Then they were playing.
She was playing with Allen on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico after someone had almost killed her.
Life had some strange twists.
She almost tripped, but strong arms were there to hold her. Nothing had felt more right.
That was when it happened.
When everything just shifted sideways.
Izzie caught her breath. His eyes were as stormy gray as the clouds currently over Texas in the far distance.
“Careful. Don’t want to break your arm even more.”
“No. No, I don’t.” Her hand rested against his hard chest, the T-shirt damp beneath her fingers. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
When his head lowered this time, Izzie met him halfway.
It was different now. Not the quick teasing kisses he’d given her earlier just to disconcert her.
No. When his lips covered hers this time, it was for real. It was male hunger for the woman in his arms.
Izzie slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. It was as real for her now, too.
Oh hell, things were changing between them, far faster than she thought she could handle. He felt so real beneath her hands. The wind disturbed her hair, sending it everywhere.
One large hand rose to cup the back of her head. To hold her still.
For his kiss. This time it felt so much more real than the others.
He pressed his lips to hers, and she was a goner. Then he was lifting her, straight off her feet. Out of the surf. He carried her, wrapped up in his arms, across the silky sand.
When he set her on her feet and started the quiet walk back to the van, she knew exactly what was going to happen when they got there.
The instant he closed and locked the door, Izzie pulled him into her arms and showed him exactly how she felt.
74
They spent two days at the national seashore, loving and playing together in a way he hadn’t in a long, long time.
It was perfect. Only the reason why they were there at all was a dark cloud over them.
Allen tried not to think of it, but he kept his eyes on their surroundings at all times.
He took his role of her protector seriously.
They were taking off in the morning. They’d stayed in one place too long for his comfort.
She talked him into one more walk up the beach.
Allen made himself a vow—he’d bring her back there someday. Maybe in the same van.
He scooped her up into his arms as the surf broke against his feet.
She felt like glass in his arms. She wasn’t that much shorter than average for a woman, but she felt so delicate. Fragile. Like she’d disappear into the wind if he ever let her go.
Allen understood. He even knew why it felt that way.
He wanted to grab on to the woman in his arms so tightly she’d never get away from him. Never be taken from him. He brushed his lips against hers, then took the embrace deeper.
He didn’t know how long they stood there, wrapped up in each other’s arms. It was the whimpering that pulled him back.
Fear shot through him, fear that he’d hurt her inadvertently.
The last thing he’d ever want to do was hurt Izzie.
But…she had a puzzled look on her face.
It wasn’t her. Something was growling now. Near his foot.
Something sharp sank into his skin.
He glanced down, then let her feet slip back to the sand. “Izzie, look.”
A bedraggled puppy no more than five pounds was gnawing on the side of his left foot.
Allen leaned down and scooped the small dog into his hands. The poor thing was matted and covered with filth. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a bite mark on its side. Allen turned it slightly. His—his side. It was most definitely male. Still intact. The puppy was not very old. “A puppy.”
He looked at her. Her face had softened, her lips were swollen from his kiss, and she had that dewy-eyed look that had his gut tightening with instant lust. Her attention shifted to the puppy and softened even more. Her mouth rounded softly. “He’s so...dirty.”
“I think he’s been out here for a while.” Allen could feel the ribs. Near starved. “We’ll need to give him a bath.”
“He needs a vet.”
Allen considered it for a moment. They could find a clinic somewhere in Corpus Christi. “He’s most likely underfed and needs cleaned up. Let’s get the van unhooked, and we’ll head over to the mainland. There will most likely be an open clinic. If we go now, we’ll most likely lose our campsite, though.” It was a first-come, first-served place.
“We’re keeping him?” She reached out and stroked the matted fur with her free hand. “Just like that?”
“He doesn’t have a collar, he’s been out here for a while, and we can’t afford to stick around here long enough to wait for an owner to reclaim him. I suspect he was dumped.” Allen wasn’t about to leave the little guy behind to face the world. There were coyotes on the beach at night.
“Or he’s some kid’s missing pet.”
“I highly doubt it out here in a national park, but if it makes you feel better, you can check on the internet for any missing pet notices.”
“I’ll carry him. You just get the van door.” Confirmed germophobe Izzie was reaching for the flea-infested creature without hesitation. Her eyes were soft and loving and beautiful.
Allen felt himself falling for her just a little bit more.
“I can do it.” She almost pouted at him. He knew what she wanted.
“Not with that cast. I’ve got him, sweetheart. We’ll get him cleaned up and taken care of, and grab some puppy supplies while we’re out.”
“He’ll need a name,” she said softly. She hadn’t stopped looking at the dog. She was already half in love.
Izadora MacNamara was a softie through and through. Allen was starting to figure her out. She hid her softer side underneath her prickly exterior. That way she could keep herself safe from hurt.
They carried the puppy to the van, and she moved ahead, unlocking the door. Allen carried the puppy straight to the tiny sink.
“You’re going to wash him there?”
