Geez, he sounded like an idiot.He had never liked dogs.Never had one and never met a dog he liked either.He was sure this time around would be no different.
He kept shaking the box and cracked open the barn door an inch.A wet black nose pushed through the crack, twitched, and sniffed.Nick placed a biscuit onto the ground, and within a second the doorknob was wrenched out of his hand as a white dog forced its way out.The biscuit was gobbled down and the animal stared expectantly at him, its pink tongue drooping out of its mouth.
“You're a freaking poodle?”Nick said with a laugh and tossed the curly white haired dog another biscuit.It was instantly devoured.
Huh, Jenna had said it was a huge, vicious dog and he’d been worried about dealing with the animal on the way over here.But this thing was about two feet tall with a tail that had a pompom on the end.
He grinned.
Okay, Jenna had been kidding, and with such a poker face.He hadn’t suspected a thing.The woman had a teasing sense of humor.
The poodle once again looked up at him expectantly and he suddenly felt happy in the way the brown eyed dog stared at him.
“Seriously, you want more?”Nick laughed.
The dog gave a sharp bark as if understanding his question.
“Okay, only one more.Then we need to get to work, okay?”
To his surprise the dog gave another bark.Nick tossed her two more biscuits.They were gone in an instant.
“You'll get breakfast in a bit.First I've got chores to do.And why the hell am I talking to you?You’re a dog,” he muttered as he gazed down at the mutt who looked up at him as if fully understanding what he was saying.
Shit.Why was it he suddenly liked this dog?This was interesting.
When he entered the barn, the dog followed right along.
* * * * *
“What happened to your window?”
Jenna’s hand froze on the spatula, a cold prickle sliding down her spine at Axel’s question.She’d been so involved in making his breakfast, she hadn't heard him come in.Now he stood in the kitchen doorway, a concerned frown on his face.
Obviously, he’d seen the tarp-boarded window when he’d come across the parking lot toward the house and must have gone over to investigate.
“I’ll tell you over breakfast.”
At the word breakfast, his frown disappeared and excitement flooded his face.The sudden boyish grin tugged at something deep in her chest.Something she wasn’t ready to name.
“Hey, it smells damn good, Jenna.Man, I haven't had a western omelet since I went to prison.You and your mom always made the best omelettes.”
Her throat tightened, the memory of her mother’s laugh brushed against her like a ghost.He was right.Her mom had truly been an exceptional cook.Every technique, every recipe Jenna now relied on had been passed down by her mom.
"I'm sorry about your parents.My mom told me what happened with that accident," he said gently.
She forced a shrug, the old ache pressing against her ribs, the warmth fading as memories of that terrible night flashed through her mind.Like Axel's family, hers had endured tragedies as well.
“Thanks.Now, no shoes in the house, wash up and then sit down.”
Axel was grinning again as he slipped off his shoes and her heart lurched with an insane feeling of déjà vu.Axel had always enjoyed eating food and never gained an extra pound.Lucky guy.
Damn, but she still loved this man.A man she thought she would never see again.As he passed her and walked down the hallway toward the bathroom, his footsteps echoed softly, familiar in a way that made her chest ache.His swagger was as sexy and confident as ever and she was still wondering if maybe this was all a dream.If it was, she was going to play along.
A moment later she heard the water running in the bathroom and she figured he was washing his hands.
Wow, she remembered those hands.The memory rose unbidden.The warmth of his palms as they’d roamed over every inch of her body.Rough calloused hands from his mechanic job at his dad’s garage.The surety of his touches that ignited flames of insane need and pleasure inside her.She swallowed hard, pushing down on the memory.
Pleasure and invoking want was something her late husband had never truly been able to do.Not that he had tried very hard after they’d married.
