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Or as alone as one could get surrounded by all the ani to entice Adauys"

"I see that" Looking at Dell was a whole lot like looking in the otten fro boys to go back to her reservation Saotten from their Texan, all-A dead Saotten fro few days," Dell said casually

The equivalent of a welcoed and then sucked in a pained breath as the movement jarred his shoulder He concentrated on the fresh warm blood that trickled down his back instead of his brother’s intense gaze

Kelit had been since Adam had been on the active side of an S&Rit, but Dell was not

"So you saved the kid," Dell said

"Milo found hi to the cliff that you then had to clih"

Adah "Brady called you"

"Brady called," Dell confir your shoulder and that you looked like you hadn’t eaten or slept in two days" Dell paused, his gaze scanning the length of Ada "He also said you were in a es froers

"So…how are you really?" Dell asked

"I’d be better if everyone would leave h the notes Several state S&R agencies wanted hi for their staff He did a lot of that, traveling across the country to set up syste obedience class starting next week Two ility class A breeder was looking for advice And three calls from…"Holly?" He stared at the name on the paper "Holly Reid?"

Dell nodded "She’s been here twice today looking for you"

Adam kept his face carefully blank As far as Dell knew, Holly was the daughter of one of Ada else as well--a blast from Adam’s past, one that never failed to evoke an entire slew of ele one of which he was equipped to deal with on the best of days

Which today definitely wasn’t

Most of Adaer, and wildness Growing up in a series of foster ho He’d thrived on trouble, all kinds, and he’d been exceptionally good at it

In cohter of Donald Reid, an extre ranches in the state and turned them around Holly handled the business side of her father’s ranching conglomerate Which in no way explained the blast of fury she unloaded on Adam every time their paths crossed It had been twelve years since they’d been young and stupid--emphasis on stupid--a virtual lifetime She was settled and successful

And married

So he had no idea why she hated him

Well,about, an inner reflection that he wasn’t up for at the moment

Or ever

In the meantime, he had no idea what the hell she’d ith hi, old softie who often fostered young S&R puppies for Adah to be trained and adopted The proble upgrade his sister’s ranch, leaving Holly to handle the entire Reid empire, puppies included Maybe that was it--she needed help But he kneas the lastit off, he turned to the stairs

Milo immediately leapt to his feet, ready to roll The stairs led up to the loft above the animal center At one time or another, each of them had lived there, but it was Adath of the center, and quiet It suited him

"So what does Holly want?" Dell asked

"No idea"

"Whatever it is, she’s not going to give up"

No shit When Holly sank her teeth into so, she was like a pit bull--the prettiest pit bull Adam had ever seen Once upon a time she’d sunk her teeth into him, and he’d loved it

And then he’d been an idiot and pried her loose He’d done it for her own good, not that he’d gained any credit for that So, no, he really couldn’t i the life as one half of a couple, sharing a place, sharing a bed

Which he really didn’t want to think about "Whatever she needs," he said, "you handle it"

Dell laughed softly, his tone suggesting that Adah, pushing a broo lady, and somewhere between fifty and one hundred years old They’d inherited her from Sol Anders, who’d been Adam and Dell’s favorite foster parent Bessie came up to Adam’s elbow and was about as wide as she was tall, but she could clean like no one’s business, and she never took shit fro look up and down, then shook her head "You done it again, huh?"

"I didn’t do anything," Adaer she’d gone after with her broouilty as hell of soiven day

Adam started to cli, he forced hile step jarred his shoulder, and he gritted his teeth against the pain

"That’s not good," Bessie said conversationally to Dell "You see that?"

"I see it," Dell said, sounding gri," Adam said to them both

"You need food?" Dell asked

"Jade’s already on it, Mom"