Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
He looked at her and the dog. “Waiting on me?”
“Yes, I have to set the alarm. And Argo waits until I go.”
She stared at his ass as he moved by her. Leena flicked her tongue over her lips and tried not to sigh like a schoolgirl stealing a peek at a naked man. This one just made it really hard not to want to touch and feel.
Use the excuse you have to check his injuries. Yep, sounded like her brain, giving her bad advice. But was it truly bad advice? Injuries did need to be checked. She shook her head, set the alarm, and pulled the door shut behind her after Argo went out. Double-checking the lock on the door, she shoved her hands in her coat pockets. This is why I get myself into trouble because I’m mental. Full on mental.
“What’s funny?”
“Huh?” She focused on John.
“You chuckled. What’s funny?”
“Sorry, lost in thought. Are you sure you’re feeling okay? I should check your injuries again.” Good job, mouth. Make me sound all desperate to get my hands on him. Okay, maybe it’s true but I could act like it’s not about my raging hormones and it’s about my concern for him.
She wondered if she’d spoken out loud or if he could just read minds for he arched an eyebrow and sketched another smile. One sure to get her out of her panties if he would only ask.
They walked in silence back to her house, Argo between them. If he knew the tactic, he didn’t comment on it. As she closed the door on the cold, they both shrugged out of their jackets.
“I’m going to fix some coffee, then check your injuries. After that, I’ll start on some food. I have some clients coming in later, so I have some things to do before they arrive.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Sure. I have to go through the kennel and make sure all is in order.”
“So, you train dogs and kennel them?”
She went to the kitchen. “I used to have about seventy-five runs that I would have full all the time. But training is my real love so I scaled majorly back on the boarding. I still help out some people from time to time and keep the dogs I’m working occasionally.” She filled the coffee maker and turned it on. “The kennel now is mostly if I have a litter of pups. Today however, I have a neighbor bringing in their four dogs for me to keep while they go on a cruise.”
“Why not house dogs while you train?”
“The goal of what I train is to become a team. No point in me taking the money to train your dog when if you can’t learn to read him or her, then you won’t be a team. It’s been my experience that it’s the humans who need more guidance and help than the canines. I will do it occasionally, but I prefer to work with the team.”
“You like dogs better than people.”
She nodded. “In most cases yes.”
He laughed. “Most? I’m going to say all.”
Leena smiled. “Can’t disagree. They are much easier for me to understand. They’re not petty, or vindictive. You love them, they love you back. Unconditionally.” She got some mugs. “I also have training classes tonight. I’m not sure what you were caught up in, but the ones coming out are cops, so you may want to stay out of sight in the house.”
She watched his reflection in the window. Witnessed the tensing and the frown.
Instead of pushing, she left it alone and hoped whatever he’d been mixed up in wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass.
Although, he could bite me anywhere he chooses. It was official. She had problems. “Let’s check your wounds.”
Without the slightest hesitation, he whipped off his shirt and tossed it over the back of a chair. She gulped and did a quick count to ten. Okay, perhaps it was more like thirty. The wounds were still red but appeared to be going down.
He crooked his finger at her. “Come closer. Hard for you to check from over there.”
Safer this way.
“For who?”
She blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“You said it was safer this way. I’m wondering for who is it safer?”
Words didn’t form in her mind nor did they flow past her lips. She had locked into the firm mouth with the small scar above the right top lip. So much for keeping that an internal thought alone. I may need to duct tape my mouth shut around this man. And yet, even that brings to mind some things I don’t need to contemplate.
“Leena?”
Christ. That was sex on a platter, the way her name fell from him. She bit the inside of her cheek and moved toward him with purpose. I can do this.
“Me,” she said. “It would be safer for me to stay over there.” Her mouth watered as the scent of him intermixed with her soap reached her again.