Page 35 of Armed ’N’ Ready

A chipmunk dashed across the path in front of her, and she veered at the last second to keep from stepping on it.

Lately, she and Nick had avoided each other as much as humanly possible. When she needed to get something from behind the bar, she waited until he’d gone into the storeroom to restock supplies, or into the kitchen to grab another of Marty’s experimental paninis.

Nick had afforded her the same treatment, although he always kept an eye on her, making sure she didn’t receive another call from Joe without telling him. In fact, the only good things that had happened lately were that the bar was packed every night now and the musician she’d hired for this evening would bring in even more customers. Maybe I’ll get through this after all.

With Tess covering for her, she had just enough time to get back and shower before the lunch crowd arrived. Good thing, because her shorts and tank top were thoroughly soaked with sweat and sticking to every inch of her skin.

The trail was silent, save for the sound of her breathing. In. Out. In. Out. A spooky sense crept up her spine and neck, spreading to her scalp. The sensation of being watched was overwhelming, and with every stride, her heart beat faster. Maybe I should have told Nick where I was going, after all.

Too late now, idiot. Besides, she refused to go all paranoid without any proof someone was actually stalking her.

Behind her, branches snapped. She clenched her fists and whipped around, planting her feet, readying for a fight. Her heart hammered, pounding in her ears.

A large deer broke through the brush and shot across the path. Andi let out a tiny shriek. Without breaking stride, the deer disappeared into the thicket. Her chest sawed in and out. “Holy shit.” Gradually, she unclenched her fists. This whole thing with Joe and the mystery man outside was seriously spooking her, to the point where she’d begun to jump at every little noise.

Shaking her head, she took off again, this time at a slower pace. An uncomfortable foreboding still surrounded her, but she did her best to shrug it off and enjoy the rest of her run.

As she rounded the last bend that led to her property, whistles and barking came to her ears. After clearing the trees, the sight that greeted her made her mouth hang open, and not just because she was exhausted. Hardly.

She practically stumbled over a large rock, righting herself before face-planting in the grass. Slowing to a stop, she leaned over and rested her hands on her thighs. It was all she could do to catch her breath. Or stop staring.

Twenty feet away, Nick strode through the lake’s shallows. Over one shoulder, he held a rope attached to the inflatable mattress she’d had leaning against the back of her house. Saxon stood atop the float, barking his head off and looking as if he were having the time of his life. Granted, watching the dog enjoy himself was entertaining, but that wasn’t what had her blinking repeatedly to clear her vision.

No siree.

She swallowed. The only thing Nick had on was navy blue gym shorts and…nothing else.

Thick, incredibly defined muscles bulged and flexed all over his upper body. Pectorals. Biceps. Abs. All glistening with the sexiest sheen of lake water to ever grace a male body.

Andi wiped sweat from her forehead just before it dripped into her eyes. She’d known Nick had to be hiding a great body beneath his uniform, jeans, T-shirt, and everything else she’d seen him in, but this…Adonis…this Greek god… Oh my.

Apparently, her female customers agreed, because as he swung the float in a slow one-eighty and started back in the other direction toward the deck, he was greeted with applause and a bevy of whistles coming from the cluster of women leaning against the deck railing.

Through it all, Saxon barked happily, swaying as he continually adjusted his stance to keep from falling.

Sunlight glinted off Nick’s broad back as he dragged the float another twenty feet before Saxon lost his balance and fell into the lake with a splash. He barked and swam circles around Nick as he dragged the float back to shore. The crowd along the railing now included Tess, Kara, Zoe, and Meera, all of whom cheered and hooted.

Nick dropped the rope, then grabbed a water bottle from the grass. He tipped it for a long swig, then dumped the rest of it over his head.

Saxon shook, sending droplets of water flying a good ten feet in all directions. The dog ran circles around Nick, as if he was trying to convince him to go another round.

Nick shook his head and said something to his dog. Andi couldn’t make out what, but the animal calmed and pressed the side of his body against Nick’s leg.

Andi straightened, and Saxon jerked his head in the air as he caught sight of her. The dog bolted toward her, and she clapped her hands. When Saxon got closer, he slowed to a stop.

“Good morning, Saxon.” She knelt to greet him.

Woof. The dog shoved his muzzle into her hand, and she scratched his long, damp black ears.

“I see you had fun out there.” She ran her hands along his coat, which was quickly drying in the hot morning sun.

A pair of long, lightly haired legs appeared in her view, and her gaze slowly traveled up Nick’s calves and powerful thighs, to the bulge beneath his wet trunks. She raised her eyes to his lower abs, where rivulets of water trickled down the many crevices before disappearing into the waistband of his shorts.

Stop. Staring.

It was hard not to.

Force yourself.