That Dating Thing

by Crowne, Mackenzie

  “Now, why would I do that?”

  She blinked. Huh? What did he mean by that? He didn’t want to hurt Sil’s feelings by letting her know her plan hadn’t worked? Or he didn’t want to go back inside because he thought Sil’s plan had merit? The first option made her heart pulse with approval, the second made it pound with panic. The competing erratic beats made her light-headed.

  God, she needed a defibrillator.

  But she wouldn’t touch his comment with a ten-foot pole. She shrugged, starting down the stairs. “Suit yourself.”

  “She obviously loves you,” he said, following. “And wants to see you happy.”

  “And I love her, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy strangling her sometimes.”

  His quiet chuckle wafted over her like a warm breeze, and made the fine hairs on her arms stand at attention. She rolled her shoulders and hastened her descent to the first floor.

  “She raised you, I gather?”

  “From the time I was eleven.”

  “There’s no family resemblance. Was her late husband your natural uncle?”

  Rylee hesitated. She lived by the rule that the less people understood her familial ties, the better. Coop, however, was now a part of her extended family. The closer she stuck to the truth the better.

  “Sil is my mother’s cousin. She and Adam took me in and made me a part of their family when I was left alone.” She reached the ground floor, pulled out her key and changed the subject. “Pippin is bound to be excited, so I apologize if he acts up a little. He’s come a long way, but tends to forget his training when he’s been left alone for any length of time.”

  She opened the door and stepped inside. Belle trotted out from the hallway, her docked tail ticking out her pleasure like a metronome on speed.

  “There’s my girl.” Rylee rubbed the dog’s side. The Boxer leaned against her leg in a body hug. Excited barking echoed from the back of the condo. “Pippin, quiet,” Rylee called. The barking stopped.

  “Nice trick.” Coop shook the paw Belle offered, less reluctantly than the first time.

  “Greeting someone properly is important to Belle. She’s very polite.”

  “I meant the barking,” he corrected, straightening.

  She grinned. “I told you he’d be excited. Come on. I’ll introduce you.”

  ****

  “Holy shit!”

  Coop stopped just inside a room resembling a small pet store, without all the pets. Cages of various sizes lined the walls, from two-feet square to something he swore he’d seen on TV, lowered over the side of a boat by shark experts. The beast inside the shark cage all but danced in anticipation of his freedom.

  “Sorry,” he said belatedly. “But that is not a dog. That’s a barnyard experiment gone wrong.”

  Rylee laughed, held out her arm and did something with her hand. The excited Great Dane dropped to his butt and waited while she worked the latch. In case the huge dog’s docile behavior was a ruse, Coop scanned the room for possible weapons. None appeared, and even if one had, he wouldn’t have had a chance to use it. The dog burst from the opened cage, knocking Rylee over in his haste, and charged Coop.

  “Pippin!”

  Rylee’s shout barely registered as Coop stumbled backward and went down under the power of the dog’s running leap. Belle’s frantic barking added to the melee.

  “Oh, God. Pippin!”

  One hundred-sixty pounds of fur-covered muscle, lolling tongue, and sharp white teeth straddled Coop where he lay sprawled in the doorway. To his relief, the dog didn’t use the teeth. The tongue was another story.

  “Pippin, back,” Rylee commanded.

  Doing his best to dodge Pippin’s sloppy lashing, Coop caught a glimpse of Rylee, crawling across the floor on her hands and knees. Pippin landed one last, wet swipe to Coop’s chin before he managed to get hold of the dog’s collar. Straightening his arms and sitting up, Coop forced the dog back several steps. Rylee reached for Pippin’s collar, scrambling to her feet and tugging him back even farther.

  “Oh, dear God, are you all right?” Her eyes were wide with dismay. “Did he hurt you?”

  “Only my pride.” Coop used his sleeve to wipe his face.

  “I am so sorry.”

  “I’m fine, Rylee,” he tried to reassure her, but she spoke over him.

  “He’s still struggling with jumping when he’s excited, but he’s never done anything like that before. Are you sure you aren’t hurt?”

