by Lori Foster
Gary had left the patio door open for her, but pulled the screen. Through the doorway she saw a big covered back porch that housed a hot tub and wet bar. Beyond that was an in-ground pool, securely fenced. Tall hedges offered privacy.
Hearing a masculine laugh, Erin snuck up to the door and saw Gary on his knees beside a low dishpan filled with water. The dog frolicked and played, a true water baby, while Gary tried to suds him up. The dog shook several times, sending soap bubbles to Gary’s head, left ear, and over his chest.
He said to the dog, “You’re lucky I’m the one doing this, bud. Erin’s not a wimp, but she wouldn’t be too keen about those fat ticks hiding on your belly, or whatever that was you had stuck to your butt fur.”
The dog yapped and jumped and splashed, and for some reason, tears stung Erin’s eyes.
The scene brought about an old memory. She was eighteen and giving her parents’ German shepherd a bath in the driveway of her family home. Gary and Dave, both twenty-five, were heading out of town on a fishing trip together, and had stopped by to see her parents first. While Dave went in to the house, Gary stayed outside and helped her with the dog.
Before long they were both soaked and laughing. It wasn’t until Erin stripped off her shirt, showing her bikini top underneath, that Gary went all serious and started looking at her differently.
She’d dated boys, but at that point, Gary was a man and his attention had both flattered and frightened her.
Then suddenly, without a word, he’d stepped away from her and went to the front door to tell Dave to hurry up. They’d left minutes later.
For a long time after that, until she finished college, Gary was different with her. Still friendly but somehow more distant and, maybe, cautious.
After college . . . well, he outright flirted with her, but he’d already started fighting by then and in those early years, he spent as much time away as he did at home.
“Erin?”
She shook off the memories. “What?”
“You look like you’re a million miles away.” His smile held a question—and an invitation. “Stop daydreaming and come help me with this little spaz.”
The dog bounced and splashed some more, making Erin grin. “He has gotten pretty energetic, huh?” She went out the door and sat down cross-legged beside Gary. Cupping her hands into the water, she helped rinse the dog.
He bounced out of the dishpan and jumped first on Erin, then Gary, before following his nose to a grassy spot off the porch.
She watched the dog with a grin. “You’re good with him.”
Gary studied her for a long moment, leaned forward. Erin held her breath but didn’t move away.
Again he kissed her.
This time it was light and easy, as if he’d been doing so for a long time. She wanted more, but didn’t dare say so.
He settled back to smile at her, and belatedly picked up on her comment. “He feels better clean, and you will, too.”
With that said, he whistled for the dog, who came tumbling over to him.
Gary opened a towel and stood. “Hand him up to me.”
Erin lifted the squirming dog and Gary wrapped him in a soft towel. Wiggling his whole body in happiness, the pup licked Gary’s chin.
“I heard you mention ticks,” Erin said for lack of anything better.
“I tossed them into the yard. Nasty things.” He settled the dog against his chest. “You want to dump that tub and come inside? I think the little rat has to be hungry.” He went in without waiting for her, but was still holding the dog when she entered.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m trying to figure out how to contain him in my kitchen, or do you think he’d be better off in my bathroom? It’ll be closer to us.”
Closer to us? Erin mentally floundered. Did she even want to resist? “Uh . . .”
“What?” He stepped past her to consider the doorway that led to his living room. “You don’t expect me to drive you home tonight, do you? And even if I did, what would you do about your car? You’ll need someone to take you over there to look at it, right? I’m good with cars. I can help with that.”
He’d already done more than enough. She’d sooner pay a garage than impose on him further. “Gary . . .”
“I know that look, Erin. You’re ready to go all independent and argumentative on me. And I can handle that. I like that side of your personality.”
She would never understand him.
“But,” he added with exaggeration, “I have a feeling I’ll need my hands free to . . . counter your arguments. So hold those thoughts for just a minute, okay?” He set the dog down and went about opening a can of puppy food. The dog waited with bated breath, poised to leap, his ears up high.
