by Marie Carnay
2
TABITHA CHECKED HER makeup for the tenth time in the mirror. It’d been ages since she’d bothered to do more than swipe on some mascara and pull her hair back into a ponytail.
Get ready for a date? Especially one with a man who looked at her like she was the main course and her apartment dessert? Mmm. Not in months. She swiped on a layer of lip gloss and turned off the light. Showtime.
She might have moved to the middle of nowhere to get away from failed relationships, but it didn’t mean she had to be a nun. The rumble of a car pulling into the drive quickened her steps down the hall. She hoped the wrap dress she’d tugged out of her closet wasn’t too fancy. Tabitha’s clothes these days fell into two categories: vet clothes or things she never wore.
A dress she’d bought on a whim when she was wedding planning a year ago? Definitely in the never worn camp. But Pinetree was a fresh start. For all Jake knew, she dressed like that every day. Let him think she was a fancy girl from the city. Maybe it’d give her enough courage to invite him back to her place.
She glanced out the window and her mouth fell open. Hello, officer. In the uniform, he’d been delicious. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt and leaning against his Jeep with confidence oozing from every pore? Scrumptious. He didn’t need to know she’d spent the last year curled up with a pint of caramel swirl and bad TV.
Tabitha let the curtain fall and headed to the door. After she’d walked in on Will and his “lapse in judgment,” as he called it, men were a big, fat no-no. But it’d been a year. A long, lonely, year. Tabitha still wasn’t ready for commitment. Hell, maybe she never would be. But a good meal and a good time? That she could handle. By the looks of Jake, he could deliver the heat, with more than enough to spare.
She grabbed her purse, tugged open the front door, and hustled down the steps. Jake might not know what he’d gotten into, but Tabitha sure did. The look on his face said she’d picked the right outfit. Score one for me. She smiled and his jaw ticked. Score two. By the end of dinner, she’d have Jake exactly where she wanted him—between the sheets of her brand-new bed.
Damn. Tabitha walked down the steps and every sway of her hips sent a pulse straight to Jake’s crotch. Even through the lab coat and scrubs, he’d caught glimpses of her sexy curves. But now? Her hair fell soft around her shoulders, her brown eyes simmered like chocolate, and her hourglass figure made him want to forget dinner and pin her to the back seat of his Jeep that minute.
Gorgeous didn’t do her justice.
“Officer Travers. Good to see you.”
He stepped forward. “It’s Jake, please. And you’re stunning. No one in Mabel’s will know what to do with you.”
The corners of her lips twitched. “Is that a bad thing?”
Oh, hell. She’d gone and brought the feisty with her. Jake swallowed. “It’ll have to do, won’t it?” He walked around the Jeep and pulled open the passenger side door. “It’s only a few minutes from here. Mind if we keep the top off?”
“Nope.” She swished by him and the deep purple fabric of her dress brushed across his legs. He’d meant to keep it casual and low-key. A nice dinner and a thank you. That was all. Definitely not a night tangled up in the sheets of her bed…against the wall…in the shower.
He swallowed. The longer he stared at her ass in that dress, the more he wanted to untie the sash at her waist and find out first-hand what hid underneath. Jake’s guess? Black lace and not much of it.
Tabitha climbed up into the passenger seat and he shut the door behind her before hustling over to his side.
“Tell me about Mabel’s. Has it been here long?”
Jake nodded. “Since as long as I can remember. Mabel Wilcox runs the place. Her son’s a trooper with me at the station.”
Tabitha buckled her seatbelt with a nod. “That’s what Becky said.”
Jake revved the engine and pulled out onto the street. “Have you been talking about me?”
“Maybe.”
“All good things?” Jake pulled onto Main Street and risked a glance in Tabitha’s direction. Becky had been on him to start dating again for what seemed like forever. She’d even tried to set him up with a friend from Anchorage, but he’d turned her down. How could he put himself out there again? Not after April. No way.
He eased to a stop at the intersection as Tabitha answered. “She said you’re the most dedicated trooper on the force.”
Jake snorted. Leave it to Becky to put a gloss on the truth. Jake pulled into a parking spot and turned to Tabitha. “What did you think about that?”
