Smiling, she followed them onto the porch.Tank, the little rascal, was already barking at a squirrel that heckled him from high up in a tree.Maybelline stood there watching, her gentle gaze going from the squirrel to Tank and back again.
Groaning, Laylee dropped down to sit on the porch yoga style.“Oh, Maybelline, I think I’ve scared him off for good.I should have just taken the damn test.But no, I had to go and confide in Knox.”
Maybelline, the big lug, heard the sadness in Laylee’s voice and came to sit beside her, nearly knocking her over.Tank, unwilling to be left out, raced across the yard and scrambled onto her lap.
The dogs were amazing.“You guys.”She hugged them both.“You realize we’re now sitting outside in this miserable heatinstead of enjoying the air-conditioning inside.”They didn’t seem to care.She’d probably gotten a dozen bug bites already.
It was another twenty minutes before she worked up the energy to move.She got the dogs in gear by asking, “Who wants a treat?”Now that she was layered in sweat, she’d need a shower before Knox arrived, and it wouldn’t kill her to repair her hair and makeup.
Unfortunately, the door seemed to be … stuck?Or had it locked?
Giving her curious looks, the dogs waited.Laylee tried to slide the door open again, but it didn’t budge.“Hang on, guys.Let me check the front door.”When she headed for the gate, the animals tried to follow her.“No, wait here.I’ll just be a minute.”Maybelline was no problem.She sat down, already panting in the heat.Tank tried his best to get around her the second she opened the gate.“No you don’t!”
She slipped out and then had to listen to his furious yapping as she jogged to the front.Of course, as she expected, that door was locked.Now what?She reached for the phone in her back pocket, but … no.She shouldn’t call Knox.What if he fell off the roof again?
What if he was already hurt?
Looking up at the sun, feeling the humidity like a wet blanket, she returned to the backyard and gave the dogs the bad news.
They’d just have to wait, but at least she had a hose.Maybe now was a good time to rinse off the dogs and just play a little.
CHAPTER2
Knox heard a commotion in the backyard as soon as he stepped out of his truck.Smiling, he headed in that direction.Tank was at the gate barking his head off, and Maybelline’s tail swung wildly in the air.
“Guess you guys heard me, huh?”
More joyous barking filled the air.
He noticed that both dogs were soaking wet.
“Whoa.What have you two gotten into?”Knowing Tank and his antics, Knox slipped quickly through the gate.After securing it again, he bent down to give both dogs plenty of love.Tank tilted up his little round head and closed his eyes in bliss.Maybelline leaned against Knox, soaking his jeans and pushing him off-balance.If he hadn’t fallen against the fence, he’d be on the ground with them.
“Has she been torturing you with baths?Is that it?”
Maybelline answered with a huge swipe of her tongue along the side of his face.
“Girl, seriously, that was way too wet.”Knox used his shoulder to wipe away the slobber, then laughed and gave her a hug.That left his shirt covered in wet fur.Maybelline was a hundred pounds and looked like a yeti, but he loved her.Tank, a mixed breed, had some Chihuahua in him and only weighed eight pounds.They were an odd couple but closely bonded, and totally adorable.
“Go fetch something.”When the dogs took off, Maybelline in a lope, Tank like a speed racer, Knox went in search of Laylee.
Only a few steps later, he saw her sprawled in a lounge chair on the back porch, as soaked as the dogs and looking pitiful.Head tipped back with her eyes closed, her wet top and shorts clinging to her curves, beautiful legs stretched out in front of her and hands laced together on her stomach, she was quite the sight.More than enough to cause his heart to skip a beat.
For a few seconds, Knox just looked at her, but when she didn’t stir, he grew concerned.“Hey.”
Lazily, one eye opened.“Have I died yet?Maybe melted?Please tell me you have your keys to get in.”
That didn’t make any sense.“Yes, I have my keys.”To savor the moment, Knox approached her slowly.With her long blond hair slicked back, her perfect features were even more noticeable.High, smooth cheekbones.Arched brows.That tempting mouth that could be so sassy.
Her dark blue eyes took his measure.“Why are you looking at me like that?”
That had to be a joke.“You look hot.”
“Duh.I’m roasting.”
“I meant …” No, hold that thought.Now was definitely not the time.“You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Oh, yeah, well, I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but I locked us out.”
