“Coyote?” Sage squeaked. “There are coyotes around here?”
Arik eyed her curiously. “Sure. Coyotes, foxes, maybe even the odd mountain lion. But they usually don’t come in towards the city area.”
Sage kept quiet after that, feeling foolish for asking what was apparently a silly question. Did everyone know what sorts of wild animals came down from the mountains for food or…whatever it was that wild animals wanted closer to civilization.
Sighing, she made a mental note to research the wild life. And scorpions. Yes, she finally felt rested enough that she might even be able to do a bit of work today! That thought sent a thrill through her.
When she looked up, Sage realized that Arik had caught the movement. Darn it, that guy saw everything!
“You okay?” he asked.
“Absolutely wonderful!” she replied with a smile meant to confuse him. Thankfully, it seemed to be working.
They both heard someone else snort with quiet laughter and as one, they turned to look at Tom.
“Dogs?” he prompted, his hands stuffed into the back pockets of his jeans. He didn’t elaborate on what he found so amusing.
“Yes!” Sage replied, instantly excited.
Tom chuckled. “They’re in the back, probably irritating the horses.”
Sage wanted to ask why the dogs would irritate the horses, but she didn’t want to reveal her ignorance again. So instead, she followed the two men, walking slowly to take it all in. This wasn’t just a place where dogs were “rescued” and fostered. This was a huge working ranch. This was one of the reasons she’d wanted to move out of the city and learn to live in a more rural environment. It was all so fascinating!
They entered one of the smaller barns, which, at first glance, didn’t appear to have anything in it other than tools. But as Sage followed, she glanced down and…there was a walking ball of fluff right beside her! Sage froze and stared, not sure what she was looking at. It appeared to be a live teddy bear with big, melting brown eyes, a pink tongue, and lots of fur!
And it was wagging what must be a tail, but was really just an almost separate ball of fluff at the opposite end from the pink tongue. It was a dog, but one of the fluffiest and most adorable little things she’d ever seen!
“Oh my, you’re a cutie!” Sage whispered, immediately kneeling down to pet the dog. “Hey there!” she whispered, glancing self-consciously over at the two men who seemed to be staring out into the distance for some reason. The little fur ball braced teeny paws on her knee, demanding her attention. “Sorry about that,” she murmured. “The big guy wants me to get a security dog.” Sage squinched up her nose. “I don’t think you’d be a very good security dog. I mean…just look at you!”
The tiny dog wagged his tail so vigorously his entire body shimmied happily. He lifted his paw once more and Sage rubbed him all over. The dog danced around, happy to be petted.
From the doorway, Arik cleared his throat, his lips twitching with amusement. Sage wrinkled her nose at him and returned to petting the dog.
“Well, I’d better go,” she said, turning her back on the men, better to appreciate the little darling. “I have to choose a meaner dog. I have someone stalking me and I don’t like it. I mean, I really don’t like it! There have been some scary things happening, and I’d–”
“What kinds of scary things, Sage?” Arik asked. His tone was soft. Curious. But Sage could hear the protective rage simmering behind the soft tone.
She glanced up, startled to find him right behind her. How did such a big man sneak like that? Okay, perhaps she’d been a bit too enchanted by the puppy. Or was the little guy fully grown? Was this as big as he would get?
“Um…?”
The puppy yipped and the sound was so adorable, her heart melted as she gazed down at the little guy. His eyes implored her for more attention, but Sage knew that she had to handle Arik first.
“Nothing to worry about,” she told Arik. Lie!
He moved closer. “I knew something was off last night when you kept asking me to stick around.” He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. The protective wall of muscle was so enticing, Sage leaned into his touch, briefly closing her eyes to savor the sensation.
“What’s going on, Sage?”
She released the breath and opened her eyes, looking right into his dark, brown eyes that held such determination. “I can handle it,” she told him, but the words were quiet, as if she didn’t quite believe them herself.
“You can tell me what’s going on. And I want details this time.”
She smiled, thinking that his firm, authoritative voice was pretty darn sexy! “Yes, it is possible for me to tell you what’s going on, Arik. But I’m a grown woman. I came out here to Wyoming to learn to survive on my own.” She leaned forward slightly. “And I’m doing a pretty good job of it too!”
He glared down at her and suddenly, Sage realized he had encircled her in his arms. His hold was firm and somehow…comforting. In fact, his touch felt…empowering?
Yes, in an odd way, his touch gave her the strength to stand up to him. That and the fact that she had the overwhelming need to overcome the issues from her past on her own. To prove to herself as well as the rest of the world that she was an independent woman!
She was strong and capable, she reminded herself.
Taking a deep breath, she looked directly into his eyes, trying to ignore the way she couldn’t help but tremble at his touch, and said, “Arik, I appreciate that you want
