Summer Heat (Wyoming Fever Book 2)

by Elizabeth Lennox

  “This smells incredible,” she gushed, looking down at the plate that Arik set down in front of her.

  “Good. Eat. You look hungry.” He took the napkin and spread it out over his lap, then looked up at her. She was too busy staring at his bare chest. Okay, so her eyes weren’t drinking in the chest as much as the muscles and the light coating of hair on his chest and…hmm…all of him! He was even better mostly naked than when he had those shirts on that pulled tight over his shoulders.

  “You don’t like omelets?” he asked, his fork paused over his own plate.

  Startled, she ripped her eyes away from his chest. “I love them!” she replied, grabbing her napkin and draping it over her own lap. “I just…” she shook her head. “I can’t remember the last time anyone but Jade made me breakfast.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Mind?” she laughed. “Of course I don’t mind!” How ridiculous! “Finding a gorgeous, nearly naked man in my kitchen making me break…” she stopped, horrified at what she’s been about to say. She noticed the sparkle of interest in his eyes and quickly snapped her mouth shut. After a painful moment when she felt her cheeks threaten to burst into flame, she continued. “I mean…well, thank you for cooking. I’m learning, but…”

  “I’ll teach you, if you’d like.”

  Sage glanced up at him, trying to gauge if he was serious. He’d teach her to cook? He’d spend time…teaching her? “Why would you do that?”

  His fork froze halfway to his mouth, the bite of omelet oozing with melted cheese. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  Sage shrugged, stunned and…to be honest…touched, by his offer. “Because you have better things to do with your time?” she offered as an answer. “Because I’m hopeless in the kitchen and it’s pointless for me to even try? Because I should just give up and order takeout or hire someone to cook for me?”

  He stared at her for a long moment, then chuckled. “You have some very odd ideas, Sage.”

  Sage swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her ideas weren’t that odd, she mentally replied. And they weren’t her ideas. Those were words that had been spoken to her on several occasions.

  “Well, I guess…I just…” she couldn’t finish, her shoulders tightening as the horrible memories washed through her mind.

  She could almost feel his mind working, sifting through the clues. She lowered her eyes, trying to hide the truth from him. But Arik was too perceptive. His next words proved that!

  “Someone said that you couldn’t learn how to cook, am I right?” he asked, nodding towards her food. “You’re not an idiot, Sage.”

  A warm glow filled her chest with his words. She looked down at her plate, but she didn’t see the perfectly cooked omelet. Instead, she imagined herself cooking something wonderful! She imagined having people over for dinner, her kitchen suffused with laughter and excellent food that she’d prepared!

  “Are you going to eat that?” Arik gently asked, interrupting her fantasy.

  “What?”

  “Your breakfast? Are you going to eat it?”

  She blinked at him, still bubbling with excitement at the idea of truly learning to cook. Then his words broke through the happy fantasy and she jerked to attention. “Oh!” She looked down at her rapidly cooling breakfast and nodded. “Yes! Of course!”

  She took a bite, then closed her eyes. “Oh, this is good!”

  “Glad that you like it,” he replied with a grin. “Now, could you explain why you have so many spare toothbrushes in your bathroom?”

  Sage looked at him again, startled by his comment. “Um…well, uh…” she stopped, then giggled. “You’re picturing me bringing dozens of men back here for raucous sex, aren’t you?”

  He glared at her. “Just answer the question.”

  She giggled again, then shrugged. “Well, I have this thing about my teeth. I just…I like brushing my teeth. And I love tooth brushes. I’m always finding different kinds.”

  He lifted a dark eyebrow. “The one that I used was just a plain, normal toothbrush.”

  She shook her head. “I doubt it. The ones that I love the most are the kind that have a sort of plastic circle in the middle of the other bristles.” She took another bite. “I love brushing my teeth with those! They rub along my gums and make my teeth feel so fresh and clean!” Sage sighed, just thinking about how much she loved that brand of toothbrush. “Then there are the natural bristles. I got one of those last month, but then I started wondering if the natural bristles would absorb germs. Once I’d gone down that rabbit hole, I couldn’t stand the thought of using that toothbrush. So, I put it in the cabinet.”

