Force of Attraction (27 page)

When the owner was once again outside the fence, Cole opened the gate and let go of Hugo's collar.
“
Hugo,
wache! Wache!”

Hugo nimbly jumped inside and shot straight toward the dog and child.

The little girl screamed to see another, bigger dog racing toward her. But Hugo wasn't targeting her.

He slowed at the last minute, ears forward, his stance strained as he targeted the border collie.

The collie had been intent upon the child and he didn't notice Hugo until the bigger dog was right up on him. Startled, he backed up.

All bulky black coiled muscles and piercing gaze, Hugo moved into the space between the collie and child and swung around, putting his body between them. His head was low and his stance unequivocal. It said:
Back off before I bite your ass.

The border collie seemed confused by the sudden change in dynamic. Uncertain if he wanted this particular fight, the dog backed up a few more steps but his ears stayed flat and his eyes remained round with excitement.

“Hugo.
Pass auf
.” Satisfied that Hugo would only guard and not attack, Cole motioned to Scott to go ahead.

Scott swung a leg over the fencing nearest the camper. The child looked toward him and he motioned to her with a hand. “Hi, there, Boo Bear. My name's Sam.”

The child looked at him and then at the dogs, her eyes so round with fright it seemed she would never blink again.

Scott edged closer, not wanting to draw the attention of either dog. In a situation this tense, even a handler could get bit by his partner if he or she made a mistake.

Scott held out his hand and said softly, “Come to me, sweetheart. Slowly, like you're sneaking away. That's a girl. Come on.”

She moved one foot and then the other in great exaggeration of each step. When she got close, Scott grabbed a handful of her shirt and hauled her up into his arms and put her down on the other side of the fence before climbing back over.

Lorene was there to scoop her up. “Oh, Boo Bear, are you all right?”

Her lower lip trembled as she shook her head. “I wet my pants.”

“That's okay, sweetheart. Pants can be washed.” Scott ruffled her hair and turned to watch Cole handle Hugo.

Cole waited for Scott to nod and then opened the gate. “Hugo.
Hier!
”

Hugo didn't hesitate. He shot past the border collie like a black comet, out of the gate before the other dog had a chance to do more than yelp his surprise.

“Gute
Hugo
! Gute Hund. So est brav.”
Cole tossed him a bell ball, which he happily chased after.

The crowd, having witnessed his furiousness, applauded but backed out of his path.

“I never saw anyone handle a dog like that.” The owner was staring at Cole in wonder. “I don't know what happened with Bebe. He loves children.”

“You just better thank your lucky stars he didn't bite my granddaughter.” Lorene held the child protectively. “Keep your damn animals away from the public until you learn to control them. My little granddaughter could have been mauled.”

“Oh no. But he would never, ever harm…” The woman's voice trailed off as two friends or relatives herded her away. “I just can't believe it. How could he have behaved that way?”

Lorene snorted her opinion. “They should never let novices attend these big events. Too many people and too much noise. Dogs get all nervous. If the handler does, too, it torques up the animals even more. That gal doesn't know the first thing about how to train a dog. But you sure do.” Lorene smiled at Cole.

Cole smiled back. “Thank you.”

Lorene looked up at Scott. “Treat her right. She's a keeper.”

Scott looked at Cole. “I already knew that.”

Cole looked up to see Leila come running up to them.

“Well, hi, Leila. Where did you come from?”

“Mama sent me back with our bodyguard.” Cole looked up to see the Mountain standing a few feet away. “Mama said to ask you if you like jazz.”

“Yes, I guess. Some of it.”

“Not that esoteric sh—stuff. Mama likes smooth jazz, rhythm and blues, that kind of thing. She said if you do, there's a birthday party for Shujaa at our house tonight. So, tenish. Bring Hugo.” Leila's gaze shifted to Scott. “She says you can bring him, too.”

With that she turned and hurried away in the direction she'd come, the Mountain following.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Wuss up?” Eye-C studied Cole and Scott out of distrustful deep green eyes tucked under a heavy brow framed by long thick dreads. Everything about him was broad. His face, his nose, his shoulders, even his waistline. It was a linebacker's physique except for his height. Shajuanna towered over him in six-inch platform sandals.

