Wild On My Mind

by Laurel Kerr

  Suddenly interested, Bowie focused on the artwork. He vaguely remembered Katie showing him some sketches when he’d pretended to date her in high school, but time had fogged his memories.

  “Which ones are Katie’s?”

  A look of challenge crossed Josh’s face. “Can’t you recognize her work? She has a very distinctive style.”

  Crap. He’d walked right into that one.

  “I’m not an artist. I don’t know how to pick up on subtle details,” Bowie said, not willing to admit that he hadn’t seen any of Katie’s drawings except those for the zoo and her other local clients.

  Josh studied him with interest. “How much of her work have you looked at? Surely, Katie would’ve shared her recent comics from my website. If you care for her, you’d realize how important her drawings are to her.”

  Bowie had no good answer. Katie hadn’t opened up to him like that. At least not yet. And he didn’t want to explain their relationship to Josh. So he deflected. “What is your problem with me anyway? Do you really think I’ll start pulling juvenile pranks again?”

  Josh glanced at him almost dismissively. “You do seem like the type who peaked in high school and might try to relive the glory days, but no, that’s not my main concern.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “You might not pull humiliating pranks anymore, but I think this is a power play for you. Prove that you’ve still got it. That you can make Katie fall for you twice, even with her knowing how you treated her in the past.”

  “And you don’t think she’s smart enough to figure out if I’m just manipulating her?” Bowie demanded.

  “You succeeded last time, and you’ve got enough pull on Katie that she’s overlooking what you did to her before.”

  Not completely, but Bowie didn’t want to reveal that. “Maybe it’s because she realizes that ten years have passed, and I’m not the same immature dickwad I once was.”

  Josh regarded him carefully. “You know, I do think Katie is intelligent enough not to let you get too close. After all, she hasn’t shown you the work she does for my website. So I’m thinking that she’s holding herself apart.”

  Yeah, she was, and Bowie didn’t need another reminder.

  “So that should make you happy,” Bowie snapped.

  “It does somewhat,” Josh admitted.

  Bowie clenched his hand so hard that his fingers actually hurt. He didn’t make a move to swing his arm, but he was close.

  “You hurt her last time. Deeply. Maybe you actually do care about her, but you damn well don’t deserve her. I honestly don’t think you could ever make her happy,” Josh continued.

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I might not have a college education or a job that brings home a lot of money. Hell, you’re probably even right that I might not fully deserve Katie, but I can bring her happiness, and I can be the man she needs.”

  The tension suddenly left Josh’s face. The man didn’t exactly smile, but he didn’t seem ready to shoot beams of deadly frost from his eyes either. Bowie’s own body uncoiled a fraction. It felt a little anticlimactic, but perhaps he’d convinced Josh of the sincerity of his interest in Katie.

  Josh swept his hand over Bowie’s desk. “All of these drawings are Katie’s.”

  Bowie wasn’t sure if the man was extending an olive branch, but he wasted no time in studying the pictures. He wanted to see Katie’s work. Although he didn’t know much about any form of art, Katie’s drawings possessed a compelling vibrancy. With deft strokes of her pen, she managed to make the characters seem as if they could leap from the page.

  “She’s really talented,” Bowie said with a smile.

  Josh didn’t return it, but he didn’t scowl either. “Yes. Yes, she is.”

  Bowie returned his attention to the artwork. Josh walked over beside him.

  “I purposely picked these clippings because they all show the villains that Katie has drawn over the years.” Josh pointed with his index finger as he continued speaking. “This is the mascot of our main school rival. Here’s the professor who was basically a caricature. He would grade papers by throwing them down the stairs, stuff like that. Next, Katie created this little guy to represent a computer virus in the ads for my company. Then there’s the computer hacker.”

  “They’re really good,” Bowie said.

  “Do you recognize anything about the drawings?”

  Something about Josh’s tone caused Bowie’s sense of foreboding to return. Cautiously, he turned his attention back to Josh.

  “No.” Bowie chose his words carefully. “Should I?”

