?"

"A tracker. It's water repellant, but not water resistant. I don't think he had time to get a lock on our location since he just got out of jail."

"He didn't care enough to feed Rexy, but he kept track of his movements?" Aspen asked in disbelief.

"It appears that way."

"I even bought him that collar and had the tags made. That's my phone number on them!" Aspen could hear herself sputtering. She was so mad.

"Rexy is with us now. We'll do what we need to do to safeguard him," Jerico told her.

"Why do you even care?" Aspen asked. She hated to be suspicious about why he'd even help her, but why was he helping her?

"You're my Little."

There was so much conviction in that short sentence she didn't know what to say other than, "How?"

"How do I know you're my Little? I feel it in here and I think you do too," Jerico told her, tapping his chest. "Let's test it."

He tangled his hands in the back of her hair and pulled lightly to tilt her head back. Leaning close, he whispered, "Tell me no now."

Without even thinking about it, Aspen rose on her tiptoes to press her mouth against his. Jerico immediately took control of the kiss. His lips wooed her, tempting her to dare to open her mouth. Of course, she had to take that dare. Heat flared between them as his tongue slid into her mouth, exploring and tasting.

"Ahem!"

Jerico lifted his head and glared at Koa. "What?"

"The guys sent me to ask. Where do you want the clothes?" Koa asked.

"Put them on the couch. I'll come help." Jerico stepped back.

When they were alone, he told Aspen, "You feel it, too." He moved around Rexy, who was plastered next to them, telling the dog, "Next time, give me a warning, will you?"

Rexy woofed his apology softly, making Jerico laugh as he walked out of the room.

"Really, Rexy," Aspen echoed, and dodged the happy tail that whomped against her legs.

She walked into the family room to see her scant possessions draped over the couch. Zale walked in with a bag in each hand. Aspen stepped back to give him room.

"We're just putting stuff in the basement for you to go through," he explained.

"That's perfect. Thank you. I can carry a load," she offered and headed for the door. Rexy trailed right behind her.

"We're almost done. It's probably best if you watch the dog while we're going in and out," Zale suggested as he exited.

That magical word, out, got a big reaction from Rexy. He woofed and looked up at Aspen.

"Do you need to go out, Rexy? I'm sorry. Let's put your collar back on. It's wet, but I can still hold on to it."

She raced back into the kitchen to rinse off the blue leather and sopped some water out with a couple of paper towels. It took a bit of maneuvering to get it fastened around his neck.

"Okay. Good boy. Let's go out." She was going to have to find her biodegradable dog poop bags. In the meantime, a few more paper towels would work.

Rexy had already fallen in love with the big backyard. Aspen watched him gallop around, never straying too far as he looked for a perfect spot to do his business. Giving him a little privacy, Aspen looked at the houses surrounding Jerico's. There were a couple in view with swings or wooden play forts. The patio of the home behind him had a plethora of brightly blooming potted plants. Aspen liked the idea of having happy families around. What a change from the neighborhood she'd come from.

Rexy pressed against her thigh and Aspen rubbed her hand over the dog's short fur. Could they be happy here? The feel of Jerico's lips moving against hers ricocheted into her mind. The man definitely knew how to kiss.

"We've got the truck unloaded and need to head back to the base. Anything you need? Help yourself to anything in the fridge for lunch. We'll go shopping tonight for food you like," Jerico said, maintaining eye contact with her even as Rexy galloped over for pets.

"I've got some stuff," Aspen assured him.

"Eat the fresh food in the refrigerator. Your stuff will last forever. I'll cook us some steaks for dinner tonight."

"I have to go to work at four," she said quickly. "Do you mind if I leave Rexy here?"

"Of course not. We'll get to know each other," Jerico assured her before asking, "Where do you work?"

"I clean several small offices in the Tate building," she explained, naming a tall office building downtown.

"What time do you get off?"

"It depends on the mess. Usually by ten. You'll want to eat before then," she said.

"Do you have a safe place to park?" he asked, ignoring her last statement.

"I usually find someplace on the street. The business employees are leaving then, and the lots empty fast."

"I don't like that you're leaving alone late in the evening," he stated firmly.

Aspen noted his eyebrows were pulled together in concern. She rushed to reassure him, "I'm always careful."

"We'll talk tonight when you get home. I'm sorry I have to go," Jerico told her when a toot from the truck horn sounded.

He walked forward and wrapped his arms around her. "Call me when you're walking out the door." Kissing her hard, Jerico erased all thoughts from her mind.

Forcing her hands to release his clothing as he stepped away, Aspen watched him turn and jog around the house. She caught Rexy's collar just in time to keep the mutt from racing after him.

"Come on, you big lug. Do your business and let's go back inside."