She folded her arms and leaned them on his shoulder, hip cocked, as she greeted them. “You're late.”

Cole glanced at her watch. “Leila said tenish.”

“I'm teasing. You're way too serious. Collier, this is Noel, Leila's Agility teacher, and her friend Sam. And this.” She kissed his dreads. “This is my husband, also known as Eye-C. He's just home from a tour.”

“What's up?” Scott, expression cool, put out his fist.

After a second's hesitation, Eye-C gave him a fist bump. “It's cool.” He looked at his wife. “I'm home. Need to lay it down. Now.”

Shajuanna gave her husband a look that didn't need interpretation. “You hit the shower then I'll hit the sheets.”

He gave her a look that took advantage of the fact that her towering height put her bosom nearly at his eye level then reached out and snagged open her neckline and leaned to look in.

Shajuanna smiled. “You good to go?”

“There's no question.” He released her top and walked away.

Chuckling to herself, Shajuanna hugged Cole. Next she bent down to greet Hugo. “And this ebony sugarplum I know is Hugo.” She waited until the Bouvier nudged her hand before she petted him.

After a moment she looked at the chocolate Lab. “Now who's this?”

“Izzy.” Scott gave Izzy permission to approach Shajuanna.

Shajuanna smiled and patted her. “Just what I need under my roof, another beautiful bitch.” Her laughter carried through the entry.

“Come here, boyfriend.” She gave Scott a full-bodied hug that Cole noticed included a pat on his butt. She winked at Cole. “See you guys later. My man's waiting. Grab a drink and then tell Isaac I said show you the kennels.”

It turned out Isaac was the man-mountain of a bodyguard. He was still dressed in a suit, as if it were armor. He led them into the main part of the house, a large family room, casually but expensively decorated with leather furnishings and granite flooring. Shajuanna had come a long way from sharing a bedroom with her brother.

“Get your drinks and something to eat first.” For a man so large his voice was curiously soft. “No food or drinks allowed in the kennel. I'll be back in fifteen.”

Scott and Cole looked around, clocking the people, the mood, and the numbers.

The party was much more low-key than either of them had expected. The music was jazzy, Brazilian in tone. Less than thirty people were in attendance. However, every other person had a dog on a leash, everything from toys held protectively under the arm to a Neapolitan mastiff spread out like a hundred-and-fifty-pound throw in the far corner.

Scott leaned in toward Cole. “Let's hope he had a good meal recently.”

Cole nodded and patted Hugo, who had just discovered the worthy rival for his position as alpha male in the room. “Hugo.
Pfui.
”

Hugo glanced up at her for confirmation.
“Lass da sein.”
In other words, forget about it.

He woofed under his breath and sat down, deliberately glancing away.

“Why do you talk to Hugo in German?” Leila had appeared before them, dressed in curly poodle ears on a bandeau. She had two more in her hands and offered them.

Cole took a pair.

Scott looked at them as if they might bite. “No.”

“I speak to Hugo in German because it's the international language for dog training.” A white lie but not totally untrue. It was the dominant language for
law-enforcement
dog training.

Leila looked very serious, as usual. “Can you teach it to me?”

“When you've learned all the commands for Agility in English we'll see.” Uncomfortable with a promise she knew she'd never be around to keep, she changed the subject. “Where's the birthday boy?”

“He's with Mama. It's a surprise party. He's got a cake and everything.” Leila pointed to a table in the breakfast area. “Want to see?”

Scott gazed longingly at the food spread out nearby. “You girls go see. Izzy and I are thirsty. You want a drink?”

Cole nodded. “Something light.”

“Your ears?” Leila pointed.

Cole slipped on her polka dot Dalmatian doggy ears. “How do I look?”

“Bitchy.” Leila's giggle made her sound like the nine-year-old she was.

After a turn about the Puppy Table, Leila went to look for her mother. Cole came back to show Scott her plate. “Look what I found.”

“Sweet.” Scott grabbed the biggest of the two cupcakes from her plate.

“No, no!” Cole grabbed his wrist. “That's for Izzy. It's a Pupcake.”

