But he might admire the lace panties on her just a tad longer.
He watched her come closer, trying his best to tamp down his thoughts before his body gave him away.
Gorgeous.
And then he realized her usual sexy smile was replaced by a frown.
Uh-oh.
“Officer Madden? Anything wrong?”
Her expression softened and that unconquerable good-natured light shone in her bourbon-brown eyes. “It’s Sylvie, remember?”
Oh, I remember. They’d had this exchange a few times now. She’d started correcting him a few weeks ago. “Sylvie. So, what’s wrong?”
“Everything,” she said matter-of-factly. She glanced down at Chewie. “Actually, it’s my fu… fricking HOA. This stupid, obnoxious, dog-hating woman was just elected president and she immediately moved to change the laws to exclude dogs over thirty-five pounds in the townhomes.”
Anger lashed at Alex’s insides. “She can’t actually get away with that, can she? What about all the people with bigger dogs?”
“I am the people with bigger dogs.” She gritted her teeth and shook her head. She’s targeting me specifically. Everyone else has these little poodle-y things except for this one other dog who happens to fall just under thirty-five pounds. So Chewie’s the only dog affected. She hates him. Hates me.” Sylvie shrugged. “It’s not fair. I’ve lived there longer than her, back when it was all still working-class folks, you know? And then the neighborhood got ‘discovered’ and prices skyrocketed and now the whole feel of the place has changed. I don’t belong anymore.” She scoffed. “That bitc… lady says that bigger dogs bring down property values.”
Alex had never seen Sylvie so angry and upset. “That’s pure bullshit. What are you going to do? You’re going to fight it, right?”
Her lips stretched and flattened into an angry line. “I tried fighting it, tried getting some sort of grandfather clause, but I’m outnumbered. It doesn’t affect anyone else, so no one cares.”
She blew out a breath and closed her eyes. “Sorry. I don’t mean to dump like this, but I just got word before I left for my shift that my appeal was rejected and I have the choice of getting rid of Chewie or getting fined a grand a month starting today if I keep him.” She blinked rapidly. “I’d do it, but I can’t afford to, not with how much property taxes rose this year. And anyway, it’s in the by-laws that they can put a lien against my townhome at any time for all the violations because then I’m a ‘nuisance neighbor’ and then I’m super-screwed because I won’t be able to put it on the market with a lien. She knows I won’t just get rid of my fur baby. She really wants me out. Now.” Sylvie sucked in her cheeks and closed her eyes again. “I just get shuffled along because I don’t fit in,” she said under her breath.
Alex touched her upper arm. “Hey, we’ll figure something out.” We? “You know what? You can board Chewie here until you figure out your next play.”
Sylvie’s eyes opened and widened. “Really? You’d let me do that?” Her smile bloomed. “I’d much rather give Watchdog the thousand dollars a month—”
Alex held up his hand. “No way. This is an emergency and I’m not gonna take advantage of you like that. Boarding’s free.”
Sylvie shook her head. “I can’t let you do that for free. What about the other dogs?”
“We’ve got plenty of room until we get the breeding program fully up and running. I’m not expecting a new litter for another couple months at least. Daisy’s pregnant and she’s being fostered with a family in Lyons. After she gives birth and everybody has the all-clear, they’ll move here and stay together in the same kennel until they’re ready to be on their own, and that won’t be for the next fourteen weeks, at least.” Alex couldn’t help but feel proud and as protective as if he were the father and not Mac. “So, that’ll give you plenty of time to decide what to do.”
While he spoke, Sylvie’s smile only got brighter. “You really love those dogs, don’t you? You look like a proud papa right now.”
He laughed. “Shows, huh?”
“Shows? It broadcasts all the way to the moon.” She turned serious. “Are you sure it’ll be okay?”
“My kennel, my rules. Besides, Kyle loves dogs as much as I do. Believe me, if anyone understands how heartbreaking it is to be separated from your dog, it’s him. I know that if he heard your story instead of me, he’d make you the same offer. No—he’d demand that you kennel Chewie here.” Alex couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll demand it too, if I have to.”
That sexy smile was back and it reflected in her eyes, which had gone a little dreamy if he wasn’t mistaken. There was definitely no mistaking the color rising in her cheeks.
“Your kennel, your rules. Got it.” She tilted her head slightly. “Thank you. Really, from the bottom of my heart. I’ll provide Chewie’s food though, okay? And I’ll feed and exercise him. I don’t want to be a complete freeloader.”
“You’re not a freeloader at all. It’s my pleasure.”
She sucked in her bottom lip. Her gaze lingered on his for a moment longer than necessary.
Yup. Those bourbon-browns are breaking my last resolve.
He almost—almost—asked what she was doing that night when he realized that straight-up asking her out right now might come across as taking advantage of her. So, he changed tactics. “We could go over the details of his care during the lunch break today if you want. My treat.”
She frowned. Damn, he’d overstepped. “Actually, I have a lunch meeting with the sergeant in Lyons today, since I’m already up here.”
Was she covering and just didn’t want to go out with him? “Then how about right after class tonight if you’ve got time before heading back to Boulder?” There. That wasn’t a date, but it also gave him some extra time with her. And maybe with extra time—
“Actually, I was thinking that maybe we could do dinner instead?”
“Dinner, yes. That…” he pressed his lips together to fight his smile, “would be great.” He glanced up in time to see two men and their dogs coming through the door and took a step back from Sylvie. When had they gotten so close?
Today’s class was made up of three Boulder PD officers—Sylvie, Frank Morris, and Stan Pulaski. Alex had taught all three several times. Stan was already in the Boulder K9 Unit with his dog, Ty. Frank and Sylvie were both hopefuls and Stan was also supervising them for the next eight hours. There was only one new position opening, but Sylvie and Frank didn’t seem to be rivals, or at least they hid it well in front of Stan and Alex.
“All right, are we ready to get started?” Alex asked the group.
“You know we are,” Sylvie answered as she scratched Chewie’s ears. When she straightened, Alex tried not to smile at her.
“Great. Let’s go over the basics.” He did a quick review from their last lesson and tried to act as nonchalant as possible.
After all, it was only dinner with a friend he was helping out. Right?