by Lori Foster
Sadie jerked, nearly removing his chest hair. “She’s going to get lost!”
Yeah, she probably would. Disgusted and feeling very put out, Buck gently untangled Sadie’s fingers from his chest hair. He leaned down till his nose almost touched hers.
“All right. But you owe me.”
Her lashes fluttered in incomprehension.
“Agreed?”
She swallowed, then gave a small nod. “All right.”
Satisfied, Buck picked up Butch and handed him to her. “Hold him. I’ll be right back.”
“Her name is Tish,” Sadie yelled in a belated effort to be helpful.
Buck crept out, his eyes darting this way and that, his ears alert to the scream of the cicada. No sign of the dog. No sign of other neighbors, either, thank God, since he wore only boxers.
In a ridiculously high voice for a man who weighed two-twenty-five, all of it muscle, he called, “Tish? Come on, sweetie pie. Heeeere, Tish…”
He rounded the corner of the building and there she sat, her round butt almost hidden in the tall grass. She’d put down the cicada, but it wasn’t moving. It just…lay there, looking gruesome and wicked with its fiery eyes exposed. Ick. Why wouldn’t the damn thing fly away?
Buck drew a fortifying breath. “Come here, baby,” he cajoled.
Tish tipped her head and stared. Her ears perked up, forming a wrinkle in her bald forehead. Buck could see her belly and what looked like a scar. He frowned—until Tish put one paw on the vibrating bug.
Buck’s stomach lurched. How could she bare to touch it? “Come on, Tish. Be a good girl, now. No reason to be afraid, baby, I promise. I just want to hold you. That’s all.”
Behind him, Sadie whispered, “I bet you say that to a lot of girls.”
Buck’s eyes narrowed. Slowly, so he wouldn’t startle the dog, he pivoted to face her. “I thought you were too chicken to come out.”
The hem of Sadie’s gown was soaked and clung to her ankles. She was shivering in the brisk morning air, with Butch hugged up to her chest, shielding her breasts from view. Butch didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he looked real cozy.
“You’re between me and the bug.” Her expression was taut. “That helps.”
A thought occurred to Buck and his eyes rounded. “You didn’t close my door, did you?”
Sensing his alarm, Sadie hesitated before admitting, “Um…Yes. Why?”
Just what he didn’t need this morning. Letting his gaze settle on hers, he growled, “Because now it’s locked. And in case you didn’t notice, I’m in my boxers.”
She cleared her throat. “I, uh, noticed.”
She had? Of course she had, he told himself. They’re bright yellow and have monkeys all over them. His eyes narrowed more. “All right, brainiac, so how am I supposed to—”
Sadie started backpedaling. “Here she comes!”
Buck jerked around, prepared for the worst, but thank God, Tish had left the cicada behind. “That’s a good girl, Tish. Come here, baby.” He knelt down, held out his arms, and the dog…dodged around him.
Buck tried to grab her, lost his balance and landed butt-first in the wet grass. Dew instantly soaked through his boxers.
Sadie dropped Butch into his lap and took up the pursuit. After more wild scrambling and a few near spills of her own, she caught Tish. Wild-eyed with alarm, the pudgy little dog wiggled, getting the front of Sadie’s gown wet before settling against her and tucking her head into Sadie’s underarm.
“There you go, Tish,” she crooned softly. “It’s okay now. I’ve got you. I’d never hurt you.”
Cradling the fat little dog securely, Sadie came back to Buck. She kissed the dog’s ear, which thankfully had fur on it. “Thank you, Buck.” She kissed the dog again, and her voice went soft and sweet. “She’s more trouble than three Great Danes, but I already love her.”
Watching Sadie, Buck felt a funny melting sensation in his chest. Sadie the spinster really did seem to adore the animals she took in. How hard it must be to get attached to a pet, and then let it go to someone else.
Yet that’s what she did. Because even though she cared, she couldn’t possibly keep them all. She rehabilitated animals, found them good homes and then said goodbye.
What an incredible woman.
