“I didn’t hear it.” He moved even closer, his hand reaching for mine. “I think you’re lying.”
I bristled. I might exaggerate or stretch the truth from time to time, but I wasn’t a liar. At least I hadn’t been until I met him. My stomach clenched. He’d called me out and I’d fibbed. Time to own it. “Fine. He didn’t fart. I was distracted by something else.”
“What?” He moved past the invisible barrier I’d erected to keep people out of my personal bubble. Nothing happened. Where had all of my defenses gone? In that moment I realized I was powerless against this man with the blue-green eyes and amazing abs.
I huffed out a breath and glanced to the ground. “You. Happy?”
He put a finger under my chin, searing the spot where he touched me. Nudging my chin up, he forced me to meet his gaze. “So you’re saying I distracted you?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, fine. You distracted me.”
“Wow. If taking off my shirt affected you that much, I wonder what this might do.” He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine.
I stumbled forward but he caught me, his arms clasping around me like a vise. I’d always considered myself immune to men. Sure I enjoyed their attention sometimes, but I’d always been able to put attraction aside when necessary. Like most things in my life, I made it bend to my will. But there was no controlling the surge of desire that overwhelmed me as he took the kiss deeper.
His tongue ran over my lips, making them part like he held the secret key. I fought against it even while my arms wrapped around his midsection, pulling him tighter against me. I battled the desire to melt into him even as I angled my head to givehim better access. What was happening to me? I’d never been so powerless when it came to controlling my attraction.
He pulled away, keeping hold of my arms to steady me.
I wobbled slightly, already aching to feel his lips on mine again.
“Careful there.”
“I’m fine.” Another little white lie. “Why don’t you tie Buster up and let him dry in the sun while you . . . hey, where’s Buster?” Alex had let him go to wrestle the hose. Now the dog who typically spent all day every day lounging around had hightailed it out of sight.
“I’ll find him.” Alex stalked to the faucet and turned off the water. “Buster?”
I tucked Aurora back inside her kennel so I could help with the search. We had enough problems finding stray dogs around town. I couldn’t afford to have one of my pups go missing. What if he got picked up by someone who was involved with the dog-fighting ring? We might never see him again if that happened. Fear propelled me, fueling my desperation to find the missing dog.
“Why don’t you head that way and I’ll go this way?” Alex pointed to the stand of trees that surrounded the warehouse.
“Call me if you find him?” I moved off in the opposite direction, no longer caring that my jeans stuck to my body and that my hair still dripped water down my shirt.
Alex
I shook my head. I’d really blown it this time. Not only had I given in to my attraction to the woman who’d beenhaunting my daydreams, but I’d lost her favorite dog. Despite Buster’s gastrointestinal problems, the dog had grown on me. If something happened to him because of my actions, not only would I never be able to forgive myself, but I may as well kiss any chance of kissing Zina again goodbye.
For some reason that bothered me. As I entered the stand of trees, brushing branches to the side, I vowed not to let thoughts of how it felt to finally kiss those full lips again get in the way of my goals. I needed this job. I needed the cash. I needed to get out of town before I got too attached.
“Buster! Where are you?” Branches swiped at my bare chest and arms as I wandered deeper into the trees. What if I didn’t find him? That wasn’t an option. “Come here, buddy.”
I stepped on a branch, causing a sharp snap. I’d never be able to hear anything if I kept barging through the bushes like a twenty-point buck. I slowed my pace, pausing every few feet to listen. A whimper came from my left. I picked through the underbrush, following the soft sounds until I reached the spot I thought they were coming from.
A fallen log blocked my path. I leaned down to peer inside. There was Buster, snuggled around a squirming pile of some sort of animal. I eyed the dog. “Come here, Buster. Come on out.”
The dog looked at me and curled up tighter, protecting whatever he’d wrapped himself around.
I pulled out my cell. I wasn’t about to stick my hand in there and get it bitten off. The phone rang once and then Zina was on the line.
“Did you find him?” Worry sliced through her voice.
“Yeah. He’s in a log and he’s got something with him.”
“Is he hurt?”
“I don’t think so. I’m sending you my location via text. Just follow the dot and you’ll find us.”
“Okay. I’m on my way. And Alex?”
