Thin Ice Page 3

  Luckily they had an end unit, so there was space beside the driveway to park his little Honda, thus keeping it out of the way, and the drive clear so he wouldn't have to move it every time Viktor wanted to leave, but again, he wasn't leaving a Ducati out in the open overnight.

  Hitting the button on his remote, he watched the garage door close with a soft whooshing sound, and unlocked the back door to the house. Sadie, running and jumping at him immediately, nearly knocked him down the process, as she barked wildly.

  “Okay, okay. Down Sadie,” he said, laughing while he pushed frantically at the excited beast.

  Within seconds an even louder, shrill bark, was heard from the stairway and a scraggly haired terrier made her descent, toppling down the last few steps as she tripped over her own two feet. Viktor, hot on her trail and yelling after her.

  Peter knelt down however, allowing both dogs to greet him properly, slobbering over every inch of his face.

  “Dasha!” Viktor shouted, snagging the small terrier's attention, who crouched low to the floor and slunk over to him, rolling onto her back, her body wiggling from side to side once he bent over and began scratching her hairy belly. “Where have you been all day?” Viktor asked in their native tongue, scooping the little dog into his arms and going over to sit on the couch.

  Peter opened the sliding glass door that led to their small fenced yard, Sadie dashing out as soon as she got the chance, and then went into the utility room, placing the dog treats in a closet and pouring a scoop of food into Sadie's bowl.

  “I went for a ride. What did you do today?” He answered, asking a question of his own. Though he honestly didn't care one way or the other what Viktor did. Not that they weren't good friends, Viktor was one of the few people he could talk to in his native Russian, though Jean, their PR manager was fluent in Russian as well, that and a few other languages, Peter just wasn't much in the mood for small talk tonight.

  He had too much on his mind. Too much of Harmony that was. Letting Sadie back in, and watching as she scarfed down her dinner, then tossing her a treat afterward, Peter made his way into the kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator and coming up with some leftover pasta and a Gatorade. He nuked the pasta then sat down at the breakfast bar to eat. Sadie sat at his feet, wagging her tail and waiting patiently for scraps.

  “I went to the movies today with that girl I have been seeing, Sandra. She might stay over tomorrow. Is that okay with you?” Viktor asked, putting his feet on the coffee table and stretching out, his little dog digging at the couch beside him and curling into a ball at his side.

  Peter shrugged, “you pay half the bills, it is not my business who you have over.”

  Nodding, Viktor picked up the remote and turned on the TV. Baseball was in full swing, and tuning into a Rays vs. Yankees game, he turned the volume up to better hear over Sadie's persistent whining as Peter neared the end of his meal and had yet to slip her so much as a crumb.

  “Net!” Peter scolded, though Sadie, ever hopeful, ignored him.

  Peter put his empty dishes in the sink and headed for the stairs. With a quick wave to Viktor, he and Sadie went up to their room and closed the door behind them, the large dog immediately making herself at home on his over-sized bed.

  Taking off his boots and hanging up his jacket, Peter exchanged his jeans for a pair of sweats, throwing the pants in a hamper and plopping onto the bed, disturbing a now snoozing Sadie, who looked at him rather annoyed before tucking her head back onto her paws and closing her eyes once more. Peter lay there on his back, with his hands under his head, looking at the ceiling, and thinking about Harmony. It seemed no matter how much he tried to think about something else, he always came back to her.

  Sweet, beautiful, Harmony.

  He had decided on the way home that he would look up this dog park tomorrow and take a cruise past it, see if it was something Sadie would even like. Then maybe he'd start taking her there on a regular basis, hopefully run into the lovely Miss Harmony at some point.

  Christ, why couldn't he get her out of his head?

  Once the store was cleaned and locked up for the night, her father having left before the rest of the staff, leaving things in Harmony's capable hands, she headed not back to his place but to her own. The normally fifteen-minute drive with no traffic, seemed to take forever tonight. Of course, it didn't help that all she could think about was her encounter with the dangerously handsome hockey player.

