by Unknown
But that conviction left her with her present predicament, because Luke was more than rippling muscles and incredible abs, he could be gentle and thoughtful. She had never met anyone like him before. He had the most piercing black eyes she had ever seen, his mouth, even when scowling, looked unbelievably tempting and kissable. Despite her best efforts, there was something about the man that pulled her. Life certainly hadn’t been playing fair with her lately.
Pushing a low limb of a pine tree aside, she went deeper into the woods, her feet soundless on the budding grass. She was so caught up in her musings, she never heard the gunshot until it was too late.
CHAPTER THREE
A SCREAM TORE THROUGH CATHERINE’S THROAT AS two powerful arms grabbed her from behind and hurled her to the ground. She opened her mouth to scream again, but the impact of landing knocked the air from her as she came down on the hard body of her attacker. Before she could draw in another breath, she was twisted. This time she was on her back, her body completely covered.
Fear turned to something totally different as she stared up into the hard, piercing eyes of Luke Grayson. Her jacket had opened and only the thin layers of their clothes separated them. His muscular legs bracketed hers, his manhood pressed against her stomach. She fought the slow flickering heat of desire building in her and found it overpowering. There was only one way. She came out fighting. “Must you always scare me half to death?”
“Excuse me, I thought you might be in danger,” he said tightly.
“It’s your fault,” she told him. “You might have warned me if you were going to let someone hunt on your property.”
“There’s no hunting on this land. Ever.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean to tell me you don’t know who is out there shooting?”
“Give the lady a cigar.”
Her body tensed beneath his. Her frightened gaze went to the left, then right, before centering wildly on his again. Instantly he regretted his curtness. “You’re safe, Catherine. Probably some kid trying out his new gun.”
“Y-you’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” he reassured. “It’s not the first time it’s happened.”
Her body shuddered beneath his. “This is the last time I’ll ever go to a supposedly isolated cabin for a few days of rest and relaxation.” Her eyes closed, then slowly reopened. “How long do you think we have to stay here until it’s safe?”
Interesting question with her soft body beneath his, her sexy perfume doing crazy things to his body and imagination. “Not long. If whoever it was was going to fire again, the shot would have come already.”
She tensed again. “Do you think whoever it is is still out there?”
His face hardened. “I hope so. No trespassing signs are clearly posted. Stay here, I’m going to find out who fired that shot.”
She clutched his shoulders, her eyes frightened. “You can’t go out there. It’s too dangerous.”
Not as dangerous as remaining where he was. “I’ve done this before.”
“I don’t care. You’re not doing it now,” she told him fiercely. “Daniel would never forgive me if I let you go and something happened to you.”
Somehow her answer annoyed him. He rolled and stood. “Stay here.”
“If you’re going, I’m go—”
Catherine found herself yanked to her feet and pushed behind him. “Quiet,” he ordered, his tone flat and hard. Her heart beating wildly in her chest, she obeyed. Seconds later Patrolman Wesley came running through the woods toward them.
“I heard the shot. You two all right?”
“Yeah. I was just about to check it out.” Luke nodded to the east. “Came from that direction.”
Catherine breathed easier on seeing the patrolman. “Now that he’s here, I’m sure he’ll want to handle things.”
“This is my property and if someone is hunting on it, I want to know,” Luke told her flatly. “Go back to the cabin and wait.”
Her chin lifted. He certainly liked giving orders. He’d soon learn she wasn’t used to taking them. “If some gun-happy person is out there, don’t you think I’m safer with you?”
Luke gave her a look that would have made most men run. Unfortunately, the besotted young man was looking at Catherine and completely missed it.
“Whoever fired that shot is probably gone by now, Dr. Stewart, but if you’d feel safer with us, then you should come with us,” Officer Wesley offered.
Too smart to gloat, Catherine smiled. “Thank you, I would.”
Luke glared at the both of them. “I’ll lead. Catherine, you stay behind me.”
“Why are you leading?” she asked.
“Because he’s the best tracker in the Southwest,” the officer told her.
Luke had already started off in the direction he had indicated. Having little hope of stopping him, Catherine followed.
Five minutes later, Luke saw what he had been dreading. Blood. An expletive sizzled free. He turned to block her way. “Johnny, take Catherine back to the cabin.”
“Why? What is it?” she questioned, trying to step around him.
Unrelenting hands grabbed her firmly by the shoulders, stopping her. “This time you’re going to do as you’re told.”
She didn’t understand the black rage in his eyes, but she instinctively knew she wasn’t in any danger from him. She opened her mouth to tell him she wasn’t leaving, but the low growl stopped her.
She stared toward the ominous sound and barely kept from crying out. Hero, his left front paw raised, oozed blood from a wound on his shoulder. She started toward him, and again found herself thrust behind Luke.
His teeth bared, the animal took a halting step toward them.
“I got him, Luke.”
Catherine looked back at the officer. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the gun in his hand. “You can’t. It’s not his fault.” She clutched Luke’s arm. “Please, you can’t let him be shot.”
“Catherine, I want you to slowly back up until you’re behind Johnny. And for once, don’t argue.”