  Coop climbed to his feet, dusting himself off. “I’m fine.”

  Pippin yanked and twisted, trying to break her grip. “Pippin, heel!”

  “Let him go.”

  “No way in hell.” Eyes saucer-big, she turned her body to block the excited dog. “He wasn’t trying to hurt you, Coop. I’ll just put him back in the cage until you’re gone.”

  “I realize that, Rylee, but he needs to know he can’t do that type of thing.”

  “I agree, but—”

  “He didn’t tackle you, Rylee. Let him go.”

  Indecision shadowed her eyes and she shook her head.

  “He’ll be fine. I promise. Just let him go. Now.”

  She swallowed, her gaze darting down to the straining dog and back. “Easy Pippin,” she soothed. Despite her obvious unease, she uncurled her fingers from the thick collar.

  The Great Dane bounded across the space in a flash. Excitement shone in his ebony eyes. His muscles bunched as he leapt. Coop stepped aside and flung out his arm, clotheslining the beast. The jolt ricocheted up Coop’s shoulder. Stopped short, Pippin slammed to the floor. Coop followed, straddling him before the dog could scramble back to his feet.

  “Down,” Coop said sharply. After several long moments, the dog stopped struggling and dropped his large head to the floor. His chest heaved from exertion, but he relaxed. “Stay.”

  Coop rose to his feet. Pippin didn’t move.

  Rylee stared open-mouthed. “If things don’t work out for you in the D.A.’s office,” she said, “you’ve got yourself a job here anytime.” He chuckled and her smile came slow. “Where did you learn to do that?”

  “I did several ride-alongs with NYPD when I first joined the D.A.’s office. Two of those days were with a K-9 unit. I picked up a few things.”

  She eyed Pippin, who still hadn’t moved. “For someone who doesn’t like dogs, you have the touch.”

  “Who said I don’t like dogs?”

  “The other day, when I explained that your father was hurt because he saved Pippin.” She paused at his lifted brow. “Never mind. First impressions.” She shrugged. “So, are you going to let him up?”

  “Go ahead,” he invited.

  She shook her head. “You gave the order to stay. You finish it. And make sure to praise him. He’s sensitive.”

  “Sensitive hell, he’s psychotic,” Coop grumbled then patted his thigh. “Pippin, come here, boy.”

  Pippin jumped up and moved to Coop’s side. His head hung low as he approached and Coop figured she had it right. The dog was either embarrassed or cowered.

  “Good boy.” Coop scrubbed the dog’s large head and Pippin’s tongue snuck out for a lick.

  Rylee gripped the dog’s collar and grimaced. “We’re still working on the kissing.”

  Coop hesitated at the irresistible opening. “Let me know if I can be of any help with that.”

  Chapter Six

  Rylee reacted to Coop’s suggestive comment exactly as he expected. She blinked and a tiny frown creased her brow. Whenever the conversation veered toward anything even remotely personal, either she fell back on that sarcastic wit she’d perfected or she retreated into silence. Like now.

  Curious contradictions lurked beneath the carefree, lighthearted image she projected. She’d dismissed his show of interest, along with his invitation to meet his friends, and yet he caught her watching him several times during dinner, her eyes full of feminine awareness. Her aunt’s matchmaking annoyed her, but she smiled and teased him,
including him in the family camaraderie around the table.

  Confusion trumped wariness in her eyes now. He’d thrown her off-balance. Good. Since meeting her the other day, she’d been popping into his head with annoying regularity. Why should he be alone in his madness?

  He’d been anxious to see her again, telling himself he’d imagined the unprecedented sexual pull he’d experienced for Elliott’s stepdaughter, step-cousin—step-whatever. His imagination was in play, all right. From the moment he’d seen her again, he’d envisioned her in a number of different situations. She’d been naked in all of them.

  And he wasn’t the only one experiencing the pull. Those flashes of feminine awareness in her dark-chocolate eyes broadcast her attraction to him, an attraction she evidently planned to ignore. He’d see about that. He hadn’t earned his reputation as a successful prosecutor by backing away from a difficult case, and the beautiful dog trainer was a case he meant to crack.

