“Yeah, Ellie texted me. She’s quite impressed with my, how did she put it?Friendfrom California out for Christmas.”
Kyle did a perfect candy cane impression—first, his face blanched white then it flushed red. “I…there was so much going on, and I needed to gain her trust quickly, for Walter’s sake and hers, so I let her run with her assumptions.” His face went even redder, if that were possible. She fought against finding it adorable. “Did you…correct her?”
Arden picked up her empty coffee cup and fiddled with it, rolling the bottom edge around on the counter. “No. I didn’t.”
Relief overtook his features until he wasn’t quite so red. His playful smile returned. “Can I ask why not?”
“Well, you saw Walter. Ellie has her hands full. She doesn’t need to worry about me, and she would if she knew we’d just met last night and you were out to take my dog.”
“He’s my dog.” Some of the playfulness faded. But not all. Arden wasn’t sure what to think about that, but her stomach decided to feel pretty good about it.
She set the coffee mug aside. “Look. While you were gone, the news said all flights in Colorado, Wyoming, and western Nebraska are grounded today and probably tomorrow. It’ll be a nightmare trying to sort it all out. God knows what kind of standby you’d be looking at, considering Friday is Christmas. I know from experience that the tow trucks aren’t going to come up here until the storm’s over at the earliest, and they’ll probably wait until Frank Miller plows a path down to the main road—Frank’s got the property another mile up the hill from me.”Well, he still has it for now, at least.
“So, here’s the deal. Tempting as it may be to walk about ten miles back to Longmont or five up to Lyons to the nearest motel, you’re welcome to stay here until Denver’s airport gets their shit sorted and we can get you out of the ditch and on your way. I’m guessing maybe Sunday at the earliest.”
She expected him to argue. After all, he’d be trapped here with her over Christmas, when he’d been ready to take Camo the night before and head back with him immediately. He probably had a girlfriend waiting back in California. Hell, a SEAL with his good looks, he probably had half a dozen. And that thought made her stomach want to knot itself into a nice macramé plant hanger.
“Sounds good,” he said, then took a swig from the travel mug Ellie had given him and set it down. He smiled. “Got any more coffee made? If not, I’ll brew the next pot.”
“Wait. You’re seriously cool with that?”
His smile got bigger. “Like you said, I don’t have a choice. And as long as I’m with Camo, that’s what’s important to me.”
“O-kay.” That was dangerously easy.Let’s see how this goes over. “In the meantime, maybe we can figure out the Camo situation.”
That got his goat, though he looked like he was trying to keep his cool. “What does ‘figure out’ mean?”
“It means only one of us can keep Camo, obviously. Possession is two-thirds of the law. I have the paperwork saying he’s mine. I went down to Lackland Airforce Base to pick him up. He’s already been here in my home for three weeks and he’s settled in—”
“I wouldn’t say he’s settled in.” Kyle pointed over his shoulder at the wastebasket.
Dammit, why did the jerk have to be right? “He’s settling inas expectedand I’m incredibly patient. I’m also not a heartless monster, so—”
“I never said you were.”
“So, I’d be willing to discuss visitation rights.”
Kyle’s eyes bugged out. “Excuse me?Visitationrights?”
There’s the reaction I was expecting. “Yes. You don’t give me enough credit for understanding the type of bond you have with Camo. You served together. I get how powerful that is. All I have to do is watch the two of you together and I can see the love. I don’t want to deprive Camo—or you—of that relationship—”
“Then let me have him. He’s my dog.” Those icy blue eyes burned a hole straight into her heart. He wasn’t angry. He was hurting, and the level of pain in his eyes scared her. Arden bit her lower lip to keep it from quivering. She almost,almostsaid yes.
“I can’t, Kyle. I just can’t. I’m sorry.” She broke eye contact with him and looked down at her mug. “I wish things were different. You have no idea.”
He reached across the peninsula and took her chin in his hand. Gently, as if he were cradling a bird’s nest, he lifted her chin until she met his eyes again. The pain was still there, but it had been joined by something completely surprising—compassion. “Then tell me why, Arden. Help me understand—why this dog and not another?”
Eight
God, she waskillinghim. Absolutely sticking a goddamned Ka-bar knife in his heart and twisting it. He held her delicate chin with its hidden dimple, felt her soft warm skin beneath his fingers. Someone this beautiful needed kissing. But Kyle wouldn’t be the one doing it. He was the asshole who put the pain in her eyes instead.
“Why Camo?”
Her gaze dropped from his eyes to his mouth, and God help him, that went straight to his cock. He wanted to pull her across the counter and taste her.Insane. How had it come to this? He let go of her chin instead and her gaze immediately met his again.
“Because when they told me about him, I knew he belonged here with me. This is his home.”
She was dead serious. She was also dead wrong, but she truly believed Camo’s home was with her on the ranch.Damn. Got my work cut out for me.
