“Breathe dumbass, the woman’s asked you a question twice and you’re just staring.” Dom whispered from his side, trying hard not to laugh at his friend.
Jack shook his head, “I’m sorry ma’am. You honestly caught me by surprise. I’ve never really seen eyes your color before, and I admit I was struck speechless for a moment.” Jack admitted sheepishly causing Dom to cough into his fist as he said smooth while Tabitha rolled her eyes.
“For pick up lines, I have to say, that’s not the cheesiest one I’ve heard.” Jenniffer commented, smirking at him, sending his heart rate even higher.
Jack couldn’t help but huff out a laugh, shaking his head. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to do a pickup line, I am being honest. I was really mesmerized by your eyes.
“Man whore” Tabitha coughed into her hand.
“Alrighty then. I’m Officer Dominick Pratt, the one with the foot in his mouth is Officer Jackson Axelson and the other one is Officer Tabitha Monore. We’re with the San Diego Police Department, the newest officers for the K-9 unit. Boss lady sent us here to get our new partners.”
Jenniffer stared at the officer for a few moments before she stepped forward with a smile. “Hello Officer Pratt, I am Jenn Lopez. Welcome to Axel K-9 Training, all of you. I just ran the dogs through their paces. Now that you’re here, we’re going to pair you up with your new partners, and then I’ll show you how to run them through their paces and help answer any questions along the way.”
“Great, so how do we do this? Do we choose the animal we want or are we already paired with them?” Jack asked, getting over his earlier fumble.
“I’ll have you stand over there, put some space between the three of you and I’ll walk the dogs around you. I tend to let them choose you and then we’ll see how well they choose when I put you through the paces.” Jenniffer smiled at Jack, winking as she walked away after pointing where she wanted the three of them.
When Jenniffer saw that the three officers complied and went where she pointed, she first bought out Hercules. She walked him first around the female officer then the one she dubbed hottie and then the polite one. When Hercules licked the officer’s hands, she gave him the order to sit next to Officer Pratt.
“Congrats, Officer Pratt, looks like Hercules chose you to be his partner. He’s a good dog, quirky and spunky at the same time. I think you two would be a good fit.” Jenniffer smiled, scratching Hercules behind the ear.
Jenniffer then advised the other two officers to take several steps away while she went to get the next dog. When he came out with Spock, she had an idea already exactly who Spock would choose. Just like with Hercules, she walked around Officer Monroe to which he whined and pulled away from her as he walked towards Officer Axelson. Without hesitation, Spock chose him. Jenniffer didn’t even have to give the order for Spock to sit as he sat next to the officer and leaned in.
Jenniffer tilted her head as she watched the pair. Axelson turned toward the animal smiling down at him as he scratched the dog behind his ears softly talking to the animal. Jenniffer turned when she heard Officer Pratt chuckle.
“He’s great with animals.”
“Seems you are too, Officer Pratt. Hercules seems to like you also.” Jenniffer smiled as she watched the two men with the animals that have chosen. “Officer Axelson, the one that chose you, without hesitation, is Spock. Like the character, he’s smart as a whip, his ears rarely go down like others of his breed do from time to time and sometimes I think he actually analyzes before he does something. He will stare at something for a moment before he moves. He’s definitely got his own laid-back personality. I think you two will be perfect together.”
“Seriously? Hercules and Spock?” Officer Monroe asked as she scoffed at the names. “I’m afraid to know what my animal’s name is going to be. Sounds like whoever named them was way too much into sci-fi superheroes.”
“Actually, Officer Monroe, I named them based off their personalities when they were pups and what they reminded me of at the time.” Jenniffer smirked at the female officer, trying to keep her temper at bay and remind herself that this woman is an officer and is probably having a bad day.
Jenniffer shook her head and walked away, not seeing the two male officers staring at each other in silent conversation. When she came back out with Xena, she walked towards Officer Monroe, afraid that Xena would not like her. Sure enough, Xena wanted nothing to do with her. She still walked the dog over to Officer Monroe and gave the order for Xena to sit. She bit her tongue when neither officer or dog acknowledged each other.
“Is there something wrong with the dog? The other two got an acknowledgement, this one isn’t even paying attention to me!”
“Xena has her own personality as well. She’s stubborn and waits for you to acknowledge her. So, why don’t you make the first move and then we can get started with showing you three how to put the dogs at their paces.” Jenniffer suggested, watching Xena who was definitely not happy with Officer Monroe.
CHAPTERFOUR
Over the next several hours, Jenniffer worked with both officers and dogs, showing the officers how to work the dogs, the commands and giving them chances to learn their new partners personalities on their own.
Once they were done, Jenniffer walked them through getting the dogs cooled down and how to let them know they are ‘off duty’ and be dogs. She helped the three officers feed and water them and gave them instructions on working with them on their off time.
“Where did you learn to be so good with the dogs? You’re like the dog whisperer or something.” Jack asked, chuckling as he watched Spock and Hercules chase after the balls, he and Dom were throwing for them.
Jenniffer watched the dogs as she threw a ball for Xena since Officer Monroe was more interested in her phone instead of bonding with her new partner. “I was in the Marine Corps, EOD. I worked with the K-9 unit there.”
“You were a jarhead?” Jack asked in surprise, looking over at Dom who smirked his way.
“That surprises you?” Jenniffer asked, her eyes narrowing at the officer at the jarhead crack.
“Sorry, I’ve worked with EOD before in my time in the Army, just never worked with a female EOD, especially in the K-9 Unit.” Jack admitted, watching Spock coming back towards him.
“How long have you been out?” Dom asked, curiosity getting the best of him.
Jenniffer hesitated in answering, taking several moments before she answered. “I was medically discharged four years ago.” She answered quietly.
