by V. K. Sykes
Okay, she admitted silently, it was with both.
- 6 -
Noah could hardly believe how fantastic—mouth-watering, really—Teddy Quinn looked with the wind streaming though her coppery hair as they rocketed down I-95 with the Cadillac Escalade’s windows cranked down. He’d borrowed the loaded SUV from his buddy, teammate Nick Rome, since there was no way he could fit two huge dog crates into his BMW.
Though the wind noise was practically deafening, Teddy had asked him to shut off the AC and open the windows so she could breathe the clean air of an unusually fresh June evening. Ever since he picked her up at her place in Manayunk, he’d been fighting to keep his attention on the road. Her white shorts showed off her slim, athletic legs, and the tight red tank top left little to the imagination when it came to the upper half of her body. Earlier, she’d covered her shoulders with a light sweater, but now it lay folded in her lap, exposing a lot of smooth, pale skin and a cute dusting of freckles for his gaze to lock onto.
Noah had hoped in vain that Cristina might suck it up and accompany him to the airport to meet the dogs’ flight because he figured he could use some help to get them loaded up and safely home. But the housekeeper had balked. For the first time since she’d come to work for him, they’d had a heated argument and, for once, Noah had matched Cristina’s voluble temper. Still, she’d been adamant, and when Noah persisted, she’d practically shouted that he should take along “that girl” if he couldn’t handle a couple of dogs by himself. Noah had winced at what might be a slur on his manhood, but what really got to him was Cristina’s tone of voice when she said “that girl”. It gave Noah serious worries about future relationships in his house.
Cristina hadn’t even met Teddy yet, but apparently she’d already conceived an irrational dislike of her. He’d humor her for now and see how the situation evolved. But as much as he appreciated Cristina’s work, he wouldn’t tolerate discord in his home from an employee that he paid damn well and treated almost like family. He needed Teddy, as was obvious from tonight’s little outing.
“This should be fun.” Teddy smiled as she turned her head toward him. Her hair whipped across her face in a stream of red shot through with gold, and she took a moment to push it back. “Thanks for including me in the welcoming party.”
Noah shook his head as he took the exit ramp for the airport parking garage. “No, I’m the one who should be thanking you. I wasn’t thrilled about having to wrangle two dogs and their crates by myself, and I wouldn’t even broach the subject with Cristina.” He’d decided to use that small lie since Teddy didn’t need to know about the confrontation he’d had with his housekeeper. “I’m just glad you were free tonight. Free in both senses, apparently, though I would have been more than happy to pay you for your time, like I said.”
Teddy dismissed that with a wave and a dazzling smile. “Think of tonight as an introductory special for a new client. Besides, it makes a lot of sense that the dogs see us together as soon as they get out of their crates. They’re going to have to get used to seeing a lot of both of us, right?”
“Oh, yeah,” he agreed, “an awful lot.”
And maybe in some interesting positions, too, with a little luck.
Okay, he’d like to think that particular thought had come out of nowhere, but he’d be lying. He wondered if she’d had any of the same lustful thoughts he’d been having since the day they chased down Buster. He thought maybe she had, since she always seemed a little flustered around him.
As Noah pulled into Garage C, Teddy’s pink mouth turned down at the corners. “I can’t stop thinking about your aunt. It must have been so wrenching for her to say goodbye to Toby and Sadie today. I can’t even imagine having to go through that.”
He grimaced. “Aunt Roz called me early this morning to tell me her friend and the dogs had hit the road for Dallas to catch the direct flight. She was pretty broken up.” Noah had been forced to brush away a tear himself after the short conversation. “I promised her again that I’d do everything I could to keep her darlings well and happy. And I made a point of letting her know that I’d hired a truly loving and responsible person to take care of them when I’m gone.” He gave her the warmest smile he could. “She was some happy about that, believe me.”
Teddy momentarily dropped her gaze as a blush of color spread over her face. “I appreciate that, Noah, but you don’t really know me. I’m not sure why you’d have that kind of confidence in me yet, especially after the Buster affair.”
