Man's Best Friend

by EC Sheedy

  "Of course, sir," Milton said, unperturbed by Rand's warning. "And will you be taking your cell phone? In the event I need to contact you with some earth-changing news... the latest Internet IPO, a plunge in pork bellies?"

  Rand glowered at him. "Yes, I'll take my phone. It's on my desk in the library. Would you get it for me?"

  "Certainly, sir."

  Rand rolled his eyes. "And quit calling me 'sir.' Makes you sound like something out of the eighteenth century."

  "How perfect for you," Milt said, then left the room.

  Tessa laughed. "You can't win, you know."

  "Maybe not, but the occasional last word would be nice," Rand said, his tone dry.

  "He loves you," Tessa said. "That's why he picks on you. My dad used to do the same thing."

  Rand looked baffled by her statement but didn't have time to reply before Milt returned with his phone. He slipped it into his windbreaker pocket. "Let's go."

  Tessa zipped up her own windbreaker and called Millie to heel. She and Rand were at the edge of the back lawn when Milt called from the house. "Tessa, there's a call for you. Your sister, Annie. She says it's important, but not critical. Shall I take a message?"

  Tessa glanced up at Rand. "Do you mind waiting a bit? Annie doesn't call unless there's a good reason."

  "Go ahead. We'll wait." He gestured at the two dogs, both still on the leash.

  "Thanks. I'll be fast." She ran into the house.

  Chapter 9

  Rand watched Tessa run, her gait long and effortless, her dark hair, which she hadn't tied back this morning, sweeping wildly across her shoulders. His attention stayed fixed on her until she disappeared into his kitchen.

  She may not have been winded by her short run, but Rand was. Damn the walk. What he wanted to do was follow her back to the house and march her directly back to his bed. His groin tightened at the thought. He cursed into the morning breeze.

  He'd figured her for trouble when he'd first set eyes on her, but he'd figured she'd be Ned's trouble, not his. Now, he stood in his own yard, in a perilous state of need—not to mention guilt—and had no idea what the hell to do about it.

  He shouldn't have touched her. He'd known from the get-go she couldn't play his kind of game—casual sex, no promises. Unless he missed his guess, under Tessa's bravado beat the heart of a true romantic. She would want the happily-ever-after ending. He was sure of it.

  Just as he was sure it was the last damn thing on earth he would ever give her.

  Thanks to the morning sun, the grass not shadowed by trees was dry. He sat and immediately Licks was all over him. Reflexively, he played with the pup's long, floppy ears. Licks took that as an invitation to climb onto his lap. Rand grinned. "You think you've got it made, don't you, fella?" Licks tilted his head, fixed his brandy colored eyes on him. "Well, don't count on it. I'm not that much of a pushover."

  Licks put a paw on Rand's chin, not in the least chastened.

  Rand rubbed his velvety head. "You're too trusting, pup." He caught sight of Tessa stepping out the kitchen door. "Just like your trainer."

  But when he looked at her and thought about last night, his foolish heart hammered even harder. He shook his head to clear it, told himself to take his own good advice and not make some kind of big deal out of one night of good sex. Correction... spectacular sex.

  He stood, brushed some grass from his jeans, and watched Tessa cross the lawn toward him. She wasn't running now, and her head was lowered. Whatever the call was about, it had changed her buoyant mood.

  When she reached him, he asked, "Anything wrong?"

  "No, everything's fine."

  Rand lifted her chin, forced her eyes to his. "You sure?"

  She smiled wanly. "Mom has a bad tooth. Annie had to take her to the dentist." She forked a hand through her windblown hair. "She had to tell someone, so she picked me."

  "Nothing serious then."

  "Nothing serious."

  Tessa smiled and grabbed his hand. Nothing serious if you have a few million in the bank instead of a few hundred. "Now, let's go, or the morning is going to disappear before our eyes."

  Tessa wondered when the bad news would stop. Mom didn't have just one bad tooth, she needed major dental work. Annie said she hadn't wanted to bother Tessa with it, because she knew she'd feel responsible. So Mom had downed non-prescription painkillers and put up with the toothaches until forced to the dentist by Annie and a screaming double abscess. According to Dr. Majors, she needed three fillings and a root canal. Right away.

