Heart of Rockies 03 - More Than a Feeling

by Sara Richardson

  “I didn’t.” There was so much he hadn’t known about her. So much he hadn’t known about relationships in general. His parents had made it look easy. They’d argue, sometimes raise their voices, but their respect—their devotion to each other—always won out, no matter how ugly the battle got. It took two to make something like that happen, though. Two people who would fight for it every day of their lives.

  He straightened, prepared to walk away from her, from the regret, from the grief. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  Because he was starting to think that he finally had.

  * * *

  When Sawyer pulled up in front of Grayson Collins’s house the man was waiting on the curb. When he left the coffee shop, Sawyer had called him to make sure he was home, and now, a few minutes later, the man stomped over to his car.

  Sighing, Sawyer pushed open the door and got out. Like he’d told Collins on the phone, the fact that his dog had gone missing didn’t mean someone had stolen it. Dogs ran away all the time. Sad as it was, sometimes around here a coyote or a mountain lion swiped them, though there hadn’t been any reported sightings in the area. He’d told him that, too, but the man wouldn’t let it go.

  “Nell’s been missing two days now,” Collins growled, like it was Sawyer’s fault.

  Maybe it you were a nicer person, the dog wouldn’t have taken off. Not that he was allowed to offer his personal opinion or anything. He’d do his best to keep it professional, even though Collins deserved a swift kick. “We can file a report,” Sawyer said, reaching back into the car for his clipboard. “I’ll have you fill out the paperwork—”

  “We don’t need paperwork.” Collins shuffled to the edge of the sidewalk, staring down the street. “That girl took Nell. I know she did. She has my dog at her house.”

  Sawyer gazed toward the duplex Ruby shared with Aunt Elsie. “I’m sorry. Which girl?” he asked, playing dumb.

  “Your friend. She stole my dog.”

  “Did you see her take the dog?” The fuse on Sawyer’s temper was lit. Ruby wouldn’t steal someone’s pet, for god’s sake.

  “I didn’t see her. But you were here the last time. You saw how she acted.”

  He couldn’t deny Ruby had been upset, but she wasn’t stupid. “She didn’t take your dog, sir. Like you said, she’s a friend of mine. And I’d know if she had a dog at her place.” Wouldn’t he? Surely she’d mention something. Or he would’ve seen it. He’d shown up there the other night…

  “Then she hid it somewhere,” Collins yelled. “Where else would she be? Nell doesn’t run.”

  Sawyer leaned against the car, surveying the quiet street. “Have you seen any animals in the area?”

  “No,” the man snapped.

  “What about your fence? Could the dog have slipped out somehow?”

  “Nell. Doesn’t. Run.”

  For the life of him, Sawyer couldn’t figure out why. If he were this man’s dog, he would’ve run away a long time ago.

  “Does the dog have a collar? Any identification?”

  “Of course.” Collins held out a paper. “Here’s her registration. She’s a damn champion. Worth a hell of a lot of money and I want her back.”

  Just to humor the man, Sawyer scanned the paper. “Well, I’ll file a report. In the meantime, I’d suggest you post signs around the neighborhood—”

  “You’re not even going to ask that girl?” Collins interrupted.

  “I see Ruby all the time.” He fought to keep his jaw soft. That was an exaggeration, but Ruby didn’t have time for a dog. She’d been at the lodge nonstop. “She doesn’t have your dog.”

  “I went to her door the other night. She was acting suspicious.”

  You’ve got to be kidding. He didn’t like the thought of this man stalking Ruby at her house. Not at all. “What do you mean suspicious?”

  “She was in a hurry to get rid of me.”

  Again…couldn’t blame her. Especially given her history. It probably freaked her out to have an angry man show up on her doorstep. He should talk to her about not answering the door. Never could be too careful.

  The man’s lips curled in a scowl. “The dog is there. I know the dog is there.”

  Obviously this man wasn’t going to let it go. The only way to get him off Ruby’s back would be to go over there right now while Collins watched. Sawyer looked down the street again. Ruby’s car was in the driveway, and he’d planned on going over anyway. It’d just be a little earlier than he thought. He shrugged. “I’ll stop by and check in with her.”

