Cowboy Six Pack

by Kari Lynn Dell

  Desire grew like an out of control brush fire. He captured her head and took charge of the seductive kiss. He knew it was crazy to feel so connected to this woman. He’d only known her for four days. But being able to help her and have her trust, was headier than anything else he’d ever done or felt.

  He continued to taste and kiss her until they were both breathing hard. A big hairy head pushed between them, whining.

  It was a good thing the dog had separated them. His hands had begun to stray to the warm, soft skin under her shirt.

  Zach stared into Kitty’s face. Her eyes were closed, her skin tinged with pink, and her lips rosy and wet. He wanted to pick her up and carry her into his bedroom. Considering everything she’d said so far about men, that would make him just like his brother-in-law. That thought cooled his ardor and released the tension in his shorts.

  He didn’t condone what Barry had tried, but he knew of a lot of young men who thought they had to make a conquest of every female they dated. He had a feeling his sister would have put Barry in his place if he’d tried that with her.

  Kitty’s eyes opened. The violet iris was barely visible around her dilated pupils. Her lips curved into a soft smile. “I think Winnie needs to go outside.”

  “Yeah.”

  Happiness shone in her eyes. It was the first time since meeting her she appeared completely relaxed and unguarded.

  Neither one moved. A grin spread across his face as he watched her. Contentment and a feeling of home rolled through him. He’d never felt this with his ex-fiancée. Now he knew the true feelings of being in love.

  His body jolted at the four-letter word.

  Her expression lost the glow and she stood, walking to the door and letting the dog out.

  He didn’t know why thinking the word in connection with Kitty scared him. Was it because they’d just met? Because she had a tendency to run when things got tough? But he’d be here for her, just like last night when she was going to run because of Paul.

  She didn’t return, but stood by the door, peering out into the darkness.

  He walked up behind her, not touching, and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

  “That you’ll realize you’ve asked a liability to be your assistant.”

  He turned her to face him and put his hands on her shoulders. “You will never be a liability. You are smart, honest, and caring.”

  “I saw the look of fear cross your face after we kissed.” The sadness in her eyes squeezed his heart.

  “That wasn’t fear about working with you.” Did he tell her what had passed through his mind? He had a feeling it was too soon. A small white lie wouldn’t hurt. “I was afraid you would think I was like the other men you dated.”

  Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. “No. You would never push yourself on me or anyone.” Her cheeks deepened in color. “No one’s kisses ever made me feel so warm and happy.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her lips. “Good. I feel the same way.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Kitty stared at Zach, believing she must have heard wrong. Her kisses made him warm and comfortable? Most men she’d dated, she’d never kissed more than once, but she craved Zach’s kisses.

  “Really? You had to have kissed other women who made you happy.” She was skeptical, he was a handsome man who could have dated many women.

  “Really. Even my ex-fiancée didn’t make me as content as being with you and kissing you does.”

  “Wow.” She peered into his eyes to try and find a speck of dishonesty. All she saw was light and warmth. She wrapped her arms around his middle and laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart thump. She’d never grow tired of hearing that sound under her ear. It let her know she wasn’t alone.

  His arms wrapped around her. They stood there until Winnie woofed to come back in.

  She released him and opened the door for the dog.

  “It’s getting late we should go to bed. Mr. Peed is dropping his dog off at eight in the morning.” Zach locked the door and headed to the kitchen area.

  Kitty watched him clean up the kitchen as she walked to the guest bedroom. This man had figured out what was wrong with her and hadn’t flinched or run. And he kissed her as if he more than liked her. Her steps were light as she retired to her room. Tomorrow she’d prove to him she was the asset he thought she’d be in the surgery.

  *~*

  Kitty helped prepare the female border collie for surgery. She liked the doctor side of Zach. He greeted Mr. Peed with a handshake and smile. Told him how long the surgery would take, what all they would be doing, and when he could return for his dog. When the man left, Zach turned to her and explained what all needed to be done before he could start the surgery. They weighed the dog, and Zach gave it a shot. He said to relax the animal. He left her at a fancy grated sink scrubbing the animal’s belly while he made sure the surgery was ready.

  When the dog was clean, Zach packed the dog into the surgery. He gave it another shot and put a tube into the animal’s mouth for the anesthesia. He explained all the numbers and how he wanted her to watch the dog’s vital signs while he performed the surgery.

  He worked with efficiency and had all the instruments laid out for her to easily pick them up and hand them to him. She couldn’t believe how fast time flew by as they took care of the dog and put it in a kennel to wake up.

  “You have a gentle touch,” she said, as they worked together cleaning up the instruments and the surgery.

  “Just because they’re animals doesn’t mean they shouldn’t receive the same respect as a person.”

  “I agree. Over the years, I’ve seen owners of some horses that shouldn’t be allowed to have an animal. Why would you treat the animal any different than you would want to be treated?”

  “My feelings exactly.” He smiled. “Another thing we have in common.” He led the way out to the main area in the clinic. They sat in the chairs in front of the kennel holding their groggy patient. Zach picked up her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. “You did great. Just like I knew you would.”