“We’ll bleach the sink when we’re finished.” There was the germophobe again.
“What do we wash him with? I’ve never bathed a dog before.”
“Have you never had one?”
“My uncle has a cat. Well, we do. I’m not sure who he actually belongs to—or whether it’s us that belongs to him. He sort of just showed up one day, and Jake started feeding him. When we moved to our current apartment, we took him with us. He tolerates us.”
“Get warm water. It may take a few washes to get him fully clean. We’ll wash the dirt off first, then see if there are any parasites on him.”
“Should we feed him first? He’s so skinny. He’s been through some sort of hell. Someone or something hurt him. He’s probably lost too much weight. He would have starved if we hadn’t found him.”
“Most likely, someone would have found him. The beach isn’t exactly deserted. Hold his head gently.” Allen used some of the dish soap and began the process. Within a few moments, a yellow-and-white ball of fur began to emerge. The puppy growled and nipped at his fingers, not happy with the water. Allen kept his movements unhurried and easy. Izzie laughed and was ready to assist at a moment’s notice. “Keep the cast dry.”
“I want to hold him.” She was practically hopping with impatience.
Allen felt himself topple right over a cliff. She was perfect. Beautiful. Far more than a man like him deserved. “In time, Izadora the First. Don’t undo all the work we did on the cast.”
“To borrow Nikkie Jean’s expression, ‘Aye-aye, Captain.’ But hurry up. I want to hold him. What should we call him? He looks like an Oliver.”
He looked nothing like an Oliver, but Allen wasn’t saying a thing so contradictory. “Oliver, it is.”
She held out a towel, a
nd after the third wash cycle, he held the puppy out to her. She wasn’t going to wait much longer—and the puppy wasn’t going to tolerate it much longer, either.
She wrapped the puppy up as best she could with the cast. Allen helped, then guided her to the chair. She held the puppy and rocked him, making cooing noises. Allen busied himself getting out some turkey and cutting it into puppy-sized chunks—after bleaching the sink thoroughly.
After the puppy was fed to Izzie’s satisfaction, Allen rolled in the slides and lowered the roof. They’d intended to head out in the morning, as it was. This just sped them up a little.
Spontaneity was safer than not, anyway. They’d find a clinic, give a false name, pay in cash, and then head off into the sunset. There were plenty of places he’d like to take her.
Maybe she’d like South Padre Island, next. Go from pristine North Padre down to tourist-trap South Padre. She’d probably enjoy that.
Allen wanted to show her every mystery the world had, someday. They might as well start in Texas.
75
“What if we can’t get him in?” she asked when he pulled into a clinic near the edge of the city not even ninety minutes later. “I want to make certain he gets off to the right start. The bite mark—there are signs of infection.”
“I’ll go check. You aren’t to leave the van.” As if she would ever leave her new little buddy. “Lock the door. The gun’s in the glove box. I’m assuming your uncle taught you how to use one?”
“Annie and me, both.”
“Then you stay here and wait. With Oliver.” Allen kissed her forehead quickly, naturally. It felt right, so he did it. He wanted to do more.
He would. When the timing was exactly right. Like after the puppy was tucked in at night and he had Nurse Izzie next to him in that bed again.
They were in luck. The clinic was relatively empty.
He hurried back to the van. Izzie was waiting, dressed in a blond wig and a simple sundress. The mirrored glasses were back on her face.
She had the puppy snoozing in her arms, wrapped in a towel, a look of utter relaxation on his face, like the baby he was.
Perfect. Never had a woman looked more perfect to him.
Izzie had fallen completely in love. She knew she had. Oliver was the sweetest thing she had ever seen.
Neither she nor Annie had had pets as children. The cat was the first she’d ever had, and they made things up as they went along.
The puppy was different. Far needier, for one thing. After they fed him, he curled up in her lap and slept.
Izzie kept stroking him, feeling oddly comforted by the warmth of his little body, as they carried him inside the pet center.
The clinic itself was directly at the rear of the pet store. While they waited for their turn with the vet, they busied themselves buying whatever they thought Oliver would need.
They may have gotten a bit carried away.
He’d opened his eyes and was alternating growling at Allen and kissing Izzie’s cheeks. Her laugh echoed around the small store.
When she looked up, Allen was staring at her with an odd expression on his face. “What?”
“I like watching you with him. You’re…sweet.”
“Hardly.” No one ever told her that. Annie was the sweet one, after all. Not her.
“Yes, you are.” He leaned down and kissed her, so swiftly she couldn’t react.
He backed away when Oliver growled and yipped. Wanting his share of the attention.
Allen pulled them both close, and Izzie let him.
She hadn’t felt this happy in months.
Perfect.
Maybe all they had together was the time they had right now in this moment. She didn’t think she’d regret it for even a second.