The second Gary set the dish on the floor, the little dog attacked.
Erin’s heart softened. Poor little guy. “He must’ve been half starved.” She couldn’t believe how fast he ate, which made her think of something else. She cast a sideways look at Gary. “I don’t suppose you included potty training in all your plans?”
His bare shoulder lifted in a negligent shrug as he, too, watched the dog gobble down his food. “I think he’s part pig.” A half-smile kicked up the corner of his mouth and he looked at Erin. “Newspaper for tonight, more intense instruction tomorrow.”
He really had thought about it. “So . . . is he your dog then?”
Lifting his hands, palms up, to remind her that they were now free, Gary grinned and came to her. He looped his arms around her waist and hauled her in close.
It felt right to be snuggled up against him like this, familiar but also new and exciting. Given their long history, the familiarity made sense; over the years, she’d had plenty of hugs from him. But that had been in friendship, and this was so much more.
“Actually,” he whispered, “I’m thinking he’ll be our dog. Mine and yours.” His gaze drifted to her mouth and stayed there. “What do you think?”
Mine and yours? Did he mean as a couple?
Or was he just asking for help with the dog?
He did go out of town a lot, so he’d need someone to watch the dog when he was away. She’d be happy to do that. Her apartment wasn’t big enough to accommodate a pet full-time, but she’d always loved animals and the little dog was so cute. . . .
“You’re thinking about this way too much.” This time when Gary kissed her, he took his time.
And he took liberties.
His tongue touched hers, teased, moved over her lips, and then sank in deep and hot. His hands stroked her back, and then her behind. He lifted her to her tiptoes and slanted his head and kissed her like a starving man.
Erin gave up.
It wasn’t easy to focus, but in the farthest reaches of her mind, she was aware that he’d come after her without complaint. He’d been more than wonderful with the dog. And truthfully, she was tired of resisting him.
How could it hurt for her to stay the night?
He left her mouth by slow degrees. His hands remained on her bottom keeping her belly pressed close to his pelvis.
Still so near that she could see his eyelashes, he whispered, “Should I take that as a yes?”
She wasn’t entirely sure about the question. “I guess so.”
His smile went crooked. He relaxed a little more. “Way to boost my ego.”
“Your ego doesn’t need a boost.”
“If you believe that, then you really don’t know what you’ve put me through the last few months.” He kissed her again, hard and fast. “Let’s go before you change your mind. You can shower while I finish settling the pooch. After you’ve gotten more comfortable, we’ll talk.”
“About what?”
He winked. “Longevity. Commitment. Misguided intentions.”
“Wow. Sounds . . .” Intriguing. “. . . heavy.”
At the door to his bedroom, he stopped. “Towels are in the bathroom closet. Help yourself to my wardrobe if you see something you’ll be comfortable
wearing. I’ll go take the puppy out again, then grab my own shower in the hall bath.” He leaned into the room to take her mouth again. “Meet you in the bed in ten minutes.”
With a pounding heart and fluttering nerves, Erin watched him go. Heaven help her, she could hear him whistling.
Unwilling to waste a single second of the ten minutes he’d allotted, she closed the door and hurried to the bathroom.
Anticipation had him rushing through his shower in record time. He thought of Erin showering, Erin naked.
Erin waiting in his bed. Finally.
Only half dry, he pulled on his boxers and peeked into the kitchen at the pup. After eating his fill and soiling the backyard, the little dog had plopped happily into the cozy bed he’d made for him.
Poor little guy.
He turned out the light and headed down the hall. Erin had left his bedroom door ajar, and when he looked in, he found her in the bed, the sheet pulled up to her chin. Except for the hall light shining into the room, it was dark as Hades.
Knowing he had to slow down, Gary stepped into the room, but left the door wide open. He’d waited so long for her that he didn’t want to miss a thing.
“It’s a good thing you worked late tonight.”