  Josh grabbed one of the pictures and handed it to Bowie. “This one might help. He was a recurring character in our comic series. He personifies a college student’s insecurities. Katie named him ‘Self Doubt.’ He’s like the devil who appears on someone’s shoulder, but instead of persuading them to do something bad, he goads them into acting awkward.”

  Josh fell silent as Bowie studied the character. The villain was a young, surprisingly good-looking twentysomething. He hovered above a young woman’s shoulder—a young woman with curly hair who looked a lot like Katie had back in high school. Self Doubt wore a black cape that billowed about him to reveal a toned body clad in leather. Bowie was so caught up in the artistry that he almost missed the man’s facial features.

  Was that…? Naw, it couldn’t be. Could it?

  “Katie told me that she came up with the idea for Self Doubt in high school.” Josh confirmed Bowie’s suspicions.

  Ah, hell, it was him. The guy who caused the Katie look-alike to lose faith in herself was modeled after him. The realization slammed like a serrated knife into Bowie’s gut, then twisted mercilessly.

  “Now look around again,” Josh said, the smugness back in his voice. “See the familiarities now?”

  As Bowie surveyed the clippings strewn on his desk, the gnawing ache in his stomach turned even more vicious. Every damn villain shared some feature with him. Even the evil computer virus had gray eyes.

  Stricken, Bowie glanced back at Josh. The guy grinned. Evilly.

  “You see, you may be right. I may not know all the details about who you were and who you are now, but I do know who you are to Katie.”

  Josh paused, probably for dramatic effect. Not that Bowie needed it. He already felt clobbered.

  “You are Katie’s villain.”

  Chapter 10

  As the truck containing the new male camel pulled into the zoo parking lot, Katie glanced over at Bowie with concern…and not for the first time. Ever since Katie had left him with Josh yesterday, Bowie had seemed strangely subdued. Last night, she’d grilled Josh about it, but her friend had remained mum.

  Katie sensed there was something off, and it bothered her. She wanted Bowie to enjoy the upcoming zoo festival after all his hard work. With the Sawyer mess hanging over his head, the man needed a break. If Josh had said anything to ruin the celebration, Katie would personally wring his neck.

  “Are you sure everything is okay?” Katie asked Bowie again. “You seem quiet.”

  Bowie nodded. “Yeah. Just under a lot of pressure with the festival coming up.”

  Josh strode up to them, effectively ending the conversation. Bowie stiffened almost imperceptibly, but Katie caught the slight movement. For his part, Josh appeared relaxed…too relaxed. She still had no idea what had transpired between the two men, but she didn’t like it. Since Josh seemed borderline smug, Katie instinctively sided with Bowie. She might not have decided to trust him completely, but she didn’t want Josh making him feel uncomfortable.

  She brushed her hand against Bowie’s bicep. Josh’s eyes narrowed slightly, but Bowie’s muscles relaxed under her fingertips. She rested her hand against his skin long enough to send both men a clear message. She wanted Bowie by her side, regardless of Josh’s overprotectiveness.

&
nbsp; Bowie smiled down at her, some of the normal warmth returning to his grin. “I better go help the truck driver unload Hank. Camels can be ornery, especially after being cooped up in a trailer.”

  Sure enough, a loud, guttural bray echoed through the quiet parking lot. The truck driver had already lowered the ramp and was pulling on the camel’s lead. But there was no sign of Hank, who stubbornly remained inside. Bowie joined the handler and added his strength to the rope.

  Hank’s nose and lips appeared first. His large nostrils flared with indignation, his mouth open in a gaping bray. He snorted as the rest of his fuzzy head emerged. Glowering the whole time, Hank used all his strength to resist. Inch by inch, more of his long neck became visible. The rest of the camel remained hidden in the trailer. Not even one foot had made an appearance.

  “Glory be, how long is that poor creature’s neck?” June asked. “He looks like candy at a taffy pull.”

  “An angry piece of candy,” Josh observed.