Scott stared suspiciously at the confection in his hand then sniffed it. “It smells like peanut butter and cinnamon.”

“With real cream cheese frosting. I took that off. But Hugo loved the cake part. You should see what they have for the dogs. Sweet potato pretzels. Dog bone cookies. Puppy Chow mix. There's even a three-tier cake. It's a doggy's wet dream.”

To confirm that, Hugo barked. Unfortunately his deep woof rattled the composure of every lapdog within hearing and drew the frowns of the other guests.

“Oops. I suppose we should head outside. I heard there's pit beef barbecue on the patio. For us humans.”

“That sounds more like it.” Scott grinned and lowered his Pupcake for Izzy to nibble on.

After consuming a plate of melt-in-your-mouth BBQ, they followed Isaac to the kennel. It was designed with a façade that matched the house. Inside the temperature-controlled space, large open crates provided individual space for a dozen Argentinean mastiffs.

The presence of Hugo and Izzy on their home turf set off a barking and growling contest. That didn't prevent Scott from walking Izzy down the line of crates.

Isaac's eyes narrowed. “Why's she sniffing like that?”

“Oh, Izzy has this thing about new scents. Until she's sorted out which scent belongs to which dog she won't be happy.” Cole hoped that explanation put Isaac off the fact that Izzy was meticulously sniffing for contraband.

At the end of the kennel, Izzy turned and came back, walking quickly with nose to the ground but never pausing long.

Scott nodded when they were done. “Nice accommodations. What's in that area?” He nodded toward a short unlit hallway.

“The infirmary, for when the vet comes.”

“Can I see?”

Isaac shrugged.

Scott came back quickly, his expression neutral. “Impressive.”

Cole smiled. Nothing here to implicate the Colliers in puppy drug smuggling.

As they walked back toward the house, Scott's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He looked at the text and paused, his mouth tightening.

Cole, alert to his every shade of mood, looked back. “What?”

Scott looked up. “I got to take this. Can you get home if I'm not back in an hour?”

Cole met his gaze but he'd locked her out. “Okay.” She laid a hand on his arm, and squeezed. “I need to hear from you in an hour, either way.”

He nodded and left, taking Izzy with him.

*   *   *

Shajuanna and Eye-C reappeared five minutes later, with the birthday boy in tow. Shujaa wore Snoop Dogg fake braids and sunglasses. After the birthday song, the Birthday Dog was allowed to take a huge bite out of his specially prepared cake.

Afterward, Eye-C sat down at the piano in the living room and began playing.

Cole smiled as Shajuanna came over to stand by her. “He's good.”

“Of course he's good. He minored in music but jazz won't pay the bills, not like hip-hop. You learn to play what the audience is buying. Who does his style remind you of?”

Cole thought about it. “Maxwell, and some D'Angelo, definitely. And Marvin Gaye.”

Shajuanna leaned back with an arch expression. “Listen to you, sounding all hip and shit.” She glanced around. “What happened to Boyfriend?”

“He remembered he had to be somewhere.”

Shajuanna swung a sharp glance her way. “He left you?”

“He said he'd be back in an hour.”

“Uh-huh.”

Cole turned away from her hostess's long appraising look. “It was a much cozier party than I expected.”

“Eye-C and I agreed that once the girls became aware of things, he couldn't bring Eye-C's gangsta attitude under this roof. He leaves it at the door. I don't question what happens when he's not here. It's about respect.”

Cole nodded, biting into the last of the barbecue on her plate. “The food is outrageous.”

Shajuanna stole a sliver off Cole's plate and popped it in her mouth. “Growing up in Baltimore, I always wanted to own a restaurant. That way I thought I could be certain everyone in the neighborhood had enough to eat. Those that could would pay. Those that couldn't would get a voucher for one free meal a day. My brother told me it was a crazy idea. He was going to be a professional baller and move us out of poverty.” She smiled. “This is his barbecue.”

“Really? I'm impressed.”

Shajuanna grinned. “Funny story. He took home economics in high school just to be in a classroom full of girls. Turns out, he was better at making yeast rolls than baskets. He went on to culinary school and now owns the restaurant I always wanted.”