Then he glanced at his watch. “We can grab the mutt, drop you back at your place. We’ll call the happy ex-couple and have them both meet us there so you can hash this out. And I’ll still have plenty of time to catch my flight.”
The desire in her belly fizzled like a wet firecracker. That’s right. He was on his way to a decadent beach vacation. For all she knew, he had a girlfriend going, too. Or he’d find a woman there. More likely, one would find him. They’d only gone on four dates before she’d given in to the intense sexual tension and gone to bed with him. Every single date had included another woman. Sometimes more than one. Hitting on him, as if she were invisible. Reminding him of where they’d met, or dated or slept together. It’d been too much for Andrea to take. When she’d woken in his arms to the sound of a husky voice on his answering machine, offering to bring him some morning delight, she’d realized she just couldn’t handle the pressure. So she’d run.
And he hadn’t run after her.
“Take Seventh Street,” she said with a sigh, trying to accept that the only reason fate had brought him back into her life was to save the dog. Not to make all her dreams—sexual and otherwise—come true.
Twenty minutes later, Percy parked on a steep hill. The two of them glanced at the GPS screen, then at the high-rise apartment building across the street.
“She’s in there?” he asked.
“According to this, she is.”
But where? There had to be hundreds of apartments in that building. She looked helplessly at Percy, glad he and his expertise were here. If not, she knew she’d be wandering the hallways, GPS in hand like a metal detector mining for doggie gold.
One hand on the door to exit, she hesitated. Swallowing hard, she turned back to face him.
“Are you going in there to get the dog for your client?” she asked quietly. “Or to give her back to me?”
Dark lenses hid his intense blue eyes but she could still feel his stare. After a few seconds, he took off his sunglasses and slowly tilted his head toward the building.
“If you want me to do this job for you instead of Day, you have to pay the price.”
Her stomach sank.
“I can’t afford to match whatever Day’s paying you.”
The look he gave her was hot enough to melt her dress right off. Andrea’s breath lodged in a tight ball in her throat, making swallowing impossible.
“I’m not talking money, sweetheart.”
5
OH, BABY. ANDREA WAS AFRAID she was going to drool. What price did he mean? Could he mean what she thought he meant? Before she could figure out how to ask without sounding like an idiot if she was wrong, he got out of the car.
Well. She frowned. So much for that.
Deflated, she tossed the GPS into her purse and slung it over her shoulder, then opened the passenger door. And there was Percy.
Taking her hand, he pulled her from the car.
“What’s the—”
Before she could complete her nervous question, his mouth took hers. Hot. Intense. Wild.
Oh, baby.
It was as good as she remembered. The taste of him, rich and tempting on her tongue. The scent of him, wrapping around her like a hug. The feel of his hard body against her softer curves.
His tongue swept over her mouth, making her want to whimper in delight. She was a heartbeat away from parting her lips to invite him in when he pulled back.
He looked calm enough, but she could see the edgy heat in his eyes. Could feel the pounding of his heart against her breast. And, gratifyingly, the delicious pressure of his growing hard-on against her thigh.
“What was that?” she said, trying to sound shocked and offended. It was a bummer that her low, husky tone came across as one hundred percent hot and horny instead.
“That, sweetheart, was the down payment on my fee.”
“You don’t really think I’m going to, what? Sleep with you in exchange for services rendered? Don’t you have a little more respect for both of us than that?” Pretending she wasn’t tempted, Andrea gave him a chiding look as she reluctantly peeled her body off his.
“I have complete respect,” he said, releasing her so slowly she wasn’t sure he was going to let go. “I also have a lot of respect for tying up loose ends. You and me, sweetheart? We’ve got some loose ends to take care of before we say goodbye this time.”
Terror tangled with desire in a hot, tight knot low in Andrea’s belly. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know what to think. Her body was still humming, urging her to straddle his waist and agree to anything.
