Animal Attraction: Buckhorn Ever AfterImagine Me and YouGimme ShelterPartner in Crime

by Lori Foster

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  About Jules Bennett

  Chapter One

  If anyone from the force saw him crawling around on his sister’s lawn snapping pictures of a rat in a ball, they’d personally drive him to that shrink he’d written off as unnecessary a year ago.

  Okay, technically the “rat” was a guinea pig, and in his defense, he’d promised his sister he’d watch out for her cherished rodent and hyper-psychotic cat while she was out of the country fighting for his freedom. And since she expected nothing less than pure sarcasm from his side of the globe, he was texting pictures of this rodent rolling around on the lawn in a bright orange ball. She had feared he wouldn’t be able to take care of her beloved pets the way she did; well, he was out playing with one in the yard, wasn’t he? Who else did that when house-sitting?

  Next he’d go inside and pose the cat, Charlie Foxtrot, in the old claw-foot tub and send a text about bath time. That ought to have her cringing and cursing him from Iraq. Ah, the way he found his kicks lately was truly sad and pathetic. Just one more consequence of his forced early retirement.

  And speaking of pathetic, he was on his belly in itchy fresh-cut grass, with his phone aimed at a rolling ball like this was his damn kid or something.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw a large dog barreling toward them. Years of instinct had him reaching for his pepper spray. But that, along with his belt, badge and dignity, had been stripped thanks to a moment’s hesitation that had left his knee shattered and his partner mentally scarred for life.

  Abel scrambled to his feet, ready to scoop up the ball and head into the house, when the mammoth dog clenched his massive mouth around the sphere and took off running toward the back of the house.

  Shit!

  Abel tried to run after what appeared to be a pit bull, his mind already in overdrive wondering how the hell he would explain this to his sister. Or if he could just go buy another guinea pig to replace the one currently caught between the jowls of a very large, very fast dog.

  Even though he’d been in therapy for months and his knee was near 100 percent again, he was no match for a dog with four good legs.

  Abel slowed when he saw the dog run down to the dock that stretched out over the pond behind the neighbor’s house.

  “Fluffy!”

  The female voice drifted across the wide yards, and he jerked his head to see a very curvy yet petite woman wearing blindingly purple spandex pants and an equally loud print tank colored orange, neon green and hot pink. She was walking toward the dock and kept calling “Fluffy,” and Abel fully expected to see a little Chihuahua or toy poodle come from beneath a bush.

  Tearing his eyes from the curves of his new temporary neighbor, Abel focused on the dog, which was rolling the ball with the guinea pig into the pond like it was part of some stunt at a county fair.

  Fan-freakin’-tastic. This was so not going in a text to his sister, or he’d definitely hear the cursing all the way from the other side of the globe.

  As he ran faster toward the dock, not giving a rat’s ass who the property belonged to, he ignored the woman to his right still calling for whatever “Fluffy” was. When he got to the dock, he glanced to the dog, which seemed to be loving his new toy. Abel sincerely hoped he didn’t get his arm bitten off by trying to reach in and retrieve his sister’s newest pet.

  Now he was going to have to dive in to recover the ball, and he only prayed his sister’s critter survived the trauma of being trapped in the mouth of a pit bull. Would the slobber alone from that massive dog drown the guinea pig?

  Abel ripped off his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the dock. After yanking off his tennis shoes and socks, he dove headfirst into the cool, refreshing water. As he surfaced, he shook the water from his eyes to see where the dog and the ball were. From the dock, he could still hear the sexy neighbor yelling for Fluffy.

  “Fluffy, bring me the ball,” she yelled. “Come on, girl.”

  The neighbor was on her knees on the dock, leaning out, extending her hand toward them. Her tank had slipped from one shoulder and was giving him a nice view of the top of one tanned breast. Which begged the question—at the most inopportune time—did she sunbathe topless?

  And he’d thought forced retirement would be uneventful.

