by Tara Sheets
When he cupped the nape of her neck under her hair, cradling the back of her head, she closed her eyes and shivered, knowing exactly where this was going to lead, and struggling to remember why she shouldn’t let it.
“Kat. Do you want this?” His voice was low and hushed, but there was a velvety rough edge to it that felt like a physical caress.
They both already knew the answer to that. But how could she even begin to explain all the reasons she needed to avoid him? Maybe it was time to just tell him the truth.
She took a shaky breath. “I promised myself when I moved here that I wouldn’t get caught up in something that wasn’t good for me.”
He pulled his hand away and sat beside her on the bed, not quite near enough to touch, but close enough for her to feel the delicious heat of him through the thin layer of her dress. It took all her effort not to lean into him. “So you think I’m not good for you.”
“No, it’s not you, exactly.” She licked her lips and tried to sound calm and reasonable, but it was impossible. That’s not at all how she felt. Unless the calm, reasonable thing to do was to rip her clothes off and jump his bones. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “It’s just that you don’t live here. You’re going to leave, and I . . . It wouldn’t be a smart move, that’s all. It would just end in disappointment.”
“Why do you think that?” he murmured.
“Because I’ll be sad when you go.” There. She said it, and it made perfect sense. No one could argue that.
“How can you be sure?” Oh God, he was playing with her hair again. Kat gave up and melted into his touch, reveling in the warmth of his body against hers.
“Maybe you’ll decide I annoy you,” he said huskily. “And you’ll be relieved when I go.”
She almost laughed. “It’s a high possibility.”
“Maybe we won’t even be compatible.” There was a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “In bed, I mean. Maybe it’ll be a huge disappointment.”
She glanced at him from beneath her lashes. “Something tells me that won’t be an issue.”
A sensual curl of his mouth. “But how can we be sure? I could surprise you in all the worst ways.”
She pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. “Maybe.”
“Maybe we should find out? Fine, I give in. Let’s.”
Now Kat did smile. She smiled when he reached for her. She smiled when they tumbled back onto the coverlet. And she smiled when he slid his hand from nape to hip in one long, sensual stroke as he gathered her closer.
After that, Kat’s smile faded and her body gave in to every deep, pleasurable sensation. Because Jordan did surprise her. In all the very best ways.
Chapter Twenty-One
Kat made her way across the lawn near the waterfront at ten o’clock the next morning. It was one of those Pacific Northwest days at the end of the summer where the sun shone bright, the sky was a clear blue, but the breeze coming in off the ocean was chilly. She shivered, wishing she’d worn a jacket instead of just a hoodie, but her mind hadn’t been on the weather that morning. Her mind had been on Jordan Prescott.
She smiled, this time shivering for a much different reason. The caravan escapade with him the night before had been like some erotic fantasy dream. She’d woken before dawn feeling deliciously languid and drowsy with Jordan beside her, the blanket twisted around them. Hushed whispers. Quiet laughter. A good-morning kiss that quickly turned from sweet to incendiary. They’d spent hours in that secret hideout, and by the time she’d returned to her apartment, the sun was already creeping over the horizon.
Now, as she walked toward the Daisy Meadows Pet Rescue tents on the waterfront lawn, she rubbed her bleary eyes, grateful for the extra cup of coffee she’d brought with her in a travel mug. She may have been sleepy, but she was grinning like a fool. Because you are a fool, the Queen of Impulsive Decisions whispered. Everyone’s a fool in love.
“No,” Kat said under her breath. It wasn’t love. Every single time she’d been involved with someone in the past, she’d tried to pretend it was love for a while, until she realized it was just that. Pretend. With Jordan, she already knew things weren’t going to work out because he was going back home to New York. The giddy, squee-tastic feeling she was experiencing right now was a direct result of the secret caravan fling they’d had the night before. That was all.
“Good of you to make it,” Smitty groused as she attached a label to one of the cat crates.