  Compliments had been few in her life. In fact, after leaving her first foster home, she’d not had one until she went to work for Marcella. She ducked her head, embarrassed.

  “Hey.” He tipped her chin up with their clasped hands. “I meant it. You are very good with your hands and have good instincts about what needs done next. Those are wonderful qualities.”

  The sincerity shining in his eyes made her heart race. How could she have been so lucky to have found this man?

  “Thank you,” she choked out around a lump in her throat.

  The dog made noises, and he released her hand to check on their patient.

  “She’s coming around nicely. Another thirty minutes and we can take that stalker order to Barry.”

  She’d let that part of her life slip from her mind as she worked with Zach. The reality of her situation slapped her out of her euphoria. “Do you think the form will help? He didn’t bother us last night.”

  “We haven’t heard from the deputy. Maybe his fingerprints on your truck got him locked up.” Zach squeezed her hand.

  “That would be a relief.” She clung to his hand. The warmth and security she felt when he touched her took away a bit of the anxiety over Paul.

  Winnie’s barking shot her to her feet.

  “I’ll go see who it is.” Zach stood, flashed a smiled, and headed to the door.

  She set the chairs back against the wall before wandering toward the front door. Two male voices could be heard on the other side. She pushed it open and found Zach and the deputy from the day before in a discussion.

  “We’re going to take the stalker order to a lawyer in an hour.” Zach stood with his arms crossed and feet spread as if barring the officer from the building.

  “The prints I took from the vehicle match those found at rape scenes across the state. I need to question Miss Baxter.”

  Kitty stepped out of the building.
Her mind whirled thinking if anyone besides Paul had touched her pickup. “What do you want to know?” she asked the deputy.

  Zach put his arm around her shoulders.

  “Has anyone besides Paul Doore been inside your pickup in the last week?” The deputy had his notepad out and pen poised.

  She shook her head. “No one.” Her heart hammered in her chest. “Are you saying Paul...” She swallowed the lump of fear rising in her throat. “He-he raped someone?” A chill slid down her spine.

  “If you say no one else has been in your vehicle, that points the evidence to him.” The deputy stared at Zach. “Don’t let her out of your sight and call nine-one-one if you see this man again.”

  “I’ll keep her close and definitely call if we see him.” Zach squeezed her shoulder, drawing her closer to his warm, solid body.

  The deputy nodded to her and returned to his SUV.

  She couldn’t stop the tremors shaking her body.

  “Come on. Let’s take that stalking order to Barry and tell him this new bit of information. Maybe they can get an appointment with a judge scheduled sooner.” He walked her back to the house, keeping his arm around her.

  His concern was touching and helped her to keep the thoughts bouncing around in her head from making her feet take flight.

  She thought back to all those years ago when she’d thwarted Paul’s attack. She could have been his first victim then. A shudder shook her body.

  Zach spun her into his arms and held her tight. “He won’t hurt you. I promise.”

  His masculine scent and chest vibrating under her ear gave her comfort and security. He would do his best to keep her safe. But with a lunatic like Paul, she didn’t know if anyone could keep her safe.

  *~*

  Zach glanced over at Kitty. She hadn’t said a word since they headed to town. He believed she hadn’t seen the man harassing her in thirteen years. What was going through her head, knowing he had raped other women? He wanted to ask, but she’d finally stopped twisting her fingers.

  He pulled up in front of Barry’s office in downtown Opal Springs.

  “I’ll stay here,” she said softly.

  “No. I’m not leaving you alone out here on the street.” He grasped her hand and pulled her across the seat. “There is nothing to fear walking into a lawyer’s office and handing over paperwork.”

  With her hand still in his, he opened the door and slid out, drawing her behind him. He continued to hold her hand as they walked into the building.

  “We’re here to see Barry,” he said to the older woman, sitting at the receptionist desk.

  Her gaze traveled over them. “Do you have an appointment?”

  “We spoke with him over the weekend. He knows we were coming in today. Tell him it’s his brother-in-law.”

  The woman picked up the phone and punched a button. “Mr. Muller, your brother-in-law is here to see you.” Her gray eyes behind stylish glasses watched them as she listened. She replaced the phone and stood. “Follow me.”

  The woman escorted them down a short hall to an office. She knocked and opened the door.

  Zach walked through the door, towing Kitty with him.

  Barry stood and motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk.

  Kitty dropped into one as if her knees had given out. He had a notion if he didn’t hold the one hand, her fingers would be tangled together. He’d learned her nervous habit.

  “Here is the stalking order.” He placed the papers on the desk. “When we returned yesterday, Kitty’s pickup had been vandalized. The sheriff’s office sent out a deputy. He has the information. He stopped by this morning to say the prints he took from the vehicle are the same as ones found at rape scenes around the state.”

  The hand he held trembled. He gave a slight squeeze to let her know he was there and nothing would happen to her.