Trying to clear her head, she hurried around him. Her shoe caught on the curb, almost sending her sprawling. Percy came to the rescue, leaping forward and grabbing her before she could tumble backward. He pulled her tight against his body, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as if to keep her from bolting. But she didn’t want to move away. Nope, she’d rather stay here, curled against the muscular length of him. Or better yet, to strip him naked and kiss her way down his body right here on a public street.
This powerful pull of hot attraction, the desperate need to be with Percy, was overwhelming. But the speculation in his eyes, combined with that sexy smile, was all the warning she needed to remember all the reasons he should be off-limits. But he was right about the loose ends. She’d walked away from him once already, but she hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. Maybe this time, with a real, official goodbye, her heart—and her body—would accept that it was over.
Swallowing hard to get past the aching desire to grab him for one more taste to assure herself that she was making the right decision, Andrea pulled away.
“Fine,” she blurted. She’d hate herself if she turned him down. She was afraid she’d hate herself for saying yes. Since she was going to having a hatefest either way, she might as well enjoy herself. And, more important, she’d get him out of her system in a way that offered closure instead of daily regrets. “You work for me from now on instead of Day. And I’ll pay your price.”
* * *
WELL, HELL. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. He let lust overrule his brain. He deserved a swift kick in the ass. Andrea was the kind of woman who deserved poetry. Moonlight and flowers and sweet words of devotion. Not a skeezy sex-for-hire deal. He’d been about to tell her that he was teasing, that he wasn’t going to turn the dog over to Day until he figured out who was behind the dognapping. But then she’d done the unthinkable.
She’d accepted his proposition.
His ego limped into the corner to pout. For himself, she’d sneaked out at daybreak and pretended he didn’t exist. Now she was willing to sleep with him again, but only to save a dog?
This must be someone’s way of punishing him for previous misdeeds. Because he knew he should tell her he wasn’t going to accept sex for his services. That he’d help her for nothing. But Andrea tasted so delicious. Her lips were pure ambrosia, her body a delight from heaven. So his vocal cords froze on the words.
Get the dog first, he decided. Then he’d tell her he’d been kidding.
“Let’s go,” he said, taking her arm to guide her across the street toward the apartment building. As they crossed, he considered and discarded their various options. The simplest way was best. “We’ll hit each floor with the tracking device until it lights up strong enough to indicate the dog is there. When we find the apartment, you stay back. Hide around a corner or something, while I talk to the guy.”
“You’re just going to, what? Talk him into handing over Medusa?”
Percy grinned. The skepticism in her tone made it clear that Andrea wasn’t impressed with her choice to hire him.
“I’m going to case the place. See where the dog is, check outside accessibility. I want to make sure there’s a window or outside door. Once I’ve got a visual, we’ll distract the guy while I sneak in and grab the dog.”
“Distract the guy? With what? A donut?”
“Hey, good idea. I was going to have a pizza de
livered, but donuts will work, too.”
He reached for the handle to the apartment complex’s entrance and gave her a questioning look.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she agreed, her smile flashing bright. Bright enough to almost hide the edge of nerves he saw lurking in her eyes and in the way her fingers twisted her purse strap. Given that she’d already come out on the wrong end of one encounter with this guy today, Percy couldn’t blame her.
Giving in to the urgings of the devilish voice in his head, he slid one hand over the curve of her cheek and tilted her head up to meet his lips. Her gasp ended in a fluttering sigh as he paid gentle homage to her mouth. She leaned into him, her body soft and sweet. It was all he could do not to dive deeper, to take the kiss from tender to torrid with a thrust of his tongue. But they were on a mission. So he kept his tongue to himself and slowly pulled away to give her a reassuring smile.
“It’s gonna be fine,” he promised.
Andrea gazed into Percy’s eyes and gave a deep sigh. Oh, yeah. Everything was going to be just fine. Despite the nerves still jumping beneath the desire in her belly, she had total faith that he’d rescue Medusa and save her business. And that paying him for his assistance was going to be one of the sweetest, most emotionally expensive bills of her life.
