Elizabeth Neff Walker - Puppy Love

by Неизвестный

  "I don't need correction, either. I'm not in training like your dog," she snapped.

  Rob looked like he wanted to shake her, but all he did was roll his eyes. "Why are you being so prickly?"

  She was just asking herself the same thing. The answer was all too clear to her, if not to him. She was attracted to him-to those strong hands and that rugged face. To the sunlight in his hair and the depths of his gray eyes.

  "You're the one who's barely spoken to me in a year," she said gruffly.

  Rob stared at her until she raised her eyes to his. "That was my mistake, Molly. I'm sorry."

  "Apology accepted," she said. "See you tomorrow."

  Though he hesitated, after a moment he shrugged and took himself off. Much to her relief.

  Chapter Four

  Rob arrived at Molly's every morning at nine. Over the course of a week he learned the proper use of "No" and "Okay" in training a dog. With a firm voice and clever hands he taught Jasper to sit and to heel.

  But Jasper was a difficult dog. Learning "sit and stay" and "down and stay" was much harder for him. Rob was almost convinced that Jasper could not learn to come when called. Rob's patience was beginning to wear thin.

  "How do you do this all day every day?" he asked Molly.

  She laughed. "It's my work. I'm used to it."

  "No one could get used to a dog being so headstrong."

  Molly leaned back against a colorful cottonwood. A mass of black curls framed her face. Rob thought maybe she was laughing at him, the way her lips turned up on one side. Her eyes danced with amusement.

  "Dogs are no more headstrong than people," she said.

  Rob snorted. "Sure they are."

  He released Jasper from the training collar. There was no way he was going to work with the dog any more that morning.

  "Maybe you should go home and soak in that hot springs of yours," Molly said. "After all, you're the one who's frustrated. Not Jasper."

  "He should be," Rob grumbled.

  When Jasper wandered happily into the barn, Rob sat down on the bench. Sitting down seemed to him the best way to prevent himself from walking over to Molly, tilting her head up, and kissing her.

  Now where had that thought come from?

  Molly pushed herself away from the tree. Rob could see that she was restless. She walked back and forth in front of the barn and finally spoke.

  "You're going against a dog's instincts sometimes when you train him. But right now we're going against your own."

  Startled, Rob asked, "Against which of my instincts?"

  She shrugged. "Lots of them. You don't want to be here. You want your dog to obey you simply because he's yours. He should know better than to oppose you."

  "Well, he should." Rob grinned. "I feed him and shelter him. He's supposed to be grateful to me."

  "Right. You'd probably think the same thing of a wife."

  Molly had come to a stop right in front of him. Her hands were on her hips. Rob resisted the urge to pull her onto his lap.

  "That's not the same thing at all," he protested. "And, sure, I'd expect a wife to be grateful to me. I'd be grateful to her, too."

  "For what?" Molly asked.

  Because she was glaring at him, he said only, "The usual things."

  Molly waved that aside with an impatient hand. "You have to learn how to respect a dog for what a dog gives you, Rob. You think you're the one doing all the giving. You give him food, and a bed, and a big ranch to run around. You take him to the vet and pay some attention to him. Big deal."

  "It is a big deal."

  "Compared with what he gives you?" she asked. "Get real. He's your companion. He gives you love and loyalty."

  Rob found himself on his feet. That put him so close to her that she stepped back. "Could I kiss you?" he asked.

  Confusion and something else clouded her face. "Of course not," she said. "Don't be ridiculous."

  With a gentle finger he traced the oval of her face. She swallowed and blinked at him. "You're awfully pretty, Molly."

  "I think you're losing it, Halston," she muttered, backing farther from him. "All this frustration is getting to you."

  He nodded. "I'm frustrated, all right. But not just because of Jasper."

  "You don't like me. Remember?"

  Surprise widened his eyes. "Why do you think that?"

  Molly laughed bitterly and took another step backwards. "You're clear as glass, Rob. From the day I arrived here you've scorned me."

  "Well, I didn't know you."

  "And you think you know me now? Guess again." Molly spun away from him, moving to put the bench between them. "Go home, Rob."

  He crossed his arms over his chest and stayed where he was. "I do know you now," he said. "I've watched you work with Jasper, and with me. I've seen you with the other dogs. You're good with them, you're good with me."

  "That's my job."

  His eyes narrowed. "That's not the whole truth, Molly, and you know it."

  "It's close enough." She shooed him away with her hands. "Go away. I have other stuff to do."

  "I'll go. But I'd like you to come over later. Use the hot springs. There will be other people around."

  "No, thanks."

  "Around nine. The nights are cool and the hot water feels great."

  Molly said nothing.

  Rob added, "You'll like my guests. I have a midwestern couple staying now who breed cairn terriers."