  The tension in his shoulders eased. Finally, he nodded, taking another bite as he thought. “I think I get it. So…you don’t have dozens of men coming through your house?”

  She laughed again, unaware of how her eyes sparkled. At least, she assumed he was teasing. If only he knew!

  “Not this month,” she replied.

  “Good to know.”

  “What’s on your agenda today?” she asked, taking another bite of the cheesy, savory omelet.

  “That depends on you,”

  “On me?” she quipped. “What do I have to do with your schedule?”

  “Well, it’s Saturday. I was thinking that you need a dog.”

  She blinked at him, astounded by the thought. “A dog?”

  Arik stared at her, fascinated by the mixture of emotions flitting across her features. Up until today, she hadn’t given him much of a chance to watch her, really see her features. She’d always stayed as far away from him as she could whenever they had events at her sister’s house.

  “Have you ever considered getting a dog?”

  Slowly, she shook her head and he had the pleasure of watching the sun sparkle off her hair.

  “Do you not like dogs?” he probed.

  “I love them!” she gasped, her spine straightening. “I mean, I really love them! I always wanted a dog when I was a kid.”

  “Don’t tell me,” he groaned. “Your father told you no?”

  “Not just no, but he’d go off on a tirade about how ridiculous dogs were, how they brought germs into the house, and they pooped and peed all over the house.” She shuddered. “He would get so angry whenever someone brought up the idea of having a dog in a house, Jade and I never spoke of it to him.”

  Arik shook his head. “Actually, there are studies that prove that dogs and cats actually help people become healthier. In fact, one study looked at the effects of dogs and cats on people with allergies. The researchers discovered that the more animals a child was around during their early years, the more resistant to allergies the kids were. They aren’t sure why that’s the case though. Even without the allergy benefits, there’s definitely something magical about a dog that curls up beside you when you’re upset. A dog seems to feel whatever you’re feeling. They empathize with you and try to help you feel better.” He paused and Arik wondered if he should even bring this next bit up. But in the end, he went for it, needing her to be aware of all of the benefits a dog could provide. “Plus, you’re out here all alone most nights,” he continued, wondering if she’d let him hang out with her more often. “You might like a dog with you for company. It would be someone you could talk to during the day while you’re writing and someone to watch TV with you at night when you’re alone.” He grinned. “Or you could just call me. I’d love to curl up with you and have you scratch behind my ears.”

  Sage laughed at the image, covering her mouth with her hand, almost as if such loud emotions should be suppressed. “Yes, I’d love a dog.”

  “Good.” He chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “I know a guy who fosters dogs. He lives about twenty miles from here. I’ll take you out there after breakfast and we’ll get you a dog.”

  He ignored her shock. But when she started to shake her head, he almost laughed.

  “I can’t just go get a dog!”

  “Why not? You’ve always wanted one. This guy
, his name is Tom Hammond, lives out on a big horse farm. He trains the dogs so that they are all house broken, obey voice commands, and are leash trained.”

  “But…!”

  He looked at her intently, trying to figure out what she wasn’t saying. “So, you don’t want a dog?”

  “Yes! I’d love one. But, having a dog is a big responsibility. I don’t know anything about taking care of a dog.”

  He shrugged. “What’s there to know? You give them lots of love and attention, feed them good food, make sure that they have clean water, and take them for walks or let them out into a fenced area to do their business and run around.” He eyed her curiously. “I always had a dog growing up and am happy to help whenever you have a question. Plus, anything that I don’t know, Tom certainly will. It’s not as if you’d be on your own.”

  Sage bit her lower lip. Arik could tell that she wanted a dog. Badly! He could see it in her eyes. Hell, he’d thought about getting a dog himself, but with the long hours he worked, it wouldn’t be fair to the dog to be alone so much.

