“RAISE YOUR KNEES.”
Wide-eyed, breathless and straining, she said, “No,” in such a scandalized voice that Riley Moore grinned. That was the thing about Red—she made him laugh, made him feel lighthearted when he hadn’t thought such a thing would be possible ever again. Not a bad start.
But he had other things to accomplish here besides smiling.
“I’m not letting you up till you do.” Hell, he’d be happy to stay put for hours. Not only did she amuse him, she also aroused him more than any woman he’d ever known. Her body was slight but very soft, a nice cushion under his larger, harder frame. And the warmth he felt in the cradle of her thighs could drive him over the edge.
Her big green eyes darted left and right. “Riley, people are watching.”
“I know.” He decided to taunt her. After all, this was important. She needed to learn how to handle him. No sense in wasting all his instruction. “They’re waiting to see if you’ve learned anything through all these lessons. Most of them think not. Others are pretty damn doubtful.”
New determination drew her slim auburn brows down into a frown and turned her green eyes stormy. Suddenly her knees were along his sides, catching him off guard with the carnality of it. While his mind wandered down a salacious path, she bucked, rolled—and onto his back he went.
Proud as a peahen, she bounced on his abdomen and cheered herself. Wrong move, sweetheart, he thought, and deftly flipped her straight back and into the same position that she’d just escaped, except that this time her legs were trapped around his waist. With the wind temporarily knocked out of her, she gasped.
Half frustrated, half amused, Riley straightened. Because he knew his own ability, even if most others didn’t, he always utilized strict control and caution. Especially with women, and most especially with Red. He’d sooner break his own leg than ever bruise her.
He pulled her upright, forced her arms straight up high to help her breathe, and shook his head. “When you get the upper hand on an attacker, honey, you do not stop to congratulate yourself.”
Seeing that the display was over, the crowd dispersed, going back to their own training. Riley stood and gently pulled Regina Foxworth to her feet. She wasn’t necessarily a short woman, but next to his height, she seemed almost puny. The top of her head reached his shoulder. Her wrists were like chicken bones. Narrow shoulders, a delicate frame...and yet, she wanted him to teach her self-defense.
Riley snorted. Hell, whenever he got this close to her he had things other than fighting on his mind. And the fact that, regardless of what he’d tried to teach her, she still ended up on her back with him in the mounted position put all kinds of considerations in his mind.
Like what it’d be like to have her situated that way, with no clothes between them and without her attempting to escape.
Soon, he promised himself. Very soon.
In a huff, Regina promptly jerked away and began straightening her glorious red hair. If the woman thought half as much about applying herself as she did about her appearance, they’d make more progress.
For her lessons today she’d restrained her hair in a braid as thick as his wrist that hung to the middle of her back. Already silky tendrils had worked loose, giving her a softened, just-laid look. Riley shook his head in awe. He worked with other women and they just got sweaty and rumpled. Not Regina. Somehow, no matter what, the woman always managed to look more appealing.
Watching her tidy her braid sent tension rippling through his muscles. A man could conjure quite a few fantasies over that hair, not to mention the delicate, ultrafeminine body that came with it. Hell, he even found the sprinkling of freckles over her nose adorable.
Riley snatched up a towel. “Quit pouting, Red.”
“I’m not.” But her bottom lip stuck out in a most becoming way. Normally a princess like her wouldn’t have appealed to him. But Red had guts beneath the fussy exterior. And in the time he’d known her, he’d also realized she was gentle, compassionate, understanding, and damn it, he wanted her, had from the very start.
If that had been his only problem, he’d have coaxed her into bed by now. But it was more than that. He hadn’t thought to ever want involvement with another woman, but he wanted it with Red.
Riley slung his arm around her shoulders and headed her toward the shower. Not that she needed to shower. The natural fragrance of her skin and hair was warm and womanly. His body tensed a bit more in masculine awareness, on the verge of cramping. “We’re wasting our time with these lessons.”
“I need to be able to defend myself.”
True enough. Three weeks ago, Regina had been caught in a burning building while on assignment for the Chester Daily Press. As a reporter, she liked to stick her cute little freckled nose into places where it didn’t belong, and that particular building had been in a disreputable part of town. That should have been her first clue not to be there. The fact that the fireworks dealer had already had trouble in the past should have been her second.