Watching him, she asked, “Why do you say that?”
He walked around to her side of the bed and sat down on the edge. Resting one hand onto her sheet-covered thigh, he smiled. “If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have found the dog, and he’d still be out there alone.”
“Oh.” She licked her lips. “Did you leave him in the kitchen then?”
“Yeah. I made him a bed out of an old flannel shirt. He’s blocked in so he can’t get out of the kitchen, and right now he’s sleeping. But if he wakes up, we’ll hear him.”
“It breaks my heart to think what he’s been through, how long he might have been hungry or afraid.” She let go of the sheet and relaxed a little. “Now, here with you, he’s a happy little guy. So thank you for . . . everything.”
Gary took the edge of the sheet and eased it off her. She wore one of his T-shirts—and nothing else. “Thank you for calling me.”
That made her smile. “I made you come out in the rain.”
“No, you gave me a chance to convince you that . . .” He looked up at her, saw she was practically holding her breath, and figured, What the hell. “I love you, Erin. Have for a long damn time.”
Her lips parted.
He stretched out over her and held her face. “I fell in lust with you when you were eighteen, and if it had been only that, I could have ignored it. But damn, Erin, you’re smart and funny and I enjoy talking to you.”
When she started to speak, he put a finger to her lips. “You have to understand that the more women I saw, the more women who came on to me, the more I realized that they might be okay for the short-term, but only you would work for the long haul.”
“Longevity?” she asked.
“Yeah. Marriage. Kids.”
Her mouth twitched into a smile. “A dog?”
He smiled, too. “It’s a good start, right? I know I screwed up by giving you too much time, first to grow up, then to finish college.”
“But then, you were away so often with the sport.”
“I know, believe me. And when things finally seemed right, you started avoiding me.”
She put her hands on his shoulders. “I think that’s where misguided intentions come in. I didn’t want to get in your way.”
Gary touched her breast, her belly, and said, “There’s nowhere I want to go without you.”
Erin’s expression softened with emotion, but as he continued to touch her, it heated with something very different.
“I’ve waited so long for you,” he told her. Her body was sleek and warm and perfect for him, just as he knew it would be.
Making love to Erin was unlike any other experience. It was more, in every way. More emotional, more sexual, hotter and yet, sweeter. She wasn’t reserved, not with him. They had such a solid background together, he knew in his gut that they’d never have secrets, in bed or out.
As he kissed his way down her throat to her chest, she gave a soft groan. “Once won’t be enough, Gary.” Her hands threaded into his hair. “Not for me.”
Satisfaction added to his pleasure. “Not for me, either.”
“I love you, you know. I always have. That’s why I never date. No one could measure up to you.”
His heart almost stopped. It felt like he’d waited a lifetime to hear her say that. “I love you, too. So damn much.”
As he pressed one hand between her thighs, he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked gently. She was already wet, ready, and the sounds she made, the way she moved, pushed him over the edge.
He pressed a finger inside her, stroking, teasing, and when he knew she was as anxious as him, he levered away to don a condom, then moved over her.
He held her face. “This isn’t just sex, Erin. It’s a commitment.”
“Yes.”
Her heavy eyes and swollen lips pushed him, but he had to be sure. “Understand me, Erin. You worried about my car, my house, but material things don’t mean shit, not without you.”
Smiling, she hooked her legs around him and held him tight. “If you’ll stop talking and get on with it, I promise to marry you. Tomorrow even, if that’s what you want.”
Gary’s eyes flared. “I think I could wait until we tell the families.”
“Fine by me. But for now, I need you.” She pulled his mouth down to hers and kissed him, then kept on kissing him as he entered her, as they rocked together, breathing faster, deeper, until it became too much.
When he felt Erin coming, squeezing around him, he lifted up to watch her, so overwhelmed with love he wanted to shout. His own release hit him and he could do no more than put his head back and groan.