  After the last customer had left for the day, and the doors were locked, Harmony and the other cashiers set about righting the store and pulling things forward on the shelves. Kate had decided at that point to take the opportunity presented to her, and caught Harmony in the bread aisle, obviously wanting to gossip about the only celebrity to ever set foot in the HomeTown Grocery Mart.

  “So he was a hockey player huh?” she had asked, smacking on her gum as she pulled a jar of peanut butter to the front of the shelf.

  “Mmmhmm,” Harmony answered, trying desperately to avoid this conversation. She already couldn't stop thinking about Peter, she certainly didn't want to talk about him too!

  Kate was having none of that though.

  A few years younger than Harmony, not even old enough to drink yet, Kate was decent enough looking she supposed. She rounded out at about 5'7, and though she was rail thin, genetically, and not because of any kind of eating disorder, she had natural blonde hair, of the platinum variety and big brown eyes, like a does. She was working part time here at the grocery store, had been for the last four years since she turned sixteen, while she made her way through college, studying to be a pharmacist. And of all her co-workers, Harmony would say Kate was the closest thing she had to a friend here, even if they didn't hang out outside of work all that often.

  “He seemed quite taken with you Harm, or was I reading too far into it?”

  Harmony shrugged, “I dunno, maybe he was just being polite.”

  “Uh uh. I don't think so.” She said, pausing for a moment as though she were considering the remark. “A man doesn't blush because he's 'being polite.' He was into you. You think he'll come back?” She went on, ignoring the eye rolling Harmony had given her.

  “Doubt it. He lives in Savannah.”

  “So do you,” Kate argued.

  Harmony shrugged again, moving to the next aisle and effectively cutting off the rest of the conversation as Kate finished up with the peanut butter and jelly. Kate was wrong. Peter had made no indication that he was interested in her.

  Perhaps I will see you there? Da?

  His words came back to her two-fold, causing her to sigh. If only, she thought to herself.

  Pulling her mind back into the present, and trying to push thoughts of Peter aside, Harmony concentrated on her driving and getting home to Lupus.

  Lupus, her faithful canine was likely hungry by now, she usually set the automatic feeder on days she had to close, but since she hadn't planned on working tonight, she hadn't thought to set the timer. And thank goodness she lived on the first floor and had installed that doggy door, otherwise she'd probably have a mess on her hands as well as a starved shepherd!

  Harmony lived in a nice little neighborhood right near Fellwood Homes, choosing herself to live in a small condo that boasted postage sized backyards for the people on the first floor and large balconies for those that lived upstairs. She'd made sure she got her landlord's permission first, assuring them that she would change out the entire door once she moved out, and then put in a doggy door. She closed two to three nights a week, and since they were slightly understaffed at the moment, she was often called in, so she didn't want Lupus to ever have to cross his legs.

  She knew he'd never have an accident, he was too well trained for that, but just the same, holding his bladder could be bad for him the older he got. Not that he was old now, gosh, he was only three, but big dogs didn't live nearly as long as their smaller counterparts, so in addition to making sure he stayed the proper weight for his hip health, she
didn't want to affect his bladder any either.

  Lupus was her baby after all.

  As she had told Peter, her grandmother raised sheep, still did for that matter, though on a much smaller scale now. She lived in a hilly part of South Carolina, not too far from the northern border of Georgia, and owned a few hundred acres, well, not anymore, she was down to about thirty if Harmony remembered correctly, but she had started out with something like three or four hundred acres. She and Harmony's grandfather used some of the fields to cultivate hay but most of it was grazing land for their sheep.

  Being that they were her mother's parents, they were the Fitzgerald's, and they owned one of the best wool outfits in the nation. Or had, in their retirement they'd decreased the operation significantly, and now mostly just raised them for livestock shows or sheepdog trials. Hobbies of theirs. But in their heyday, they'd been a huge operation, certainly one of the largest in the US, importing several good rams from overseas, despite the then staggering prices to do so, and creating nearly 1/3 if she wasn't mistaken of the US's wool supply.