He squeezed the Escalade into an empty slot on the first level and turned to her. She watched him with an earnest, almost wary expression in her eyes. “I know you enough, Teddy. For one thing, I saw firsthand how much you cared for Buster. And I saw how the dog reacted to you. That told me all I need to know when it comes to trusting you with my aunt’s dogs. It was a crazy day, and you handled everything really well. That was enough of a job interview for me.”
Her smile lit up her cute face as she glanced down at her elbow, no longer swathed in bandages but still obviously far from healed. “Then I guess this was a small price to pay for a great opportunity, huh?”
“I’m glad you think so,” Noah said as he got out of the car.
Opportunity? Teddy wasn’t his usual type—plus she was his new employee—but for some reason it felt like most of the opportunities in the current situation were his. And that was way more appealing than it should be.
* * *
The special services agent wheeled a flat-bed cart through a door behind one of the baggage carousels and pushed it toward the office where Noah and Teddy waited outside. A pair of two-tone Furrarri 550 kennels sat side by side on the cart. Teddy had just glimpsed two black faces peering expectantly through the bars of the crates when suddenly a huge woof erupted from one them.
“Ah, that would be Toby,” Noah said with a chuckle. “He’s always been the mouthy one.”
“Well, he’s the male—need I say more?” Teddy said sardonically.
Noah rolled his eyes as Teddy looked up at him, unable to resist a little grin.
Teddy was five-seven in her sneaks, but she felt like a midget standing next to the mighty oak that was Noah Cade. He radiated such strength and controlled power that she figured he could probably stack the heavy dog crates, with the dogs still in them, and carry them out to the car by himself.
But for such an unconsciously dominating man—one who had supposedly left a trail of broken female hearts in his wake—he gave off an easygoing, totally non-threatening vibe. Even when he moved close to her as they waited at the baggage claim, so close that their bodies often touched when either of them swayed slightly, she had no inclination to move away to re-establish her personal space. The warnings she’d received about him filtered away with astonishing ease, and she began to think they were likely exaggerated. After all, gossip mags and websites weren’t exactly known for accurate reporting.
But even if the rumors were true, she knew she wouldn’t have hesitated for even a second to help him with the dogs’ arrival tonight. Of course, she had told herself that it was all in aid of establishing good client relations. Emma had laughed out loud when Teddy uttered that half-assed rationale.
She held the leather leash Noah had given her, its chain collar open and ready to slip over Sadie’s head as soon as she opened the crate. Noah had assigned her that task, leaving the bigger and apparently more rambunctious Toby to him. Unlike her, he seemed relaxed, the leash still bunched up in his hand.
“You should get the choke chain ready to slip over Toby’s head when you open the crate, don’t you think?” Teddy said as the agent rolled the cart to a stop a few feet from them. Since they’d already completed the necessary paperwork, they could simply take the dogs away, though she hoped the young man would wheel the crates to curbside for them. From experience, she knew they were awkward to lug, especially when holding onto a dog at the same time.
“Nah,” Noah said. “They’re not going to run off. Toby’s
probably going to try to jump up into my arms.”
Teddy had already contemplated the prospect of Sadie jumping up on her and raking doggie nails down her bare legs. She’d been an idiot for wearing shorts tonight instead of jeans, like Noah, but she had no intention of letting a dog loose without a choke chain on her for correction. Aside from the damage Sadie might inflict, she wasn’t prepared to take even the slightest risk of having to chase the dog through the airport. If Toby got away, well, that was on Noah, and he was welcome to mount a frantic pursuit for him while she kept a firm grip on Sadie.
“Is it okay if we use the cart to haul the crates to curbside?” Noah asked the agent.
The young man gave Noah a big grin. “I’ll take them out for you, Mr. Cade.”
“Thanks, man,” Noah said, giving him a fist bump.