She’d forged on anyway and had come damn close to dying for her efforts. Most were inclined to call the fire an accident due to the shoddy management of the owner, who left opened pyrotechnics scattered around. But there was more to it. Long before Red got caught up in that fire, she’d been afraid. Riley first met her while she attempted to interview his friend, Ethan, for commendable work as a firefighter. Even then, she’d been as jumpy as a turkey on Thanksgiving morning. She’d seemed so strained, Riley had expected her to scream at any minute.
The day after the interview, she’d come into his gym and asked for lessons to protect herself. Unlike most of the women who approached him with the same request, Red had seemed more desperate, as if she needed the lessons for an imminent threat, not for general assurances.
Before the fire, he’d discarded her claims of endangerment, as had the county police where he worked as an evidence tech. They still didn’t believe her, but at thirty-two, through life and some hard lessons, Riley had learned to read people, to sift real from feigned. Red was afraid, and he’d bet she had reason.
Someone was after her. She didn’t know why. He didn’t care why.
The day she’d almost died in that fire, he’d staked a claim. Little Red just hadn’t figured that out yet. But no way in hell would he let anyone hurt her.
“Why don’t you shower up and we’ll talk about it?”
“Again?” She gave her long-suffering look. “There’s nothing more to say. The police don’t believe me, nothing else major has happened—”
Riley jumped on her choice of words. “What do you mean, nothing major? Has something minor happened?”
She shrugged, which did interesting things to her petite breasts. Dressed in snug biker shorts and a matching sports tank, there wasn’t much of her body left to his imagination. But then, he’d wrestled with her enough and studied her in such detail that Riley already knew she had a discreet rack. Her breasts were small, firm and a definite draw to his eyes.
He could span her waist easily in his big hands, but from there she flared out. Her bottom was fuller, nicely rounded, as he liked. Not that it mattered. He already knew you couldn’t judge the woman by the package. A facade of innocence, of kindness, or honor, meant nothing, less than nothing.
Regina could have looked a dozen different ways and he’d still want her because her draw on him went deeper than appearances. He felt an affinity to her, a vague basis he could trust in and that, more than anything, appealed to him. It seemed the moment he’d met her something had sparked.
So far, she’d shut him out.
“My apartment door was vandalized the other day.”
Riley stopped dead in his tracks, right in front of the entrance to the women’s shower. In a voice low with annoyance and disbelief, he growled, “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m telling you now.”
“Now is too damn late.” He felt like shaking her, but she was so dainty a good shake would rattle her teeth.
“There were three other doors that got egged, so I figured it was random, not personal. And really, there’s no threat in an egging, just an aggravation.”
“Unless someone is trying to bug you enough to make you move.” The fact that she lived in a nice apartment building with good security and lots of neighbors around reassured Riley many a night. It was the only thing that had kept him from forcing his pursuit of her. Because he felt she was safe at night, he intended to let her get used to him at her own pace. Little by little, he’d make his intentions known.
Still, he felt compelled to point out the facts. “I don’t care what you figured, Red. From now on, tell me everything. I’m the expert here.”
Her gaze dipped over his chest, now damp with sweat so that his T-shirt stuck to him. Wrestling with her hadn’t caused any exertion, but he’d been in the private studio all morning giving lessons. Besides, just being near Red fired his blood. Having her open and vulnerable beneath him brought out a possessive sweat. He’d conquer her—in his own time.
“Yes, you’re an expert, Riley.” Staring up at him, her big eyes full of serious regard, she added, “At a lot of things.”
“At a...” His voice trailed off. Was she coming on to him? ’Bout damn time. He crowded closer to her, letting her feel the heat of his body, instinctively overpowering her with his size and masculinity and interest. “Just what does that mean, Regina?” He sounded gruff, half-aroused, but then she had that effect on him.
Head tipped way back to meet his gaze, she sighed. “You’re an amazing guy, Riley Moore. That’s all I meant. I don’t know any other man who used to be part of a SWAT team, now serves as a crime scene evidence technician, and owns his own gym.”
Deflated, mouth flat, Riley said, “No.”
With a ludicrous show of innocence, she blinked. “No, what?”
“No, I won’t do the damn interview.” He should have seen right through her. He was good at deciphering motives, but his perspective was blown around her, clouded by lust. She’d been after an interview for over a week now, but his past was just that: the past. He wouldn’t dredge it up for anyone, not even Little Red.