She smiled and pushed open the door to the Jeep. “That I must have won the lottery. I’m not looking for a diamond ring, Jake. Just a good time.” She hopped out and her skirt flounced high enough to reveal a sexy pair of legs.
She shut the door and cocked her head. “Coming?”
Jake sat in the Jeep, staring. First, she dropped everything to save the moose calf he brought in. Then she looked him straight in the face and told him she wasn’t interested in a relationship. Jake should be over the moon.
So why was he gritting his teeth and clenching his hand in a fist? He wasn’t the relationship sort anymore. That died with April. Whatever it was that had him twisted upside down needed to stop. Immediately.
He hopped out of the car and pulled open the door to the diner. From the nods his way as they walked in, he guessed word had traveled at usual Pinetree speed. Faster than light. He pulled out a chair and Tabitha sat down as Mabel appeared with two menus.
“You must be the new veterinarian.” She handed a menu to Tabitha. “I’m Mabel Wilcox. Welcome to Pinetree.”
Tabitha smiled. “Thanks.” She glanced at the menu and back at Mabel. “How about you just pick for me? I’m sure you know what’s best tonight.”
Mabel took the menu back and turned to Jake. “Looks like you’ve snagged yourself a good one, Jake. She already knows how to butter up the only restaurant owner in town.”
Jake exhaled. Coming to Mabel’s might have been a bad idea. “I wouldn’t get ahead of yourself Mabel. It’s just dinner.”
She snatched his menu. “No. It’s chicken parmesan night. You know that’s way better than just dinner.” She smiled at Tabitha. “I’ll be back with some wine.”
Jake watched as she sashayed through the tables. Gabe’s mom was a real piece of work. One who’d just gotten him in over his head. “Sorry about Mabel. She’s a bit—”
“Awesome.” Tabitha’s eyes sparkled. “I’ve always wanted to live somewhere like this. The whole town is one big family.”
“Yeah. That’s the downside, too.” Jake tensed as one of the locals slid off a barstool and made his way to their table. Dwayne wasn’t the friendly sort. He leaned closer to Tabitha. “Cranky hunter at two o’clock.”
Tabitha turned as Dwayne stopped at their table. He jerked his chin at her. “You the new animal doctor?”
She smiled like he’d just offered her a chocolate sundae. “I am. Tabitha Boone. And you are?” She held out her hand and Jake bit back a chuckle. Dwayne Richards, the dirtiest hunter in Pinetree shake a vet’s hand? No way.
The man frowned and ignored her waiting hand. “Name’s Richards. Dwayne Richards.”
“Mr. Richards runs a fish and game business. He brings in outsiders and takes them on guided hunts in the area. Isn’t that right, Dwayne?”
The old guy straightened up. “It is. You got a problem with that Trooper?”
“Only when the hunts aren’t legal.” Jake couldn’t stand the guy. He knew the man broke the law as often as he could, but he never managed to prove it. One of these days…
“Thanks to Officer Travers, I saved a moose calf that had been shot yesterday with a rifle. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you?”
Jake turned to Tabitha. She shouldn’t be riling the guy up. She didn’t know his temper. “Tabitha, I don’t—”
“That’s right. You got no evidence it was me.”
“What about one
of your guided hunters? Could they have done it?”
Dwayne stepped closer and Jake could smell stale cigarettes on his breath. “You better be careful, doctor. I wouldn’t go around accusing people of crimes without proof.”
Had Tabitha lost her mind? She smiled up at Dwayne like he hadn’t just threatened her. “If you ever shoot the wrong animal Mr. Richards, you know where to find me. I’ll do my best to save it.”
Dwayne’s eyes bugged out and Jake pushed back his chair. If that jerk so much as pointed in Tabitha’s direction, he’d—
“Hello, Dwayne.” Mabel stopped in front of the table with a pot of steaming coffee. “Can I get you a coffee for the road?”
The man scowled at Tabitha but nodded. “Yeah. That’d be nice.”
Mabel smiled. “Great. Come on over to the counter while I pour.”