  Abel reached for the ball, but before his hand could close over it, the pit bull was on top of it once again.

  “Fluffy, bring the ball here.”

  “Fluffy?” Abel asked, turning to the lady. “This pit bull is Fluffy?”

  Her bright green eyes darted to his. “Do you really want to discuss my dog’s name while you’re trying to get that ball back?”

  “I’m trying to get Spike back.”

  “Spike? You named a ball?” She rolled those mesmerizing eyes and focused again on her dog. “Whatever. Just be quiet, and I’ll get Fluffy to bring me the ball.”

  Abel didn’t even bother to say that the ball wasn’t his and, hell, no, he hadn’t named it. He kicked his feet and reached for the dock as Fluffy—what a ridiculous name for a pit bull—brought the ball to her owner.

  Her? Hell, for all he knew this poor dog could be a male with a silly-ass name. Between her outfit and her dog, his sister’s neighbor was a bit on the odd side...hot as hell but odd.

  The dog paddled through the water, and when he got close enough, sexy neighbor girl reached for the ball and snatched it from the dog’s mouth.

  “Easy,” Abel said. “There’s a rat in there.”

  Her eyes darted to his. “A rat?”

  “Well, not a rat. A guinea pig.” He gripped the dock and hoisted himself up to sit on the edge. “It’s my sister’s. I call it a rat just to get on her nerves. Habit.”

  Once he came to his feet, she handed the ball over to him.

  “I had no idea there was an animal in there.” She gasped. “Is he all right?”

  Abel peered through the slats and saw Spike looking up at him. “He’s fine. We won’t tell Leah about this.”

  The curvy, petite woman smiled. “You must be her brother. She told me you’d be house-sitting while she was out of the country.”

  Obviously his sister and the hot neighbor chatted, but he was proceeding blind here. Not that he needed to know any more about her. He was a good judge of character—occupational hazard—and he had a gut feeling this lady wasn’t dealing with the proverbial full deck.

  Who the hell would name a big alpha-type dog, even if it was a female, Fluffy? Why downgrade the power of the dog? Oh, God, she was one of those feminist people. Lord help him.

  “I’m Saige.” She extended her hand but dropped it to her side when he merely stared at her. “This is my dog, Fluffy. I hadn’t realized Leah had gotten a guinea pig. I knew she had a cat, but... What did you say your name was?”

  He shifted the ball to the other hand. “I didn’t.”

  A corner of her mouth kicked up. “Leah did tell me you were... What was the word she used? Oh, yes. Brooding. And I believe she even called you grouchy.”

  Thanks, Leah.

  Fluffy leaped up onto the low end of the dock and shook. Sprays of stinky-dog water covered him, and when he turned to look, he noticed Saige had taken the worst of the action.

  Now her tank molded to those sexy curves, showcasing her breasts, the dip in her waist and the flare of her hips. He’d always been a sucker for a curvy woman who wasn’t embarrassed by her shape. Months ago he wouldn’t have minded a little small talk with the attractive, even if strange, lady. But now was not the time in his life that he wanted chitchat. He’d moved here for two reasons,
and neither of them were to have fantasies about his sister’s neighbor—no matter how tempting that body may be.

  Besides, as soon as his doctor gave him the all clear, he’d be back on the force doing what he did best. Though he’d have to move from Marble Lake, Kentucky, to Lexington.... A small detail he’d yet to share with his sister.

  Oh, she knew he was working his ass off in therapy to return to work, but she had no clue he’d been contemplating a position hours away.

  “Thanks for the rescue,” he told her. “Might want to keep your dog on a leash next time.”

  “She’s always very obedient, but I think she just saw the ball and got excited.” Saige lifted her chin and reached down to pat her very wet dog, which promptly sat next to her feet. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t bother you again.”

  Abel turned to walk away, but she stopped him.

  “Do I get to know your name?” she asked.