  Tessa's meager savings wouldn't cover it, but it would be a start. Annie said she'd get a couple of extra shifts at the supermarket where she worked on weekends, so that would help.

  Tessa looked at Rand and Licks. If she were in a better mood, she'd laugh aloud at how easily the young dog had won Rand over. And the funny thing was Rand didn't even know it. At the moment, he was instructing Licks to fetch a stick, waving it back and forth under the sitting pup's nose. Licks watched him intently, but without comprehension.

  Tessa knew Rand's efforts were futile. She wondered what it was like for a powerful, effective man like Rand to be ignored by a stubborn pup—who, bored with the stick, had decided to shred one of Rand's pants legs.

  Tessa sat in the grass to watch. It was more fun to watch them than worry about money problems beyond her immediate control. She'd do her best, and somehow she'd make it right. In the meantime she'd told Annie to book their mother's dentist's appointments. Things would work out somehow. They always did.

  At least she had a couple of months to go on her training contract for Licks. Thank heavens! She ignored the pain she felt at the thought of not seeing Rand again and told herself to grow up. Maybe she'd gotten herself in emotional glue by doing what she did last night. And maybe she hadn't expected it to be so... shatteringly sensual, but she'd handle it.

  Rand tossed the stick close to Tessa, still sitting with an indifferent Millie at her side. Wonder of wonders, Licks charged after it and picked it up, looking for all the world as if he'd pounced on a mountain lion and intended to shake it to death.

  "Did you see that?" Rand grinned.

  "I'm in awe," she said, trying not to laugh, but knowing Rand hadn't a hope in hell of retrieving the stick from Licks without a serious chase. "Maybe you should give up your day job and take up dog training."

  "Smart mouth," he countered, beginning his attempt to have Licks bring him the stick. Licks had a different idea and headed for the trees near where she sat, stick in jaws—Rand in hot pursuit. Licks circled Rand, teasing him with the stick. Rand's mistake was a quick feint right and a lunge, a combination landing him square on his butt on a patch of damp grass.

  Rand looked at Tessa and arched a brow, as if to say I give up! He fell back into the tall grass. Licks, the victor, planted both muddy feet on his stomach and dropped the stick square on his chest.

  Rand laughed and ruffled Licks' ears, unperturbed by his now green-streaked rear end and mud-caked windbreaker.

  Tessa laughed with him, until the tears came, ones never cried before, hot drops which wet her lips and left her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly breathless—she knew.

  She was already in love with Rand Fielding, and all the willpower in the world wouldn't change it.

  She brushed at her damp cheeks.

  Just when she'd thought her life couldn't get worse, it had. She'd fallen in love with a man who'd rather jump in front of a runaway train than love her back.

  Annie would never forgive her. Needing to move, she got to her feet.

  Rand, brushing at his backside and jacket, walked up to her. She wiped under her eyes with her fingers. "You think this is funny?" he said, his expression stern, his dark head lowered so he could look into her watery eyes.

  She dabbed at them with a tissue, shook her head. Dumb twit that she was, she wanted to tell him how she felt, shout it into the morning sun, run gleeful laps around this football field he called a yard. Instead she purse
d her lips and gulped the words back.

  Rand gripped both her shoulders. "You are laughing at me," he accused.

  She pressed her lips together, held onto her secret as if it were her last ten pennies, and she was desperate for a dime. Again she shook her head.

  Still holding her shoulders, he glanced over his own. Unrepentant, Licks, his nose caked with dirt, sat patiently, stick in mouth, watching them. "I could have him stuffed and hung over the mantel. Save a hell of lot on dog food."

  "You could." She smiled, feeling all misty and warm.

  "Then again maybe I'll just—"

  He touched her mouth with his, and his kiss, freely given in the brightness of a spring morning, sealed it. Tessa Darwin was a goner, another crazy woman who'd given her heart to the wrong man. She sighed into his kiss and pulled his dark head closer. Her body warmed under his leisurely demands, began a perilous descent into the kind of need a smart woman avoided. This was desire, hot, intense, and risky. A risk Tessa decided to take.