  He could see the interest in her eyes, but she turned around and headed for the barn without speaking.

  "We wear bathing suits," he called after her.

  Molly had no intention of going. Nine o'clock, indeed. As an early morning riser, she went to bed at ten. But even if Rob had said seven o'clock, she wouldn't have gone.

  Besides, the only bathing suit she had was ten years old.

  At five she fed the dogs. Distracted, she wandered into her bedroom and opened the bottom drawer of the dresser. Sure enough, that's where she'd put her bathing suit when she came to the valley.

  Molly held the suit up in front of her. Though it had been a bright aqua blue with a bold pattern of tropical flowers, it had faded. Not really badly. If you didn't know how bright it had been, you wouldn't really notice.

  Annoyed with herself, Molly put the suit back in its place and slammed the drawer shut. She was not going to Halston Ranch at nine o'clock to display her pale body to Rob Halston or anyone else.

  Dinner was a turkey sandwich and a carton of yogurt. It was time to shop again. But she disliked grocery shopping and always put it off until there was nothing decent to eat in the cabin.

  Of course, the store down the road wouldn't be crowded at this hour. She could put her suit in the car in case she decided to stop at the ranch on her way back. Nope, couldn't do that. The frozen foods would thaw.

  Molly washed her few dishes and sat down in the wooden rocking chair in the living area. The new issue of her professional dog training magazine had a story about training cairn terriers. The authors were from Missouri, and she wondered if by chance they were the couple at Rob's.

  Unlikely, she knew. And yet, she would love to talk with someone about raising puppies for sale. Molly glanced up at the clock on the mantle. It was only 7:30.

  She had few friends in the valley. It wasn't natural for Molly to keep to herself. She was an outgoing woman. But most of this year had been spent setting up her kennel and advertising her grooming and obedience training business.

  And Rob's disapproval of her had made her wary. Everyone else might feel the way he did. But if she went to the ranch tonight, it could be a turning point in her Montana life.

  One way or another.

  Chapter Five

  At ten after nine Molly parked her Jeep on the gravel alongside the ranchhouse. She was nervous. Her bathing suit was wrapped in a blue towel on the passenger seat. It suddenly seemed absurd to be arriving here at this hour.

  Before she could change her mind, Rob was there at the car door,
smiling at her. "I'm glad you came," he said.

  In the darkness she couldn't tell if he was laughing at her. She picked up the rolled towel and climbed down from the Jeep. "I can't stay long," she said.

  "Of course not," he agreed.

  So why had he invited her if he didn't want her to stay long? Molly knew she was being contrary, but she couldn't help it.

  "I'll show you where to change." Rob held the front door open for her. Inside, the room was lit by table lamps, which cast a soft glow over the rustic furnishings.

  Molly had never been in the house before. The size of the living room startled her. Her whole cabin could have fit in it.

  "Wow! Do you do all the work around here?" she asked.

  Rob laughed. "Hardly. I have a couple who manage most of the day to day business. I get to do the fun stuff-trail rides, hot springs soaking, talking with the guests."

  She looked around the room with interest. "Is this where the guests hang out?"

  He nodded. "Some do. It's a comfortable place to read and talk."

  She thought it looked charming with its fat sofas and deep armchairs. "Did you grow up here?"

  "Yep. I've lived here all my life." He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. "It was always kind of this way. When my folks retired to Arizona and turned it over to me, Joel suggested I turn it into a guest house."

  Molly found herself standing on an old braided rug in the middle of the room. "You don't mind the lack of privacy?"

  He looked at her intently. "Sometimes I do. But there are lots of places I can go that I won't run into anyone else."

  She would have liked to ask him where, but thought better of it. "Where should I change?"

  Rob led her up the stairs to the second floor. At the far left end of the hallway he pushed a door open. "This is my room. Join us when you're ready."

  He explained how to find the hot spring-heated pool and left her alone. His room was simply furnished. An old brass bed rested under a window that looked out at snow-capped mountains.

  Molly set her towel on the bed and quickly stripped. She felt uncomfortable standing naked in his room. When she pulled on her swimsuit she felt worse. How could she have forgotten how revealing the tiny piece of fabric was?

  But it was too late to leave. She followed Rob's instructions and soon heard voices echoing off water and walls. Drawing a deep breath, she pushed open the door.

  There were five people in the pool. The underwater lights gave off an eerie glow in the otherwise dark room. Molly had no difficulty picking Rob out of the group. From where she stood he might have been naked. She swallowed hard.

  "Here's my neighbor, Molly Bishop," Rob said, easily hoisting himself out of the pool. He dripped across the concrete and took her cold hand with his warm fingers. "Come and meet everyone."

  One couple, Jim and Beth Patten, were somewhat older, in their forties. The other pair, Peggy and Tom Cella, were in their mid-thirties. Rob said it was the Cellas who raised the cairns.