“But—”
At that moment, Rosie Winters shoved her way out of the showers, forcing them both to back up. Now Rosie, bless her, knew how to work out. She got sweaty, red-faced and hot. Not more appealing. She cursed, grunted, struggled, and she gave it her all, showing constant improvement without a single thought to her hair or audience.
Like Riley, Rosie fought to win and she was now good enough that she just might stand a chance against a man without Riley’s special training. But as ex-SWAT, Riley could be lethal when necessary. His job had taught him how to come out the victor in any scenario. But long before that, when he’d still been a kid, nature had taught him that he didn’t like to lose.
At anything.
As one of his best friends, Rosie had been coming to his gym a lot, much to Ethan’s dismay. She and Ethan had married last week, but that hadn’t slowed down Rosie. Nothing slowed her down. The newlyweds supplied endless hours of entertainment with the way they clashed wills, and the way they loved.
“Hey, Riley.” Rosie gave him a resounding smooch on the cheek before turning to Regina. Her brown hair, still wet, hung down her back. “I lingered in the shower so I could talk to you.”
Regina lifted her brows. “Really? What about?”
“Prepare yourself,” Rosie warned with a lot of suspenseful anticipation. “Your loan went through. You’re all set to close on the house!”
That announcement seemed to set off both women. Regina squealed as females are wont to do, and Rosie, who never squealed, laughed heartily. But around Regina, Rosie often got pulled into the more feminine mannerisms. Like now, with Regina holding her hands and dancing in circles and bouncing around.
Watching them, Riley crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. He just adored women, the way they reacted, their expressions, their unique mindset that was so different from men’s. Rosie and Regina couldn’t be more dissimilar in most ways, yet they had similarities, too, just by virtue of being female.
It gave him pleasure to listen in—until it dawned on him what Rosie had said. He shoved away from the wall. “A house? You bought a house?”
They quieted, but both still grinned hugely. “It’s adorable,” Regina confided. “Just the right size for me.”
“And such a great bargain,” Rosie added. “Because it’s empty, she can have immediate occupancy.”
“Immediate occupancy?” The words emerged a dark whisper. “As in alone in a house, unprotected, immediately?”
Rosie paused. “Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. I mean, it’s in a nice quiet neighborhood with half-acre yards—”
“Great. Just great.”
Regina gave him a level look. “Really, Riley. You act like I’ll be camping in the open with wild bears all around me. I can lock my doors and windows.” When he only narrowed his eyes, she added, “I’ll even buy an alarm system, okay?”
“It’s a lousy idea. Have you two forgotten that someone recently tried to burn you alive?”
Rosie shuddered. “I’ll never forget.” She’d gone with Regina that day, and damn near died because of it. “But the police seem to think that it was either vandalism that got out of hand, negligence on the part of the owner, or at the very worst, vengeance aimed at the owner, not at us.”
Regina watched Riley closely. “They think we were innocent bystanders.”
“Right. And that’s why your camera was taken and the owner has disappeared?”
Looking guilty, Rosie turned to Regina. “Maybe he’s right.”
“No, he is not right. I have to live somewhere, so it might as well be my own house.” She patted Riley on the chest. Though she did it negligently, without a single sign of awareness on her part, he felt the damn pat clear through to his masculine being. “I’ll get an alarm system and a dog. How’s that?”
Seeing that he wouldn’t win, Riley gave up that particular argument. At least she wanted to take steps in the right direction. A big, well-trained German shepherd or Doberman would certainly be a deterrent to anyone thinking to harm her. In the meantime, he’d just have to see about advancing his courtship. Once she gave in, he’d have the right to keep her close, to watch over her.
And all her spare time would be spent in bed, giving her less time to get into trouble.
With Ethan and Rosie’s rushed wedding plans, they’d been forced together more frequently than otherwise. Adding to that her lessons at the gym, he’d seen her almost daily for the past three weeks. Their time together had been platonic because he couldn’t possibly wrestle with her and have romantic thoughts without embarrassing them both, and possibly breaking a few sexual harassment laws. He felt certain a boner would have been out of line.
But he knew how he felt. Maybe it was time she knew, too.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to live with her until he felt secure that she’d be safe alone. The benefits to that scenario were more than obvious. To both of them.
