bottle of beer to him. “My next project is to build a trophy room just inside this kennel so people who are visiting can’t miss it.”
There was a big wooden desk on the front wall and a tall four-drawer metal filing cabinet. Two comfortable-looking recliners were grouped in front of a flat-screen TV. A paneled screen made of rice paper and a black wooden frame divided the room, hiding the area beyond, but Nick could see the foot of an antique iron bed.
“Does someone live in here?” he asked.
“I do.” She indicated one of the recliners and sat on the other. “What do you think about Harley?”
“He was a lot different than the rest.”
Jamie’s expression was serious. “Harley hasn’t been an easy case.”
“He seems to be well trained.”
“Oh, he’s amazing…intelligent and quick to learn. But he just hasn’t responded well to us and his surroundings.” Her eyes grew sad. “I think his heart was broken when his master didn’t come home.”
“That makes him unadoptable?”
“He’s been waiting for the right person…and I think he chose you.” She paused. “I’ll be honest. I’m a little hesitant about putting you two together. You’re not all in on this whole K9 buddy idea, and Harley needs more than you have to give.”
Nick was a little insulted by her assumption that he couldn’t take care of a dog. Sure, he had been thinking the same thing in the beginning, but now that he had gotten used to the idea, he was willing to give it a try. “Contrary to what Bobbi may have told you, I’m very responsible.”
“I don’t doubt that. You wouldn’t be successful in your career if you weren’t. But I don’t mean food and water. German shepherds can be one-person dogs. If something happens to that person, they might never be able to recover. I’ve heard of many cases of dogs dying of a broken heart.”
Nick considered that. On some level he understood. When he’d caught his ex-wife cheating on him, it had destroyed his faith in women and his desire to ever get involved in a long-term relationship again.
“But he’s never reacted like he did with you today,” Jamie continued. “I would love for Harley to be able to move on and accept another master. You two could be really good for each other.”
“Are you implying that I’m damaged too?” Nick asked lightly, making it sound like a joke when it was actually a sincere question.
She met his gaze steadily. “Aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little,” Nick admitted reluctantly. Her perceptiveness was disconcerting.
“Don’t get all weird about it,” she admonished. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s how we cope with the tragedies of life.”
Nick studied her through narrowed eyes. “You too?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, me too. I know what it feels like to lose the love of my life. But I like Harley. He has the potential to be a great dog. I had just about given up hope that he’d be able to accept a new master. Do you think you can handle that?”
In truth, Nick wasn’t sure. But he never backed down from a challenge. And he had felt an immediate connection with the dog. Plus, it practically guaranteed that he would get to spend more time with his frustrating, strangely exciting trainer. “I’d like to give it a try.”
Jamie smiled. “Well, then, it’s Harley for you.”
“Now what?”
“Are you set up at home for him?”
“Set up? Like what?”
“A dry, clean, warm place for him to sleep at night. A place for his bowls, large ones so he can’t tip them over. Dogs like routine, so you need to feed him at approximately the same time every day, make sure his water is always fresh, and walk him regularly. Shepherds shed a lot and can smell a little doggy, so you’ll have to figure out how to bathe him at home or find one of those dog-wash places. You also should look for a dog park where you can work on socializing him. We did some, and he did fine, but he’ll be in a lot of stressful
There was a big wooden desk on the front wall and a tall four-drawer metal filing cabinet. Two comfortable-looking recliners were grouped in front of a flat-screen TV. A paneled screen made of rice paper and a black wooden frame divided the room, hiding the area beyond, but Nick could see the foot of an antique iron bed.
“Does someone live in here?” he asked.
“I do.” She indicated one of the recliners and sat on the other. “What do you think about Harley?”
“He was a lot different than the rest.”
Jamie’s expression was serious. “Harley hasn’t been an easy case.”
“He seems to be well trained.”
“Oh, he’s amazing…intelligent and quick to learn. But he just hasn’t responded well to us and his surroundings.” Her eyes grew sad. “I think his heart was broken when his master didn’t come home.”
“That makes him unadoptable?”
“He’s been waiting for the right person…and I think he chose you.” She paused. “I’ll be honest. I’m a little hesitant about putting you two together. You’re not all in on this whole K9 buddy idea, and Harley needs more than you have to give.”
Nick was a little insulted by her assumption that he couldn’t take care of a dog. Sure, he had been thinking the same thing in the beginning, but now that he had gotten used to the idea, he was willing to give it a try. “Contrary to what Bobbi may have told you, I’m very responsible.”
“I don’t doubt that. You wouldn’t be successful in your career if you weren’t. But I don’t mean food and water. German shepherds can be one-person dogs. If something happens to that person, they might never be able to recover. I’ve heard of many cases of dogs dying of a broken heart.”
Nick considered that. On some level he understood. When he’d caught his ex-wife cheating on him, it had destroyed his faith in women and his desire to ever get involved in a long-term relationship again.
“But he’s never reacted like he did with you today,” Jamie continued. “I would love for Harley to be able to move on and accept another master. You two could be really good for each other.”
“Are you implying that I’m damaged too?” Nick asked lightly, making it sound like a joke when it was actually a sincere question.
She met his gaze steadily. “Aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little,” Nick admitted reluctantly. Her perceptiveness was disconcerting.
“Don’t get all weird about it,” she admonished. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s how we cope with the tragedies of life.”
Nick studied her through narrowed eyes. “You too?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, me too. I know what it feels like to lose the love of my life. But I like Harley. He has the potential to be a great dog. I had just about given up hope that he’d be able to accept a new master. Do you think you can handle that?”
In truth, Nick wasn’t sure. But he never backed down from a challenge. And he had felt an immediate connection with the dog. Plus, it practically guaranteed that he would get to spend more time with his frustrating, strangely exciting trainer. “I’d like to give it a try.”
Jamie smiled. “Well, then, it’s Harley for you.”
“Now what?”
“Are you set up at home for him?”
“Set up? Like what?”
“A dry, clean, warm place for him to sleep at night. A place for his bowls, large ones so he can’t tip them over. Dogs like routine, so you need to feed him at approximately the same time every day, make sure his water is always fresh, and walk him regularly. Shepherds shed a lot and can smell a little doggy, so you’ll have to figure out how to bathe him at home or find one of those dog-wash places. You also should look for a dog park where you can work on socializing him. We did some, and he did fine, but he’ll be in a lot of stressful
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