As Dwayne walked away from their table, Jake relaxed back into his seat. “You sure know how to ruffle feathers, don’t you?”
Tabitha shrugged. “I didn’t like his attitude. He’d been giving me the stink eye since we walked in.”
“He’s a troublemaker, I’ll give you that. But you need to be careful, Tabitha. This isn’t Seattle.”
She raised an eyebrow. “So? Aren’t you the law in this town? Can’t you deal with him if he gets out of hand?”
Jake exhaled. Rescuing a woman he had the hots for was the last thing he wanted to do. “There’s only five of us in the station. We can’t be everywhere all the time.”
“I can handle myself.”
“You better. Next time Dwayne might not be so friendly.”
“What’s his problem, anyway?”
Jake ran a hand over his hair. “He doesn’t like the tighter restrictions on hunting that have been enacted the last few years. There are fewer areas to hunt and it’s a hell of a lot easier to break the law now. If that moose calf was his kill and we could prove it, he’d be looking at serious federal jail time, not just a fine.”
Tabitha blinked. “I had no idea.”
“Illegal hunting and poaching is no joke in Alaska. We take it seriously.”
Tabitha opened her mouth to say more when two steaming plates of the best chicken parmesan in the state appeared on the table.
Mabel smiled. “I hope you two are hungry.”
Tabitha picked up her fork. “Starved.”
Jake watched as she took the first bite. Her eyes closed, her lips turned up in a smile and the moan that came from deep inside sent blood straight to his cock. Damn if she wasn’t the sexiest woman he’d seen in years.
Feisty, opinionated, and not afraid to back down? Dangerous. The way she licked the sauce off the corner of her lips and smiled? Sinful. He needed to finish dinner, end the night and get the hell away from Tabitha Boone before he did something he’d regret.
Tabitha had never enjoyed a dinner more. The chicken parmesan rivaled any in Seattle. Mabel was as gracious a host as she could imagine, and everyone who’d stopped by their table that night had been friendly and welcoming.
Except for Dwayne. But she’d handled him just fine. Thanks to Jake, she knew to put the man on the watch list. A hunter who didn’t play by the rules? Arguing with him would be like poking a bear with a stick. She needed to save it for when it really mattered.
Mabel dropped off the check with a smile and she reached for it. Jake snatched it from her fingers. “Give that back!”
He snorted. “No way am I letting a woman pay for dinner with me.”
Tabitha’s mouth fell open and she palmed her hips. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said. I asked you to dinner so I’m paying.”
“I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“I’m more than aware of that. But you’re not paying for dinner.” Jake shoved a stack of cash into the black check holder and slapped it on the table.
The nerve. Any other time and Tabitha would be flattered. But Jake had made it clear over and over that it wasn’t a date. It didn’t matter that every time he fixed those blue eyes on her, she forgot to breathe. “If this isn’t a date, then I should pay my share.”
Jake leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “No.”
His bare forearms stood out in contrast to the black of his shirt and Tabitha’s anger eased. Ogling took its place.
“You ready?”
No, I’d like to stare a bit longer. Too bad that’s all she’d ever do with Jake Travers. She sighed and forced her head to nod. “I suppose.” She stood in a huff. “Is this the part of the night where you take me home and shake my hand and tell me you’ll see me around?”
Jake’s jaw ticked as he stood. “Something like that.”
“Goody.” Tabitha brushed past him and pushed the door to the restaurant open without looking back. Pouting was silly, but she couldn’t help it. After she’d saved the moose and he’d asked her out…she thought it meant a date. Maybe some horizontal dancing. Not pleasant conversation and an early evening.
Tabitha yanked open the door to the Jeep and flounced in. He wanted to stay friends and nothing more? Fine. She didn’t have to pretend to like it.
“Something on your mind?” Jake slid into the driver’s seat and revved the engine.
“No.”
“You seem a bit edgy.”
Tabitha crossed her arms. “I’m cold.”
“Then let’s get you home to warm up.” He pulled out of the space and turned toward her house.
“Perfect.” The sooner she could get home, say goodnight, and get over herself, the better.