  "In a couple of months I'll be gone," she muttered against his throat. "I'll handle it."

  "Handle what?" Rand asked, moving his mouth to her hair.

  She pulled back and for the first time failed to meet his eyes. "I said—" she stepped back, needing space, "—we should handle the dogs. You know, as in training?" Her smile was wobbly, but okay, she figured.

  Rand rubbed her chin with his thumb. "You're in charge. Let's do it."

  They didn't get the chance. Rand's cell phone rang, and whatever the message, it took him back to the house.

  * * *

  Tessa stayed with the dogs and her stew of thoughts, sitting in the tall grass at the far end of the yard. Feeling wonderful and terrible at the same time, she idly smoothed a blade of grass over her denim-covered knee.

  How on earth was she going to keep her mouth shut and Rand from knowing what she felt? What if she blurted it out? That's what she usually did. Blurt things. Maybe she'd better spend more of her spare time—what there was of it—with Mom and Annie. No point hanging around here with a sky full of misplaced stars in her eyes.

  If she thought for a second that she had a chance...

  Killing that useless line of thought, she got up and tossed the blade of grass.

  She saw Milt coming toward her from the house. He waved. She waved back.

  "The industry titan won't be back, I'm afraid." He reached down and patted Millie's head. The dog nuzzled his hand. "Our current deal-in-progress, Mr. Macy, will be here for dinner after all. Himself—" he looked toward the house "—sends his apologies, says he'll be cocooned in his office for the remainder of the day."

  Tessa let out a sigh, part relief, part disappointment. "That's okay. I have to go see my mom and Annie anyway. I'll spend a little more time with the dogs and I'm off." She tried to sound bright and pert, but had no idea if she carried it off, and she tried not to look at Rand's house with longing.

  Milt rubbed his chin, hesitated. "It's not my business, Tessa girl, but be careful about him." He gestured vaguely toward the house "Don't expect too much, too soon."

  "Am I that transparent?" she asked.

  "You are, indeed, and Rand's a fine man, but—" He stopped. "Complicated."

  "I know what you mean." She rose on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "But about those expectations? Don't worry, because I don't have any."

  "I believe you do, and I believe you're entitled to them, but you won't get anywhere if you don't—" He stopped again, clearly uncomfortable talking about his employer and friend.

  "Persevere?" she suggested, trying to smile.

  "That'll do. Along with some patience."

  "Now that could be a problem." She forced a smile. "Don't worry, Milt. He'll be okay, and so will I."

  "You're sure?"

  "I'm sure."

  "He'd like you to come to dinner tonight. Along with Mr. Macy, you'll get to meet Neddy's wife."

  Tessa sighed, and Millie shoved her nose reassuringly into her hand. "Tell him thanks, but I don't think so. Like I said, I think I'll visit my family for a bit. I'll take Licks, so you don't have to worry about him and come back later."

  "All right. Shall I save something for you?"

  "No. Thanks. I'll eat with Mom, but I won't say no to some dessert." Like maybe an avalanche of chocolate to bury her troubles. Love troubles.

  "Done. See you later."

  * * *

  Rand lifted his eyes from the spreadsheets covering his desk and flicked off his computer screen. Cullen Macy would be here any minute, and Rand was ready. The German buyer was lined up; and with the usual fast legal work, Rand wouldn't hold Macy's company, Destiny Tech, for more than three days. Anima III, the company's breakthrough diagnostic tool that would, according to Macy and every other expert Rand consulted, revolutionize blood testing procedures in every laboratory in the country, would go to Europe.

  Rand's gut constricted. If he didn't know better, he'd swear it was guilt. And maybe a trace of regret. This was exciting stuff. He could...

  What? Ride with it? Trade an easy forty million bucks for years of research and development, the painstakingly slow steps necessary to refine and ready a medical product for market?

  Rand rubbed his forehead and took a couple of deep breaths. Maybe the man he'd once been, with a medical degree and idealistic goals, was coming to life again. Why else would he even consider holding on to a company for once?

  That wasn't how Red Earth was run. As usual, Rand expected to earn twice as much money as he'd paid out as fast as possible. The flip. Boyd Fielding and Griff had perfected it.