“Hey, you’re blocking the door.”
Andrea jumped back, making room for the elderly woman with her standard poodle. The dog pranced, a red bow high on her black curls. The woman stomped past, a purple backpack matching her tightly curled hair.
Grinning, Andrea met Percy’s laughing eyes. Her heart melted a little, both at their shared humor and at how sweet he looked holding the door open for the lady and her dog.
“Thanks. Gotta get Duke here to the dog yard before he embarrasses us,” the woman muttered.
Duke? Percy mouthed.
Andrea barely stifled her laugh. She watched the prancing and stomping pair make their way across the lobby to an atrium door marked Pets: Tenants Only. Through the heavy glass, she saw a doggie paradise. Grass, play structures, benches for the owners to relax and a huge water fountain.
“Wow. Most apartment buildings barely tolerate pets,” she commented as she followed Percy into the lobby. “But this place makes them welcome. That’s so great.”
Just as the elevator door opened, she glanced out the window again. She gasped as her stomach dived into her toes.
“There she is!”
Without another word, not even looking to see if Percy was following, Andrea ran across the lobby. Her eyes never left the prancing dog who was playing queen of the bushes, running to and fro with three dogs chasing her.
“Oh, my…” Andrea almost screamed. Medusa was running free. With male dogs? Now? Just as her fingers closed over the door handle, Percy grabbed her around the waist and swung her away from the door.
“He’s out there,” he told her, not even winded after his sprint. “Let’s be smart about this, okay? We want the dog, not a fight.”
“I don’t care about him,” she argued, struggling to free herself from the hard strength of his arms. “I’ve got to get her. She’s running loose. With male dogs. Oh, my God, this is a disaster.”
“Calm down.”
It was his tone, more than his command, that finally pierced the panic wrapping around Andrea. With a shuddering sigh, she quit thrashing and sank her body into his, grateful for the support.
“I don’t want a fight,” she agreed. “But we have to get her. Now. Before one of those dogs gets too friendly.”
“Shit,” he muttered, sounding embarrassed.
“We have to,” she insisted. “Now.”
“I know. I know. Just give me a second to plan it out.”
Peeling her cheek off his chest, Andrea glanced up at Percy’s face. He assessed the patio with a narrowed gaze, a furrow of concentration wrinkling his brow. Totally willing to let him figure it out, Andrea followed his gaze.
And saw a big yellow mutt corner Medusa.
“No,” she yelled. Knowing her career didn’t mean diddly if that dog went through with his naughty intentions, she ripped herself away from Percy and ran across the room. She’d call the cops and let them write a report; hell, she’d take out an ad in the paper admitting a dog in her care had been stolen. Just as long as that male didn’t have his way with her charge.
She was through the door and across the lawn, when a loud ringing filled the air. Dogs yipped, growled and barked. Dog owners called for their pets, their tones varying from exasperated to scared.
“This is not a drill,” Percy’s voice yelled out from somewhere near the door. “I repeat, this fire alarm is not a drill. Everyone needs to exit the building now.”
But instead of leaving, everyone freaked out.
People ran around like crazy. Dogs ran in opposite directions, either panicked themselves or thinking this was some kind of game. Andrea dodged bodies, both human and canine, as she sprinted toward the corner where she’d last seen Medusa and her would-be suitor.
Gone.
Heart racing, her breath coming in gasps, Andrea looked around frantically. Then she saw it. A tiny tuft of white-blond hair, knotted in the green leaves of low bush.
“Medusa? Here, puppy. Come to Andy, sweetie.”
Andrea dropped to her knees, bending low to see under the foliage. Relief surged and she gave a long, grateful sigh.
“There you are, you poor thing. I’m here to take you home. Come to Andy, baby.”