Behind him, the cicada began screeching and took flight. Buck ducked, Sadie squealed. Luckily, for all concerned, it flew in the opposite direction before they had time to get too excited.
“No problem.” Unwilling to wait around to see if the bug returned, Buck shoved to his feet, reached back to pluck the clinging wet material of his boxers off his ass, and nodded. “Now how am I going to get back into my place?”
A blush stained Sadie’s cheeks, making her pink nose less noticeable. Her shoulders slumped and she bit her lower lip.
It was a nice, full lip, Buck realized. He watched her teeth worry it and his heartbeat sped up. She was such an intriguing mix of contradictions. Rigid and formal in some ways, but overtly sensual in others.
He shook his head and concentrated on her eyes. They were a soft brown, almost the color of milk chocolate, framed by darker lashes, and at the moment, filled with guilt.
“I, uh, suppose you could come into my place and call the manager.”
“At six in the morning?” He tucked Butch under one arm and shifted. Everyone in the complex knew better than to bother Henry before a respectable hour. “Respectable” to Henry was around noon, but Buck wasn’t going to sit around in his boxers that long.
Sadie continued to chew on that soft, full bottom lip, agonizing in indecision until Buck took pity on her. “How about you pour me a coffee, maybe even throw some breakfast together, and at eight I’ll call him?”
Her eyes rounded. “Coffee?”
“Yeah. It’s a morning drink. Hot, loaded with caffeine. I didn’t get a single cup yet, and right about now, I need it.”
“I know what it is.” She struggled again, then gave up and cradled the dog a little lower in her arms. “I have some made already.”
“Great.” The damp front of her gown clung to her breasts. “I’m freezing my ass off. My nipples are so hard, I could cut glass.”
Her mouth fell open, and she looked at his chest.
Buck, feeling provoked by that hot, nearly tactile stare, pointed out gently, “Yours too, for that matter.”
Her stunned gaze clashed with his, held for two heartbeats, then she whipped around, giving him her back.
Buck watched the gown settle around her trim hips and the plump curves of her small behind.
Ignoring his comment on her stiffened nipples—which really had tantalized him—she stammered, “Y-you want to stay at my apartment for two hours?”
Distracted, he murmured, “Yeah, why?” And then, realizing how unenthusiastic she sounded, he added, “Is that a problem?”
She shrugged.
“Turn around, Sadie. I don’t like talking to the back of your head.” And he liked seeing her expressive eyes as she spoke, the way she watched him, how easily she blushed.
She turned, but kept the dog held high. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, that’s all.”
So, Buck thought, he was good enough to save her bald, bug-eating dog, but not good enough to feed? Did she find him so distasteful that she couldn’t tolerate his company for two measly hours?
He shifted again, ready to grumble at her, then saw her eyes dip past his navel. She sighed softly before remembering herself and returned her gaze to his face. This time she didn’t blush, but she did look defiant, as if daring him to mention her gaffe.
Given how she kept checking him out, maybe she didn’t find him distasteful at all. Buck grinned. “You think I should just sit on my back porch twiddling my thumbs till Henry wakes up? In this wet underwear?” When she still looked undecided, he added, “With a Chihuahua on my lap?”
The mention of the dog did it.
“Oh.” She frowned, shrugged her thin shoulders and tucked her silky h
air behind her ear. “I, uh, I guess not.” And she glanced at his lap again. “That wouldn’t be fair to Butch.”
If she didn’t quit that, the monkeys on his shorts were gonna start dancing. Having a female, even a spinster-type female, stare at a guy’s crotch usually got the action started. Seeing as he had no way of hiding it, he just knew her blush would brighten up a few notches.
With perfect timing to break the awkward moment, Butch barked, then stared at Tish while making that low humming sound again. Buck scratched the dog’s ear, knowing just how he felt.
“There, you see? Butch isn’t as…hardy as Tish. He’s freezing and he wants to visit. I think he’s even a little enamoured with Tish.”
Sadie’s chin went up. “Obviously he doesn’t think she’s ugly.”