  Harmony could remember spending every winter and summer vacation on that farm. Chasing the sheep, jumping in soft mounds of wool, and playing with puppies, lots and lots of puppies! They didn't just raise sheep, no sir, the Fitzgerald's believed in herding their sheep the old fashion way, with dogs. Dogs from good stock. Good Scottish and German stock, just like them. Grandpa Fitzgerald was as Scottish as it came, but grandma's relatives hailed from Germany, so they were always split between raising collies and shepherds, each insisting the other was a better herder.

  Herself though, she preferred German Shepherds, like grandma, much to grandpa's dismay. Oh the border collies and the standard versions were good looking dogs, and smart as whips, but there was something about the wolfy looking sable shepherds that really drew Harmony's interest. Coming from German and Czech imports, they looked much different than their American counterparts with the standard black and tan coats. They were wild, and vicious looking, larger and much more intimidating. Harmony had jumped at the chance to own one of her grandparents’ pups, going for the pick of the litter. He looked so much like a wolf sometimes it was uncanny, she'd even chosen his name for just that reason. Canis Lupus, the timber wolf, but he was all dog.

  And besides, Lupus was a big softy, probably wouldn't hurt a flea. At least not while Harmony was around, maybe if someone had threatened her though, she knew how he'd react then. Her brother had told her on more than one occasion that he was mean, and would surely bite anyone who dared put their hands over the fence, what with the way he snarled and carried on, but Harmony had never seen that side of him, and since he looked intimidating all on his own, no one had ever dared threaten her in any way. So in her mind, all she saw was her sweet little boy. The gentle dog that played nicely with the neighbor’s kittens.

  Harmony had yet to run into anyone with less than honorable intentions so Lupus hadn't so much as stiffened in the presence of others, not while she was around at least.

  Opening the door to the condo a few minutes later, Lupus giving a couple of short gruff barks from the other side, she bent forward, scratching him behind the ears as she dropped her bags on the floor and shut the door behind her.

  “There's my good boy.” she cooed. “Are you hungry big fellow?” she asked, walking towards the kitchen, Lupus bunny hopping beside her.

  Aware of his size, unlike most dogs, he was always careful not to knock his master to the ground. Very well trained indeed. Harmony had even gone so far as to get the best trainer in town, a former K-9 officer at that, so Lupus pretty much obeyed her every word. Would attack on command if told to, not that she'd ever put it to the test mind you, but he would if she gave the word.

  After seeing to his needs, and scrounging around in the kitchen for a little something to settle her own stomach, though she'd had some unsold fried chicken a few hours ago at work, Harmony headed for her bedroom, quickly shedding her slacks and blouse, opting for something a little more comfortable before climbing into bed and turning on the TV.

  Lupus ate in record speed, bounding down the hall and jumping into bed, turning in a circle before settling beside Harmony and curling into a tight ball despite his size. Deciding between SVU or the regular Law and Order, Harmony stretched out, making herself more comfortable, and rested one hand on Lupus, the other slipping under her pillow as she allowed for the latest “ripped from the headlines” SVU case to crowd her brain and distract her from her previous thoughts.

  It was about time she got Peter Petrovic off her mind!

  Chapter 3

  A Romp in the Dog Park

  Nearly a week later, Peter had been to the dog park on Victory Drive at least once every day, twice a day during the weekend, and he had yet to run into Harmony!

  As he opened the gate and let Sadie off her leash to frolic with a few other dogs, a beagle, and a pair of huskies, he told himself he wasn't going to come here again. It was a nice park, probably about an acre in size, right next to a good walking trail and a kid’s playground, and he'd met some really nice people so far, an old Ukrainian couple with a Boston terrier, and a stockbroker with a Doberman, but he could just as easily let Sadie out in his own yard to do her business.

  He could also take her for a walk around the neighborhood if he felt so inclined, so driving five miles just to come to some dog park where he had to clean up after his dog, they had a gardener that took care of their lawn, which included poop pick up for an extra charge, just wasn't all that appealing to Peter.