Teddy had to resist the impulse to roll her eyes. She’d already gotten a taste of the power of celebrity when Noah had sauntered into the special services office a few minutes ago. The agent had immediately recognized him and fallen all over himself to be helpful. With good humor, Noah had agreed to his request for an autograph.
Before Teddy could move, Noah bent over, released the catch on Toby’s crate and swung the wire door open. Toby lunged out, almost knocking Noah over.
“Hiya, old buddy,” Noah crooned as Toby went bananas, his pink tongue lolling out in obvious glee. Noah embraced him in something like a bear hug before gently shoving the big dog down and deftly slipping the collar over his muzzle and onto his neck.
“Nicely done,” Teddy said, admiring his smooth move.
“Thanks, but what are you waiting for? Sadie’s going to be mad at you for making her wait.” He winked to let her know he was pulling her leg.
Teddy crouched and unlatched the other crate as Toby nuzzled at her long hair. Unlike her brother, Sadie didn’t explode out like a cannon shot. Instead, she gazed expectantly as Teddy whispered a few soothing words of greeting while slipping the collar onto the Poodle.
Teddy could hardly believe how lovely and well-proportioned Sadie was. When she emerged from the crate and walked into a perfect stacked position, Teddy recognized she was the product of quality breeding as, obviously, was her littermate. “God, Noah, they’re absolutely beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen better Poodles.”
“Wow, hear that guys?” Noah said, bending down to give each of them a quick head rub. “And listen, Teddy’s a professional, so she knows what she’s talking about when she says you’re beautiful.”
Then he leaned in close and whispered. “And they’re sure not the only beautiful things here either.”
His warm breath teased her ear and for a moment she forgot the dogs, the airport and everything other than the insanely seductive man looming over her. For a moment, Teddy even thought he might slide his lips along her cheek or neck, but instead he pulled away and made a hand gesture to the agent as he said, “Ready to go, Teddy?”
She blinked like an idiot before finally pulling herself into a semblance of order. With a quiet murmur, she gave a very gentle tug on the leash to tell Sadie they needed to get moving. She followed Noah out of the terminal to curbside, where he tipped the agent and hustled off to retrieve the SUV as Teddy settled in to wait with the dogs.
That little encounter inside the terminal wasn’t the first time Noah had given her something of a come-on, but the pure, unfiltered sexuality that had darkened his whisper banished any shred of doubt as to his interest in her. Still, Teddy’s rational mind tried to reject it. Okay, she’d been attracted to Noah, but how could the same thing possibly have happened to him? Any woman in her right mind would be drawn to his looks and laid-back charm. She, on the other hand, couldn’t be more ordinary, especially compared to the kind of women he usually dated.
Several travelers had taken up positions around her, waiting to be picked up. Toby and Sadie pulled on their leashes a few times in the vain hope that Teddy might let them pay those people a friendly visit, but she kept both dogs in a firm hold, soothing them with pats and whispers that Noah would be back soon.
As she waited, her nerves started to dance with an uncomfortable combo of anxiety and excitement at the idea that she might end up alone with Noah at his house tonight. But surely the housekeeper would be there, too, wouldn’t she? Teddy hoped so, because she really needed this job, and she needed to be a professional. What she didn’t need was a client relationship that was becoming more complicated by the second, complicated in a way that could eventually lead to losing a lucrative contract.
Act like a professional, Teddy, and everything will be fine.
Toby gave a loud snort against her leg, as if he understood exactly how difficult that was going to be.
* * *
“Hi, Cristina. It’s really nice to meet you,” Teddy said after Noah made the introductions. She offered her hand to the diminutive housekeeper who looked as if she’d rather be anywhere else at that moment. The three of them stood awkwardly in the foyer while the dogs remained in the car. Noah had wisely decided not to spring them on Cristina until he’d introduced Teddy.
“Hello,” the woman said with no hint of a smile. Nervousness radiated from the slim Filipina, which Teddy decided to assume was caused by the dogs’ arrival, not hers.
