by Kate James
“Yes, I believe we could make arrangements to take Kayla out with us.”
“Great. Let me know when we can do it.”
* * *
CAL WAS HAPPY to be getting back to work, even though it meant modified duties for the short-term. He was using the cane occasionally, but the pain was more bearable and a mere echo of what it had been. It felt good to walk into the division.
“Hey, Tracker! Nice to have you back.” Rick Vasquez greeted him with a smile and a firm handshake. He rubbed Scout’s head. “You had a nice holiday, I trust?”
“If only,” Cal responded.
“Doesn’t look like you’ll be chasing down bad guys for a while,” he said, indicating Cal’s limp as they walked along.
“Unfortunately not. It’s better than sitting at home, but I’ve never considered desk duty one of my favorite things to do.”
Rick laughed. “Who has? But the rest of us will be happy. We’ll be able to dump all our paperwork on you.”
Cal chuckled. “Why am I absolutely certain that you’re not joking?”
Cal spent some time with the captain, took Scout out into the exercise yard, worked on agility training and called it a day at the end of his shift, something that had rarely happened in the past.
Still, by the time he got home, he was exhausted. Being off for a couple of weeks and dealing with his injury had depleted his strength and endurance. He’d have to get back to the gym and start running on the beach again as soon as he could, he thought glumly.
His phone rang shortly after he got home. It was Jessica. She’d arranged a visit with Kayla for him and Scout. The prospect of seeing the little girl restored his mood. And thinking of seeing Jessica again brightened it even more.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CAL AND SCOUT waited on a bench in Balboa Park, not far from the group home Kayla was living in. Scout wore his official police collar and Cal had attached the dog’s police badge, as well. They were generally worn only for ceremonial purposes, but Cal could swear that Scout sat up straighter, held his head higher, whenever the badge was fastened to his collar. Cal remembered he used to do much the same when he’d first earned his badge as a rookie. He ruffled Scout’s fur and then his hand stilled.
Jessica was walking toward him, Kayla’s hand in hers.
The tall, lithe blonde with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, the ends dancing on the wind, smiling. The girl, in contrast, was tiny and fragile especially since she’d lost weight. Her long dark hair was loose and curling around her shoulders. The doc wore jeans and a T-shirt; the little girl a simple pink romper.
As Cal watched the woman and child walking toward him, hand in hand, emotion clogged his throat. He coughed brusquely, blinked a few times and rose from the bench.
He knew the instant Kayla noticed him. “Cal!” she cried. Tugging her hand free, she ran toward him. He grinned and bent down awkwardly to hug her as she threw herself in his arms. Wanting to join in the excitement, Scout scampered around them. Kayla stumbled back, and Cal grabbed her hand to steady her.
“Hey, Doc,” he greeted Jessica as she joined them. He gave Kayla’s hand an encouraging squeeze before letting go, and instructed Scout to stay in his sitting position. “Kayla, do you remember my partner, Scout?”
The girl clasped her hands behind her back, swayed from side to side and took a hesitant step toward the dog. “He got me out of the hole Mommy and I were in?” she asked, looking up at Cal.
“Yes. He did.”
“He’s your doggy?”
“He’s more than my dog. He works with me. He’s a police officer, too.”
Kayla giggled. “Dogs can’t be police!”
“They sure can!” Despite the pain that seared his leg, he squatted down and showed her Scout’s badge. “See. He has his own police badge and everything.”
She touched the badge, but pulled her hand back quickly when Scout tried to sniff it.
“It’s okay, Kayla. He won’t hurt you. I promise,” he added. When she still looked hesitant, Cal took her hand again, raised their joined hands and let Scout sniff hers. She chortled when Scout’s cool, wet nose touched her. Obviously more comfortable, she reached out for his badge and tried to read it.
“San Diego...” She glanced up at Cal. “What does the rest say?”
Cal read the words to Kayla. “San Diego Police Department. And down here...” He pointed to the metal portion below the crest. “It says PSD Scout.”
She traced the letters with a forefinger. “What does PSD mean?”
“It’s short for ‘police service dog.’”
Nodding, she stroked Scout’s head. “He really is the police?”
“Yes. Scout, say hello to Kayla.”
Scout gave a short, happy bark, sat back on his haunches and extended a paw.
Laughing, Kayla shook the offered paw. “Can I play with him?” she asked.
“Sure.” Cal smiled at Jessica and pulled the Kong out of his pouch. Scout was immediately alert, but on Cal’s command held back. “Grab it by the rope. That’s good. Now throw it for him to fetch.”
Her first attempt had the Kong landing only a couple feet away. Scout pounced on it, brought it back, dropped it at her feet and sat down with an expectant look on his face.
“That was great.” Cal handed her the Kong. “Try it again and see if you can throw it a little farther.”
“’Kay,” she said. This time the Kong went flying about ten feet. Scout immediately whizzed after it.
Kayla bounced and clapped excitedly.
Cal and Jessica exchanged a warm look over her head.
“Can I do it again?” she asked when Scout had deposited the toy near the toes of her sneakers.
“Go ahead. As many times as you like.”