  Then he’d take her over to his place and make her a dinner she’d never forget.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Nellie!” Ruby leapt to grab the dog just as she bounded out of the bathtub. Water and suds sprayed everywhere. “Come back here!”

  Yipping with gusto, the dog tore circles around the white subway tile in the bathroom, paws slipping, dark eyes flashing with glee.

  Despite the fact that she was sopping wet, Ruby laughed. “Crazy dog.” Who would’ve thought giving a dog a bath could be a better workout than hiking up a mountain?

  “C’mere, Nellie,” she cooed in the sweet tone the dog could never resist. Kneeling, she held out her hands. She’d learned that talking to Nellie in a stern voice only sent the dog running for cover, usually underneath the dining-room table. Like she was afraid Ruby might hurt her. But when she called Nellie happily, the dog stopped in her tracks and ran right over, tail wagging with excitement. “Come on, Nellie. You know you want to come over here. I’ll scratch your belly…”

  Sure enough, the dog leapt into her arms, licking her face.

  “There, now. We have to finish your bath.” Ruby hauled her back to the bathtub and gently placed her in what was left of the sudsy water.

  Nell mournfully looked up from under those long doggie eyelashes of hers.

  “Don’t look at me like that.” Shaking her head, Ruby went back to scrubbing. “I’m not the one who got into the trash.” When she’d gotten home from work, she’d found the maple syrup container torn apart and the remnants stuck in Nell’s soft fur. That would be her fault. She should’ve known better than to leave the trash can out in the open.

  “We’re almost done. Trust me. I’m trying to make this as painless as possible.” The sight of her soaked shirt mocked her. Painless for Nellie, anyway. “I know the syrup smelled good and all, but next time can you try to avoid temptation? That way I’ll never have to give you another ba—”

  The doorbell’s chimes cut her off.

  Her hands froze around Nell’s healthy middle. A breath lodged in her lungs. What was with all the random visitors on her porch? First Sawyer, then the man from down the street…now who?

  The doorbell chimed again.

  Damn it. Not like she could find out from the bathroom.

  Whoever stood on her porch right now had to know she was here. Her car was parked right out front.

  “Okay,” she said firmly, to steady herself. “You stay here, sweet girl.” She lifted Nell out of the tub and rubbed her off with a towel, then slipped out the bathroom door, closing it firmly behind her. On the way to the living room, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her white shirt was now as sheer as a drapery panel and twisted like she’d just rolled out of bed. Her hair, which had been neatly knotted on top of her head twenty minutes ago, was frayed and wild. “Perfect.” She tried to smooth it back.

  The doorbell rang again, this time accompanied by a knock. “Hello?” The deep, muffled voice lurched her heart into her throat.

  Sawyer?

  “Ruby? Are you there?” He knocked again.

  Shit. Inspecting herself in the mirror again, she frantically tried to straighten herself out. What was he doing here? At her house? He was supposed to call her.

  Lordy, her heart was spinning in joyful circles, but her stomach clenched with nerves.

  A shadow crossed in front of the draped window. Now he was looking in her windo
ws. Oh, for god’s sake!

  Even though she looked like hell, she stalked to the door and tore it open. “What’re you doing here?”

  He looked her over, seeming to study her wet shirt longer than the rest of her. “What are you doing?” he finally asked.

  She looked down. Oopsie, the outline of her bra seemed to be pretty visible there. She crossed her arms to hide the goods and raised her head.

  Hell-ooo. In all the commotion, she seemed to have missed that Sawyer was decked out in his uniform. The crisp blue button-down shirt pulled taut around his broad shoulders. Short sleeves seemed tight around his biceps. His hair was combed and he wore aviator shades.

  “You look like you went for a swim,” he said, leaning a shoulder into the doorframe, and for some reason, that casual pose upped his sexy factor by about five hundred percent. He looked at her, waiting for an answer.

  “I was…um…” bathing a dog. That I’m harboring as a refugee. Nope. Couldn’t tell him the truth. “Cleaning.” Her arms tightened around her chest.