Cristina was a very attractive woman—despite her dour demeanor—and Teddy guessed her to be in her late thirties. Her brown, almond-shaped eyes were striking, and her prominent nose and full lips gave her face both character and sexuality. She wore her glossy, raven hair in a short, elegant cut and had dressed in close-fitting designer jeans, Polo T-shirt and new-looking, strappy sandals. She’d also had a recent mani-pedi, too, by the perfect look of her pearl nail polish. Next to her, Teddy came off like a country bumpkin.
When the stray thought whispered through her brain that maybe the beautiful Cristina and Noah were involved, she squashed it. Besides, it was none of her business who Noah was involved with.
Keep telling yourself that.
“Are you ready for them, Cristina? We’ll just let them say hello, and then you can go back to your suite if you like.” Noah maintained a serious face but Teddy could tell he thought Cristina’s apprehension about the dogs was over the top. He’d said as much when he called to ask her to come with him tonight.
His offer to let Cristina withdraw after meeting the dogs had sounded more like an order to Teddy’s ears. Maybe he was thinking the meeting might be too uncomfortable to continue. Or maybe Noah just wanted to be alone with her?
Stop thinking like that, you idiot.
Cristina gave him a faint smile. “Thank you, Mr. Noah. I’m ready.”
Teddy smiled warmly even as she wondered if D-Day had required as much preparation as this introduction. She’d never understood how people could be afraid of dogs or dislike being around them. Yes, she got it in theory, but what was there not to like about dogs? They lived to be loved by human beings and got no greater pleasure in life than making their masters happy. If she’d had any doubts on the subject, that unshakeable bond had been the only proof Teddy needed that God truly did exist.
“Back in a minute,” Noah said to Cristina as he gestured to Teddy to follow.
Getting the dogs out of their crates was pretty much a repeat of what had happened at the airport, with Toby jumping up like an idiot and Sadie acting decidedly more collected. Back inside the house, Noah kept an iron grip on Toby while Teddy allowed Sadie to gently approach Cristina, just as the two of them had planned.
“Cristina, meet Sadie,” Noah said, stroking Toby’s back to calm him down. The big dog shook all over as he swiveled his head back and forth trying to take in his strange surroundings. “She’s the easy one, as you can see.”
Cristina plastered a clearly insincere smile on her face as she dropped her hand slowly toward Sadie’s muzzle. Sadie gave it a couple of sniffs and then pivoted back to face Teddy, sitting before gazing expectantly up. If the dog could talk, she probably would have been saying something
like: why would I be interested in this new person when I have you, Teddy? You clearly adore me.
“Okay, Toby’s turn,” Noah said. “Toby, sit,” he commanded, giving a little tug on the leash. When that produced no results, he tried again, this time in a firmer voice. “Toby, sit!”
The big dog sat as ordered but couldn’t stop vibrating with what Teddy judged to be excitement, not nerves. “Let him sniff your fingers, Cristina,” Noah said softly.
Cristina held her hand out again, this time even more tentatively. Toby tried to stand up but Noah firmly shoved him back into a sit. Once Toby got the message, he gave Cristina’s hand a thorough sniff and then a lick before she pulled it away.
“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Noah said with an encouraging smile. “And, look, once they get used to their new home, they won’t be any problem.”
The housekeeper took a couple of steps backward as Noah allowed Toby to get to his feet. “It’s just that with the weekend…” she said in a hesitant voice, leaving the sentence unfinished.
“We’ll talk about that again later, okay?” Noah said. “Teddy, let’s take the dogs to the back yard and let them have a little run.”
Looking relieved, Cristina headed off toward the back of the house and disappeared into a doorway to the right as Noah and then Teddy followed down the long center hallway. Teddy had managed a brief glimpse into the kitchen the day Buster escaped as Noah hurried her down this same hallway and into his basement training room. This time, she made a point of gawking at the gleaming granite counters, rich wood cabinets and high-end appliances as she walked Sadie past. The Sub-zero refrigerator and six-burner range with dual ovens caught her particular attention. She enjoyed cooking and longed to someday have a kitchen like that.
