Kaleidoscope Eyes (20 page)

“Go get it!” Andy shoved him.

He shoved back. “What?”

“The Frisbee, you nitwit! Get it and give it to her!”

Jed considered telling Andy to take a leap, then decided it was time to do what he’d come here to do.

Meet Annie Justice.

“Arroww-roww!”

Annie looked down at Kodi. “Hey, I never said I was good at throwing Frisbees.”

“Rowww!”

She nudged the dog with her hip, slipping past her out the gate of the dog park. One of these days she would actually learn how to throw a Frisbee. She ended up chasing the silly things more than Kodi did. “Now where did that thing go?”

She was pretty sure it flew over the fence somewhere toward the middle. She started toward the trees, only to be met by a tall stranger walking toward her. She glanced around them, startled. What was someone doing out here this early? If he’d been dressed for running, that’d be different. But it was as though he just appeared out of nowhere.

Her steps faltered as he drew closer. She studied the trees to the right of them lining the bike path, judging how far she was from Kodi and the gate. Then she looked back at the man approaching her.

And frowned.

Odd.

He looked familiar.

“Mornin’.” He held out the Frisbee as he reached her. “This belongs to you, I believe?”

Annie studied his features. Had she met him before? If so, she couldn’t recall where. But those eyes, the way his smile lit his face …

She shook off the sensation and managed a smile. “Actually it belongs to the monster.” She nodded toward Kodi, who was up on her hind legs, front paws on the fence, watching them with that puckered, half-worried expression she got when she wasn’t sure what was happening.

Annie knew how the dog felt.

The man’s chuckle, a low rumble of sound, was rich and appealing. Annie looked at him again. She had seen him before; she was sure of it. But where?

“Looks like she’s afraid you’re going to leave her there.”

“Fat chance. If she saw me leaving without her, she’d be up and over that fence.” Annie took the Frisbee from him, staring at it as her mind scrambled to place him. Compelling number nine eyes—the color of Belgian chocolate—with just a hint of gold flecks. His smile was open and relaxed, as was his stance.

Maybe he was just a nice guy out for a walk.

“Well, she’s a beauty. And she’s lucky to have an owner who loves her as much as you do.”

A really nice guy.

She held up the Frisbee. “Thanks, again. I’m afraid I’m pretty awful at throwing these things.”

The man glanced back at the trees, his mouth quirked in a crooked grin. “I noticed.”

There was that smile again. Annie liked the way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled. There was something … comfortable about him.

“Tell you what—”

His voice startled her from her thoughts, and warmth filled her cheeks. “Hmm?”

“I’ll make you a trade.”

Careful Annie. He may seem familiar, but he’s still a stranger
. She shuffled back a step. “A trade?”

“You let me pet your ‘monster’ over there, and I’ll teach you how to throw the Frisbee.”

She should say no; she knew she should. It wasn’t smart to give an opening to some guy she didn’t know—no matter how familiar he seemed. No, she needed to just give him the ol’ “Thanks, but no thanks” and walk away

That decided, Annie opened her mouth. “Sure. Sounds good.”

What?
What was she saying?

“Okay then. Lead on.”

She looked at the man. “Right.” Nodded. “Okay. Good.”

Stop rambling, Annie. You sound like an idiot. Just turn and start walking.

She did as her brain bid, and the man fell in step beside her.

“By the way—” he held a hand out to her—“I’m Jed.”

Jed. J. A deep raspberry halo shimmered into focus around him. She took his hand, intending to drop it as quickly as she could. But her hand fit into his so well and there was such warmth and strength in that grip that she held on for a heartbeat.

Then two.

Her eyes widened.
Oh … my gosh …

The knight. He was the knight. From her dream. Not exactly, of course. But his features, that smile, those eyes … even his color. They were all so similar that Annie almost couldn’t breathe.

His gaze dropped to their joined hands, then traveled back up to her face. “And you are?”

“Oh!” She let go of his hand, then turned to unlatch the gate into the dog park, frantic to hold on to something solid.