  On a sigh, he glanced over his shoulder. “Abel.”

  So as not to disappoint her image of him being broody and grouchy, Abel walked to his house and forced himself not to look back at the sexy little neighbor who would no doubt become a headache during his, hopefully brief, stay.

  * * *

  If the world came to an end right this very second, Saige couldn’t move. She was utterly frozen in her spot staring after her neighbor’s curl-your-toes-into-your-flip-flops-sexy, hunky brother. Dear Lord, the man had a sensuous tat that stretched across the top of his back and along those shoulder muscles. He was so tantalizingly buff, his muscles had muscles.

  And her goose bumps had goose bumps.

  Thank you, Lord, for making such a fine man.

  Fluffy bumped Saige’s leg, pulling her from her drool-induced state of lust. Seriously, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen a man without his shirt before. But she certainly hadn’t seen a man like Abel. All dark chocolate skin with not an ounce of fat that she could see, and when he’d stripped to just his shorts, she could see plenty.

  And what a perfectly fitting name. Abel. All sorts of naughty thoughts filled her head with a name so...promising.

  She shook off her haze and started down the dock. With her luck he’d be glancing out his window, and there she would be, still staring his way.

  Classy, Saige. Real classy.

  “Come on, Fluffy.”

  Leah had certainly hit the nail on the proverbial head when she’d called him brooding, but brooding really meant mysterious and sexy in Saige’s world. And so what if he was grouchy? A man like that could be whatever he wanted, because that body could do some serious mental damage and render any woman with breath in her lungs utterly speechless.

  Unfortunately she didn’t have time to drool or make friends with her hunky neighbor who was house-sitting; she had dogs to save and crimes to commit. Oh, yeah, and a batch of cookies to bake.

  Wow, wasn’t she a prize. Was it any wonder her dating life was near nonexistent?

  Fluffy ran ahead of her, and Saige knew her newest rescue dog wanted to play. For some reason the dog just liked to be chased, so Saige took off after her, running as best she could in her hot pink flip-flops. Fluffy ran one way, then the other, dodging Saige as if mocking her.

  After a few minutes, Saige took Fluffy inside through the patio doors that led into her kitchen. She picked up her phone and checked her messages. There was a voice mail from one of her clients at the vet clinic.

  This particular client was technically her partner in crime, though if Saige were ever caught, she’d totally take all the blame.

  She hit the number to dial Erma and waited.

  “Hello.”

  “It’s me,” Saige said, picking up Fluffy’s water bowl and refilling it. “What’s up?”

  “I have another one for you, if you have the space.”

  Saige’s blood boiled already. “I have space, and even if I didn’t, I’d make room.”

  The elderly lady with a big soft spot for animals recited the address, and Saige quickly jotted it on the pad she kept handy on the center island in her kitchen.

  “I’ll go there tonight,” Saige assured the woman. “You’re a kind soul, Erma.”

  “Just doing what’s right. You’re the one-woman rescue team.”

  Saige didn’t like compliments, not when she was doing what needed to be done and what she felt was the right thing to do. The thought of anyone mistreating an animal made her want to commit murder. She knew abuse happened to adults, children, animals, and all of it sickened her. The bullying, the power trips those sick people got from controlling a weaker being was positively an illness.

  And to harm a defenseless animal...

  Saige sighed. She could only do so much and at least that was something, but she always felt like it wasn’t enough. Which is why she was eating ramen noodles and hot dogs—trying to save every bit of money she could and holding fund-raisers to add to the special account she’d set up for the no-kill animal shelter she hoped to open.

  Glancing down at the address she’d scribbled on the pad, Saige cringed. She hated that part of town, but she wouldn’t wimp out—a dog needed her. Since it didn’t get dark until nine, she had a few hours to spare before she could go out. Saige decided to check her supplies for her new addition, because she never knew what shape an animal would be in when she brought one home.

