Playing the Playboy by Noelle Adams

Author:Noelle Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter Eight

The fear in Laurel’s voice as she called for her dog quenched Andrew’s arousal quite effectively.

“I’m sure he’s just wandered off,” he said, trying to sound casual in an attempt to alleviate her anxiety.

She shook her head. “If he heard me, he’d come back. He must be too far away.”

“Do you think he chased a bird?”

“Probably.”

“Then we’ll go find him.” He put a hand on her back, nudging her forward, more worried for her than he was for the dog. Theo was smart, strong, and well-trained. He wasn’t likely to get in any trouble.

“What if he ran into the road?” Laurel whispered.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Can Persephone and Circe follow his trail?”

“Yeah.” She looked better now that she had a plan of action. When they reached the other dogs, she called, “Go find Theo. Where’s Theo?”

The two dogs barked in response, ran a couple of circles, and then took off down the beach.

The beach quickly tapered off into the cliff surrounding the caldera. Just before they ran out of beach entirely, the dogs scrabbled up an incline and started running again.

Andrew climbed up and then extended a hand down to help Laurel. They followed the dogs at a quick pace through the rocky landscape and scrubby plants—not ideal for walking—for more than a mile.

Laurel called the dogs back whenever they were getting too far ahead, and the dogs ran circles, their noses to the ground, until Andrew and Laurel caught up.

They didn’t talk, and occasionally Laurel would start to run. But Andrew kept a hand on her arm to slow her down. If her back went out again, this far from the inn, they would really be in trouble.

“Look!” Laurel said at last, gesturing toward the horizon. “There he is.”

Andrew saw the silhouette of the German Shepherd, his nose pointing out toward the sea. The dog appeared to be poised on the end of the cliff.

Andrew’s heart lurched when he saw a sea bird, maybe even the one Theo had been chasing all this way, swoop down from a height and fly not far from where the dog was standing, just off the edge of the cliff.

“Theo, no!” he called out loudly, his chest clenching with sudden panic.

At exactly the same time, Laurel screamed, “No!”

It was too late. The dog had already leapt for the bird.

For a moment, it looked like he’d keep his footing as he landed, his paws working frantically on the rocky edge.

He couldn’t, though. Andrew and Laurel stood frozen as the dog disappeared over the side of the cliff.

A few seconds after the sight processed, Andrew broke into a dead run, vaguely aware that Laurel was just behind him. Circe and Persephone were at the edge now too, peering down for Theo.

“Back,” he ordered them sharply. “Back.”

They backed away from the cliff immediately, either recognizing the word or just responding to the authority in his voice.

“Theo,” Laurel choked, reaching the edge of the cliff now and looking over. She gasped frantically, and her face dripped with perspiration.

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