“Are you okay?” I asked.
His focus shifted to Cooper and Max, recognition stared back before he said, “Yeah, just some car trouble, but the truck is coming,” he said, lifting his phone.
“Okay, good.”
He smiled, studied me, before he said, “Sorry, I don’t recognize you. Are you new to town?”
I was a little surprised by his question because I had been around long enough for the town to know of me, but maybe he wasn’t from town. Which begged the question, how did he know Killian? “Yeah, I am.”
“How are you finding it?” he asked.
“I like it very much.”
“Good.”
Awkward silence settled, my time to go. “Good luck with the car,” I said.
“Thank you, young lady.”
I didn’t know what it was about that interaction that bothered me, but something about it seemed off.
In town, after placing the order for the sandwiches, I walked to the pie shop, because I had a houseful of hungry men. I wondered what kind of pie Killian liked. I could call, but I was here. The idea of seeing him had those butterflies, that had been dormant for years, flipping out in my stomach.
“What are you doing with Killian’s dogs?”
Abruptly ripped from the simmering lust I’d just been enjoying, my expression was dark when I glanced at that chick Monica, hanging out in front of the trading post. I wasn’t going to answer her because it wasn’t any of her business, but she kind of got in my face. Not too close because Cooper and Max started to growl, low in their throats. I’d never heard them do that. Monica was smarter than she looked when she took a step back.
“He doesn’t let people around them.” Had Killian dated her because I just couldn’t see it?
“I didn’t kidnap them if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Hey, Cedar.”
Natalie came up behind me. “Hey, you two,” she said, getting down to rub the boys down.
Monica had just gotten into my face about having Killian’s dogs, but she said nothing about Natalie petting them. Odd.
“It won’t last,” she said, twirling her hair around her finger as she cracked her bubble gum. “Tough nut to crack.”
Not surprising that she didn’t understand him at all.
A brute of a guy came out, saw her talking to me, and grabbed her arm so hard she cried out. “Shut up,” he snarled and dragged her down the street.
I guess it said a lot about me, but I didn’t make a move to help her. I was willing to put myself in harm’s way for animals, but humans…not so much.
“You came out here on purpose, didn’t you?” I asked Natalie, after Monica was out of earshot.
“After she waved that gun around at the tavern, yeah…not sure she’s playing with a full deck.”
“She waved a gun around the tavern?”
“Yeah, you didn’t hear?”
“No. Why the hell would she do that?”
“She was looking for Killian.”
“When was this?”
“Last week sometime”
Probably the night Killian cooked me dinner and was called away, and the following morning he found the cigarettes. “Does she smoke?” I asked.
“Not that I know of.”
Hmm...
“I got to get back to Beast,” Natalie said.
“Is that what you named him?” The dog she took in, the one I’d help liberate.
“Yeah. Poor boy needs a strong name. He’s afraid all of the time.”
“I would be too after the treatment from that jackass. Drinks sometime this weekend? You need to catch me up on what’s going on with you and Liam?”
She started back to the shelter. “Yeah, that’s a story.” She sounded frustrated. “I’ll call you.”
I wondered what that was all about because there was interest on both sides.
The dogs and I crossed the street. The hair on my nape stirred, and I glanced over, just as a truck pulled from the curb. I saw a pair of eyes looking at me from the side window. I was a little unsettled when I entered the station. The kid who’d been there that day with the jackass looked up and then stood up when he saw the dogs.
“You looking for the sheriff?”
“Yes, if he’s not busy.”
“One sec.” Then he hollered, “Got a visitor, Boss.” He looped his fingers into his belt and grinned.
“I’m Cedar.”
He offered his hand. “I know.” He grinned again. “Johnny.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“The fuck I told—” Killian saw me, the area around his eyes softened just slightly. His focus shifted to his dogs. “Hold my calls.”
He waited for me, and then followed after me. As soon as the door closed, he had me up against it. He captured both of my hands in his one and held them over my head before his mouth was on mine. I moaned, wanted to touch him, but outside of his hand on mine, only our mouths touched. It was the most erotic kiss, setting my blood on fire with the need to feel his body against mine, his hands on me.
His tongue pushed into my mouth, tasted then retreated. I leaned into him, trying to get closer, as I explored his mouth, groaning when his taste filled mine.
We were both breathing heavy when he ended the kiss. He didn’t release my hands, didn’t close the distance, just looked at me in that intense way of his. My body was on fire, the ache between my legs was distracting and the way he was looking at me was making me feel reckless.
“You need me?” he asked.
Oh my god, yes, I needed him. Right now, on his desk, against the door, I wasn’t picky. He knew what I was thinking when his eyes turned darker. My heart was racing; my nerve endings were so sensitive that tingles were running down my body. And he stood there, holding me in place with just one hand and that stare.
“You like pie?” I surprised both of us when I asked that. My brain was short-circuiting from lust.
“You thinking about pie?”
“I’m thinking I should have worn my dress.”
He growled deep in