The entire event consisted of two tent canopies, divided into a cat section and a dog section. Each space had a small gated area with a chair so people could get to know the pets they were considering. The tents were set up right on the waterfront lawn, where foot traffic was expected, especially on a Saturday.
Darla, one of Smitty’s on-again, off-again volunteers, was organizing pet adoption forms.
“We’ve already done most of the hard work,” Smitty added as she set the last of the crates on the table. “All the foster volunteers dropped their animals off thirty minutes ago.”
Kat checked her watch. “It’s only just ten o’clock. You said come at ten.”
Smitty grumbled and shoved a stack of flyers at her. “Here, you can arrange the table. I’m going for some fresh air.”
Kat watched her make a beeline for the parking lot, pulling a lighter and pack of cigarettes from her purse. Smitty seemed even more grumpy than usual this morning.
“Hey, Kat,” Darla called. She was a cheerful woman with gray hair and an obvious love of cats, if the fur covering her T-shirt was any indication. “Smitty says you’ve been doing good work over at the office.”
“She said that?”
“Don’t look so surprised.” Darla laughed. “She seems grouchy most of the time, but she’s actually pretty cool.”
Kat glanced at the scowling Smitty, who was pacing back and forth near her car, puffing on a cigarette. “She doesn’t seem very cool right now.”
“That’s because she’s been trying to get a remodel going at the shelter, and it’s not looking good. She wants to build a kennel area outside for the bigger dogs who need more space to run. And a special cat room with carpeted cat trees for them to climb around. But it’s hard to get funding, and the building owner is a real piece of work.” Darla made a face. “Some hotshot who lives in Seattle and has no vested interest in the shelter. It was his ex-wife’s pet project, but now she’s moved on and he doesn’t care about it. The place barely makes enough money to break even.”
Kat could see Smitty still pacing, mumbling to herself. She had no idea the shelter was barely hanging on. “So what’s going to happen?”
“If we’re lucky?” Darla flipped through a stack of crate labels. “Nothing. And we can continue on with everything status quo. No remodel, but at least the rescue office will still be there. If we’re unlucky, the guy will probably sell the property and we’ll have to disband the operation. That’s what’s so frustrating. For everyone who actually cares about the animals, it’s a huge unknown.”
No wonder Smitty was always in a foul mood. She actually cared about the animals, and there was no way of knowing how long the Daisy Meadows Pet Rescue would last. This worried Kat not because of job security, but because she hated the idea that the homeless animals were at risk. In a world where so many animals went unloved and unwanted, it meant everything to her to be able to help, even in a small way. Not for the first time, Kat wished she had a truckload of money so she could truly make a difference for them.
Darla picked up a name tag and latched it to another crate. There was a small white cat inside, curled up in the corner. It had green eyes and a red collar with a tiny bell. “This here’s Princess Leia. She’s small, but sassy, so make sure you call her by her title.”
Kat opened the crate and reached in to pet her. The cat meowed and twitched her tail. Kat instantly felt a connection and began sorting through Princess Leia’s emotions to make sense of what she needed. “She’s not big on crowds. She wants a home where it’s quiet
and peaceful. No kids. Preferably someone older. An apartment would be just fine. She’d like to be the only pet in a home where she could spend quiet nights on someone’s lap in front of the TV.”
“Wow,” Darla said in surprise. “You really nailed it.” She held out Princess Leia’s chart. “It says here she came from a large family where she was constantly bothered by two rowdy dogs and a toddler. Her owners gave her up, saying she needed to be in a quieter place.”
“Then that’s what we’re going to do, Princess,” Kat said to the feline, who was now purring. “We’re going to find you a nice quiet place to live.”
“You really have a way with them, don’t you?” Darla mused. “Smitty said that about you.”
Kat felt a surge of gratitude as she continued visiting each animal crate, helping Darla make notes on their charts. It wasn’t often Kat was in a position where her abilities could be truly appreciated, and she was glad Smitty noticed and accepted her. By the time the adoption event started, they had a solid plan of action for each animal.
Kat took up her post near the dog tent, hoping a good number of people would show up. A brisk gust of cold air swirled over the lawn and she bounced on her toes, rubbing her arms to keep warm.