Oops. Had that remark he’d made about Tish insulted Sadie somehow? He hadn’t lied. She was bald and fat. Anyone could see that. Still, given how Sadie doted on the dog, he should probably apologize if he ever hoped to make headway with her. “I didn’t mean—”
Sadie gave him an evil look. “I think she’s beautiful. She just needs some love and nourishment and then her fur will come back in and she’ll be a beauty queen, you’ll see.”
Buck watched her loving the homely little critter, and knew that if anyone could make it happen, he’d put his money on Sadie. “You know what? I believe you.”
He turned and started toward her door, but after a few steps, he realized Sadie wasn’t following. He looked over his shoulder. She was staring at his butt. It was nice to be appreciated, but hey, the cold was starting to settle into his bones.
“Your fault,” Buck accused, knowing his seat was wet, that the material was again clinging. “I’ve only had these on ten minutes, and now I’ll have to change again.”
Sadie stared at the boxers, an undisguised look of curiosity on her face.
“I sleep naked. I just put the boxers on to let Butch out.”
“Oh.” She blinked several times.
Knowing she didn’t, but in the mood to tease, Buck asked in his most innocent tone, “Don’t you?”
“What?”
She did have a problem concentrating. “Sleep in the nude.”
She took a step back. “No!”
“Why not?” When she floundered for an explanation, Buck asked, “Get cold at night?”
She jumped on that. “Yes. I do.”
He turned his back on her again, saying, “You need someone to sleep with. Sharing body heat is the best way to stay toasty.” He heard her gasp, but luckily, she couldn’t see his grin. Yep, things were progressing nicely this morning. “C’mon Sadie. Get a move on before I catch pneumonia.”
“Right.” Sounding breathless, Sadie scrambled to catch up. Her gown billowed out behind her, and at the last second, she passed him to reach the door first. With her bottom lip held in her teeth, she stood back so he could go in.
Ready and willing to take every advantage, Buck made a point of brushing against her as he entered. He heard her indrawn breath, felt the stillness that settled over her, and then she moved away.
She flapped a hand toward the tiny kitchenette. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll go dress and be right back.”
Buck hated for her to do that. She looked softer and more approachable in her nightgown. If she changed, he just knew she’d pile on the layers and do up all the buttons and start behaving like a spinster again.
But if he suggested she not change, then what? She’d probably throw him outside in his near-naked state.
Sadie was almost out of the room, Tish secure in her arms, when Buck said, “Grab me a big towel or something, too, will ya? I want to get out of these wet drawers.”
She stumbled to a halt, her shoulders rigid, her spine straight. Without turning to face him, she put the little dog down, nodded and fled the room.
Buck stood there smiling, pleased and pondering Sadie’s behavior. She was so easy to read, but also confusing in her different reactions.
Considering how many times he’d caught her at it, she liked looking at him, no two ways about that. But she blushed when she did it.
She hadn’t hesitated to barge into his apartment and then order him out to get her dog. Yet, she’d been reluctant to let him into her place, and she seemed stunned silly whenever he got too close to her.
He’d never seen her date. And he’d be willing to bet she’d never seen a guy in his underwear.
Was she one of those women who only had sex in the dark? Not that he minded the dark on occasion, but generally, he liked to look at a woman as much as touch her. But if she preferred the dark, he’d make do.
There was only one problem. Dumb as it seemed, he kept wondering if she’d had sex at all. In so many ways, Sadie acted just like…a virgin.
But that didn’t seem likely. Women these days were experimenting before they finished high school, and definitely by college. Sadie had to be—what?—midtwenties, probably twenty-four or twenty-five. The odds of her being that innocent were pretty damn slim.
But once Buck thought it, he couldn’t get the idea out of his head. It teased him, sending a variety of possible scenarios flitting through his male brain, making him wonder about things he probably shouldn’t wonder about.
Like just how much experience she might have. Kisses, surely. Everyone kissed. Even prim, spin-sterish women.
But had she ever gotten a really good kiss, the killer kind that nearly pushed you over the edge and made common sense not too common?
Had a guy ever touched her breasts? Kissed her nipples? His jaw tightened just thinking about it.
