Read Online Love Is a Battlefield by Annalisa Daughety - Free Book Online Page A

she hobbled down the hall, toes held apart by separators. She hoped their fresh fire engine red polish only said “first date” and not “desperate.” Vickie and Ainsley made her promise to look her best tonight, despite her initial declaration that she was going on the date in her ranger uniform and ponytail.
    Kristy dashed out the back door, but Sam had already made his escape. Why did he have a knack for channeling Houdini whenever she had somewhere important to go? On second thought, maybe he was trying to get her back for forgetting to feed him earlier in the week.
    â€œSam!” she hurried as fast as she could down the driveway, weight on her heels as she did the wet-toenails shuffle. Running barefoot in her fleecy robe wasn’t exactly her idea of ladylike behavior. At least she didn’t have a full set of rollers in her hair. Just one big Velcro roller at the crown of her head. But that was bad enough.
    Even minus the full set of rollers, she had a feeling she looked like a person interviewed on the news after a tornado. “When I saw Myrtle’s lawn mower fly by, I knew we were in trouble. All I got out with was this robe and my autographed picture of Elvis.” Hopefully there wouldn’t be any storms or news cameras along her way.
    â€œSammy, you’d better come back here now!” she hadn’t even had a chance to put on deodorant yet and was practically running a marathon. If she ever caught up with him, the dog might not see a bone for a week as punishment.
    Kristy finally spotted Sam as she got near the visitor center. With any luck, all the park visitors had gone home for the day. She didn’t want anyone to recognize her as “the nice park ranger lady who gave us a map.” Living and working at a national park had some perks, but the possibility of running into visitors who expected to have their questions answered long after the park had closed for the day was definitely not one of them.
    Sam was sniffing around between a cannon and a plaque declaring that “one of the decisive battles of the Civil War” had been fought right here. Kristy wondered if this identical plaque was on battlefields all over the south. Every one she’d ever visited seemed to think its particular battle was a decisive one.
    She sneaked over to the historic spot and tried to coax Sam to her. “Come here, sweet baby.” she bent down and held out a hand. “Let’s go get a treat for my boy.” Sam regarded her with suspicion. He knew she didn’t coo at him unless something he wouldn’t like was about to happen. “Does my Sammy want a belly rub?” The instant the words left her mouth, the back door to the visitor center opened. Kristy froze. Maybe they’d think she was a cannon. A very eccentric barefoot cannon in a purple robe.
    â€œKristy? What are you doing?”
    Forget about me being a cannon. Just shoot me out of one. Now.
    She stood and brushed a wisp of hair from her eyes, inwardly cringing as she remembered the lone Velcro roller sitting on top of her head. “Hello, Ace.”
    She pulled the robe tighter and prayed that the yards of material had all her parts covered. And that she seemed casual and confident. “Sam got out of the fence, and I’m just trying to get him to come to me.”
    Ace’s gaze took in the Velcro roller, the robe, and finally her toes. A slow smile spread across his perfectly chiseled face. “Big plans tonight?”
    She felt the heat as her face turned red. “Not really. Just going out to dinner.” she turned her attention back to the dog and willed him to come to her.
    Sam, the traitor, trotted right over to Ace and sat at his feet.
    Now it’s no bones for two weeks, mister.
    â€œCome on, Sam, let’s go home.” Kristy made a move toward him. He darted behind Ace’s legs and peered up at her. If she hadn’t known better, she would’ve thought