  Molly slid into the steaming water with a gasp. Peggy Cella laughed. "You haven't been in here before," she guessed.

  "Right. It's hotter than I expected." Molly could feel Rob watching her as she pushed her wet hair back from her eyes.

  "You get used to it," Tom Cella said. "In fact, it's super relaxing."

  Molly didn't feel at all relaxed. She was aware of how her suit clung to her, and of how little Rob was wearing. Physical labor around the ranch had made his arms and legs strong. An arrow of his sandy chest hair pointed toward his swim trunks.

  Across the pool he grinned at her. It was a lazy, seductive sort of grin and Molly turned away. To the Cellas she said, "I'm thinking of raising dogs here in Montana. But these cowboys seem to like bigger dogs than cairns."

  Peggy laughed. "If Jasper is any example, they certainly do."

  "I understand you're trying to train him," Jim Patten said. "You have your work cut out for you."

  "I know." Molly risked a glance at Rob. He was still watching her intently. "But he's not a bad dog at heart."

  "Just like his owner," Rob said, winking at her.

  "I'm not as sure about that," she retorted.

  His guests laughed and told stories about Rob from other visits to Montana. It was obvious they were fond of him, but they knew his impetuous side. Beth Patten told of the time he had saved her from an angry moose.

  "He could have driven it off," she said. "But, no, he had to be a cowboy. He came racing along on Charger and grabbed me off the rock I'd climbed."

  "Damn near threw her back out," her husband added.

  "Damn near threw my back out," Rob admitted. "Stupid stunt. But it was fun."

  "Speaking of back, mine is ready for bed," Beth said. She and her husband said goodnight and disappeared into the ranchhouse.

  Molly took advantage of the chance to discuss raising dogs with the Cellas. They listened to her questions and answered them. But she could tell they were not totally paying attention.

  Beneath the surface of the water their bodies seemed to almost merge, they were so close. Molly could tell that Tom's hand was on Peggy's bottom. Peggy's hand was on his thigh, high on his thigh.

  Peggy's voice became thick when she spoke. Tom's eyes burned with a barely suppressed desire. After a few minutes, they confessed to being very tired. Ha, Molly thought.

  But she was left alone with Rob.

  Chapter Six

  "I should go," she said.

  Rob swam across the pool to her side. "Not yet. It's early."

  "I get up early."

  "So sleep in tomorrow."

  His eyes were bright with a warmth she couldn't ignore. Her insides responded with a tightening that made her knees feel weak. And no hot springs were going to help her relax. She was far too close to him.

  Rob reached out and pushed the wet hair from her face. "You're so pretty," he said. "I still want to kiss you."

  Molly thought she should say no. But her thumping heart and unruly body wouldn't let her. She wanted to feel his lips on hers, wanted to feel his body pressed against her.

  She nodded, trying to keep her gaze steady on his face. Rob's lips broadened into a smile. Without a pause he pulled her toward him. Wet, warm lips covered hers. Molly shivered at the stunning impact on her body.

  How was it possible to react that strongly to a kiss?

  They were in deep water. Rob put his arms around her waist and held her against him as he kicked them toward the shallow end of the pool. His strength excited her. His hands, his body touching her made Molly ache inside.

  When they could stand in the water, he kissed her again. His mouth moved from her lips to her chin. Then lower, to her neck and to the spot just above her suit. Molly heard herself moan.

  The aqua suit has a short zipper over her breasts. Rob eased the zipper down. The suit spread so that most of her breasts were visible to him.

  Alarmed, Molly said, "Someone could come in, Rob."

  "No one's going to come in, Molly." His lips moved onto the exposed white flesh.

  "Oh, God," she said.

  He nudged the suit back until one whole breast escaped. Rob took the nipple into his mouth and drew on it. A riot of sensations raced through Molly's body.

  "This isn't a good idea," she managed to whisper.

  Rob released her with a rueful grin. "Oh, I think it's a pretty good idea," he said.

  Molly sighed with a relief almost as strong as her regret. "We don't have that kind of relationship."

  "We could." Rob ran his hands down her arms, brushing against the naked breast. "I'd like to, Molly. Don't you feel at all attracted to me?"

  She should lie to him, but Molly wasn't good at lying. "I'm … uh …attracted to you, Rob." She'd have to do better than that. "But we're not even friends," she protested.

  "Seems to me we've become friends."

  Molly shook her head. "No, we're just temporarily friendlier."

  He kissed the tip of her
nose. "Tell you what, Molly. We'll spend the next half hour in the pool, naked. Then, if you think there's nothing between us, you just get dressed and go home."

  Her voice shook. "Naked?"

  "Sure. It wouldn't be fair if you were the only one to reveal your body." He abruptly slid his swim trunks down his long, powerful legs.