Five days later Mac stood at the American Airlines flight gate with Reego by his side. The attempt to ease his furry partner into being okay with him leaving had failed miserably. He'd cried nonstop each night at the kennel and refused to eat. After 4 days of trying the captain had finally called them both into his office.

He'd advised that although it had never been allowed before and had initially been dismissed as out of the question, there was no specific policy forbidding K9 handlers from taking their partners on vacation with them. The Sheriff was still concerned of the liability imposed on the Sheriff's office but felt confident in Mac's ability to keep Reego safe. He felt the risk of the dog travelling was outweighed by the risk to his health and well being if he were forced to remain at the kennel for 3 weeks while Mac was on vacation.

Mac was happy, he couldn't lie. He wouldn't have been able to enjoy himself knowing Reego was miserable back home. He'd quickly called the airline and made the arrangements necessary to bring him along. Reego currently stood docilely next to the large plastic kennel and looked at his handler. They were waiting until the absolute last minute before imprisoning him for the 8 hour flight to Cozumel.

Mac looked up from his friend and saw Derek and Tammy approaching from the busy concourse thru-way. Tammy looked glamorous and absolutely ready for an island getaway vacation in a bright flowered sundress, sandals and shades. Her blonde hair and blue eyes looked even more brilliant against the tan she'd acquired in the last few weeks.

In contrast her husband Derek was tall, muscled and pale as milk. Derek Huff had the fair complexion given to most red haired individuals and found it impossible to obtain even a whiff of a tan. He liked to joke that he'd been instrumental in ending the war in Iraq simply by blinding the insurgents with his broad chest when they'd tried to shoot at his platoon.

Both Mac and Derek had opted for loose cotton shirts, cargo shorts and flip flops. In Mac's opinion, the flight would likely be awful enough; he'd better be comfortable for it.

Tammi extended her hands and happily greeted Mac. He learned quickly that she possessed a warm, inviting personality that was infectious as she chatted excitedly about the voyage they were embarking on. Derek gave Mac a quick handshake and after introducing his wife and moved straight to petting Reego.

"What up fluff man?! So glad you get to come!" Reego cocked his head to give Derek better access to his ears.

Mac introduced Tammi to Reego who was pleased to have another person to pet him.

"It's a good thing Madison isn't here. She'd just go crazy over the doggy," she gushed. "Madison is our 3 year old. I don't know if you've met her?"

"I have actually. She and Reego have met as well. Derek brought her by the K9 booth at the fair last year," he smiled at the memory of the bubbly little chubby blonde cherub. "I've been trying to convince Derek that you guys need a puppy. I even volunteered to help him train it."

"That would be great! We'll talk more about this." She gave him a conspiratorial look as Derek gave them both a stern head shake in the negative.

Before he could voice his protests Pete and Becca arrived with a thin, dark haired woman tottering on very high heels in tow.

Becca looked radiant with her rich brown hair recently cut into a stylish bob and her dark eyes sparkling. She'd opted for khaki shorts and a coral tank top with a tan fedora. She looked casual and lovely beside the other woman whose sequined turquoise dress appeared too tight and short to be truly comfortable.

Becca gave Mac an affectionate hug and turned to the woman who stood with an expectant gleam in her eyes that made him want to take a couple steps back.

"Mac, this is Tammy's friend Isabelle who has joined us for the last couple of our joint vacations. Isabelle, this is Mac Tullman our good friend and his K9 partner Reego." Becca gestured toward each party as she made introductions.

"I'm so happy to meet you!" The woman gushed in a high pitched voice and swung her long dark hair over her left shoulder. Mac shook her hand quickly and retreated back a step. In serious danger of tipping forward on her high heels the woman reached down to pat Reego. "Well aren't you just the sweetest doggy ever!"

"Only until you run and Mac says the magic words, then he'll rip your face off." Derek added cheerily. Mac winced not because of Derek's addition but in sympathy to Reego's pride. "No need for a dog whistle, I think Isabelle's voice will be high pitched enough," Derek added.

Tammi elbowed her husband. Isabelle laughed and made a sweeping gesture with her hands toward Derek. "You are so funny Derek!" she squeaked. Mac caught Pete's eye as they both cringed.

