I just stood there, looking back and forth between the two beasts standing in my doorway. “Um...I don’t know what to say. He’s beautiful and big, really big, but you didn’t have to do that. You really shouldn’t have…”
Chase’s face fell. “I can take him back,” he muttered.
I felt like such an ass. “No, don’t do that. I’m sorry, I just wasn’t expecting anything like this. I’ve never had a dog before. I have no idea how to take care of one.”
It must have dawned on Chase then that I was still standing on the front porch. He stepped back and motioned for me to come inside. “It’s not hard to take care of a dog. I’ll make sure you know everything you need to know before I leave.”
“You’re leaving?” I asked, instantly hating the shock and disappointment in my voice.
He pulled me to his chest and closed the door. “Not until Wednesday morning, baby. I’ll head out when you go to work.”
“Tell me about the dog,” I mumbled against his chest.
“His name is Titan. He’s a four-year-old Cane Corso and has been professionally trained by a friend of mine. He will guard and protect you with the same ferocity that Duke or I would. You won’t have to command him to defend you. He will take his cues from your body language as well as the situation and respond accordingly. If he does subdue someone, he will not release them and stand down until you give him the command. Also, the collar he is wearing must stay on him at all times. Ruben is a well-known trainer in the Southeast and has worked with many law enforcement offices to educate the officers on how to identify service dogs and subdue a protection dog without using deadly force. When one of his dogs is matched with a client, he personally calls the head of each nearby law enforcement division to let them know one of his dogs is on duty in their area. If they aren’t familiar with his program, he emails an information packet and sets up a time for him or one of his associates to come speak with the officers. So, if something happens in Sugar Falls or Croftridge, as long as he has that collar on, he won’t be harmed by law enforcement,” he explained.
“I think I can handle that. He is beautiful—scary, but beautiful.” I paused and leaned back so I could meet his eyes. “Thank you, Chase. It was very thoughtful of you, and I do appreciate it.”
He smiled down at me. “Since I can’t stay and you won’t come back with me, I had to do something to make sure you’re safe when we aren’t together.”
“Chase—” I started, but he cut me off.
“No, Harper, let me finish. I know this isn’t what we talked about well over a year ago, but regardless of what we said back then, we have formed a relationship, and you can’t deny that. When I heard you on the phone, scared and crying, I knew you were lying to me, and I couldn’t get to you fast enough. All I could think about on the ride here was that I couldn’t lose you. I don’t know how you did it or when you did it, but you wormed your way in and I don’t want to let you go.” He spoke with such sincerity and honesty; I felt tears welling in my eyes.
“Then don’t,” I rasped out.
He didn’t, not until he was forced to so I could go to work the next morning. Once again, he disappeared into the shadows while I worked. I don’t know what he thought he would see while he was hiding out there, but he was adamant that it was necessary.
Personally, I thought he was going a bit overboard. Yes, someone broke into my house. Yes, it scared the hell out of me. But there was minimal damage done, nothing was stolen, and no threats were made. It was probably just some bored teenagers.
The first part of the day was pretty much the same as the day before, including another awkward lunch with Hilarie and Chase. I had back to back sessions after lunch which made the afternoon go by faster. Chase picked me up from work and drove us back to my house. We ate a quick dinner and spent the rest of the evening and night wrapped up in each other.
The next morning, after he helped me get Titan in the car, it was time to say goodbye, and I was struggling to keep my emotions at bay. I didn’t want him to leave. I knew he would be back in a few days, but that did nothing to ease the ache in my chest. I cared about him, probably loved him, and he was leaving, because he lived in a different city—hell, a different state—and he had his own life there.
“Harper, look at me,” his deep voice rumbled by my ear. I lifted my head and met his soulful green eyes. “You okay, baby?”
I sniffled. Damn it. I didn’t want to cry in front of him. Clearing my throat and trying desperately to swallow over the lump that had formed there, I barely managed to answer, “Yes, I’m fine.”
He chuckled. “Bullshit. Whenever a woman you’re involved with says she’s fine, it means she isn’t. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”
“I don’t want you to go, okay?” I mumbled into his chest.
“Say again.”
We each repeated the same thing three more times before I finally yelled, “I don’t want you to go!” With that, the floodgates opened. Once the first tear fell, the others took that as the okay to follow.
Chase went right into full protector mode. “Are you still scared?” I shook my head. That wasn’t it at all, but I didn’t want to tell him the real reason. I didn’t have to because moments later, he figured it out on his own. “Oh, this is just about me. You’re going to miss me?”
I wiped the tears from my face with my hands. “Of course I am, you big beast.”
He smiled a genuine, breathtaking smile. “I don’t want to go either, baby, but I have to. We’ll talk every night, and I’ll be back Friday night. So, really, that’s just one day you won’t see me.”
“You’re right. I’m being silly,” I said, shaking my head at my ridiculousness.
“Nah, baby, you’re not. I love that you’re already missing me and I haven’t even left yet. Now, quit your crying and kiss me.”
I did just that. After he helped me into my car and kissed me once more, he climbed onto his bike, and I watched him ride away with tears still in my eyes. I was still staring off in the direction he’d gone when a cold, wet nose nudged my cheek. I looked over to see Titan staring at me, his head cocked to one side like he knew something was wrong, but he wasn’t sure what it was. I patted him on his big head to reassure him and then drove the two of us to work.
I was a little nervous about taking Titan into the office. I hadn’t mentioned anything about getting a service dog to any of the employees at the crisis center. I knew I was allowed to have one; I just didn’t want to deal with all the attention he would draw when we entered the building for the first time. Taking a deep breath, I pushed through the front door with Titan by my side.