She had no intention of doing as Luke said until the hybrid took another menacing step toward them. She didn’t want the animal killed, but neither did she want Luke to be injured. He’d stand between her and the animal until she was safe. She didn’t question that irrefutable knowledge. Slowly she did as he requested, expecting him to follow as soon as she was safe.
“I got her, Luke.” Johnny pulled Catherine behind him, his gun still drawn.
“Luke, come on,” she told him, wishing there was something she could do to help the hybrid.
“Don’t do anything unless it’s to keep Catherine safe,” Luke said.
“What is he talking about?”
“Understood,” the patrolman answered Luke, and ignored Catherine.
Her annoyance at both men turned to fear for Luke as she watched him slowly crouch down until he was eye level with the wounded animal. A chill ran through her. Instinctively she took a step to stop whatever it was he was doing.
Johnny blocked her path. His young face was worried, but determined. “The best way to help both of them is to stay still and quiet.”
Feeling helpless and more frightened than she ever remembered, Catherine circled her arms around her and waited. For a long time there was silence. It was almost as if the earth and all its inhabitants were holding their breath, waiting.
Then the sound came in a flowing murmur of words from Luke to the animal in a language she had never heard before. Although she didn’t understand what he said, she understood the reassuring tone that poured over her.
Inch by incredible inch Luke worked his way to the animal. Catherine didn’t know how much time had passed, how many times words had been interspersed with silence. Her breath caught, held as Luke lifted his hand out to the animal’s head. Instead of sharp teeth, a tongue licked his fingers. Removing his shirt, Luke wrapped it around the animal’s shoulder, then picked him up in his arms.
“We better
get him to the vet.”
Luke caught Catherine’s puzzled gaze on him as he passed her carrying the animal back to the cabin. He didn’t blame her. It was totally out of her realm of understanding, but not to his people. Everything was possible if the belief and connection were strong enough.
“Open the back of the truck,” he ordered Johnny. Then he laid the animal down on the bed of the truck and climbed in himself. “Call Youngblood and tell him to meet us at his clinic, then get back out there and try to find out who did this.”
“Sure thing, Luke,” Johnny said and ran to his patrol car.
Luke turned to Catherine. “I sure hope you can drive a standard shift.”
“Since I was twelve,” she answered, glad to be able to help in some way.
“Grab my keys and wallet off the dresser. Richard Youngblood’s veterinary clinic is just inside the Santa Fe city limits.”
Catherine raced inside the cabin, grabbed the things he requested and was almost out the door before she ran back to get him a shirt. Inside her room, she snatched her purse off the top of her suitcase, then rushed back outside. “Here.”
“Thanks.” He stuck his arms through the arms of the chambray shirt without bothering to button it. “If this wasn’t an emergency, I wouldn’t let you drive my truck.”
“Somehow, I figured as much.”
HER HANDS GRIPPING THE STEERING WHEEL, CATHERINE made herself not look back as she drove down the mountain. However, once she stopped at the main highway she couldn’t help one quick glance. Sitting cross-legged, Luke’s hand steadily stroked the head of the animal, his voice low and soothing.
Facing forward, she shifted the truck into gear and hit the highway with a burst of speed. She didn’t slow down until Luke knocked on the rear window.
He pointed to a cluster of one-story adobe buildings. She pulled up to the one that had a sign reading YOUNGBLOOD ANIMAL CLINIC over the door. The glass front door banged open, and a slender, copper-toned man of average height wearing a white lab coat came hustling out. He had a syringe in his hand.
He whistled on seeing the animal. “You do believe in living dangerously.”
“Makes life more interesting that way,” Luke said, watching the hybrid carefully. He was too weak to put up much of a fight, but with his sharp teeth that didn’t matter. “You better let me do that.”
“I’ve received a few nips in the past,” the doctor said, sliding the syringe in his pocket and letting down the tailgate to climb in. “You just watch his head.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Catherine asked.
“Stay back,” both men said in unison without even looking in her direction.
She was becoming tired of being treated as if she were brainless and needed protection, but decided to argue the point later.
Dr. Youngblood took the syringe out of his pocket and took the cap off. “This takes about four seconds to start working.”
Luke moved closer to animal and started stroking his head. Once again he began talking to the animal. The hybrid blinked when the needle went in, then in a matter of seconds slowly closed his eyes.
“I wish you could teach me how to do that,” the doctor said when the animal was asleep.
“Grandfather tried,” Luke said. Picking up the animal, Luke got out of the truck and headed for the clinic.
“That he did,” the doctor said, opening the door and leading Luke into a small examining room in the back. “Put him on the table.” Clicking on an overhead light, he drew on a pair of plastic gloves and began to probe the wound. He glanced up. “I’m going to need some help. My assistant ran off with a truck driver last week.”
Before Catherine could say a word, Luke took her arm and led her outside the room. “Wait in the front room until we’re finished.”
“I’m not helpless or squeamish, you know.”
“Never said you were. We’ll call if we need you.” Stepping back, he closed the door.