The dog looked furious. A breed that gave credence to the phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Chinese Crested dogs were pretty much naked except for the long tufts of fur on the legs, tail and top of the head. Medusa, however, took that rare look to new levels since the hair spiraling off her head and ears was woven into long white dreadlocks, giving her the appearance of an inside-out spotted cat at a Grateful Dead concert.
“Oh, you poor baby,” she crooned, reaching into the bushes to pick up the tiny shivering mass. As soon as her fingers were within biting distance, though, Medusa snapped, sharp white teeth giving a vicious warning.
Beady black eyes glared at Andrea with righteous fury.
“Oh, baby, did he treat you bad?” Andrea murmured, keeping her words low and soothing. Medusa was temperamental at the best of times. And this was clearly not her best. Andrea dug into her purse to find a bag of organic dog treats. She pulled out a few pieces and tossed them onto the lawn. No point in risking her fingers.
The dog gobbled up the kibble as if she was starving. Andrea kept crooning sweet nothings while Medusa was distracted with her hardened spinach, then slowly, as if approaching a live bomb, she reached for the dog.
Medusa gave a tiny growl out of the side of her mouth. Then, with a scary look in her dark eyes, she lifted her head so her wild locks slid to one side, and sniffed at Andrea’s fingers.
Her heart pounding so loud she thought her eardrums would explode, Andrea held her breath. Even the friendliest dogs were unpredictable in stressful circumstances. And Medusa wasn’t even close to friendly. Cringing and ready to yank her hand back at the first sight of tiny teeth, she waited. Medusa gave another low growl. Then, after a long, humanlike look of suspicion, she stretched out her neck and swiped her tongue over Andrea’s knuckles.
“Good baby. Good Medusa,” Andrea sang as she scooped one hand under the dog’s warm belly, pulling her tight to her own chest. “That’s my girl. You poor thing. Did the mean man scare you?”
Finally recognizing her rescuer, the dog started a licking marathon all over Andrea’s face. Struggling to get to her feet with a handful of gratefully wriggling and licking canine gratitude, Andrea held Medusa tight and stood up. Looking around, she could see Percy guarding the exit through the throng of people crowded around the door.
Realizing she’d dropped her purse in her rush to get the dog, she bent over to grab it.
Before she could, she saw the goon through the clearing crowd. Crap
. She’d been so worried about Medusa, she’d forgotten to worry about him.
Then he saw her.
Fury tightened his already angry face. Looking like a bull about to charge, he growled.
Run! She had to get the dog and get out of here.
She ran. Like the hounds of hell were after her, she moved the fastest she had ever moved in her life. The grass was slippery under her feet as she sped across it.
As soon as she cleared the exit, Percy slammed the door shut and locked it with a loud click. She had Medusa in the lobby. On the other side of the glass, a large, furious man looking like he wanted to kill them stood, shaking the handle and pounding on the door.
“C’mon,” Percy said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the exit. “That won’t hold him for long.”
“Wait,” she cried, trying to pull away and go back. “My purse is still back there. I’ve got to get it.”
“Your purse, or the dog,” Percy said, tugging at their entwined fingers to get her to hurry. “Which one do you want more?”
Andrea glanced back at the door. The guy’s fist had shattered the glass so it looked like a spiderweb. He hit it again, making the wood frame crack. The few people left in the lobby stared in shock, then ran for the exit.
“Let’s go,” she decided, holding the dog tight under her arm like a shaking, growling football. “Let’s go, fast.”
6
KEEPING AN EYE OUT behind them as they ran from the apartment building, Percy held tight to Andrea’s hand, pulling her across the street.
Damn. That guy was huge. He’d busted the door frame in two hits. Despite his current sprint, Percy wasn’t usually one to run from a fight. But protecting Andrea while fighting the same goon who’d tied her up and scared her…? As much as he wanted to introduce his fist to that guy’s huge face, he knew Andrea’s priority was getting the dog safely away.
Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume VII: The Steadfast Hot SoldierWild Thing Page 12