  He turned away and wandered further into the room. Pippin trotted at his side.

  “So, this is The Canine Academy?” He eyed the cages. “Where are your other students?”

  A soft release of pent up breath reached his ears and he smiled. Yes, off balance was just how he wanted her.

  “Gone for the day.”

  “Why is Pippin still here?”

  “Pippin required a more intense program. He’s our only boarder at the moment.”

  “Have dinner with me,” he said, without turning around. She didn’t answer and he waited several beats before glancing over his shoulder. Her eyes shuttered, she fell back on sarcasm.

  “We just finished dinner. What do you have, a tapeworm?”

  He faced her. “I’d like to take you to dinner, Rylee.”

  Her hand went to Belle’s head beside her and she jutted her chin up a notch. “That wouldn’t be a good idea, Coop.”

  “Why? I’m attracted to you, and a man can tell when the attraction is mutual.”

  She said nothing, returning his gaze while she scratched the fur between Belle’s ears.

  “It’s just a meal.” He crossed his arms. “I’m not suggesting we jet off to Vegas.”

  She snorted softly. “That’s a relief. Casinos give me a headache.”

  The dry sarcasm made him smile. She hadn’t said no.

  “Look, you’re a great-looking guy.”

  He flashed a grin, pleased when her lips twitched in response.

  “And I admit you have a certain amount of charm.”

  “But?”

  “But, your father is married to my aunt.”

  “Your mother’s cousin,” he corrected. He dropped his arms to his sides and stepped toward her. “And Dad and Silvia can get their own dinner.”

  Her lips formed a genuine smile, but she shook her head. “People rarely come out of this kind of thing on friendly terms.”

  “This kind of thing?” He continued to advance.

  “We’re connected through Sil and Elliott. I don’t want to see them caught in the middle when this…dating thing, or whatever it is you’re after, ends.”

  “This dating thing?”

  “Or whatever it is you’re after,” she repeated. As he closed the distance, she stepped back and bumped up against the shark cage. She slapped her spread fingers against his chest to prevent him from coming any closer. “I’m not in the market for a relationship right now.”

  “Then we don’t have a problem, because neither am I.” He brushed a fingertip over the perfect skin of her cheekbone. “So, here’s what I suggest.”

  Her eyelids fluttered, pupils dilating, and reluctant temptation replaced the wariness in her dark orbs. Still, she kept a defensive hand on his chest.

  “If you insist on negotiating when I’ve already explained my concerns,” she said, holding his gaze, “I’d rather you didn’t touch me.”

  He checked the urge to kiss her at the artless admission of finding his touch disturbing. Instead, he moved his hand to the cage beside her head. He wrapped his fingers around the metal bar and dipped his head, bringing his face closer to hers. She blinked but held her ground, boldly meeting his gaze.

  “I propose we get to know one another,” he pressed. “A few dinners. Maybe a show, or a ball game or two if you like. We find out what makes each other tick.”

  “Hmmm.” Her mouth moved into a smirk. “Five seconds ago you were talking a meal. Now it’s a few dinners and a ball game or two. At this rate we’ll be jetting off to Vegas by the end of the week.”

  She didn’t try to stop him when he took the final step that brought their bodies within inches of each other. “Has anyone ever accused you of being a wiseass?”

  Head cocked as though considering the question, her mouth quivered on a smile. “Nope.”

  “How about a liar?”

  She lost the battle with the smile and her low laugh sent a lash of desire whipping across his midsection. He did what he’d wanted to do since arriving at his father’s condo days ago. Leaning in, he took...

  ****

  Mistake. Mistake. Mistake.

  The chant echoed in her head.

  Except this didn’t feel like a mistake. No, this was amazing, and exciting, and…oh, God, so good!

  She’d been kissed before. Hell, she’d been engaged, but none of those mouth-to-mouth exercises she shared with Marcus ever came close to this. Compared to Cooper Reed, Marcus kissed like a dead fish.