“When’s the closing on the house?”
Rosie winced.
Resigned, Riley asked again, “How soon, Rosie?”
“Weeeelll...” Rosie cast a quick look at Regina, but she was too busy smiling over her good news to share Rosie’s uncertainty. “Because the house was empty and her credit impeccable, I sort of rushed it through. We have a date set for the middle of next week.”
Regina squealed again, but with Riley so subdued, she quickly quieted. “You’re being such a stick in the mud, Riley. Can’t you be just a little happy for me?”
If it weren’t such bad timing, he would be. But he worried about her enough already without her being off on her own, away from the safety of the apartment complex. In his mind, she was already his. He wanted to protect her, not leave her safety dependent on a dog and alarm.
He studied her for a long moment, deciding how best to proceed without making her more skittish. Then he realized his stare alone had her squirming uncomfortably. He tried a smile, but it felt more predatory than anything else. “I’ll take you to dinner to celebrate.” He made it a statement rather than an invitation, on the off chance she thought to refuse.
Her hesitation fell heavy between them. “I don’t know...”
Riley took a step closer. “Say yes, Regina.”
Rosie’s gaze bounced back and forth, watching them with great interest.
A blush tinged Regina’s cheeks. “The thing is, I wanted to get my dog today. I figure I might as well potty train him at my apartment so he won’t mess up my house.”
Riley didn’t let her off the hook. He waited, still watching her intently until her unease was palpable.
Finally, she sighed. “If you can come over around six, I can cook dinner at my place.”
Now that sounded promising. Much better suited to his purpose than being in a crowded restaurant. “I’m on vacation for the next two weeks, so I’m at your disposal.” He realized suddenly that Rosie had a vacuous grin on her face. She knew him better than Regina did, so she’d probably already realized how territorial he felt.
Glancing over his shoulder at the workout area of the gym, he said, “I have to get back on the floor. I have three more hours of personal instruction before I’m free.” He touched Regina’s cheek. “Promise me you’ll be careful, Red.”
She blinked, then stepped out of reach. Her laugh sounded forced. “It’s the middle of the day. I swear, Riley, you’re more fretful than I am.”
That’s because he knew firsthand the danger that could befall a woman alone. He shook off that dark thought and raised her chin. “Promise?”
“Cross my heart.” With a last platonic pat on his chest, she said, “Don’t be late.”
Riley watched her disappear into the shower room, spellbound until Rosie started snickering. When he gave her his attention, she clutched her heart and pretended to swoon.
“Brat.” Riley put her in a chokehold and knuckled the top of her head. Though she was gorgeous and sexy, Rosie was like a pal, permanently safe from any lecherous intentions, especially since she’d married Ethan.
“Hey,” she gasped out, “no fair. I don’t want to get messy again. I have a showing this afternoon.”
Riley released her and got a sharp elbow to his middle. He grunted while Rosie quickly backed away. “Sucker,” she said with a grin, then she turned and jogged toward the door.
Riley laughed. He did love Rosie, but he didn’t want her. He didn’t burn for her.
Not the way he did for Ms. Regina Foxworth.
* * *
REGINA KNEW it wasn’t the wisest decision she’d ever made. And for a woman who prided herself on only making wise decisions, she should have been appalled at herself. She only had so much money for decorating her new house and putting in the alarm system that she’d promised Riley.
She tried to talk herself out of it, she really did. But as she stared at those big brown eyes, she fell madly in love. He was so cute with the way he laid his enormous ears back on his little round head, how he stared at her with bulging eyes, shivering with uncertainty. He probably wasn’t the type of dog Riley had in mind, but the man said they were loyal pets, dedicated to their owners.
“I’ll take him.” Sometimes things just felt right. Like being a journalist. Like buying the house.
Like being near Riley.
This felt right, too. Now that she’d met this dog, no other would do, so she shelled out the six hundred dollars that she really couldn’t spare. Love was love and it should never be denied. Not that she knew a lot about love. But she did know that she wanted it more than anything. And to get it, you had to give it, she reasoned. She could really love this dog.
While she carried him outside, he continued to shake and stare at her with those big, watchful eyes. She’d never seen such a pathetic look in her life. She wanted to crush him close, but he was so puny, she didn’t dare. Gently, she stroked his skinny back and rubbed his soft neck.