Cal and Jessica sat on a bench, and watched as Kayla got more and more proficient at throwing the toy. Her delight at having Scout chase and retrieve it didn’t diminish with the number of times they played their game.
“You’re good with her. Really good,” Jessica observed.
“Thank you.” He took her hand briefly in his. It meant a lot to him that she thought so, especially after everything that had happened with Haley. “Scout likes kids. Most of the police dogs do some community work. Pitbull, for instance, works with inner-city youth, counseling them about the dangers of drug use.”
Jessica turned to him, surprise evident on her face. “The San Diego Police Department uses pit bulls as police dogs?”
Cal threw his head back and laughed. “Sorry. I can see how that would be confusing. Pitbull is Sergeant Rick Vasquez’s alias. He and his narcotics canine partner, Sniff, a yellow Labrador retriever, work with the kids.”
“Oh, I get it. We see a lot of young victims of drug-related crimes in the emergency room. It’s tragic. Not all of them make it. That’s an important job, uh, Pitbull has.”
“He does it on the side, as a volunteer.” Cal thought about Rick’s childhood in the midst of the drug cartels in Mexico, and knew exactly why Rick did the volunteer work. “He cares about the kids. Their official job, his and Sniff’s, is to patrol the San Ysidro border between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. Their mission is to thwart the cartel-related drug trafficking that takes place across that section of the border.”
Jessica knew enough about drug smuggling to understand how dangerous the San Ysidro border was. She’d treated too many young people who were the victims of shootings, knife fights or drug overdoses. “You really do have the most dangerous jobs in policing, don’t you?”
Cal watched Kayla fling the Kong again. He shrugged. “It’s what we do. The risk is part of the job. We try to be careful, but it’s there.”
When it became obvious that the child had tired herself out, Jessica called her. Kayla ran back to
them, Scout pacing himself to stay at her side. Out of breath and with a huge smile on her face, she rested her hands on Cal’s knees and gazed up at him. “Can we do that again sometime? Please?”
Cal forced himself not to show the pain the simple act of her leaning on his leg caused. “Sure.”
Jessica rose and took Kayla’s hand. “We’ll let Cal get back to what he needs to do, okay?”
“Okay, but I have to say bye to Scout.” Kayla threw her small arms around Scout and hugged him tight.
When Cal stood, she threw her arms around his legs, too. Cal winced, and Jessica threw him an apologetic look, obviously appreciating his discomfort.
“Thanks, Cal,” she said as Jessica took her hand. “That was fun!”
“Thank you,” Jessica mouthed over her shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up as she took Kayla back to the home.
* * *
CAL PHONED JESSICA the day after their visit with Kayla to tell her he’d retained a lawyer to pursue the adoption procedure.
He said he’d made his mind up after spending time with Kayla again. Cal had raised the possibility a number of times, but it was a huge commitment and Jessica had to admit that on some level she hadn’t believed he’d follow through. But there was no denying it now. He wanted to adopt Kayla.
Yes, he was wonderful with children. She’d seen it with Kayla and she’d seen it with the young girl on the beach. But for a single man in his prime, with no significant relationship, to adopt a young child? Had he truly considered the significance of that responsibility? What it would do to his personal life? And how would he manage it with the long and unpredictable hours associated with his job?
He must have reflected on all of that, she told herself. It would’ve been foolish not to, and Cal was not a foolish man. But he was willing to take on such a life-changing obligation, which meant he was a very special man.
Caring about Kayla as much as she did, Jessica had discussed the process with Social Services. Since Cal was single, with a demanding job, it was a long shot at best.
The social worker had considered the appropriateness of the potential adoption from Kayla’s perspective. What it would mean for the little girl. Not having a mother figure, at least not until—or if—Cal had a serious relationship or got married. Having to rely on care providers other than Cal when he was at work. The social worker had also brought up the possibility that Cal might’ve been trying to replace Haley, but had satisfied herself that it didn’t seem to be the case. Even so, there were a slew of deterrents.
On the plus side, Cal was highly responsible and reliable. He could support the child financially. And the man and child had developed a strong bond. If love wasn’t already a factor on both sides, they were well on their way toward it.
And, to Jessica, that was the most important thing of all.
As she’d told the social worker assigned to Kayla’s case, if there was anything she could do to support Cal’s application, she would.
With all that thinking about Cal... Jessica decided she’d call and perhaps she’d ask him on a date! She’d see when their schedules would next allow it.
* * *
CAL HAD BEEN pleasantly surprised when Jessica invited him to get together. She’d suggested a number of possibilities. He’d opted to invite her over for a couple of reasons. He still tired easily, especially after a day at work, and he liked more and more seeing her in his space. In his home. After dinner, he’d brought her out to his back deck and watched her crouch down to play with Scout. Her laughter was light and spontaneous when the dog rose up and placed a front paw on each of her shoulders.
He found the laugh lines at the corners of her lips irresistible. He chuckled with her.
Had he ever been able to laugh so freely? Maybe before his divorce? Before his estrangement from his daughter?
He didn’t have an answer.