  He was getting awful sick of Viktor's teasing as well. Going on and on about the logistics of it all, and how it made no sense. Didn't he think Peter knew that already? Dog parks were for people who lived in apartments and had no yards, or those that lived in crappy neighborhoods, not for people like Viktor and Peter. Whatever. He hadn't even tried to tell him about his encounter with Harmony or how he had hoped to run into her here. He wouldn't understand.

  Viktor's girlfriend, Sandra, was a Russian immigrant herself, her father was in politics or something like that, the embassy or whatever, and she was in town living with an aunt while she attended nursing school. They'd met online, through a dating site that catered to Russian's meeting other Russian's. It amazed Peter what one could find online these days. Not that he cared to try it out himself.

  Sandra was pretty enough with her Scandinavian looks, blonde hair and blue eyes, and all that jazz, but she reminded him of pretty much every other girl back home. He just wasn't interested. And hell, even if he was, he wouldn't do it over the internet!

  Watching as Sadie greeted a mastiff entering through the gates, Peter had almost resigned himself to leaving, and probably for good, when he noticed a little yellow Miata pulling into the parking lot. The top was down, and on one side he saw a large wolfy looking dog with his tongue lolling about while his huge paws hung over the door, and on the other he noticed a small woman wearing big bright red sunglasses, her mahogany colored hair fluttering in the wind behind her.

  His heart began to bang against his rib cage. Surely that was Harmony, no one else could have hair like that! And hadn't she said she had a German Shepherd? It had to be her. Peter called Sadie over to him, restraining her as he followed the woman in the Miata's movements. She took her time getting out of the car, putting the top up first and clipping a leash on the dog before opening the door and allowing him to hop out. He trotted around her in circles as they approached the gates, barking his fool head off at the ball she held in her hand above him.

  They were quite a sight.

  And as she shook her head, her mane of glorious hair sashaying about her shoulders, Peter felt sure he was going to faint. But he held it together, biding his time, not wanting to appear too eager, and waiting for her to enter the dog park. She walked to the center of the park after letting the dog off his leash, however, obediently, the dog continued to follow. Peter still had Sadie restrained, petting her and talking to her softly in Russian as she
waited patiently to be released so that she could investigate the newest arrival.

  Watching closely, committing her every movement to memory, Peter noticed the way her jeans fit snug and low on her hips, how her t-shirt rose just barely as she kept the ball out of the dog’s reach, putting a flat and toned stomach on display, and when she laughed, her smile spread across her face, almost angelically. He just wished he could see her eyes. She hadn't taken the sunglasses off though damn her!

  It was when she finally threw the ball, and sent the dog in a fit chasing after it that he let go of Sadie's collar, lithe and graceful in her movements, Sadie bounded after the large shepherd, distracting him from his task, and grabbing the ball herself as she sped past him. It took the big dog a minute to figure out what had happened, but he was quick, taking off after Sadie, chasing her from one end to the other. Sadie loved tennis balls, but didn't quite understand the concept of fetch, she'd much rather chew the ball into submission and bury it than bring it back to be thrown again.

  Harmony watched in disbelief as a small sleek tan dog with a black face shot past her, chasing down the tennis ball she had thrown for Lupus, who despite his own quick speed was no match for the k-9 wonder as she snatched the ball out of the air and took off in the opposite direction. Harmony laughed at poor Lupus for having been caught off guard, and was almost tempted to intervene when she got a closer look at the canine as it leapt past her once again. A Belgian. She was sure of it.

  Something somewhere niggled at her brain, something she should have easily recalled. And as a tall man with shaggy blonde hair and dark aviators crossed the lot towards her, it all came back to Harmony in a flood. Peter!

  Nervous now, Harmony watched the man approach, his gate slow and masculine, more of a swagger really, gulping, she shifted with apprehension, rubbing one foot on top of the other and adjusting her sunglasses. Thank god it was so bright out! At least he wouldn't be able to discern her vulnerability this time, thanks to the tinted lenses!