Zod strolled along beside him as he walked up the steps to the house and sat when Carter reached the door. One of the housekeepers let him in and only gave the dog a passing glance.

Carter considered leaving Zod outside but decided against it when he saw a gardener walk around the house. Even though he used the leash, Zod stuck to Carter's side and moved when he did. Smart.

The housekeeper directed Carter toward the family room. Already he could hear Eliza's voice mixed with Gwen and Samantha's. The women were laughing. Something Carter had forgotten about doing for the past few weeks.

Gravity shifted and suddenly he felt very tired. He rubbed a hand over his face before he faced the women.

"Mrs. Harrison?" the maid called into the room. "Mr. Billing's is here."

Samantha darted her gaze to the door, which Carter caught, then his eyes found Eliza and stayed there. Their eyes locked. She appeared drawn, exhausted.

He knew the feeling. "Hey," he managed before Gwen shoved out of the chair and walked toward him.

"Carter?" She wrapped her arms around him and kissed both his cheeks before dropping to her knee to address the dog.

A play of emotions crossed Eliza's face. He supposed his own face mimicked hers. Part hesitation, part excitement. The last time they'd seen each other he'd all but molested her. Okay, he had...not that she'd minded. Still, it met with the question of how he should act now. Carter guessed it would be best to follow the woman's lead with a room full of spectators.

"Who's this?" Gwen asked, oblivious to the emotions rolling inside Carter.

"A gift," Carter managed, his eyes never leaving Eliza's dark, questioning gaze.

"A gift?"

Eliza blinked a couple of times and dipped her focus to Zod. She sucked in a deep breath, and the smile she'd worn as he'd stepped into the room faded.

"For Eliza."

Eliza shook her head and pivoted on her heel.

Samantha joined Gwen and let Zod sniff her hand. "So you know," Sam said.

Eliza glanced over her shoulder...and waited.

"I know what?" Carter asked.

Sam glanced up from her crouched position next to the animal and stared at Carter. A brief look to her best friend, and Samantha asked, "What's his name?"

"Zod."

Gwen started to laugh, and Eliza shook her head all the while her back was turned away from the room.

"Zod?"

The dog barked a few times at the sound of his name. "Don't look at me," Carter said. "I didn't name him."

"If you didn't, then who did?" Gwen asked.

Samantha twisted toward Eliza who refused to look at them. Then he glanced at Gwen's confused expression.

"Sam," Carter started. "Would you...could you and Gwen take Zod so I can talk with Eliza alone for a minute? He could use some water...or something."

Sam took the hint and reached for the leash. "Sure. C'mon, Gwen."

Thankfully, Gwen and Sam left the room without question, both chatting as they walked away. Once they were gone, he waited for some outward sign that Eliza knew he was standing there waiting for her to do something...anything.

"I don't want him," she finally spoke.

Not, I'm not taking him. Not, I want you to take him back.

"Apparently you need him."

She blew out a quick breath. "Don't try and pretend you don't know why."

She still wasn't looking at him. Her back was so stiff it must have hurt. She appeared ready to run. Bolt out of the room at the first sign of trouble.

"I know two things," Carter started. "A couple of your friends I met the other day asked me to give you the dog."

She kept shaking her head. "And the second thing?"

"That the police are trying to protect you." He left out that he had discovered she was probably a part of the witness relocation program-hoping she would volunteer that information. "I'm not sure why, Eliza."

Carter took a chance and walked closer. When he was a foot away, he lowered his voice. "What's going on?" he nearly whispered in her ear.

"It's complicated."

"I'm a good listener."

"They shouldn't have come to you. I don't need a guard dog."

"Dean said you'd refuse him if he and his partner gave him to you."

"Dean would have been right." Eliza finally turned toward him. Her eyes pierced his. "I still don't want him."

"But you'll keep him...right?"

Her jaw tightened, her eyes darted toward the door the animal had walked through. "I don't know."

Carter placed a hand on her shoulder, and when she didn't shrug him off, his insides doubled in. Somewhere in the back of her eyes, he noticed fright. It only lasted a minute before it was gone. "For a little while. Please. I can't be with you all the time."

"I didn't ask- "

"And you live alone. Tarzana isn't the safest city in the valley."

"It's not the worst either," she defended.

"Are you going to tell me why? Why Dean and James asked me to give you this dog...why they know you to begin with?"

Eliza swallowed a couple of times, obviously struggling with her words. "They're being paranoid. Overprotective cops who think everyone is the enemy. They're cautious is all."

"You carry a gun in your purse, Eliza. That's more than caution."