  “Well, would you be happy about being stretched like that?” June asked.

  Just then, the first hoof materialized, then the next. Hank kept his neck low and fully extended. With gravity now helping the men, the camel had no choice but to scramble down the ramp. He did not appear pleased by the process. When his feet reached the ground, he began to twist his head like a writhing serpent ready to strike.

  “Oh my, Lulubelle will have a devil of a time charming that one,” June said, laughing.

  “She’s up to the task,” Katie said, completely confident about the feminine wiles of the cheerful camel.

  Just then Hank decided to spit. Quite profusely and quite accurately. Right into Bowie’s face.

  Instead of getting angry, Bowie just wiped off the liquid with his shirtsleeve and grinned up at the bull. “Welcome to Sagebrush, Hank.”

  Hank did not appear impressed. He brayed, but it did not sound like a greeting. More like a protest.

  “I know.” Bowie reached up and rubbed the camel’s neck. “You had a rough trip. But it’s over now, and we have someone here who you’re going to want to meet.”

  Hank stared mulishly, clearly unconvinced. Still, the steady ground beneath his feet must have provided the animal with reassurance, because he at least stopped thrashing wildly. Bowie kept stroking the animal until the camel’s breathing calmed.

  “That’s it, boy. You’re home now.” Hank snorted, and Bowie grinned. “I mean it.”

  “I’ll give Katie’s new guy credit for one thing,” Josh observed quietly so only Katie and June could hear. “He does seem to genuinely care for his animals.”

  June punched Josh’s arm. “You play nice now, you hear? Bowie’s been treating our girl very well. I approve.”

  Josh looked as disgruntled as Hank. “The jury’s still out.”

  Katie shook her head. “I think you two are forgetting that it’s my opinion that counts, but June’s right, Josh. You play nice.”

  Before Josh had a chance to respond, Hank had settled enough to allow Bowie to lead him away from the parking lot. June grabbed Katie’s arm excitedly. “I am just dying to see the camels meet. Do you think it will be love at first sight?”

  “I don’t think it works that way,” Josh said dryly. “Lust at first sight, maybe. Love? Not a chance in hell.”

  June glared at Josh. “I swear, Josh Calhoun, you lack any romantic bone in your entire body.”

  Josh grinned as the three of them followed after Bowie and Hank. “Thanks for the compliment.”

  “It wasn’t one.”

  “Would you two be quiet?” Katie hissed as they got closer to the new camel enclosure. “I’m supposed to be filming this meeting, remember? I don’t need you two bickering in the background.”

  “What mood music are you going to play?” Josh asked.

  “Shhh,” June hissed. “You’ll disrupt the camel love.”

  Thankfully, the two fell silent as they rounded the corner where Abby and Lou were waiting for them at the camel enclosure. At the sight of Hank, Abby immediately began bouncing up and down. A wide smile spread across Lou’s weathered face. As Bowie led Hank into the pen, Katie stood far enough away that she could capture all the action without picking up any sound.

  Lulubelle’s head perked up. So did Hank’s. In fact, the formerly reluctant camel picked up speed. A lot of it. Instead of Bowie having to tug the bull forward, he now had to restrain the beast.

  “Looks like he’s in rut,” Lou observed.

  When Bowie answered, his voice was strained from the effort of trying to contain the now-enthusiastic male. “It’s too early for that. Doesn’t the rut normally start in November?”

  Lou shook his head as he leaned against the fence. “Not necessarily for dromedary camels. Hank here isn’t a young’un, and he can be ready any time of the year. Lulubelle knows. See how she’s flicking her tail? Why do you think Hank’s giving you so much trouble?”

  “Maybe you should stop filming,” June whispered.

  Katie kept her camera trained on the animals. “I’ll edit the video before I post it.”

  Bowie released Hank. The camel dashed into the enclosure, his head held high in a clear bid to impress Lulubelle. It seemed to work as her tail swished even faster.

  “June, can you take Abby back to the house?”

  “I’ll go with Abby,” Josh volunteered.