They pulled into her drive and Jake killed the engine. He hopped out and opened her door before she had a chance.
“You don’t need to do that. I can see myself in.”
“I’d like to, if you don’t mind.”
Tabitha climbed out of the Jeep and jabbed her finger at Jake. “Listen, here. It’s one or the other, okay? Either this is a date and you’re going to act like it, or it’s not and you can haul that nice ass of yours back in your car and go home.”
Jake didn’t say a word.
“Well?”
He ran his tongue over his lower lip and cocked his head. “Say this is a date. What is it I’m supposed to be doing?”
Tabitha rolled her eyes. “You could kiss me goodnight for starters.”
“You mean like this?” Jake closed the distance between them before Tabitha could blink. His arms slid behind her back, his hands tugged her body against his, and bam. It happened. Jake Travers kissed her.
His lips pressed against hers, hard and needy, and Tabitha groaned. He might have been the perfect gentleman at dinner, but as he raked his tongue across her lips, that man disappeared. Jake’s hands gripped her tighter, his hips ground against hers, and Tabitha’s lips opened.
Over and over he swiped his tongue inside her mouth. The taste of wine and sin and longing hit her and Tabitha wanted him naked and all over her. Hell, he could pin her to the hood of his car and ravish her and she’d let him.
At last, he pulled back. His eyes traveled from her face to her heaving breasts and back up. “Is that more what you had in mind?”
Am I supposed to answer? Tabitha wasn’t sure she could talk. Her mouth opened and shut but no words came out.
Jake chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He released her and slipped his hand over hers. “Come on, let me see you inside.”
Tabitha stumbled down the walk and up the stairs to her apartment. Jake took the keys from her hand and unlocked the door. He ushered her in and as she turned on the light, he stepped back onto the landing.
“What are you doing?”
His lips twitched. “Saying goodnight.”
No! Come inside. Her brain shouted, but her lips didn’t move.
Jake stepped back. “Thanks for coming to dinner. I had a good time.”
Tabitha blinked. A heady mix of endorphins were still swirling in her brain from their kiss. He was leaving? It couldn’t be real. “Okay.”
It was the only word she could manage to say.
“I’ll be seeing you, Dr. Boone.” Jake nodded and hustled down the stairs before she could formulate a response.
He hopped into his car and in a moment, he was gone. Tabitha stared at the dark where his taillights had been. Okay.
3
JAKE PENCILED IN another report of poaching on the map. With the weather turning colder and the prime hunting season waning, everyone with a shotgun or rifle was out trying to finish the season on a high note. Some were more ruthless than others.
He didn’t have any proof, but for months Jake had been watching Dwayne Richards and his guided hunts. The man came back with too many kills of high-value animals to be legal. He hadn’t caught him yet, but he would. Sooner or later.
The man had a reputation that went back years.
It was this sort of dedication that drove April to leave. Too many late nights. Too many stake outs and solo tracking expeditions. The threat of major jail time and felony records made ordinary people do crazy things. He knew the thoughts that ran through her head. Would tonight be the night he never came home? Jake had seen it all and then some.
The door behind him opened and Gabe appeared at his side. “Is that another one?”
Jake nodded. “Benton Farms reported a moose carcass on their property. It’d been skinned and the antlers taken. All the meat had been left to rot.”
Gabe grimaced. His mother Mabel ran the diner and he’d spent his whole life in Pinetree. The man was as invested in the area as Jake. Maybe more. He leaned over the map for a closer look. “Any bear sightings? With that much blood, they had to scent it.”
“Not yet.” It was one thing trophy hunters didn’t understand. Claiming the antlers or a pelt and leaving the rest didn’t just attract scavengers. It attracted grizzlies and black bears, too. Hungry bears in populated areas led to destroyed property and even bear attacks against pets and people. “It’s only a matter of time.”
With a shake of his head, Gabe pushed off the counter and ran a hand through his hair. The guy might not look like a trooper with three-day stubble and a faded flannel shirt, but Gabe was as tough as nails. He’d been on the force almost as long as Jake and knew when to be uneasy. “Any evidence who did it?”