Her date pointed with his fork. “I asked if there’s a problem with your meal.”
She stared blankly for a second, until her brain caught up. “No, it’s great. I just—” Don’t want to be here. She dropped her gaze and stared blindly into the creamy sauce generous sprinkled with truffles. Her date had the bucks to spend, and he hadn’t hesitated. God only knew what this meal cost.
She could be in a hot, sweaty club right now, dancing and burning out all the frustration she felt because—
The truth slammed into her. That wasn’t where she wanted to be, either.
She laid her fork down. “Peter, I’m sorry, but—” You’re a dry stick, and what the hell was I thinking? Michael’s brown eyes, so hot they’d melted her from the inside out, swam before her.
Followed by the look in them after their first kiss. He’d been as surprised as she. Maybe as rattled.
She scrambled. “I’m sorry, but I’m just not feeling well. A friend of mine has that bad flu going around—”
Horror replaced his concern. “I have a massive trial starting in two days.”
Yeah, you’re not enjoying this either. And okay, so she’d suspected he was a germaphobe. Any man who’d carry hand sanitizer on a first date and use it frequently…
“I’ll see you home,” he offered.
His heart wasn’t in the offer, and anyway, she couldn’t bear another five seconds. “No, I’ll grab a cab. Better that you limit your exposure.” She glanced at her plate. “Would you like me to reimburse you for—”
“No, no—” He practically shooed her away.
“This was lovely…I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t give it a second thought.” His hand went into his pocket where he’d stored the hand sanitizer.
She stood, and he made a half-hearted gesture to rise. She waved him off. “Please—don’t miss that wonderful meal. Happy New Year.”
He returned the greeting.
She gave him a little wave and strode out.
In the cab outside, however, her smile vanished as she contemplated ringing in the new year alone. Maybe she’d go downstairs and get jiggy with the rest of the drunken celebrants. SoCo was hopping tonight. There was actually a freaking line outside the door, and she had to shove her way past to get to the rear entrance where she could access her stairs.
Everyone was so happy. So full of energy and…hope.
And…she didn’t care. Couldn’t muster the interest.
Instead she wondered: What was Michael doing tonight?
* * *
Michael was up to his elbows in trying to grab an unborn foal’s hoof and shove it back so the head could emerge first while the mare’s vaginal walls nearly crushed his arm and the anxious owners stood by and wrung their hands.
At last he felt the tip of a nose and curled his aching fingers under the foal’s jaw. Holding on for dear life, he eased the head carefully down the birth canal.
One more. Come on, mama. Help me out here.
As all three of them—mother, baby and he—rested for breath when the contraction eased, he spared a fleeting thought for the woman who’d been on his mind every day and every night this week. If she could see him now, she’d be horrified. His arm and chest were covered with muck, and there would be more.
Her likely expression made him smile. Yeah, one of these things is not like the other, Lawyer Foster. She was no doubt clad in some tight dress that caressed every curve and revealed the long legs that haunted his dreams, ending in deadly heels that would only increase her seductive allure to every male she encountered.
Damn them.
And he had on filthy jeans, boots so old they couldn’t hold a shine if life depended on it and muck from head to toe.
But man, he wanted to kiss her again.
Then the next contraction began, and Michael let everything else go as he helped a new life enter the world. “You’re doing great, mama. Let’s bring this baby home.”
The foal slid out in a gush of fluid that soaked the straw, his boots and half his jeans. His arm had nearly lost all sensation.
Yet Michael knew that he’d never get tired of this miracle. The same one that would likely send Laken packing.
He shook his head and watched as the new filly rose on shaky legs, and her owners cheered and hugged one another.
* * *
It was nearly midnight when Michael turned into Leonard’s gate and drove toward the house. He hoped Ajax hadn’t done anything unmentionable in the mudroom, but he’d been through enough deliveries to know he might have had to crate the pup for hours, and it was too soon to be doing that. Monroe, I’m counting on you to keep him in line. Michael was so damn tired he wasn’t sure he could make it all the way inside, much less deal with cleaning up floors. He turned left to park behind the house—
And had to slam on the brakes. There was a car parked near the porch.
His heart bumped once, hard.
Laken’s car.
The woman herself sat on his back porch, long legs bare and gleaming in the headlights, Ajax on her lap, tail wagging madly as he recognized Michael’s truck.
He swallowed hard. Willed himself to be calm.
Yeah, right.
She stood as he opened his door, and he nearly swallowed his tongue.
Yep, the dress hugged every curve all right.
Killer heels, check.
Long, loooong legs.
Sweet honey in the rock.
Her eyes were uncertain. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he responded, forcing himself to move slowly when he wanted to charge her. She might be the single best thing he’d seen in his life. “You okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” A negligent lift of the shoulder. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Tough girl to the bitter end. But the fleeting vulnerability he spotted kept him from challenging the lie. “You look amazing.”
Another shrug, then her attention sharpened. “You look…terrible. Are you hurt?” She put down the pup and rushed to him. Reached for him.
“Whoa—” He backed away, hands up. “You don’t want to get too close, not dressed in that…god, that dress…”
“What happened?”