Cal was fighting his feelings for Jessica. He had been for a while now. It seemed to be a losing battle.
The air was warm despite the lateness of the hour, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of salt from the ocean, and a light floral aroma that must have been Jessica’s perfume. He heard the notes of a mournful blues song from a neighbor’s open window.
He tried to remind himself of what Anna had done. Her deceit and manipulation. And why he wasn’t prepared to have another relationship. He ticked off all the reasons he shouldn’t get involved with Jessica.
She laughed again, tossing back her head, when Scout licked her face.
None of his reasons mattered. The battle was lost.
“Jess,” he whispered.
She glanced over at him. He simply held out his hand, trusting she’d take it.
The corners of her mouth relaxed, and her eyes were questioning, but without a word she placed her hand in his.
He drew her to her feet, tempted to move closer to her. He wondered if she’d come to him. With the slightest pressure, he drew their joined hands toward him, hoping for the best, preparing for worst.
And she stepped forward.
Slowly, he raised their hands, kissed the back of hers, then released it, placing it on his chest. When she kept it there, he slid his arms loosely around her waist.
He felt something all-consuming, something that soared through him, when her arms wound around his neck and she closed the distance between them.
The need to kiss her was overwhelming. But there was some undefinable force within him that wanted to take it slow. They would never again have a first kiss. Her eyes were a luminous silver-gray in the moonlight. Glowing. Inviting. She was so tall her eyes were nearly at the level of his.
Her lips curved upward again, giving rise to those irresistible laugh lines.
He lowered his head and watched her eyes flutter closed. He brushed his lips across one eyelid. Then the other. He heard a soft moan. Saw her eyes open, surprise registered in their depths.
It made him smile. “You’re stunningly beautiful, Jessica,” he said so quietly that he didn’t know if he’d actually spoken the words out loud.
But the crinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes, and he knew she’d heard him.
His willpower to resist her was exhausted. He lowered his head again. She closed her eyes again, and her sigh feathered against his lips.
When they drew apart, he was breathless. He felt more spent than after a five-mile search-and-rescue exercise. And all he wanted to do was dive right in again.
Instead, he slid a hand down her arm, took her hand in his. “Walk with me.”
It wasn’t a question, but she nodded and he led her down the stairs to the soft sand beach.
Jessica paused to pull off her sandals so she could walk barefoot.
He felt he should do the same and slipped off his shoes. He took Jess’s sandals from her, left them with his shoes on the bottom step and linked his fingers with hers.
The moon had risen above the horizon but it was still low enough to cast its light in a gilded path across the iridescent black surface of the water. The sand was cool, coarse and faintly moist beneath their feet. He caught a whiff of her floral scent again, and inhaled.
Scout understood that this wasn’t training, exercise or play, and walked sedately beside them.
Cal tried to remember if he’d ever felt so attracted to a woman and yet at ease with her at the same time. Not to his recollection. He slowed and she turned to him. With the stars bright overhead, when his lips lowered to hers, he, too, closed his eyes and savored the moment.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, Cal rolled over in bed but resisted opening his eyes. He preferred to sleep with the blinds and at times even the patio door open, to allow the night sky and fresh ocean-scented air to drift into the room. He’d situated his bed so he could see the water. He had no worries about intru
ders. Not with Scout sleeping on his own bed by the door and Cal’s police-issue handgun in the locked compartment of his nightstand.
Having lived most of his life in Lincoln, he never tired of waking to the sun cresting the horizon and the soothing sounds of the waves rolling in. This morning he kept his eyes closed, wanting to preserve the images and sensations from the night before.
He was falling for the doc. He loved the feel of her in his arms, her hands in his or on his shoulders. Beautiful, yes, but it was the beauty inside that astounded him. She was smart, funny and had dedicated her life to helping people. Oh, yes, he was falling for her.
He gradually opened his eyes, and gazed through the doors at the surf pounding the sand with its early-morning ferocity.
Scout knew when Cal woke, and he scrabbled up to sit at the side of the bed, waiting for his morning run, followed by breakfast.
In the bright light of day, the contentment Cal had felt during the night faded. He sat up abruptly, dragged a hand over his hair and wondered what had gotten into him the night before. He’d kissed Jessica. She’d kissed him back.
But what now? He wasn’t relationship material. He didn’t trust in love and happily-ever-after. It wasn’t fair to get into a relationship with all the baggage he was dragging around.
Maybe he should avoid her altogether, if he couldn’t control his feelings. But that wasn’t right or fair, either. He couldn’t hide from things, or run away like Anna had.
He pulled on a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt. He scooped kibble into Scout’s dish for when they got back. Then he went into the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face and brushed his teeth.
He hoped a good, hard run would clear his head of all that foolishness about pursuing a relationship with Jessica.
Even if he had fallen for her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CAL AVOIDED JESSICA for a few days. He came up with excuse after excuse, but felt miserable about it. He missed her. He missed simply talking to her. When she left a message telling him how much his and Scout’s visits meant to Kayla, the difference they were making in her outlook and asking if they’d be available for another visit soon, he couldn’t ignore it.