“You should’ve worn your chicken costume.” Jordan walked up behind her. His voice was light with amusement, but Kat’s body instantly flushed with heat as she turned to see him.
He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a charcoal gray T-shirt. With his windblown hair and tanned face, she’d once thought he looked like a thundercloud, but not anymore. To Kat, he was as bright as the sunlight glancing off the distant waves. She wanted to act nonchalant and cool, unfazed by his presence. But it was impossible. After the night they’d shared, she doubted she’d ever be able to pretend around him again.
A thrill shot through her as he came to stand a little closer than usual. He smelled like fresh-cut grass and damp earth and that woodsy pine soap. He must’ve been working outside at the farm. She wanted to bury her face in his chest and breathe him in. Instead she cleared her throat and said, “Have you come to adopt a pet?”
“I’m already up to my ears in animals.” He reached out to tug lightly on the string of her hoodie. “One Kat in particular is giving me all kinds of trouble. Very demanding. She kept me up all night.”
“Oh, is that right?” A warm blush spread across her face. “I wonder what you did to bother her. Maybe it’s what you deserve.”
“Lucky me.” He leaned a little closer, and Kat had to struggle not to step right into his arms. It would’ve felt like the most natural thing in the world. Everything had shifted between them. But maybe that wasn’t so bad. Some changes were good, weren’t they?
“I forgot to tell you,” she said. “The butterflies started to emerge yesterday.”
He gave her a warm smile. “Did they?”
“Yes, and they’re beautiful.”
“I’m sure.”
Kat’s skin tingled with pleasure. She had the distinct feeling he was thinking about all the things they’d done the night before. She rubbed one foot on top of the other, feeling suddenly shy.
“Come out with me tonight,” he said.
“Where?”
“Does it matter?” He bent to whisper in her ear. “Let’s get into some more trouble.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she wasn’t supposed to let herself get carried away, but that ship had already sailed. She was far out to sea, by now. Not even caring that these were dangerous waters and he could break her heart. Just go with the flow, the Queen of Impulsive Decisions whispered. See where it leads.
Kat shivered with delicious anticipation. She knew exactly where it would lead, and a big part of her wanted to swan dive right in.
He gently took her hands, warming them between his own. It was a simple gesture, but the intimacy of it set her blood on fire. Jordan Prescott was like a drug. The more she got, the more she craved. She was just wondering if he was going to try to kiss her right there out in the open, when a cheery voice interrupted them.
“There you are,” Juliette called from across the lawn. “I thought you’d be here.”
Jordan let go of Kat’s hands as Emma and Juliette approached.
“We have to talk.” Juliette brushed a lock of hair off her face, sending a couple of loose leaves floating to the ground. She’d been working at the florist shop, which was evident from the soil smudge on the knee of her overalls and the sprig of greenery tucked into her pocket. “I wanted to tell you last night at the bar, but since you didn’t make it—”
“We found something in the attic you need to see,” Emma finished, cheeks pink with excitement. Next to Juliette, Emma looked squeaky clean and sweet in a peach-colored sundress and white cardigan.
Both women were stealing glances at Jordan like he was some rare, exotic breed they’d never seen before.
Kat quickly introduced them. Jordan was standing so close to her, their arms were touching, but he made no move to step away. It sparked a warm glow inside her that seemed to flicker and grow.
“So you’re Kat’s new landlord,” Emma mused, tilting her head thoughtfully.
“Yes,” he said with an easy smile. “For now.”
For now. The temporary nature of that doused the glow inside her like a splash of cold water. For the umpteenth time, Kat had to remind herself Jordan wasn’t sticking around. He wasn’t going to be in the picture. Not even at the edge of the frame.
“I think I’ve seen you at the farmer’s market,” Juliette said to him, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her overalls.
“Yeah, it’s where I first met Kat, actually.” Jordan gave Kat’s elbow a playful nudge. “She was doing some . . . interesting work for the animal shelter.”