  Maybe Cullen wasn't going to be happy, but he'd be a few millions richer. Salve enough, usually. Although Macy might be the exception. Young enough to have his ideals intact, he had no idea Rand was about to go at them with a jackhammer.

  He swiveled his chair to face the window just in time to see Cullen's cab pull into his driveway. Rand shook his head. Even now the guy had enough money for a fleet of limos, but he didn't seem to care. All he cared about was his company and what Destiny Tech and Anima III would do for medicine.

  Cullen got out of the cab, and as he was paying the fare, Tessa, Millie, and Licks came around the corner of the house. Cullen squatted to say hello to the dogs, then stood and offered his hand to Tessa, grinning like a damn fool. Rand watched Tessa take his hand, laugh when Cullen pointed and said something about Licks.

  Rand's brain heated. He didn't want to see Tessa laughing and smiling with another main. He wanted...

  Hell. He didn't know what he wanted other than to make love to her until the day after forever. If his cell phone hadn't screamed at him, he'd still be with her, wasting time, letting stupid ideas take root in his sex-crazed brain; ideas like the one he'd just had about Destiny Tech, ideas about Tess—ideas about emotions he hadn't felt in years.

  He looked out the window again. It had been a mistake to kiss her earlier, a mistake to walk with her. The smart thing to do was keep their relationship where it belonged—in the bedroom.

  Damn! What on earth were those two doing? And what in hell did they find so damned amusing? He swore they were laughing at his dog.

  Rand pushed himself to his feet and strode out of his office. In five seconds he was opening his front door.

  "Cullen," he said, nodding—pleasantly, he hoped—in his direction. "Good to see you."

  "Hey, Rand." Cullen Macy took a step toward him.

  "You've met, Tessa, I take it." Licks swaggered over to sit at Rand's feet, making him feel ridiculously good.

  "Certainly did. And your dog. Looks as if we've got something else in common."

  Rand lifted a quizzical brow.

  "The future of Destiny Tech and Rhodesian Ridgebacks."

  "Cullen's got a female, Rand," Tessa said. "About a year old?" She glanced at Cullen. He nodded.

  "Great." Rand's tone was unenthusiastic. He looked at Tessa. "You'll be joining us for dinner." He'd intended it as a question; it came out as if i
t were a house rule.

  Tessa frowned. "No, I'm going to my mom's."

  "Staying?" He wanted to bite his tongue out. What the hell did he care if she stayed or not? He'd be up all night with Cullen and Ned anyway.

  She gave him a funny unreadable little grin, as if he'd pleased her in some way. "No, I'll be back later. Milt's promised to save me some dessert."

  He smiled, couldn't help it. "Thank God for Milt's desserts."

  "Yeah," she said, then, bold as Licks, walked up and kissed him on the cheek. "See you later."

  * * *

  It was past ten when Tessa got back to Rand's house. She went to the kitchen where she found Milt, crossword puzzle on knee, pen in hand, dozing in front of the TV. She woke him and sent him, sleepwalking, to his room. He mumbled something about chocolate mousse in the fridge and closed the door behind him.

  Sitting at Milt's island, eating her dessert, Tessa heard the voices in the living room but couldn't make out any conversation. Only the absence of laughter.

  If her luck held, she'd be in bed before anyone knew she was here. She'd done a lot of thinking today, and she'd come up with a plan—a plan long on risk and short on the patience Milt advised earlier.

  She grimaced, waved her spoon. "Sorry, Milt," she said to his kitchen ghost.

  The voices drifted in again, Rand's saying something about "building futures together." Tessa almost choked on her whipped cream.

  * * *

  At two o'clock, Rand turned out the last light. At one minute after two, he paused outside Tessa's room. He knew she was home, because he'd seen her car beside the house. He pulled in a breath, stared at her closed door. If he could have named what he was feeling, it would have come close to wistful, but since a real man couldn't be wistful, it had to be something closer to lustful.

  He scowled and headed for his room, telling himself he was too tired anyway.

  He'd use the downtime to think about the Macy deal.

  Inside his room he closed the door, stripped off his shirt, and walked unerringly toward his bed. He didn't bother turning on the lamp; the moonlight coming in through the high windows was enough.