  Although…a thought formed in his mind. And as he tossed around the details, he liked the idea more and more!

  “How about this? We’ll get the dog, together.”

  “Together?” she parroted. She tilted her head. “How would that work?”

  He shrugged. “The dog will stay here with you and I’ll come over to help you out whenever you have questions. If you need some quiet time to work or if you go out of town, just let me know and I’ll take care of the dog for you.”

  She laughed. “That seems like I’m the dog owner and you’re the babysitter. That’s not co-owning an animal.”

  He chuckled. “We’ll hammer out the details as we go along. But you’ll be the primary dog owner and I’m your backup. At least for now.” For now, until he could move in with her.

  He froze at that thought. He replayed the words, trying to determine if he’d really just thought about moving in with Sage! Sure enough, he’d thought it. And even more shocking, he liked the idea! What the hell? Where had the thought come from? He wasn’t moving in here?!

  But as he looked around, saw the bright, clean walls and the cozy atmosphere. She didn’t have a lot of furniture, but what she had was a hell of a lot better than what he owned. And “owned” wasn’t exactly the right term. His furniture had been given to him by friends who’d upgraded. Or he’d found something on sale somewhere. The only items in his apartment that were worth anything were the television and the coffee maker. Oh, and his grill. He turned and peered out the back door, nodding in approval that she didn’t have a grill. No competition there, he thought.

  And with that in mind, a thought that was more appealing with every passing moment, he had a goal.

  “Finish up, woman,” he ordered, taking his dish to the sink. “We have things to do!”

  Sage hurried up and gulped down most of her omelet, then rushed to put the remainder into a container. She’d eat the rest for dinner tonight. After getting a dog! How exciting!

  “I’ll just be a minute,” she said and raced into her bedroom to grab a pair of sneakers. Should she wear her boots? That would be interesting. But no, she needed to be practical.

  Coming out of her bedroom, she felt both nervous and oddly excited. Was that because she was allowing herself to spend the day with Arik? Or because she was getting a dog?

  Probably both. The excitement was caused by spending the day with a man she’d found terrifyingly fascinating from the first moment she’d met him. And terrified because she wasn’t sure that she could handle dog ownership. Dogs were a huge responsibility. Was she up to it? Especially with all of the weird stuff happening around her place lately?

  Or would a dog alert her to intruders? Would a dog stop whoever it was that was tormenting her? Was there even someone tormenting her? Or were those strange noises at night and odd incidences around her house simply her imagination playing tricks on her?

  She grabbed her purse and hurried out the door. “You’re not going to make me get a dog if I don’t find one that suits me, right?”

  Arik pulled the door to her house closed behind him, then checked to make sure it was locked. “I’d never force you into any sort of situation in which you felt uncomfortable, Sage,” he vowed, putting a hand to the small of her back as they walked to his truck. “And going over to Tom’s place doesn’t mean that you must come away with a dog.” He opened the door to his truck and looked down at her. “It only means that you’re going to visit a place where there are dogs. If you find one that suits you, one that will help you feel…safer…while you are out here alone, then that’s perfect. Otherwise, you come back here and I take you out to dinner. No questions asked. No pressure.”

  Arik watched with amusement as she put one hand on the door of his truck, and the other on the seat, trying to figure out how to get into the cab of his truck. It was a big truck, one that suited him perfectly. But he was at least a foot taller than Sage.

  When she couldn’t quite figure it out, he simply lifted her into his arms and gently set her down on the seat. “Better?” he teased, then closed the door as her cheeks stained with pink.

  Damn, he loved it when she reacted like that! It gave him hope. Hell, just the fact that she hadn’t kicked him out of her house last night, that she’d allowed him to stay overnight, albeit in her guest room, gave him hope.