  “Squeamish much, Josh?” June drawled.

  “Yes,” he agreed quickly. “Come on, Abby. Why don’t you show me some of the other animals?”

  Abby looked a little reluctant but perked up at Josh’s suggestion. She loved showing off the zoo.

  As soon as the two left, Hank began to rub his neck and head all over the fence posts. Lulubelle’s tail picked up an even greater tempo.

  “Once again, Lou, you’re right,” Bowie said as Hank began—literally—to drool over Lulubelle.

  “Good to know they’ll get along,” Lou said, glancing at Bowie and then Katie meaningfully. “’Bout time we had a successful pairing.”

  * * *

  “I think that’s it,” Katie said as she stepped back from the wall she’d been painting in the cubs’ temporary exhibit. She had a smudge of red paint on her cheek from the sandstone formations she’d been painting. Two days ago, Bowie would have immediately wiped it off, but he still couldn’t shake the awkward feeling that had formed since he’d discovered that he’d been the inspiration for all Katie’s villains. Katie, though, didn’t pick up on his tension. Instead, she surveyed the new enclosure with a wide smile. “This place looks great.”

  “Thanks to your artwork,” Bowie said.

  “I’m not the one who lugged all the logs and built the climbing platforms,” she pointed out. “Or who added the addition onto the nursery.”

  “Yes, but it’s the backdrop that pulls it all together.”

  “When do you think we can let the cubs into the exhibit?” Katie asked. Bowie planned on introducing the pumas to their new play area before the festival so the little guys wouldn’t be so overwhelmed.

  “How soon will the paint dry?”

  “Most of what I did today was touch-up work, so not too long. About an hour or so.”

  Bowie checked his watch. That would take them to about seven o’clock. “Abby’s going to be dropped off by her friend’s mom around seven thirty. Let’s wait an additional half hour. She’ll be over the moon.”

  “You know,” Katie said suggestively. “I have an idea of how we can spend the time.”

  “You do, huh?” Bowie said, although his enthusiasm felt a little flat. He wanted her. No doubt about that. But he couldn’t stop yearning for more.

  “You bet, Tarzan.”

  Bowie nearly groaned at the reminder of the costume he’d be wearing to introduce the cubs. Katie winked and headed to the small door that connected the ne
w exhibit to the nursery. With one smoldering look over her shoulder, she crawled through the opening. As she did so, she gave her butt a wiggle, and Bowie couldn’t help but smile despite his glumness.

  He should be happy. A sexy woman wanted him. They always had a great time together. He’d told himself previously that he’d take it slow and give Katie the chance to start thinking of them as a couple. Maybe it was time he talked to her directly. But not today. Not with the festival coming up. Afterward, when things settled down, he’d explain how he was feeling.

  Until then, he might as well enjoy himself. Bowie followed after Katie. As soon as he maneuvered his large frame through the exit, she grabbed his hand, a sultry smile on her face. He let her lead him through the nursery to the adjacent room with the air mattress. She started to unbutton her jean shorts, but he stopped her.

  “Can we take this one slow?”

  She smiled wickedly. “Slow sounds good for a change.”

  Bowie dipped his chin and just kissed her. Nothing more, nothing less. He let his lips glide against hers, soft and slow. As though it was their first kiss. When Katie sighed, he licked the corner of her mouth with tiny, gentle flicks of his tongue.

  She giggled, the sound bright and happy. It was lighter than the gasps she normally made, and he loved it.

  He cupped the back of her head with his hand and felt the silky slide of her auburn locks. For a moment, he just reveled in the sensation of her hair slipping through his fingers as he opened his senses to her. To all of her.

  This. This was about savoring, and he planned to get his full taste.

  Bowie tilted Katie’s head so he could more fully access her mouth. Only then did he begin to kiss in earnest. He poured all his tenderness into the embrace. Inch by inch, her body grew pliant as his hardened.

  Placing his arm around her back, he steadied her, sharing his strength. But he did not lessen his demand.