  Barry sat back in his chair. “This new matter could get you an interview with a judge sooner.” He picked up his phone. “Doris, get hold of Judge Gray’s secretary and make an appointment as soon as you can for a stalker order.” He shook his head. “The stalker is a rapist. We need to make sure the woman filing the order has protection.” Barry replaced the phone and stared at Kitty. “How you holding up?”

  She shrugged.

  Zach was glad Barry wasn’t harboring any ill feelings toward the woman anymore. “I’ll keep her close and make sure she doesn’t go anywhere alone.”

  His brother-in-law nodded. “That’s a good idea until the man is caught.”

  “Thanks.” Zach stood, drawing Kitty to her feet. “Let us know as soon as you get an appointment with the judge.”

  “Will do.” Barry stood and walked them to the front door. He held the door open. As they walked through he added, “Be careful.”

  “We will.” Zach opened the passenger door of his truck for Kitty. She climbed in and stared forward. He didn’t like the way she’d shut down.

  He drove straight back to his place. He wanted to have a long talk with the woman. There was a lot of her past, before she’d ran away, that he wanted to know about.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Kitty hopped out of the truck as soon as Zach pulled up to the house. She needed to go for a walk. At the back of the truck, she unhooked Winnie from the leash. “Come,” she said to the dog and walked down the side of the house.

  “Where are you going?” Zach caught up to her, striding alongside, step for step.

  “I need to walk. Alone.” She didn’t look at him but picked up her pace to a jog.

  He jogged beside her.

  She stopped. “What are you doing?” Crossing her arms, she glared at the man.

  “You aren’t going anywhere without me.” He crossed his arms and stared back. His eyes held concern rather than the frustration pounding in her head.

  “I need to be alone.”

  “Fine. You can be alone in the house. Not out here where that maniac can get to you.” He put a hand on her arm. “Kitty. I don’t know what you’re feeling, but I know what I’m feeling. I’m scared. Scared I won’t be enough to keep that man away from you. Scared you’ll decide running is better than staying and catching this guy.”

  She saw the fear in the depths of his eyes. “I’m scared, too. And frustrated. My life has been turned upside down in a matter of days. There’s a-a rapist after me.” She shuddered.

  Zach’s strong arms wrapped around her and he kissed her head. “I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Let’s go to the house.”

  His phone buzzed. He kept one arm around her as he fished the phone from his pocket.

  “MacDonald Veterinary Service.”

  She clung to him as he carried on a conversation with someone about a horse.

  He hung up. “Looks like we have a call to make.” He led her to the white work truck.

  “Come on, Winnie,” he called, motioning for the dog to hop in.

  “When we get back from this call, I’ll make you dinner. We have some things to discuss.” He closed the door after she stepped into the truck.

  What did he want to talk to her about? She contemplated that as he drove through town and out the other side.

  *~*

  Zach was tired but he wasn’t going to renege on his offer to make Kitty dinner. The horse they’d gone to help had been a handful. He’d taken on most of the physical work of keeping it restrained as he’d checked out and treated the wound on its shoulder. Kitty had been a big help in calming the animal. More so than the owner who was in hysterics.

  He opened the refrigerator to figure out what to make.

  “Go take a shower. I’ll make dinner,” Kitty said, opening the door wider and bumping him out of the way.

  “I promised you dinner.” He repositioned himself in front of the open refrigerator.

  “You’re tired. I can put something together that won’t kill us.” She waved her hand. “Besides you smell like the backside of a horse.”

  He did an exaggerated sniff of
her. “You don’t smell like roses either.”

  “Go before I decide to use a frying pan on you instead of cooking your dinner.”

  He grinned and walked away. A hot shower was what he needed and where he would have gone straight to if he had been alone.

  Washing, his thoughts went to the woman in his kitchen. She was a challenge and she was exactly what he needed professionally and personally. He had to make her see she belonged with him. Forever.

  This time thinking about loving Kitty, fear didn’t enter his thoughts. His body came to life thinking about the days and nights loving her and having her by his side.

  Walking out of his room, his mouth watered at the enticing aroma coming from the kitchen.

  The woman he’d been fantasizing about stood in his kitchen stirring something in a skillet on the stove.

  He walked up behind her. “That smells good.”

  She jerked, slopping the food over the edge of the pan. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

  The food that had spilled was burning. She grabbed the pan and shut off the stove.

  He grabbed a metal spatula and scraped the smoking food from the burner. A flick of his wrist sent the smoldering food into the sink. “Sorry.” He was sorry to have scared her. He had to keep in mind there was a lunatic out to harm her.

  Kitty placed the pan on a hot pad in the middle of the counter. “It’s ready.” She placed a bottle of ginger ale at one plate and sat. “I didn’t know what you wanted to drink.”

  “I prefer milk. Would you like some?” He remembered how she’d enjoyed the milk Mrs. Minto had given her.

  “It’s expensive. I didn’t want to drink it.”

  He grabbed two glasses and set one in front of her plate and filled it with milk. “You can drink all the milk you want.” He filled his glass. “It’s less expensive to drink than that soda.”

  “Really? We usually only got one glass a day at most of the places I stayed. Then here, my small fridge wouldn’t hold a tall item.” She sipped the milk.