This couldn’t be happening.

“Kodi. No, I mean, that’s
her
name. The monster, that is.” She puffed out a breath. “I’m Annie.” Pulling the gate open wide, she waited as he followed her in, then entered the park. Kodi was right there to greet her.

“Kodi, huh?”

Normally, Annie would have made sure she stayed between Kodi and a stranger, but this time she found herself stepping back. Why?

Maybe that same sense of familiarity made her confident they’d be okay together. That Kodi would recognize him as … what? As a figment from her dreams?

Oh, Annie, you’re losing it!

She stepped forward. “Hang on—”

But Jed was already holding out his hand, letting Kodi sniff it. And before she knew what was happening, Kodi was up on her hind legs, paws planted on Jed’s chest, licking his face as though he were a long lost brother.

“Whoa!” Jed laughed, giving Kodi a hug, then taking her paws in his hands and nudging her back on all fours. He slanted
a smile at Annie. “Now that’s a friendly dog.”

Annie took hold of Kodi’s collar and tugged at her. But the animal was almost wiggling herself into a frenzy trying to reach Jed again. “I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay. Really. I like dogs.” He took the Frisbee from Annie’s hand and jogged off, Kodi on his heels, barking and grinning like a canine fool.

Annie followed more slowly, mind numb, utterly and completely speechless. But her mind raced with one pointed question:

God, what in the world are You up to now?

An hour later, Annie watched as the Frisbee she’d just thrown sailed across the dog park, Kodi racing after it in hot pursuit. She turned amazed eyes to Jed. “You, sir, are a miracle worker.”

“You just needed some pointers on technique, that’s all. Face it, Annie, you’re a natural.”

An unladylike snort escaped her. “Hardly. I can’t count the trees and bushes I’ve assaulted with rampant Frisbees. And poor Kodi spent more time picking them up off the ground than catching them.”

Speaking of Kodi, Annie turned just in time to see the shepherd leap into the air and snag the still soaring Frisbee, then turn and come loping back. Annie held her hand out, and Kodi came to press the Frisbee into her palm. “Good girl.”

Kodi’s response was to crouch, ready for action.

“Does she ever get tired?”

Annie laughed, launching the Frisbee again, delighting in its smooth flight and in Kodi’s unadulterated joy as she chased it. “I think I’ve seen her tired once, after we were on a callout all day” She smiled at Jed. “But she may have just been trying to make me feel better.”

“Callout?”

For a second, Jed’s question surprised Annie. She felt so comfortable with him that it was like they’d known each other forever, heard each other’s stories at least a dozen times. But the curiosity
puckering his brow reminded her that not only did she not know anything about him, he had no clue who she was or what she did.

“Kodi and I are involved in search and rescue. A callout is when someone gets lost and the sheriffs department calls us to help find them.”

Interest sparked in Jed’s eyes. “Very cool.” He knelt as Kodi loped back to them, holding out his hand for the Frisbee. She came to him without hesitation, sitting and offering the Frisbee as sweet as you please.

No doubt about it. Annie’s dog was in love.

Not that she blamed the beast. Jed was an appealing guy. Or as appealing as someone could be when you’d only known him for an hour.

“So … do you live in the area?” As silly as it was, Annie had to force herself not to cross her fingers.

Jed glanced up at her, then straightened. “I grew up here, went to school here, but no, I don’t live here any longer.”

She should have known. Pushing aside the sharp pang of disappointment, Annie reached down and took the Frisbee from Kodi. “Okay, girl, that’s enough. Time to head home.”

Kodi trotted alongside her as she walked to the picnic table. Jed followed, standing next Annie as she loaded everything in her backpack. He reached out for the pile of large papers and spread them out on the table.

“Did you draw these?”

She glanced at the sketches she’d made of Kodi. “Yes.”

Jed picked one up, looking at it in silence. Just when Annie was about to crawl out of her skin, he turned impressed eyes her way. “You’re an artist.”