He tore his gaze from that smoking hot body. Glanced at himself. “Oh. Delivered a filly tonight. Things got…a little complicated.”
“The blood isn’t yours? Or all of that…” Her hand waved at him. “Whatever it is?” Her nose wrinkled.
“Nope. I about lost the use of my right arm, but otherwise, I’m good.”
“What happened to your arm? Did the horse bite you or something?”
He couldn’t help grinning. She was such a city girl. “I’m not sure you want to know where my arm was. It was a breech birth, and I had to …um…rearrange the filly.”
His headlights clicked off, but not before he saw her face go ashen. “Oh. Wow. You really have to…?”
“Yep.” He laughed at her horror, visible in the moonlight. He was hungry and filthy and needed a shower.
Yet he wanted to stand here and stare at her forever.
She, however, looked aghast. And confused. “You really like what you do?”
“Yeah. I really do. When you make a hurt animal feel better or you help bring a life into the world…it’s pretty great.”
He thought her expression looked more wistful than uncomprehending—but it was dark. What are you doing here? He wanted to ask.
But much more than that, he didn’t want her to go.
Then Ajax began licking his boots. “Buddy, you really don’t want to do that.” He picked him up and scratched the pup’s head, then looked at Laken. “I need a shower, and I’m starving. Have you eaten?”
“Sort of. Look, I should go. I don’t—”
“I wish you’d stay.” Though clearly she couldn’t. She was dressed to go out. “I have a casserole or twelve in the fridge.”
“Okay…” Her mouth quirked. “Why?”
He glanced away, embarrassed. “Som
e of the clients bring them. Actually almost every day.”
At last she grinned. “The hot, single vet meets the casserole brigade.”
He shrugged. “Maybe they’re just appreciative of my work.”
“I doubt that’s all they’re appreciating.” She snickered. Then sobered. “I really should—”
He grabbed her hand. “Stay.” He leaned in. “I promise I washed my face.” And before she could react, he dipped his head and kissed her.
The kiss quickly went torrid, and she moved in closer. He let go of her hand so he could drag her against him and—
Fortunately, before he could spread the muck to her, Ajax tried to get in the middle of the kiss, licking them both eagerly.
Laken pulled back, laughing.
He liked her this way, untroubled and easy. He’d like to make her that way more often. He smiled back. “Saved by the dog. You do not want any of this on that excuse for a dress. How do you get into that thing, anyway? Somebody paint it on?”
She arched one eyebrow. “Maybe. Want to try taking it off?”
His heart stuttered. His body zoomed into the red zone. Careful, bud. “I plead the fifth.”
But he just had to swoop in for another kiss that threatened to rage out of control.
Ajax yipped.
“Not until I get clean.” He clasped her jaw. “Don’t go anywhere. Please.”
Her eyes searched his. “Don’t take too long.”
He wished he could believe she’d stay.
What the hell for? You said it yourself, one of these things is not like the other. As in light-years apart.
Oh, just shut up. He forced himself to leave and head for the shower.
Hoping like crazy she’d still be there when he finished.
* * *
Laken sniffed one of the casseroles and stifled her resentment. What did she care if the women in this place had the hots for Michael? He didn’t belong to her. He was only here for awhile, anyway, and what did she have in common with a man who’d come home covered with—She wrinkled her nose. Whatever that was all over him after he’d stuck his arm inside—
Wow. The image might put her off sex if she thought on it too long.
She turned on the oven, removed the plastic wrap and stuck the casserole inside. The tag—from Amy, whoever that was—had smiley faces and hearts. What are you, nine? Have some pride, woman.
The instructions said thirty minutes plus, she guessed, however long warming up the oven would take. Laken cast a glance in the direction he’d gone. Hm…
He was in there. Naked. Wet. She hadn’t seen nearly enough of that muscular body.
But she’d seen enough to know she wanted to see more.
Thirty-five minutes or so… Not nearly long enough for everything she wanted to do to him or him to her, but…
It was a start. She set the oven timer.
Ajax tried to follow her, but she found a rawhide for him. She closed the bedroom door and started stripping as she crossed toward the sound of the water. When she entered the bathroom, she still had on her heels, a thong and…earrings.
Maybe it was the change in the temperature of the room or the brush of air from the door, but Michael turned and saw her through the fogged glass.
He went still. “Don’t move, whatever you do.” He wiped away the fog on the glass and stared, solemn brown eyes lighting on her, skimming over her with an intensity she could practically feel. “I thought the dress was amazing, but…”
Slowly she removed her earrings, one at a time. Skimmed her thong down her legs.
“I guess showering in those heels is a bad idea, huh?”
She grinned. “I can put them back on…later.” She stepped out of them, and he held open the door. “I’m clean now.” His tone was light, but his eyes burned.
She scanned his body, too, the muscles that hadn’t been built in a gym, the dusting of dark hair over his chest, the happy trail leading down to the part of him that couldn’t hide his reaction. Her eyebrows flew upward at the sight, but she made herself continue down the long, powerful legs, the big feet…
She could eat him up. “You—” She had to clear her throat. “I think you missed a spot.” She closed the distance between them but didn’t touch.
