Some of Holden’s admiration for the genius dimmed at her assessment.
Kade snorted. “His wife thinks so too.”
“Why are all the good ones scooped up?” She sighed, a teasing gleam lighting her eyes.
That didn’t help Holden’s souring mood and he was happyfor the interruption of the subject when her phone rang.
“Oh, okay.” Emily glanced at the main shelter as she spoke into her phone. “I’ll be right there.” She pocketed her cell and nodded at them. “There’s someone at the counter who wants to talk to me about an adoption.” Her gaze zeroed in on him. “Kade could take over and explain what’s needed with the dogs.”
He nodded along with Kade, and although he tried not to, Holden couldn’t stop his gaze from admiring the woman in uniform and the delectable sway of her sweet hips.
“Ah, it’s like that, I see,” Kade said.
“Apparently,” Sinjin muttered.
“Wonder if he knows?” Kade asked.
“Negatory,” his buddy replied.
Holden was vaguely aware of the conversation going on behind him, but the guys’ words didn’t sink in until Emily disappeared into the main shelter building, and he regained control of his brain.
“Should we warn him?” Kade glanced at Sinjin.
His buddy shook his head. “No. It didn’t do me any good.”
“Me either,” Kade said. “I suspect it has to do with our thick, military skulls.”
Sinjin nodded. “Roger that.”
“You do know I can hear both of you, right?” he asked, as they began to walk across the field separating the buildings. The men were inferring something about Emily and him, but he wasn’t going to bite. “Last I checked, there’s no crime in admiring a beautiful woman,” he said. “That’s all I was doing.”
“Got it.” Kade held up his hands. “Been there, done that.”
Holden exhaled and relaxed.
“Got married. Had children. Now I’m living the dream,” Kade added, a smile evident in his tone. “If you possibly have any chance at something like this—something I never thought I deserved—then don’t be an idiot and let that thick skull get inyour way.”
They were nearing the building when the guy stopped to face him. “In the military, the training starves our hearts and nourishes our brains over and over, until we’re hardened both here and here.” He tapped at his chest and head. “When we return home, we have to remember to reverse some of that in order to return to a more balanced self. And since you work with dogs, you know how imperative balance is to gain their trust.”
Holden wasn’t sure what had happened to the guy in the past, but his eyes told him he’d been through several layers of hell and survived, so he didn’t take his advice lightly.
He just didn’t feel it applied to him.
Still, he nodded, feeling like he was supposed to respond. Besides, the man was right about the importance of balance for anyone dealing with dogs. Holden’s balance was fine, though. No way would he even think of volunteering to work with dogs if it wasn’t.
He shifted his gaze to Sinjin to find his buddy regarding him closely.
“You good?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “Dogs can see through bullshit, so yeah. I’m good. Wouldn’t volunteer otherwise.”
“They can also help us find balance,” Kade said. “So, even if you think you’re good and you aren’t, they will help.”
“Roger that,” he said.
Kade nodded.
Before they reached the back door of the shelter, it swung open, and a white-faced Tracy rushed out.