She shrugged away from him and moved to the window to stare outside. After a few minutes of silence, she told him what he'd already been told. "I'm part of the witness protection program. Dean and Jim were assigned to my case when I was a kid. The guy they're worried about is serving a life sentence, so there really isn't anything to get worked up about. Zod is overkill. I'm not in any real danger or they'd have moved me on by now. They're just paranoid. Have been since the press conference."

Carter felt strain in his arms and realized his fists were clenched. Hearing confirmation of his earlier concerns angered him. "Who? Who are they protecting you from?"

"It isn't important."

"Bullshit."

She swiveled on him, her hands rested on her hips. "I've already told you why. What you'll probably hear from Blake once he and Samantha talk. I would never ask my best friend to keep this from her husband, and I know you'll talk to him. But no more, Carter. I see no need to place you or Sam and her family in any more danger."

"I can take care of myself."

"Maybe you can. But what about Sam? What about Eddie? The witness relocation program isn't set up for petty theft."

"I know that."

"Then you know I can't reveal any more than I have. Against my better judgment, I'm standing here and not running off like a scared rabbit. That doesn't mean I won't if there is any real sign that someone is after me."

"Dean is giving you a police dog. They're worried."

"Paranoid. Not worried."

"What's the difference?"

"Because they gave me a dog and not a human escort, that's why. I know what I'm talking about, Carter. I've lived with this my whole life. If there was any real threat they would ambush me and make sure I had twenty-four hour protection until I could disappear or be as protected as the President of the United States."

Carter wasn't sure if he should be relieved or upset.

He was uneasy, regardless of her explanation. "You'll keep the dog?"

"Will it end this conversation?"

For now. "Yes."

"Fine. I'll keep the dog."

Carter accepted it as a small victory. She'd told him some of the truth, and he accomplished the goal of maneuvering a guard dog into her home.

What Eliza didn't know was that he planned on being beside the dog every moment he wasn't working. And if he couldn't be there, then he'd find a way to have others by her side.

Chapter Ten.

An impromptu dinner party began once Blake returned home. In truth, Eliza was comfortable with the distraction. Zod sat on the floor between her and Carter and eyed the people at the table. Police dogs like the massive shepherd were trained to ignore offerings of food from strangers, but that didn't stop some people from trying to feed them.

"I'm surprised you managed to get away this long, Carter." Sam was pushing food around her plate, obviously not interested in eating. "I don't think we've spent over an hour in your presence since the campaign began."

Carter's gaze drifted briefly to Eliza then quickly to the dog.

"I could use a few days off."

Gwen placed her hands in her lap. "Do governors take holidays?"

"I'm not the governor yet." Carter smiled at Gwen and started to slip another piece of his dinner under the table to Zod. Zod glanced at the food, ignored it, and rested his head in his paws.

Eliza caught Carter's hand and placed it firmly on top of the table. He lifted one side of his mouth in a sly smile.

"But when you are, will you have time for yourself?"

"I'm sure I'll figure it out," Carter said. He gave up on feeding the dog and left the morsel meant for Zod on his napkin before reaching for his drink.

"Even our government officials take vacations," Eliza explained to Gwen. "Speaking of vacations, where's Neil?" Eliza directed her question to Blake.

"He's driving Jordan and her nurse back from the summer camp."

Eliza shook her head. She'd forgotten all about Jordan's week long outing. Samantha's sister had the mind of a child and didn't trust many people. As Sam and Blake's bodyguard, Neil had taken on the role of Jordan's protector, too. The whole idea of a bodyguard bothered her when Samantha and Blake first got married, but Eliza viewed Neil as one of the family now. Although the man didn't say very much, his size and deathly stare would scare any would-be assailant away.

"How did it go this year?"

Samantha smiled. "Well, I think. She's adjusting to changes much easier in this last year. I think Eddie stimulates her."

"Eddie stimulates everyone...at three in the morning," Blake said laughing.

"It's not that bad." Sam swatted his arm.

"So Neil will be home tomorrow then?" Gwen asked.

Eliza noted the lift in Gwen's chin as she directed the conversation back to Neil.

"Before noon."

"Maybe he can help me move then."

"Move?" Sam questioned.

"In with Eliza. You haven't forgotten have you?" Gwen's gaze shifted around the table.

"Oh, Gwen...I don't know. Things are kinda crazy right now." Eliza had revealed enough about her past and the current concerns for her safety to Gwen earlier. Surprise and pity were the woman's first reaction, but she obviously wasn't worried about her own security enough to shy away.

Gwen waved her hand in the air. "Oh, posh. I'm not frightened of anyone following you from your past. Besides, having more people around you and not less would be in order."

Movement at Eliza's feet caught her attention as Zod sat up licking his jowls. A quick glance to Carter's guilty face confirmed her suspicion that he was still attempting to feed the dog at the table.