  “Mind if we stop by my place on the way so I can change clothes? I used your shower this morning, but I need…”

  “Of course I don’t mind,” she interrupted. “Maybe we should do this another day? I’ve already imposed upon so much of your time.”

  “Don’t you dare get out of that truck,” he laughed, starting the engine and fastening his seat belt. “Let’s go. I’m eager to pick out a dog for you. I’m thinking a German shepherd could work. He’ll keep you safe, and they are incredibly loyal animals. They form a perimeter in their minds that they like to protect. And they will protect you with their life, if necessary.”

  “Don’t say that!” she gasped. “I don’t want a dog, or anyone, to die trying to protect me! Besides,” she wiggled in her seat, obviously uncomfortable, “I consider it my responsibility to protect my family. And an animal that I bring into my home would be part of my family.” She looked out the window. “At least, that’s what I would do.”

  “You never owned a pet when you were growing up?”

  “No. My father didn’t like them. He said they were mess makers and nuisances.”

  “They aren’t. At least, not if they are properly trained and groomed on a regular basis.”

  “Groomed?” she queried. “What’s involved in grooming?”

  He glanced over at her, and damn if she didn’t look enthusiastic!

  “Dogs need their hair brushed and cleaned, just like anyone else. If you don’t wash and brush them, then their hair can get matted.”

  “Really?” she whispered. “That sounds…interesting.” Unconsciously, she stared out the windshield as she pictured caring for a big, fluffy dog. “I’d love to try grooming a dog.”

  “Every week? Maybe more often?”

  “Yes!” she replied without any sort of hesitation. “Where is your place? What kind of place do you live in? An apartment or a house? Do you rent or own?”

  “I have an apartment about five minutes from here,” he said, turning right at the end of the street to head into town. “I’ve rented the place for about five years now.”

  “You’ve never wanted to own your own house?”

  He shrugged. “Oh sure. It’s just, every time I start to think about buying a place, something comes up.”

  “Something like…?”

  “A homicide investigation. A family emergency that I need to help with. One of my friends buys a place and has problems, which only discourages me to avoid taking responsibility for an entire house.”

  She stared thoughtfully at him for a long moment. “No, that’s not why you haven’t bought a
house.” She shifted, facing him more fully. “What’s the real reason?”

  He laughed, then turned into an apartment complex parking lot. “I guess you’ll have to get to know me a bit better. Then you can let me know.”

  She rolled her eyes, amused at his non-answer. He pulled into a parking space and the topic shifted. “I’ll wait here for you.”

  He shook his head. “Not a chance. You’re coming inside.” With that, he stepped out of the truck and came around to her side. He opened the door and waited. When she stared down at him, he merely lifted an eyebrow, silently telling her that he would lift her out if she didn’t come on her own.

  “Fine!” she humphed. “I didn’t want to invade your privacy. But if you insist, I’m going to open every drawer in your kitchen. Maybe even rearrange your utensils.”

  He chuckled and did that hand-on-her-back thing again. She loved it. When he walked with her like this, she felt protected and cherished. She hadn’t ever felt sensations like these before!

  “Why would you…?” He stopped and chuckled. “Go ahead and rearrange anything you want. Have a blast,” he teased.

  Sage walked beside him and stepped back while he unlocked the door to his apartment. He didn’t think she’d do it! Ha! Little did he know that she loved rearranging things! And just because he’d patronized her, she was going to really mess things up.

  “I’ll be right back,” he told her, tossing his keys onto the coffee table as he headed into his bedroom.

  Sage only waited until the door was closed before she dumped her purse on the L shaped counter and got started. She knew that she had very little time to work. She suspected that Arik didn’t want her to be left alone for too long. Silly man probably thought he was being rude by leaving her alone. When in reality, he was just opening himself up to her mischief.

  Less than five minutes later, he returned in a clean pair of jeans, these just as worn in all of the right places, just like his other pair. He’d pulled on a clean shirt, buttoned up and looking impressively tight along his shoulders. Sage knew what was underneath that material now.