  “Cleaning.” His gaze lowered to her shirt again, and even though Sawyer’s presence here was a big problem, what with Nell still trapped in the bathroom and everything, her face flushed at the way he looked her up and down.

  “How’d you get all wet?”

  “I spilled a bucket of water,” she said, as though that sort of thing happened to her every day.

  “Do you…want to go change?” he asked slowly, like he couldn’t figure out why she hadn’t already thought of that.

  And, yes. Of course she should’ve thought of that. She should’ve thought to pull on a new shirt before broadcasting the fact that she preferred lace undergarments. “Actually, yeah. I should change.”

  “I’ll wait.” Sawyer moved to step inside, but she blocked him, thrusting herself a little too close to his macho, uniformed body.

  “Um.” She backtracked. “Do you think you could wait on the porch?”

  “Why?” He whipped off his shades, tucking them in the collar of his shirt, and his beautiful blue eyes creased in the corners, making him look every bit the skeptical cop. Sure enough, his eyes started a visual inspection of the living room over her shoulder. “Ruby…why won’t you let me come in?”

  She recognized that look. It was blatant suspicion, the same way he’d looked at her that first morning they’d talked in the kitchen.

  Sighing, she glanced over her shoulder. All of the dog toys were cleaned up, stowed away in the crate she kept in her bedroom. So really, what was the harm of him sitting on the couch to wait two minutes while she put on a new shirt? “Sorry.” She stepped aside and opened the door wider so he could come in. “I just haven’t cleaned out here, yet. I’ve been…mopping the bathroom floor.” She’d definitely be mopping it later.

  “Looks pretty clean to me.” His eyes had gone back to their normal puppy-dog shape. They were so striking, those eyes. Downright dangerous.

  Before his eyes could reel her into him, against that solid, protective wall of a chest, she bolted for the bedroom. “I’ll be right back,” she said, darting down the short hallway to the safety of her bedroom. She shut the door and locked it. Like he’d really barge in while he thought she was changing.

  Great, heaving breaths collected in her lungs as she hurried about, ripping off the wet blouse and pulling on a red peasant tunic instead. No. She took it off. It made her look too frumpy. Instead she hurried to the closet and selected a long-sleeved green t-shirt with a lace overlay across the shoulders. Casual but nice fitting.

  Scratching sounded at the master bathroom door. Nell! Ruby jogged across the room and opened the door, scooping up the dog and lavishing kisses on her head. “You have to be very quiet, sweetie,” she whispered. “No one can know you’re here.” Especially not Officer Hawkins. She hurried to the crate that held all the dog supplies and dug out a chewy stick. Then she gently set Nellie in her bed. “You stay,” she said, backing away. The dog gnawed happily on the treat and didn’t even attempt to get up. “Good girl,” Ruby whispered as she lurched back to the mirror. Whoa. She had to do something about that frizzy hair. Carefully she managed to untangle the rubber band, then combed her fingers through until it lay soft and wavy around her shoulders.

  Well, it wasn’t great, but it would have to do. “I’ll be back, girl.” She blew a kiss to Nellie and slipped back out into the living room, a calm smile hiding the roar of chaos inside of her.

  Sawyer stood by the bookshelf near the window, studying the various titles she’d collected. Romance, mystery, fantasy…anything that used to promise an escape into a different world where justice always won. In all those stories the characters overcame the odds and found what they’d been searching for. Standing there staring at Sawyer, heart melting in her chest, it felt like she had, too. Except she couldn’t have him. Not forever.

  Sadness clogged her throat, but she tried to clear it away. “Sorry about that.” A sheen of perspiration seemed to coat her skin, but she could only smell the watermelon-scented shampoo she’d been using on Nellie, thank the Lord.

  Sawyer turned and seemed to admire her. “No problem.”

  “Um.” Anytime he stared at her like that it robbed her of the ability to move. She stood in the middle of the room feeling awkward and harried under his examination. “I wasn’t expecting to see you until later.” She’d practically been counting the seconds all day. “So…are you here on official business?” Or had he just worn his uniform to make her lust after him? Because it was definitely working.

