Sounds good. I need to get a shower. Care to join me???
Skylar laughed, then typed;I wish.
Me too. Tomorrow night. Have a good night, sweetheart.
You too. She set the phone down and smiled. She couldn’t wait to see him.
Getting up, she walked to the kitchen, her bare feet cool against the floor. Cosmo’s water dispenser needed refilling, the plastic reservoir showing only a thin layer at the bottom. Shealso topped off the reservoir food dish with premium kibble, he fixed her with narrowed eyes, tail twitching in disapproval.
“I’ll be back Sunday. I think. I’m not sure if I’m staying with him tomorrow night, but if I do, you’ll be fine.” She pulled out a kitchen chair, the wooden legs scraping against the floor, and plopped down with a sigh that stirred her bangs. “Why didn’t he ask about Saturday night? Maybe I should have. What do you think?” She looked down to see Cosmo sauntering through the doorway, his sleek fur catching the late afternoon light, tail held high like a victory flag. A burst of laughter escaped her. “You’re lucky I love you!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the house.
When Friday arrived, golden afternoon light streaming through half-drawn blinds, she had packed and unpacked at least six times. The cookout tomorrow required casual clothes, which she’d selected; a red sleeveless blouse with a pair of white shorts and her T-strap sandals. She had painted her nails a bright red this morning, but what else would she need for an overnight stay?
“How ridiculous is this?” She pulled out another soft cotton T-shirt, the fabric worn to perfect comfort, folded it, then tucked it into the small overnight bag with its fraying zipper. She placed her hands on her hips, shook her head as she took the shirt back out, the scent of her lavender detergent wafting up. “How many shirts do you need for one weekend?”
Her watch showed it was almost five. She’d been lost in her manuscript for days, fingers flying across the keyboard, and now Friday was slipping away.
With a deep sigh that seemed to come from her toes, she emptied the bag completely, then repacked her soft lounge pants with an oversized T-shirt, three soft cotton shirts in varying shades, two pairs of perfectly broken-in jeans. For tonight, she chose her most comfortable faded jeans with the hole justbeginning at the knee, a vibrant blue T-shirt that brought out the color of her eyes and scuffed white sneakers. As an afterthought, she carried her cowboy boots and white straw Stetson to the SUV, just in case he suggested another ride along the winding trails.
She smiled, remembering how he’d thundered past her on that horse, his body perfectly still in the saddle as if he and the horse were one entity, dust billowing behind them as that powerful animal flew across the open field, muscles rippling beneath its gleaming coat.
After closing the case and clicking the brass latches, she hoisted it up and carried it outside to her vehicle. She swung open the back door, set the case on the carpeted floor, then closed the door with a solid thump. She headed back inside to make sure everything was off and locked.
Taking a deep breath, she squatted down to rub Cosmo’s velvety chocolate-brown ears between her fingers. Skylar’s heart pinched with guilt for leaving him, the sensation like a twist in her chest, but the magnetic pull toward Rawley tugged at her with the force of a riptide. She understood why he couldn’t abandon his dogs. At least Cosmo was a homebody who preferred dusty rectangles of afternoon sunbeams to outdoor adventures. The cat barely moved from his throne on the windowsill most days anyway, his blue eyes half-closed in contentment.
“Be good, sweetie. I love you,” she said as she stood, then watched him weave around her ankles. “I know what you’re doing. You think you can sweettalk me into staying home so you can ignore me. I’m going to see a hot, sexy man with biceps like tree trunks. I’ll be home soon.”
Skylar scooped up her purse and jangling keys from the hand-painted ceramic dish, then walked out onto the porch, locking the door behind her with two firm twists. Then she headed to hervehicle, the SUV responding with a chirp. Once inside the sun-warmed interior, she pushed the ignition button, backed out of the gravel driveway with a spray of pebbles, and drove toward Rawley’s place.
She pushed open the gate, then the back door and stepped into the kitchen, the late afternoon light casting warm stripes across the tiled floor. With a soft sigh, she set her leather case down on the counter. That’s when she noticed the dogs sitting side by side, heads tilted, eyes locked on her as if she’d just arrived with their favorite surprise. Their tongues lolled out in anticipation, and their tails thumped the floor in a steady rhythm.
“Uh, I don’t know what you want. I’m sorry.” She shrugged, offering them an apologetic smile, but the dogs simply stared at her, alert. “Is it a treat you’re after?” She reached for the cookie jar on the counter, only to find it empty. Skylar chuckled as they sprang to their feet and barked insistently.
She glanced around the kitchen, no bones, no biscuits, not even a stray crumb. “Where…?” They bolted toward the laundry room off to the side, their nails clicking on the floor. She followed and saw them staring at a shelf. It was there she saw a small tin box. It was just out of reach.
“I’m sorry, babies. I can’t reach that—” Before she could finish, both dogs darted back into the kitchen, as a low rumble reached her ears. Her heart dropped. A vehicle’s engine idled in the driveway. Rawley. She clasped her hands, smoothing her shirt nervously, then retraced her steps into the kitchen.
The moment he entered, her breath caught. He pulled off his white straw cowboy hat, revealing damp strands of hair darkened by heat. He wore a deep blue T-shirt under a Kevlar vest with Livestock Agent stitched on it. His badge glinted from his belt on the opposite side of the polished leather of his holster.Below that, his faded jeans ended on scuffed cowboy boots. She felt a familiar warmth flood her cheeks.
He bent to scratch behind the dogs’ ears, and they melted into his touch, tails wagging furiously. Then he straightened, hat in hand, and their gazes met. He strode across the room, closing the gap between them, and pressed his lips to hers. His mouth was warm, and the faint scent of sweat and leather made her heart race.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” His voice rumbled against her cheek.
“You’re not. I just got here. I didn’t even get to open the pet door yet.” She lightly touched his vest, then slid her hands to his utility belt. He grinned when she jingled the handcuffs, then he kissed her again, slower this time, letting the heat build between them.
“I’ll get it. You taste good,” he murmured, his breath tickling her skin. She pulled back.
“Uh, please don’t take this wrong, but you need a shower.”
Rawley chuckled. “I was out in the damn heat all day.”
“It was sweltering.”
“Yeah. I was sweating in places you don’t want to hear about.”
Skylar laughed. “You’re damn right I don’t.” After a tender peck, he shuffled to the bench by the door, slipped off his boots with a soft thud, then peeled off the vest, holster, and belt, carrying them into the laundry room.
“Any idea what you want to get to eat?” he called back, his voice drifting through the doorway.