76
“You know we’re going to have to find out a way to share custody of Oliver when we return to Finley Creek,” Allen said. He snuggled the little puppy against his naked chest in a way that had Izzie’s melting. There was something so sexy about a strong man cuddling such a tiny creature. They’d gotten Oliver taken care of at the vet, then turned toward the southern border. Allen wanted to spend a few days on South Padre Island. They’d lucked into a small campsite after a cancelation, but they couldn’t get to it until the next morning when checkout happened. Now, they were parked next to Lake Corpus Christi.
They’d head back down south first thing in the morning.
Now, he was stretched out on the couch, Oliver asleep on top of him. He’d apparently won Oliver over with soft liver treats. It was obvious that Oliver had a real thing for Izzie.
She was totally gone over the both of them. It was the sight of Allen that had her breath catching.
“Shared custody perhaps.”
“It’ll be hard not to see him every day. I’ve kind of gotten used to having him around.”
He settled the puppy in the captain’s chair; the little guy sprawled his legs out and snuggled down deeper into his nap. He really was the sweetest little guy she had ever seen.
He wasn’t going to be little for long. Good thing her apartment building allowed bigger dogs.
Allen was the sweetest big guy she had ever seen. She had gone completely pathetic. All it had taken was one small puppy to change her worldview so completely. The sex was one thing—seeing how gentle he was with a helpless, vulnerable puppy had cemented it for her.
She was almost as bad as Lacy, Jillian, Nikkie Jean, and Annie.
If Annie and Nikkie Jean could only see her now.
“I suppose I could pick him up every morning after my shift. Or we can trade him off in the parking lot each morning and each evening.” She would be going back to thirds. It made the most sense. That’s where she was established—mostly thirds, some overlapping seconds. Pre-Henedy. As head of trauma surgery—and the surgical department in general, and the de facto assistant chief of medicine—Allen worked days. Very rarely and usually when he was covering for someone or working an emergency did their schedules overlap. That would leave evenings for them to be together, before she went to work and after he came home. “We’re not going to see each other very often when we get home, are we?”
“Do you want to?”
He was all serious now. He was asking her for what she wanted. It was now or never, Izzie just had to make the choice. She looked deep into his gray eyes and just said it. “I think I’d like that very much.”
Allen wasn’t an idiot. He knew exactly what they were talking about.
He slipped his hands around her waist and lifted her as well as he was able to in the small confines of the van. “We can make it happen. As long as the two of us work together.”
“You know there will be talk, at the hospital. Especially if we stick to the stories that Nikkie Jean has probably spread around by now.”
“I don’t care. We’ve both been the victims of the hospital gossip hotline. We survived before; we’ll survive it again. I know what matters most to me.” It wasn’t exactly a declaration of unending love for either of them, but it was a start. “When do you think we’ll get to go home?”
“I don’t know.”
Izzie wasn’t certain she ever wanted to. She…wanted to stay in their own private world. Wanted to forget all the plans, obligations, responsibilities—everything even associated with Finley Creek.
She just wanted to be with him.
Tears sprang to her eyes.
He noticed. Allen noticed everything about her. Damn him.
He was more attuned to her than any other man ever had been. Hot hands went around her. He pulled her closer. She sprawled over his hard chest, careful of the healing stitches on his shoulder.
Her eyes met his. Honesty. They owed each other total honesty.
“Allen…I…don’t want this to end. I want to see what can…happen. If I stop being so scared.”
It was the most terrifying sentence she had ever spoken since she had asked a social worker to let her live with her uncle after her mother’s
death, instead of tracking down the father who really hadn’t wanted her to begin with.
This felt just as terrifying, just as real, just as vital as that day had.
Her life had changed after that moment eleven years ago.
She had the feeling it was about to change now, too.
“Then it won’t.” He hauled her closer, his fingers going to cup the back of her head. Izzie melted against him. “We’ll make certain of it.”
“I—” A relationship—a real relationship with commitment and trust—scared her straight to her toes. Giving a man that kind of power over her brought a vulnerability she had never felt before.
“I know. But I will never intentionally hurt you. I need you far too much to ever let that happen.”
He meant it. She believed him.
Izzie leaned forward. Met him halfway.
She wanted to feel his arms around her again.
Before she knew it, they were stretched out on that ridiculously comfortable bed, learning more about each other than she ever could have imagined.
It felt absolutely perfect to be with him.
77
“Relax, Jenny. I’ve taken care of it.” Kyle sent her a cool smirk. Jennifer had always hated when he looked at her like that. “I found them. It was pretty simple.”
“Them?” At first she’d thought he meant Wallace’s journals. That’s what she had been after. But no, it was something else. Something that had more of a payout. Or he would be looking at her that matter. “Who did you find?”
“Both. Dr. Jacobson. The nurse. Together.”
“They’re together?” Perfect, just fucking perfect. A woman like Izadora McNamara would have gone for a man like Dr. Allen Jacobson.
He would set her up for life. She had to give the woman her due. It was well played by Izadora. Jennifer had made similar decisions for herself thirty-five years ago. Wallace had been the ticket for her to save herself.
“Rumor has it he took her out of the hospital after the attack.”
We All Sleep Alone (Finley Creek Book 11) Page 24