When Mac turned his head back to the scene at hand he noticed another member had joined the party. Tammi now stood with her arms around an athletic looking woman with long hair the color of hazelnuts bound into a thick bun beside her left ear wearing a purple brushed cotton shirt and olive green shorts. When she turned her face to him he noticed she had the most luminescent jewel toned green eyes he had ever seen. Her mouth curled into a smile that gave him the impression she was sweet but nowhere near a pushover as she leaned forward to shake his hand.

"I'm Brenna Malloy, you must be Mac and the handsome one there must be Reego. I've been very excited to meet him."

"Ya, most people are most excited to meet Reego than me. I've learned to live with the constant ego leveling." He released her hand and to his surprise saw that Reego had moved himself to her side and stood patiently looking up at the new woman. She began to pet him and he happily leaned into her leg with joy.

"He likes you. That is pretty impressive. He'll accept a pat from just about anyone who doesn't smell like a crook but that look of ecstasy is pretty much unprecedented."

She beamed down at the dog and sat in the nearby chair to better be able to shower him with love. As Mac watched Reego rolled onto his back and allowed her access to his belly, a gift usually only reserved for himself.

Isabelle took a step toward the couple and Reego instantly sprang into a sitting position between her and Brenna. Mac was surprised as he recognized his partner's show of protection. He quietly gave Reego the hand signal to relax and the dog lay down at Brenna's feet.

Isabelle stopped and announced in an over enthusiastic voice to the group, "They are boarding! Mexico here we come!" She threw Mac a brilliant smile. He looked away quickly.

A couple hours later he finally dozed off in the uncomfortable airline seat. He'd negotiated a seat on the wings so that he could place Reego's carrier next to his seat and attend to the dogs needs. As a consequence he was several aisles away from everyone else.

Although he never made a whimper Mac knew he wasn't a fan of the pet carrier and the 8 hour flight was going to be hard on him. Hoping to ease the discomfort he'd fed him half of a tranquilizer tablet hidden inside of a Vienna sausage.

They both awoke as the plane touched down. He waited patiently for everyone to file off the plane before letting Reego out and attaching his leach so he could collapse the pet carrier and walk off the plane. When he looked up he saw Brenna approaching.

"Need any help? I can carry that?" She gestured toward the collapsed cage. "I didn't bring a carryon so I have free hands."

"I got it but if you want to walk him out you can." He handed her the leather leash and grabbed his carryon bag before following them off the plane. Regardless of all he knew, he couldn't help noticing that she was in excellent shape. He'd never been attracted to the stick figure girls. Strong, well toned girls were more his style and she fit the bill on that note.

Three weeks of fending off Isabelle could be salvaged to some degree by secretly appreciating Brenna. As long as he didn't voice any of his thoughts they'd all be fine.

****************

The house was huge. After loading all their luggage into the 2 rented SUV's they'd driven less than 30 minutes and pulled into a large circular driveway. It was dark but Mac could still see that it was flanked by lush greenery on both sides as it approached the house.

A large Spanish villa style home light by recessed landscaping bulbs came into view. Heavy dark wood doors opened onto a foyer of ornate marble. Each room was nicer than the next with a great open floor plan and high ceilings. The house has been advertised as furnished and the company had done a great job placing comfortable looking chairs and pillows everywhere. The housekeeper left a note explaining the security system and that she had stocked the fridge with a few essentials to get them started in the morning.

Mac opened a set of French door attached to the living room and found they led to a huge terrace with comfortable chase lounges and steps that led down to the beach. He took a deep breath of the fresh sea air and gave Reego an absent minded scrub.

"This is gonna be nice buddy," he told his partner as he closed the doors. "Lets go find our room and pass out. I'm tired."

Tammi told him his room was the last one at the end of the west wing of the house. He gathered his suitcase and Reego's bag and followed the corridor down to the final door. As he opened it and made to enter, the door behind him belonging to the room across the hall opened and Isabelle stepped out.

She'd changed into a light pink tank top and boy shorts that left very little to the imagination.

"Oh, you're across the hall. That makes me feel safer. I thought it would be just Brenna and I on this side of the house." She leaned against the door frame. "Now I know if something happens I have an officer near by."

Reego brushed past Mac and into the room beyond.

"We are on vacation. Reego and I are just a man and his dog for the next 3 weeks. This place has good security though. Goodnight."

Wanting no further conversation he pushed his bags into the room and closed the door with a sigh. Pete hadn't been kidding. That gal was something else, and not necessarily in a good way.