  Skipping right past nice-to-meet-you, Coop jumped straight into an I-couldn’t-wait-another-moment-to-taste-you devouring. He didn’t fumble or grab like some of the men she’d dated. His mouth moved over hers with confident intent in a slow, thorough exploration. The fine hairs on her body lifting as if brushed by an electrical charge. Goose bumps rose and left her chilled, despite the heat of his mouth threatening to burn her alive. He touched her nowhere else, but that didn’t matter. She sensed the caress of his mouth all over, as though she were already naked and spread out for his pleasure.

  His lips nibbled and tasted, and when his tongue teased the seam of her lips in a silken caress, she opened her mouth, granting him entrance. His low growl of approval spurred her on and she met his bold foray. Tongues tangling, she thrilled to the strength of his muscled arms wrapping around her and pulling her close.

  Mistake!

  Some rogue neurotransmitter managed to pierce the hazy bubble of lust threatening to carry her away. The warning shrieked through her brain and she fought against the accompanying panic. Frustration joined the party. There had to be a workable solution, because nothing so pleasant could be wrong.

  But the damage was done. She pulled back, her eyelids fluttering open to find his passion-darkened eyes gleaming inches above hers.

  “We need to add an addendum to our negotiation.” The low rumble of his voice vibrated through her breasts, crushed to his chest.

  She swallowed before she could speak. “Addendum?”

  “I think we should add some time in bed to that list of get-to-know-you activities.”

  Despite the erratic beat of her heart, she couldn’t help but smile, which increased her panic. A man who could ignite her body with a kiss and tickle her funny bone would be hazardous to her equilibrium, and his position with the D.A.’s office made Cooper Reed downright dangerous to the life she’d fought so hard to build. Considering how easily he managed to make her forget that fact, she’d be wise to keep her distance—which wouldn’t be easy, not with the memory of that kiss jabbing at her.

  He had just proven his ability to smash through the barriers she threw up. If she didn’t do the smart thing, staying as far away from him as possible, she’d be fighting both Coop and herself, when what she really wanted was to take a chance and see where this explosive attraction between them led.

  “Coop.” She dropped her forehead to his chest for just a moment before pressing him back a step. She rested against the bars, grateful for the cage’s support considering the unsteadiness of her legs.

  “Ryl
ee,” he echoed, letting her go.

  “Like I said, this isn’t a good idea.”

  His steady gaze held hers. “You said dinner wasn’t a good idea. But this,” he waved a hand back and forth between them, “this is something else. A woman doesn’t kiss a man the way you just kissed me if she thinks ending up in bed with him is a bad idea.”

  “She does if she’s stupid,” she grumbled then rolled her eyes. “And you’re being purposefully obtuse. You know what I mean.”

  “What I am being is argumentative. I don’t understand what the problem is, unless you already have a man in your life. Are you and Brian…?”

  The absurdity of the suggestion was too much. “Oh,” she snickered. “Brian would bust a gut laughing if he knew you were thinking that. And no, Brian and I are not involved. He’s practically my brother.”

  “Then like I said, we don’t have a problem.”

  She disagreed, but wasn’t about to squabble with a professional arguer. Anything she might say to make her case would be a waste of breath. She crossed her arms.

  “I get what you’re saying about Sil and my father, Rylee. I don’t want them hurt, either. We’ve established that neither of us is interested in a relationship, not in the typical sense anyway. We’re two unattached adults suffering from a case of mutual attraction, and I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t act on that attraction and enjoy each other’s company for a time. With,” he added, raising a hand when she started to object, “an agreement from the beginning that when it’s over, we walk away friends. No hard feelings allowed.”

  To enjoy him without worrying about potential, ugly fallout? What a heady temptation. Excitement coursed through her at the scenario he described, her willpower no match for the lure of the untold pleasures shining in his eyes.

  No wonder he thrived in his chosen career. The ability to calmly argue his point, combined with those sexy, dark good looks, would sway any jury to his side.

  “You sound like a lawyer,” she complained, because she was going to agree to his irresistible proposal, despite knowing she would most likely pay a price in the end.