  “Just finishing up my shift.” He lowered himself into the wingback chair next to the couch. “Your neighbor called in. Said someone had stolen his dog.”

  “Really?” she gasped. Stolen? That was bit strong, wasn’t it? She hadn’t stolen anything. She simply hadn’t forced Nellie to go back to a bad home. Despite the logical justification, a tremor weakened her legs. “How awful.”

  “Yeah.” Sawyer leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. “It happens to be the same dog you saw the other day. When you called me.”

  “Huh.” Her shoulders tensed, but she forced them into a shrug. “I guess I can’t really blame the dog for running away.” A heart could only take so much abuse, after all.

  “I’m guessing that’s what happened. But he’s convinced someone took her.”

  A strangled laugh slipped out. Strangled because she was pretty sure her throat had started to shrink. “That’s crazy.” Hopefully he couldn’t tell how hollow her voice sounded.

  “Yeah. The guy’s kind of a nutcase.” But there was still a question in Sawyer’s eyes. “I promised I’d look into it. So you know nothing about the dog’s disappearance?”

  “No.” Technically that wasn’t a lie. She didn’t know how Nellie escaped. She didn’t see her get out. She’d only taken Nellie home after she’d gotten out. Like Sawyer said that day she’d called him, there was nothing he could do to protect the dog. That’s why she had to figure it out herself. She’d made a promise to Nellie.

  Before he could see the nervous twitch that ticked in her shoulders, she lightened the mood with a smirk. “Want me to get a chair so you can sit me down and interrogate me again? Maybe a spotlight, too?”

  “That won’t be necessary.” His lips hinted at that sexy quirked smile, like he was holding it back. But he looked tired, too. Or maybe withdrawn?

  “Long day at the office?” she asked, still standing in the center of the room, frozen by the knowledge that Nellie was right next door. The treat would keep her busy for a while, but what if she scratched? Or yipped?

  “Kind of.” A sigh pushed his back against the chair. “But my shift is over now. You still up for hanging out?”

  “Sure,” she answered quickly. But they definitely couldn’t sit right outside of her bedroom door. “How about a drink?” She drifted to the kitchen door and held it open. Maybe after a quick drink, she could convince him that they should go over to his place for dinner. “I don’t have
much.” She wasn’t a big drinker. “But Paige brought over beer a few weeks ago.” Lord knew she wouldn’t be drinking them…

  “Sounds perfect.” Sawyer pushed off the couch, and something was different about him. Off. He kept his distance from her. Though he watched her carefully, he seemed cautious, somehow.

  “Bet you’ll be glad to move on from small-town politics, huh?” she asked, trying to make conversation.

  “I don’t know.” The words drifted without his usual conviction to anchor them.

  She studied him. Why was he so withdrawn? Usually that was her M.O. Turning away, she dug a beer out of the fridge and handed it to him. “Are you okay? Did something happen?” Who knew what he had to deal with every day, being a cop and all.

  “Today was interesting.” He popped off the bottle cap and took a swig.

  She watched him, trapped inside of a fierce craving to let herself melt into him. He was just so damn beautiful, his long tanned neck, now clean-shaven, his sturdy jaw, so rugged and defined. Whenever she happened to be near him, he consumed her concentration. Even when he was only taking a drink.

  He set down the bottle, watching her watch him. “They had a send-off party for me at the station.”

  Even though his eyes held so much solemnity, she couldn’t help but smile. That was a small town for you. Everyone got a going-away party. “I’m sure they’ll miss you.”

  “Will you miss me?” The question came from some low, deep place. She’d never heard his voice sound quite like that, except for maybe this morning in the kitchen when he’d told her he needed to be alone with her tonight.

  The craving seemed to expand inside of her, overpowering thoughts and reason, sending her heart into a titillating purr. “Yes.” Her feet felt like they’d been glued to the floor. “Yes. I will definitely miss you, Sawyer.” Each honest word grew her courage until a complete fearlessness took over and she could slowly walk toward him. She needed him to know how badly she wanted him. She might not be able to share the truth with him, but that much he deserved to know.