Woof at the Door Read Online Free PDF Page A

He shot me a smile that could probably charm the pants off a nun. If nuns wore pants.
    I returned it with an indifferent nod. “Sergeant Duncan, I didn’t expect to see you
     today.”
    “It’s Kai, remember? I was on my way to grab something to eat. And you . . . caught
     my eye.”
    He didn’t skim his gaze over me the way I had done to him the day before, but I got
     the feeling he wanted to. Instead, his eyes stayed locked on mine. It made me jumpy.
    “I won’t keep you.” Turning away, I walked back toward the main doors. What was it
     about this guy that raised my hackles? Wasn’t I supposed to be finding out what the
     police knew?
    He caught up to me. “How’s the dog?”
    “Traumatized.”
    He maneuvered around me to hold open the door. The heat, even though it was still
     early, was a slap in the face. “It’s still violent?”
    “
He
still needs some time.” I shot Kai a glare. “Jax witnessed the murder of someone
     he loved and was unable to do anything to prevent it. How would that make you feel?”
    “How do you know that he witnessed the murder?”
    That stopped me. “What?”
    “You said he saw what happened and couldn’t stop it.”
    I tried not to look as flustered as I suddenly felt. This was why I didn’t want to
     talk to him. He was looking at me a little too intently. “It’s obvious.” I shrugged.
     “You’ve never had a dog, have you?”
    “Not since I was a kid.”
    I nodded, as if that explained everything, and turned to walk away.
    “Wait, Miss Wilde. Grace.” He followed me down the front steps. “I keep offending
     you when I don’t mean to. Let me make it up to you. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”
     He motioned to the deli down the street.
    “It’s ninety degrees out, and you want to buy me coffee?” I kept walking toward my
     vintage skyline-blue Suburban. Like it was home base and I would be safe once I reached
     it. I knew I should say yes. If only to pick his brain and find out what was happening
     with the case. But there was something about him that sounded the alarm bells. Was
     I really just being pissy, as Emma had alleged, because he was attractive?
    “An iced tea, then. Come on. I’ll prove to you I’m not a jerk.”
    After lengthy consideration, I sighed. “Okay.”
    As we walked across the busy street, pausing in the middle to wait for a garbage truck
     to rumble by, I tried to think of a good excuse to ask questions about the case. I’d
     never had the social skills of my sister, but I had watched her in action. Flattery.
     Emma had used it to glean information; would it work on an investigator?
    He held the door for me again as we entered the deli. The enticing aroma of fresh-baked
     butter biscuits made my mouth water.
    The young man at the counter smiled as we walked in. “Hey, Kai, you want the usual?”
    “Yeah. And a large iced tea for the lady.” He glanced at me. “You want anything else?
     My treat.”
    My stomach grumbled and I ordered cheese grits and a biscuit with honey.
    “Have a seat and it’ll be right out.”
    We sat at a corner booth. As we slid in, my knees brushed his. I automatically scooted
     back on the bench, ignoring my reaction to the contact. The flush I felt creeping
     up my neck was because of the summer heat, not the man sitting across from me. Yeah,
     sure it was.
    When I looked up, Kai flashed that killer smile and then began scanning my face, like
     a scientist studying a new specimen. I refused to let the scrutiny ruffle me and looked
     directly into his clear, glass-green eyes.
    We sat for a moment, locked in a stare-down I was sure I would win. Though my heart
     had started to beat a little faster as I took in just how handsome he was.
    Finally, Kai settled against the back of the booth and spoke casually. “Jake says
     you’re an animal trainer, but you must be a veterinarian, as well, or you wouldn’t
     be able to quarantine the dog.”
    I forced myself to relax a little. As long as he