Afterward, he rested atop her, feeling her breath, the gentle beat of her heart against his. The minutes ticked by, but he didn’t want to move, couldn’t move. Her hands idly stroked his back, and every so often, she kissed his shoulder with lazy contentment.
Damn, he felt good. Better than good. He forced himself up to his elbows to see her, to tell her again how much he loved her.
A high-pitched howl split the quiet.
They both jumped, then Erin started giggling beneath him. “You woke up the dog.”
“Me? It was you.” Grinning, he sat up, did a quick survey of her relaxed body still sprawled on his bed. “Stay put. I’ll go get Cupid and be right back.”
She came up to one elbow. “Cupid?”
Gary winked as he grabbed up a pair of shorts and headed out the door. “Suits him, don’t you think?” On the way, he detoured into the hall bathroom to get rid of the condom and put on the shorts. But by then the little pup had worked himself into a moaning, yelping fit of panic.
“Settle down,” he crooned as he stepped over the barriers he’d erected to keep the dog in the kitchen. Cupid leaped in berserk joy at the sight of him, and Gary didn’t have it in him to abandon the little guy. He held him and laughed as the dog tried to lick his face. “Let’s hit the backyard first, then we’ll see about getting some sleep.”
Cupid took great pleasure in jaunting around the yard to do his business a half dozen times. When Gary figured he had to be done, he scooped the pup back up and carried him to his bedroom.
Erin had turned to her side and her head was resting on her arm. “Is he okay?” she asked as soon as Gary got into the room.
“Just lonely.” He sat Cupid on the bed beside her and the little dog spent a moment loving her before going to the foot of the bed, half crawling under the sheet near her feet, and slipping right back into a sound sleep.
Erin laughed. “He’s too adorable.” Holding the sheet in place, she sat up to pet the dog, and her smile faded.
Gary stood there watching her, basking in his newfound good fortune. She’d agreed to marry him. She’d said she loved him.
Lif
e couldn’t get any better than this.
“Poor little thing is exhausted, but I think he’s scared and afraid of being left alone again. After all he’s been through, it’s no wonder he started crying.” Erin peeked up at him. “Do you think it’d be okay if we just let him stay in here with us?”
With us. Damn that sounded good.
“Are you kidding?” Smiling, Gary got into bed beside her. “Cupid brought you back to me.” He lay down and pulled her into his arms, and they both heard the little dog sigh in his sleep. “As far as I’m concerned, he can sleep anywhere he wants to.”
A KNOTTY TAIL
Stella Cameron
For Mango, Millie, Jordan, Shiloh and Little Star
And with special thanks to Clawdia
for her collaboration!
“Listen up, Dickens,” Madeleine said. “Looks like we’re on our last chance. Blow this and we could be history.”
Dickens lay on his back timing his next snap at a circling fly.
“Close your mouth,” Madeleine told him, exasperated. “Flies are bad for you.”
“Why?”
“Germs. Didn’t mother teach you anything?”
“I never met mother,” Dickens said.
“Oh, my.” Madeleine sat with a thump on a wad of tartan fleece and scratched her ears, one at a time. “Of course you met her.”
“How’s that?”
“You were born, Dickens. That’s when you met mother. So did I.”
“Only in passing,” Dickens said. He snapped at the fly again. “I don’t remember a thing about her.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Madeleine said. “She probably doesn’t remember us either.”
She looked Dickens over. Like her, he was in good shape for a five-year-old dog, but that was probably because of the Jack Russell bits of them. They did a lot of jumping around to stay fit.
When she and Dickens got adopted this time, Madeleine had heard the man at the adoption place say, “These terrier mixes are hardy. And they’re loyal, too. Never any trouble. They don’t bark or bite or get fleas . . .” Well, maybe he hadn’t said the part about the fleas, but he had gone on and on about how perfect they were. Madeleine and Dickens were afraid the woman deciding if she could take a brother and sister go together would figure there must be something really wrong with them and look at another dog. But the woman visited with them in the petting area and said, “Yes.”
