“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to see how you guys do that.” Clare smiled at a pit bull who warily watched her from one eye; the other eye had a large scar straight through it and was clearly blind.

“Definitely. Although, admittedly, I’m not an expert, and we can’t really afford to hire an expert, either, but we do have a volunteer who comes in a few times a week and does the best work with them I’ve ever seen.” Kiera led Clare around the rest of the pens, winding back to the exit that returned them to the first hallway.

Clare followed her, listening and absorbing everything she was experiencing. She was eager to start, feeling like she was already at home. Something about the environment felt familiar, like she belonged.

Something she hadn’t felt in as long as she could remember.

Traveling back the length of the hallway toward the front, Clare got a better view of the pictures posted on the wall. As she passed, she realized one was familiar and she paused to look closer.

“I know this dog.” Clare snapped her fingers as if the motion would pull the memory to the surface.

Kiera peeked over her shoulder to see which picture she was considering.

“That’s Ace, one of our biggest success stories. He was a bait dog, wildly abused. One of the worst cases we’ve ever had—the ring he came from was brutal. Poor thing was scared of his own shadow when we got him, but he’s like a totally different dog now. Sadly, he is the only dog that survived that particular fight ring.” There was a mixture of pride and sadness in Kiera’s expression. Clare frowned at the idea that the sweet dog she knew had come from such poor conditions.

“Ace, yeah—I met him, such a sweet dog.” Clare recognized the dog as belonging to Rory, and was touched that he had adopted a rescue from such a rough background. It seemed there was even more sensitivity to him than she had originally known.

“You have? Well, you must have met the volunteer I was telling you about then, the guy who helps with the rehabilitations? Rory?” Kiera ambled back to the front lobby.

“Rory Kavanagh?” Clare’s jaw dropped.

“He’s the best. Takes on the most damaged dogs we have and doesn’t quit until they’re adoptable. He’s had more success than any of us—I don’t know how he does it. Even on cases where I want to throw in the towel, he continues until the dog trusts him and softens up. He’s kind of a big, scary-looking man himself, sort of medieval-meets-caveman, which makes sense with his background. He used to be an amazing fighter, a legend in this town. Somehow, under all that hulk, there’s a big ol’ heart that the dogs recognize.” Kiera beamed, chatting away without realizing that Clare was intently soaking up every word.

“Yeah, I’ve met him,” Clare said, trying to sound nonchalant and not look like she was picturing his naked body pressed on top of her, as it had been not too long ago.

Because she was definitely picturing that.

She couldn’t believe what a small place Woodlawn was; there was nowhere she could go that Rory hadn’t been. Honestly, she didn’t mind, because everything Kiera was telling her only made her heart pound louder in her chest. Every time she thought she had Rory figured out, she found out something new about him that completely surprised her.

Damn it! What am I doing? I don’t want to be in a relationship. I should forget about it—just let it be a one-night stand. I don’t want to date Rory Kavanagh. I don’t want to date Rory Kavanagh.

But as Kiera continued showing her pictures and telling her the history of the rescues, and of Rory’s involvement there, Clare kept smiling as she thought of him. She really liked this side of Rory—in fact, she liked every side of Rory. Last night hadn’t been a one-time thing for her. She bit her lip at the thought, hoping he might feel the same way.

Shit, I’m in trouble.

—

“Grab some lunch and then we’ll start again,” Rory told Kane the following day as they both exited the ring. Ace joined them, meandering toward the front counter at Legends.

“Sounds good.” Kane pointed at his brother. “You better be here when I get back.”

Rory stopped at the counter, leaning against it as Ace sat by his feet. “Man, relax. I promised you yesterday that I would be here twice a day this whole week, and I was on time this morning, wasn’t I?”

Kane just grunted in response.

“I’ll watch him.” Casey smiled from where she stood behind the counter, working on the computer.

“See?” said Rory. “I’ve got my own babysitter.”

“Where are you going to get lunch?” Casey asked Kane. “I’m hungry.”

“I don’t know. Deli down the street?”

“Can you grab me a turkey on rye?” she asked.

“That sounds good—make it two. And grab Ace a chicken sandwich,” Rory chimed in, pulling his wallet out and handing a few bills to his brother.

“Anyone else want in on Kane’s Human and Canine Catering services?” Kane asked, sarcastically, before adding, “I can’t believe I’m feeding your damn dog.”

“Oh, yeah—Clare’s going to be here any minute, and I know she must be hungry after the workout we had this morning, so grab her something, too—that way, she can eat with me,” Casey told him.

“Who’s Clare?” Kane asked.

“You remember, the blonde that Rory’s been drooling all over? She’s my friend.”

“I don’t drool over anyone.” Rory scoffed at the implication.

“Casey, is he blushing right now?”

They both peered at him, intentionally being dramatic.

“Well, dear me, Kane, I do believe he is! Could it be that Rory fancies a lady?” Casey exaggerated a long southern drawl, causing both of the men to roll their eyes. Kane chortled as he left Rory staring daggers at Casey.

“Lay off, Casey. Nothing’s going on. Plus, you didn’t even want me going after her, anyway. I’m a bad influence, remember?” Rory dropped both elbows onto the counter and shifted his weight forward onto them, hoping lying would ease the pressure he was feeling.

“Well, if you’re not going to go for it, maybe I will. I like blondes,” Kane teased him as Casey shot him a disapproving glare.

“I swear, Kane, if you so much as breathe in her direction, I will knock you out so hard you won’t wake up.” Rory was suddenly seething, his stance shifting from relaxed to high alert.

“Well, that’s a normal reaction,” Kane said sarcastically.

Casey cut in. “Both of you boys, stop it. Kane, leave him alone.”

“Listen to her if you know what’s good for you,” Rory threatened, his entire body tense and angry. Kane just shrugged and left to go get their sandwiches.

“Anyways,” Casey said exaggeratedly, turning back to Rory and grinning mischievously, “so is there something between you and Clare? Because if there is, that’s fine as long as you’re good to her. She deserves the best, Rory. Be the best or nothing.”

“Maybe there is something going on, maybe there isn’t. Either way, it’s none of your business.” Rory felt frustrated at everything happening inside of him that he couldn’t understand.

He hadn’t seen Clare since yesterday morning, and he was dying to wrap himself around her again—which drove him even more crazy, because that was new territory for him. He hadn’t done a relationship since college, and even that one had been immature and not very serious.

“What’s none of her business?” a melodic voice cut in from behind him.

Rory spun around to stare into Clare’s deep green eyes as she smiled at him. He licked his lips for a second as he took in her tight sports tank and tiny shorts, perfectly accentuating her petite yet curvy figure. When his eyes reached hers again after raking over her body, he noticed a sparkle in them, as if she had a secret. Her lips twitched, as if she was trying not to laugh.

They did have a secret, and the secret was that knowing what was under those clothes made it even harder to keep his hands to himself.