CATHERINE PACED THE FLOOR, THEN TOSSED ASIDE one magazine after the other. Her nerves frayed, she went back to the examining room and listened at the door to try and find out how Hero was doing. All she heard was low murmuring. She was actually glad to hear the phone ring to give her something to do. She hadn’t needed Luke to stick his head out and yell for her to take a message.
Sitting behind the cluttered desk, she soon discovered the veterinarian had a thriving practice. In less than thirty minutes, he had two drop-ins and three calls for appointments. Locating the appointment book on his desk in his surprisingly neat office, if she didn’t count the stacks of unfiled records on top, she checked his schedule.
She asked the drop-ins to come back in the afternoon, and scheduled the other appointments for the next day, careful to tell everyone she would call if their appointment needed to be changed. Since he was taking care of Hero, it was the least she could do.
Patrolman Wesley stopped by fifteen minutes after they arrived and headed straight for the examining room. A ringing phone kept Catherine from following. He came back out while she was still trying to explain to the elderly caller that she knew nothing about the procedure for spaying her cat. Tipping his hat, Johnny left as quickly and as quietly as he had come.
When the door to the examining room finally opened almost forty-five minutes after their arrival, she was out of her chair and down the hall in a flash. “How is he?”
“Fine. He’ll be even better once he rests for a couple of days and gets some food inside him,” the doctor told her.
Relief coursed through her. “Did Patrolman Wesley find out who fired the shot?”
“No. He followed two sets of tracks to the road,” Luke told her, anger creeping into his voice. “From the indentation and size, they were either small men or kids. More likely kids out testing the gun some irresponsible parent blithely gave them.”
“And shot Hero.” Catherine bit her lower lip. “Maybe if I hadn’t tried to feed him, he would have been more leery of them.”
“Now who is being idiotic?” Luke asked her. He didn’t wait for her to answer. “It took you three days to get him to come near you. Yet, he still growled at me, even tried to protect you after he was shot. Just because he had begun to trust you doesn’t mean he trusted anyone else.”
Hope shone in her chocolate brown eyes. “You think so?”
“Trust me on this,” he said, surprising himself by tenderly pushing a strand of black hair behind her ear.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Luke felt the all-too-familiar clutch in his gut, the growing need to pull her into his arms and taste her lips. The way she was looking at him, he wouldn’t get any resistance. But something told him one taste would lead to another, and that would lead to something he wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with.
“Don’t I get a thanks?” Dr. Youngblood asked with amusement. “After all, I’m the one who actually did all the work.”
Catherine blushed and stepped away from Luke. “Of course, Dr. Youngblood. I can’t thank you enough.”
“I’m glad I was able to help out, Miss . . .”
“Stewart, Catherine Stewart.” She held out her hand. “Please call me Catherine.”
“I’d like to, and often.”
Catherine blinked.
“Cut it out, Youngblood. You’re getting worse than Brandon.” Taking Catherine’s arm, he led her back down the hallway toward the door.
“Wait,” she cried when she saw he wasn’t going to stop. “I forgot to tell him about the appointments I made, and I need to get my purse to pay him.”
“He can read and I’ll take care of the bill later.” Luke kept walking.
“No, I still feel responsible,” she said, digging in her heels.
“Don’t worry about the bill, Catherine.” Dr. Youngblood stuck his hands in his pockets and grinned at the proprietary way Luke was acting. Interesting. “Unlike some of my clients, I know he’s good for it.”
“No, I want to take care of it.” Pullin
g away from Luke, she crossed the small room and picked up the appointment book to show him her notations. “I scheduled you two appointments for this afternoon. The first is at one, the other is at three.”
“Any chance you want a job permanently?” he asked mildly.
“She has a job. She teaches at UCLA and is a writer,” Luke said, unaware of the pride in his voice.
Dr. Youngblood stared at her. “What field?”
“Psychology and I write children’s stories.”
“Any chance of moonlighting?”
She laughed at the hopefulness in his strong face. “Sorry, after the workshop and conference I’m leaving.”
“What workshop and conference?” Luke wanted to know.
She turned startled eyes up to him, surprised he was standing so close. “The ones I’m scheduled to do next week in Santa Fe.”
“About your books?”
“Somewhat. I specialize in child development and nurturing. My last book dealt heavily with the subject and has gotten a lot of media attention,” she said. “I’m conducting a parenting seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday, using my latest book, Listening, as a guide, then I’m lecturing at the American Psychological Association conference on Friday.”
“I’m impressed,” Dr. Youngblood said.
Catherine barely heard him. She had been watching Luke, and from his unhappy expression, he wasn’t taking the news very well.
“I thought you were leaving,” his words were almost accusatory.
“The cabin, not Santa Fe.” Somehow the thought that he wanted her gone bothered her more than she wanted to admit. Turning before he could see how his words hurt her, she picked up the purse to get her wallet. “Dr. Youngblood, if there’s a conflict in the scheduled appointments, I’d be happy to call and reschedule.”
“Please call me Richard, and they’re fine.”
She nodded, her actions becoming more agitated as she shoved things to one side and then the other without finding her clutch in the red drawstring bag. Please. Don’t let this happen. Not again. Upending her purse, she dumped the contents on the receptionist’s desk. “It’s got to be here. It’s got to be.”