Her breasts were modest, but then, she was a petite woman, so anything larger would have looked overblown on her frame. And seeing her nipples tight against that pale gown had really got to him. Before she’d hidden herself from him, he’d seen them clearly. They were small and tight…and he wanted to taste them.
Would he be the first?
That thought jolted him. Hell, she didn’t even like him. He’d had to coerce her into letting him in her apartment.
And, of course, they had nothing in common. Buck wasn’t even a dog person! But then, that hadn’t stopped Riley from leaving Butch in his care, so did it really matter that Sadie had a lot of dogs coming and going?
He wasn’t a spinster person, either, preferring women who were more like him, outgoing and full of laughter, willing to play. But from the day he’d met her, Sadie Harte had intrigued him. Because of her, there were some pretty vivid fantasies zinging around his brain. Watching her blush and listening to her stammer beat drinking coffee alone any day.
Tish trotted past him, drawing Buck’s attention. He bent down to pet her, but she scampered away in obvious fear.
“It’s okay, baby,” he crooned, holding out his hand for her to sniff. But she cowered in the corner, her ears down, her round eyes watchful. She was truly afraid of him, as if she expected the worst. That bothered Buck. A lot. It sort of reminded him of Sadie.
Unwilling to upset her, Buck slowly straightened and took a step away. It occurred to him that the little dog deserved special attention—just as Sadie did.
Butch struggled to be free, so Buck set him down near Tish. She probably outweighed him by two pounds, not that Butch minded. His eyes were huge, his ears raised on alert, and he definitely had courtship on his mind as he began sniffing Tish from one end to the other.
Truly, love was blind.
At least Tish liked and trusted Butch; her tail wagged in greeting. Like most guys, Butch wasted no time testing the water. Only Tish wasn’t having it. She was anxious to play, but amorous attempts got shot down real quick.
“Typical,” Buck grunted, thinking of how Sadie had ordered him out to get her dog, then tried to refuse him coffee.
Seeing that the dogs would get along fine, Buck decided to look around Sadie’s apartment. It was nice, in a female-cluttered kind of way. Lots of silly knickknacks, lush plants, a few ruffles here and there, like on the whit
e kitchen curtains and the tablecloth on her minuscule dinette table.
On her refrigerator were a variety of photos. No men, no family, just cats and dogs of varying sizes and ages. It devastated him to think of what they had been through. It took a strong woman with a big heart to heal them. It took a special woman.
A woman without much of a social life.
Beside the refrigerator hung a calendar. Buck hesitated, he really did. But there was no sign of Sadie’s return, and the temptation was too great. Because she was so standoffish, this was the best chance he’d likely ever get to know her better.
He walked over to the calendar and read the few notes she’d written in for September. Most of her days were empty, but there were four blocks with writing in them. She had marked an afternoon appointment with a vet, a trip to the dentist, a library book due back and carpet cleaners scheduled.
No dinner dates. No parties. Nothing exciting at all.
He flipped back to look at August and saw much of the same. Then back to July—and he froze.
July second, Sadie had met with a funeral director. Two days later, she’d met a lawyer. In her ladylike script were the words “Settle Mother’s estate.” And two days after that was “Secure death certificate.”
Jesus. Buck swallowed, wondering if her mother’s death had precipitated her moving into his apartment complex. The timing was right. He stared off at nothing in particular, trying to remember how she’d been three months ago, when he’d first met her. Quiet, alone. She’d spent nearly a week moving in, unloading her car each day all by herself. Back and forth she’d go, thin arms laden with cardboard boxes, lamps and small pieces of furniture.
What she couldn’t carry she’d pushed or dragged in. She’d been relentless, tireless. Determined.
Buck had offered her a helping hand, but she’d refused, thanked him and gone back to work. That first day had seemed to set a precedent. No matter what he offered, she always refused.
The dogs came running past Buck’s feet in a blur, ears flattened to their round heads, tiny bodies streamlined. They were a cute distraction. Tish enjoyed Butch’s company, and Butch looked besotted.