'Good,' Marrok said. 'Go pack your bag.'
'I've got to close up the cabin. I'll follow you down.' His hand reached out and caressed Wiley's head. 'I'll be with you in a couple hours, pal. Promise.'
'Tell him it's okay to go with us,' Devon said.
Cadow hesitated again before he said gruffly. 'Okay, go along with them, boy. It's all right with me.' He turned on his heel and went into the cabin.
Marrok whistled, and Wiley ran to him. 'Let's go. Come on, Ned, Wiley.' He set off down the path toward the glade where the helicopter waited. 'Devon.'
'Dogs, first. As usual.' She caught up and fell into step. 'So here I come trotting at your heels.'
He gave a snort. 'Trotting at my heels? You're joking. You took over back there.'
'You were both being belligerent. I didn't want a fight.'
'There wouldn't have been a fight.'
'Two alpha males each wanting his own way?'
'I like Cadow.'
'But you must have had a lingering competitiveness because of your history with him. You weren't giving him a chance to defend his family. You had to give him an out, let him make the move.'
'I gave him a choice.'
She gave him a glance.
'And I didn't need him to tell Wiley to come with me. He would have done it anyway.'
'I know.' She looked back at the cabin. Had the curtain moved a little? 'He's watching us. He had to think that Wiley only came along because he ordered him to do it. Otherwise, it would have hurt him. That dog's the world to him.'
'I told you he'd grown to love him.'
'You didn't tell me that it would tear him to pieces if we took him. We have to make it as easy for him as possible. Did you mean it when you said you'd find a place for him?'
'I don't lie.'
'Good, then I don't have to coerce you. Wiley is that one, the special dog, to him. I know what it's like to be torn away from a dog you love.'
'Tess.'
'Yes.'
'What about your Gracie?'
'I love her. Every dog is special in its own way. There's enough love for every being. Just sometimes a dog reaches out and touches some corner of your heart that no one else can reach. Sarah said something like that about Monty. It's the truth.' She glanced back at the cabin. 'It wasn't only loneliness that caused him to become attached to Wiley. I could see it. I could see me in him.'
'Do you? I see no resemblance at all.' He was silent a moment. 'And I'd rather look at you. He resembles a beat-up old saddle.'
'That has its own worth and beauty,' she said. 'And you know what I mean.'
'Yes. I just thought I'd try to lighten the mood. You… touched me.'
She looked at him in surprise. 'Why on earth?'
'How the hell do I know? You
She couldn't take her eyes away from him. He had changed again. A few minutes ago she had wanted to shake him, and now she was melting. He was telling the truth, and that trace of clumsiness was almost endearing. The blending of sexual, slightly wicked, male and puzzled boyishness took her off guard. 'I protect myself.'
'Not so good. Or you wouldn't be here with me.' He suddenly smiled. 'But I'm going to try to take your word for it. It will relieve my conscience when we come together.'
Heat rippled through her. The boy had vanished, and the male was dominant and on the hunt. 'Don't hold your breath.'
'No,' he said softly. 'But it's close. Don't you feel it? It's right there under the surface waiting to happen.'
Dammit, she did feel it. She could scarcely breathe, there was a tingling in her wrists, the palms of her hands, her breasts. If he reached out and touched her, she'd go up in flames.
He didn't reach out. 'Why not? I wouldn't hurt you. We need it. I wouldn't ask for more than you want to give.' He added haltingly, 'Though you make me feel like that wild kid I was all those years ago, I'm not him. I can make it good for you. I've learned things…'
She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. Her heart was beating too hard. 'From that madam in Bangkok I suppose?'
'Damn Walt,' he said. 'Yes, and other places, other times.' He looked away from her. 'But I promise it wouldn't be like any other experience either of us has ever had. We're… different together. You know that.'
'I don't want to talk about it anymore.'
'Neither do I. I want to do it.' He paused. 'And so do you.' He drew a deep breath. 'We're almost at the copter. Stop fighting. I know that I'm not what you want on any permanent basis. I'm not stable, I'm too wild for you. For God's sake, be honest with me. Be honest with yourself. For a one-night stand, I'm exactly what you want.'
The heat was flushing her cheeks. 'I'm not into one-night-' She stopped as she met his gaze. Be honest, he had said. Heaven knows she was tired of avoiding the truth. 'What do you want me to say? You know what I'm feeling. But I made one gigantic mistake, and I'm scared to death of making another one. It wouldn't be a smart or responsible thing to-' She hurried her pace to the helicopter. 'And I'm a responsible woman, dammit.'
'I see you've got Wiley.' Walt had opened the helicopter door for them. 'Have any trouble?'
'A little.' Marrok gestured, and the dogs jumped into the helicopter. He reached out a hand to help Devon, but she was already climbing into her seat. 'Sid will be coming to the ranch later.' He got in and fastened his seat belt. 'Now there's only Nika to bring in.'
'Do we pick her up today?'
'Maybe. I'm going to stop at Paco's cave on the way back, and it depends on how much time it takes there.'
Devon's eye's widened. 'Why?'
'I told you that I've been meaning to find a way to get Ned to go up to the cave that would ease it for him.' He nodded at Wiley. 'An old friend to share his memories.'
'Will it work?'
'I don't know. I'm going to try.' He told Walt. 'Give us a few hours.'
'Heaven forbid I rush dog therapy,' Walt said as he took off. 'Even though Danner may be on our heels.'
'Don't worry, Bridget would be on the phone drawing me back into the fold at even the hint of that happening.' His lips twisted. 'Maybe even if there wasn't a hint if she thought she could get away with it.'
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE HELICOPTER set down on the plateau where Walt had flown the jet once before. Marrok got out of the copter and gestured to the dogs. Wiley jumped to the ground. Ned cringed back against the wall of the aircraft.
'Come on, Ned,' Marrok said quietly. 'Time to face it.'
Ned didn't move.
Wiley gave a low whine, tilting his head as he stared up at the Lab.
Ned stared back at him, then slowly got to his feet and jumped out of the helicopter.
'Good boy,' Marrok said. He turned back to Devon and held out his hand. 'Are you coming?'
She looked at his hand. Strong hand, beautiful hand. It was the first thing about him that had caused her to notice how magnetic he could be. She hesitated. She could refuse, and he would not insist.
She should probably do that.
Dammit, she was tired of doing only what she should, she thought recklessly. Maybe, as with Ned, it was time to stop hiding her head and face it.
She reached out and took his hand and jumped out of the copter. His grasp was strong, warm, but that was all of which she was aware before he released her and turned away. He started across the plateau. 'Two hours, Walt.'