Just that simple. Complete acceptance of who and what she was. No question in his statement whatsoever. “I am.”

“And a good one.”

Warmth started somewhere down in her toes and traveled to the top of her head. “Thanks.” She took the sketches and slipped them into the backpack. “So you’re just here for a visit?”

Jed gave a slow nod. “Sort of. I’m actually going to be in town for a little while.”

She perked up at that, though she did her best not to let it show. “Oh?” She zipped the backpack shut and lifted it, ready to slip it over a shoulder. “Well, that’s nice.”

Jed reached out and took the backpack. “Actually—” he slipped it over his shoulder—“what was nice was this.”

Annie tried not to react to his steady gaze or the sincerity in his tone, but she couldn’t keep a hint of warmth from brushing her cheeks. She clipped Kodi’s leash onto her collar, then led the way to the gate. They exited, and Annie hesitated. If she were sensible, she’d just ask for her backpack, tell him it was nice to meet him, then say good-bye and go home.

If she were sensible. “Lead on.”

Understanding shone in Jed’s eyes. He didn’t seem any more eager to part than she was. “I’ll walk you to your car if that’s okay.”

“Sure. Fine. Uh … ” She bit her lip. “I’m parked over there.”

They walked in silence for a few moments. Then Jed’s voice broke the silence.

“You’re parked by the Dairy Queen?”

Annie glanced at him. Why was he talking so loud when she was right next to him?

“Me too.” The volume increased again. “So I’ll just walk over there with you.”

What on earth? “Okay.”

“To your car.”

Annie started to ask Jed if everything was okay, but the question died in her throat when something suddenly rustled in the trees along the path. Kodi jerked to a halt, her hackles rising, and issued a deep growl. Annie just had time to tighten up on Kodi’s leash before a form burst through the needle-laden branches of the trees and came stumbling out.

At that point, two things happened simultaneously.

One:
Kodi crouched, ready to jump between Annie and what seemed to be a homeless man stumbling toward them. But the
shepherd didn’t get the chance to protect her mistress because
two:
Jed’s arm circled Annie’s waist, and tucking her close against him, he sidestepped, putting himself between her and the man.

Almost without missing a stride, Jed swept Annie past the still staggering man, and she dragged Kodi along. The shepherd strained at her leash, pulling behind them, still growling. But that didn’t impede Jed’s progress one iota.

He all but carried Annie across the bridge over Bear Creek, not slowing until they’d crossed the street and stood in the parking lot. Only then did he look down at her—and two bright spots of red blossomed in his cheeks as he apparently realized he still held her close against him.

His arm dropped away, leaving Annie a bit breathless. Said breathlessness, she told herself in her best stern schoolmarm inner voice, was because of their hurried pace. It certainly was
not
because of the unexpected pleasure that had flooded her at being tucked in the protective circle of Jed’s arm.

Certainly not.

She stepped back, smoothing her jacket. “Well … ” She looked down at the ground, suddenly quite fascinated with the blacktop. “That was … um … interesting.”

Jed rubbed a hand behind his neck. “I’m sorry, Annie. I didn’t mean to manhandle you—”

“I didn’t mind.” Oh, good grief. Could she possibly sound any more desperate? “I mean, I appreciate you grabbing me … ”

Okay. Yes. She could.

“That is, I appreciate why you grabbed me.”

Stop, Annie. Just stop talking. Now.

But she needn’t have worried about Jed’s reaction to her babbling. He was too immersed in apologizing to notice that she’d just made a total fool of herself.

“I don’t usually do that. You know, grab women I’ve just met. Or women I’ve known a long time. I’m not usually a grabber—” He clamped his mouth shut, eyes lifting to the sky. “What I’m saying is, and … uh, that guy—”

“He was probably homeless. They tend to camp behind those trees along the creek.”

“Right, that homeless guy caught me by surprise. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t see him.” His eyes widened a fraction. “I mean, you know, that you didn’t have to deal with him coming up and asking for a handout. Or whatever.”