Kat groaned at the memory of that ridiculous chicken costume.
“I can’t believe I missed the farmer’s market that day,” Juliette said, giggling. “I’d have paid good money to see you in that costume.”
“It was nightmare fuel,” Kat said. “Be glad you were spared. Those feathers still haunt me.”
“You were glorious.” Jordan’s voice was tinged with warmth and admiration.
Kat rolled her eyes, trying to pretend his praise didn’t affect her.
“We came to see if you wanted to come to lunch,” Emma said.
Kat glanced back at the tents. “I’d love to, but I have to stay here and help with crowd control.”
Juliette scrunched up her nose and peeked over Kat’s shoulder. “I don’t see a crowd.”
“Are you expecting a lot of people?” Emma asked. There was only one person browsing the puppy tent.
“I hope so,” Kat said glumly. “But we didn’t have a huge advertising budget, so I’m not sure what will happen.”
“Come over tonight, then,” Emma said. “We can have dinner and fill you in on the stuff we found.”
Kat glanced at Jordan. She really wanted to jump into some of that trouble he’d mentioned earlier, but she didn’t want to turn down Emma and Juliette, either. She loved the camaraderie they shared whenever they were all together, and she suddenly felt torn.
“You should go.” Jordan placed a warm hand on her lower back. “Rain check.”
“Wait,” Emma said. “Did you guys already have plans?”
“Not at all,” he assured her.
It was the truth, yet Kat felt a twinge of disappointment.
“I’ve got to run,” he said. “It was good to meet you both.” He flashed Juliette and Emma a devastatingly handsome smile. Then he winked at Kat and took off across the lawn in long, purposeful strides.
She watched him go, because it was impossible not to. The way he moved—all smooth, masculine grace—did warm, melty things to her insides.
“Soo,” Juliette sang in a voice full of delightful innuendo. “Mr. Mysterious seems rather taken with you.”
Kat felt her face grow hot. “We’re just friends.
”
“Uh-huh,” Emma teased. “That’s why you’re blushing like my favorite champagne.”
“She’s right,” Juliette agreed. “I saw the way you looked at each other. I think you two blew past the friend zone several miles back.”
Kat tried not to smile, but couldn’t help herself. “Is it that obvious?”
“Clear as vodka shots,” Juliette declared.
Emma clapped her hands. “So when did you start dating?”
“We’re not dating,” Kat said quickly. “We’re . . .” What could she say? We’re just kissing in broom closets, making out in the open fields, and having hot, wild sex in the back of bohemian caravans? “We’re just . . .”
“Hooking up?” Emma said, grinning.
“Ooh!” Juliette’s eyes widened in scandalized glee. “Wait until the girls at the salon find out he’s taken. Hearts are going to be breaking all over the island.”
“He’s not taken,” Kat insisted.
“I’m so proud of you,” Juliette teased. “Getting busy with Mr. Mysterious!” She raised her hand for a high five.
Kat left her hanging. “That’s not what this is, you guys. You make it sound like I’m just a big floozy. Out there all”—she flapped her hands around—“floozying it up.”
“Of course you’re not,” Emma said kindly.
“And the reason we know this is because it’s not the early nineteen hundreds,” Juliette added. “No one says ‘floozy’ anymore.”
“Old Mrs. Mooney does,” Emma declared. “That’s what she calls the French poodle who bothers her dog, Bonbon.”
“You know what? I like it,” Juliette announced. “Let’s bring floozy back. I say we make it happen.”
Kat rolled her eyes. “Are you guys done here?”
Juliette slung an arm around Kat and kissed her on the head while Emma patted her on the back. “We’re just teasing you because we love you.”
The girls continued their usual chatter, but Kat stood rooted to the spot. Stunned. Their kindness, their casual acceptance of her was almost overwhelming. They treated her as if she were a best friend or a sister. It made her wish, more than anything, that her connection to Juliette and Emma’s family was real. Even though she kept telling herself it couldn’t possibly be true, a tiny voice inside her whispered, What if ?