Until one finger traced a trail from his strong throat down over the muscular pecs and down his hard belly…
He grabbed her finger with one hand. With the other he yanked her to him and sealed his mouth over hers, plastering her body against his, trapping his hard length between them.
Laken let her head fall back with a sigh that was half-moan. She bit her bottom lip and reveled in the feel of him, eyes closed in bliss. Her nostrils flared as the fever rose. She swiveled her hips to brush her belly against him.
He banded her with one strong arm while the other hand cradled her head, and his tongue got wilder, his kiss hotter—
He tore his mouth away with a fervent groan—
Then bent and took her nipple between his lips. Grazed it with his teeth.
She barely stifled the scream that rose. “More…more, more, more,” she demanded as she gripped him tightly, too, and the fire raged.
He set her on the bench seat and dropped to his knees, one quick press of his mouth to her core, one quick nip of the teeth to plump lips that skyrocketed her to the flashpoint—
Then he yanked himself back, put her leg over his shoulder and turned to slick his tongue along her inner thigh while his hand made free with her breasts, her belly…
His powerful hands banded her thighs, and he opened her to teeth and tongue, to rapture and screaming bliss until she was so close, so agonizingly close…
His tongue slid inside her, slicked upward until she was ready to—
One finger inside, her, then two, curled to touch the magic spot where—
Laken went rigid and screamed as she came.
As her body vibrated with aftershocks, she collapsed against the tile. Michael gathered her close, holding her as if she were precious. She doubled over him, her cheek on the top of his head as her arms wrapped him against her bosom and tenderness poured from a heart that didn’t know she had that in herself.
For a long, precious moment they were reverently still.
Then he shut off the water and rose, lifting her into his arms as he strode out to the bedroom where he laid her on the mattress and followed her down.
She had no idea what to say to him as their gazes met with so much in them, so much more than she could afford to think about.
A drawer shut, the quick tear of plastic—
Then he drove himself inside her, and she rose again to the magic, to the bliss as he took her mouth again and together they flew. Her legs went tight around his waist to send him deeper, and she lost all sense of anything but this man, this moment, this…wonder.
She was coming again, and she gripped him hard while he went rigid and pounded—
With a groan, he gave himself up to her and she fell right alongside him. It was a long time before they stirred, and she didn’t really want to move, but…
She glanced at the clock. The casserole. Almost done.
“It’s nearly midnight,” she said.
Sexy, sleepy eyes greeted hers. A slow smile grew. “Happy New Year.”
And for this one moment she let herself quit thinking and planning and deserted logic. “Happy New Year.”
They stared at one another, reluctant to disturb the fragile beauty of the moment, the sense of peace…
Until Ajax decided they’d been gone long enough and started whimpering and clawing at the door.
Michael groaned. “You need to train your dog better.”
Her mouth quirked. “I’m not the animal expert in this room. And he’s so little…”
“Softie.” He kissed her belly as he rose.
His stomach growled loudly.
She hitched herself up and kissed his belly back. “I’ve got one of your admirers’ casseroles warming. Come on,
Doc…let’s go feed you.”
He’d already dispensed with the condom when he extended his hand to help her rise.
But then he yanked her into him again.
And cuddled. “Just a minute more of this.” He held her close.
For a treacherous moment, she let him. It was possibly the best feeling in the world.
Which was why she couldn’t let herself enjoy it too much.
At last she rose to her toes and kissed his cheek, then slapped him on his very fine ass. “Come on, Doc. Can’t have you fainting from hunger.” She looked around for her dress, but instead he took a t-shirt from one of his drawers and handed it to her.
It hung to mid-thigh.
“I don’t suppose you’d like to put the heels back on with it.” That grin was dangerous.
“I don’t suppose.” She put an extra swish into her walk as she left, barefoot.
He yanked on a pair of knit boxers, then swooped her up at the door.
The pup yipped and jumped at his feet.
But Michael kept his eyes on her every step of the way.
Chapter Five
‡
January
Ellie opened the ornament box with a sigh, hating, as always, the dark side of Christmas. Putting away was always wrenching and sad, and she had to fight every year to keep depression at bay.
If she had any help doing it this year, maybe it wouldn’t be so painful, but now even Sam was in school, and Christy had gone back to college early. Her spirit squad duties beckoned, she’d said, but Ellie knew it wasn’t strictly true. The entire holiday, with few exceptions, had been a constant push and pull between Christy’s excitement to be home and part of the family, and her fervent wish to be back on her own.
Ellie understood it, even remembered feeling it herself, but that didn’t make any difference to her mother’s heart. A blanketing wave of despair smothered her, and she sat down with the open boxes all around her, fighting to overcome the horrifying vision of her future that opened before her.
With every year, the children would retreat farther from her, need her less. Wyatt had his work as a builder, which took up more and more time as he became successful. Word of mouth already had more jobs lined up than he had subcontractors to handle. He came home exhausted and fell into bed, sleeping like a rock beside her.
The Book Babes Boxed Set (Texas Ties/Texas Troubles/Texas Together) Page 16