  She also needed a few more batches of cookies made for the clinic. Once everyone knew that the treats were being sold to help raise funds for her shelter, the neatly packaged bags started flying off the counter.

  While she was doing that, she could daydream about Mr. I-Look-Hot-without-My-Shirt neighbor.

  She may not have time for a relationship, but she certainly could make time for fantasies, because that’s about all she could commit to lately. Such a shame. She wouldn’t mind getting to know Leah’s brother a little better, especially if she could see a smile crack that devilishly handsome face.

  Chapter Two

  “What the hell?”

  Abel happened to be walking by his bedroom window when he saw a flash of red hair and a curvy body dressed all in black, very tight black, clothes. He continued to watch as she opened the hatch to her small SUV and pulled out...

  In his profession...correction, his past profession, nothing left him speechless, but seeing Saige pull a massive dog from her car and carry him into her house was odd. Why was she dressed all in black, and what was she doing carrying a dog into her house at midnight?

  From the distance and with the darkness, it was hard to tell, but the dog she’d just carried in appeared to be black. Her pit bull earlier had been white. So what was up?

  None of his business, he told himself as he walked away. His life was now all about beating the odds and returning to work after nearly a year off.

  His phone chimed from his dresser, and he crossed the room. He knew who the message was from before he looked at it. Leah.

  How’s Spike?

  Abel rolled his eyes and typed his reply.

  Still alive. I forgot to send pics of our outing. Hang on.

  He found the photos from earlier where he was in his snarky mood. That was before Fluffy had entered his life and turned his mood to sour; then Saige had entered and turned his mood to...well, horny.

  After he sent a few pics of the “play date,” his sister quickly replied.

  I should’ve known you’d be a smart-ass, but thx for watching my animals.

  Abel smiled. He couldn’t help but grin when talking to his sister. She was halfway around the world fighting for a freedom so many took for granted, and all she’d asked was for him to stay at her house, feed her rambunctious cat and take care of a guinea pig.

  Easy job considering, but he knew what she was doing. She was distracting him from the fact his life was now boring
, mundane and...somewhat normal. God, he couldn’t wait for his doctor’s appointment next week where he’d hopefully get the green light he’d been praying for. The force in Lexington had already interviewed him and was also waiting to hear the doctor’s verdict.

  When the doorbell sounded through the house, Abel jerked. Who in the world would be at the door at this time of night?

  He didn’t bother with his gun, because, well, he was quite confident if it were a burglar, he wouldn’t be ringing the bell.

  But as soon as he walked down the hall and glanced through the window, he sighed. Saige. And she was still dressed in body-hugging black. Lord help him. He had a sinking feeling this neighbor of Leah’s was going to be a pain in the ass.

  He jerked the door open and didn’t even bother with pleasantries. Saige’s eyes surveyed him, and he realized he was wearing lounge pants and nothing else. Her eyes widened and a bit of thrill shot through him. Good, at least she was as affected as he was. Not that he would act on the physical attraction, but at least he wasn’t alone in his misery.

  “Um...I...” Saige shook her head, and Abel suppressed a grin.

  In his profession, he’d taken pleasure in seeing suspects squirm and pride in making them speechless. But seeing Saige and all her curves standing at his front door having the same reaction was far different from anything he’d dealt with at the precinct.

  Maybe Saige being a pain in the ass wasn’t going to be his biggest problem. Controlling his dormant hormones that chose now to rise to the surface was. Great timing. As if he didn’t have enough on his plate.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you, but I need help.”

  Intrigued, Abel leaned against the door. “What exactly do you need?”

  Her eyes flared, and he realized he’d handed this sultry vixen a very loaded question. And he wasn’t sorry for it.

  “Help next door with a dog.”

  “Would that be the one you just carried inside?”

  Her chin lifted. “Yes.”

  “Care to tell me what’s going on?”

  She propped her hands on those damn rounded hips that begged for a lover’s hands to explore. “Leah said you were a cop.”