She’d never felt a dog so soft. He had bunny fur, so cuddly and silky. And he didn’t smell like a dog either. She rubbed her nose against his neck and got a tiny lick on the ear in return.
Once in the car, secured in the carrier, his teeny tiny mouth formed an O and he began to howl.
It was both hilarious, the way he looked, and heart-wrenching the way he sounded. The mournful baying continued until Regina was in a near panic. “Shh. What’s wrong?” Did he want her to hold him? “I have to drive, sweetie,” she explained. “It wouldn’t be safe. Soon as we get home, I’ll cuddle you again, I promise.”
At the sound of her voice, the dog quieted and inched to the edge of the small cage to sniff the air near her. His spindly little hind legs quivered and he continued to look sad, but trusting.
“Awww...” He was just so adorable. Big tears filled her eyes. She had made the right decision. Sticking one finger through the carrier, Regina rubbed behind his ear. “You’re as soft as a baby bunny, did you know that?”
He cocked his head, listening to her, his ears still down in a woebegone display but he made no sounds of dismay.
“What should I name you?”
The ears came up. Regina marveled at his many expressions.
“How about...Elvis?” His ears pricked, then flattened again and he gave her a sideways look. “No? Then maybe Doe? You do look like a little deer, you know. Hmm. That doesn’t appeal to you either? Something more manly then. I know. Butch. Or Butchie when you’re being so adorable.”
Soothed by her banter, he gave an excited yap of agreement and Regina nodded. “Butch it is.”
For the rest of the ride home, Regina alternated her attention between her driving and the dog. She constantly scanned the road and surrounding area, still spooked from the time someone tried to run her off the berm. To calm herself and the dog, she spoke to him, being sure to use his name as the breeder suggested, so he could get used to it.
By the time they pulled into her apartment complex, he was looking around with interest, animated anytime she spoke to him. He continued to shake though.
People were coming and going, keeping the parking lot alive with a safe, surrounding crowd. Feeling secure again, she carried Butch, along with his paraphernalia, into her apartment. She’d bought bowls, food, chew sticks, a toothbrush, leash, collar and a cozy fleece-lined bed. She set Butch down first, watched him cower there on the floor, and decided he needed some encouragement.
Her apartment was small, only one bedroom, a bath, kitchenette and living area. “I’ll be right back, Butch.” She went to the kitchen to unload all the items, then came back for him. She found him sprinkling her couch.
“Oh, now that’s just not right, Butch.”
He slunk toward her, his head down in apology.
Regina’s heart melted. “Honey, it’s okay.” She cuddled him close, got a tentative lick on her cheek. He was the most precious perfect dog, she decided, and carried him into the kitchen since that was where he’d spend most of his time. With a kiss to the top of his round head, she put him in his bed, then went back to clean her couch. When she returned to the kitchen, she found three more wet spots. Butch looked so very contrite, she couldn’t hold it against him. She understood that he was nervous and needed reassurance. Instead of chastising him, she hugged and petted him some more, trying to let him know he was safe and secure and well loved.
By the time she had dinner going and Riley was due to arrive, Butch had relaxed enough to play a little. He followed Regina everywhere she went, sometimes bounding here or there, sometimes turning excited circles. Charmed, Regina had to keep stopping to pick him up, kiss him and hug him.
Because she was on the second floor, she put a litter box on her small balcony for him to use and in no time he got the hang of going to the glass patio door to scratch. She used a short leash that kept him from reaching the edge of the balcony so he couldn’t accidentally fall off and get hurt. He did his business like a trooper and came back in.
Of course, he marked his territory everywhere inside the apartment, too. Regina wasn’t yet sure if he was uncertain of his boundaries, stubborn or just not very bright. She hoped the first, because the second and third didn’t bode well for her peace of mind.
The chicken was done, the potatoes already mashed, when the knock sounded on her door. She recognized Riley’s knock right off. Decisive, firm, just like the man himself.
Though she hated to admit it, she felt that familiar leap of her heart whenever he was near. They’d known each other three weeks now, and so far Riley had been attentive, courteous and understanding.
More important than that, he believed her somewhat wild stories about stalkers and threats when no one else would. Of course, Regina thought his belief just might be attributed to boredom. Riley used to be SWAT, for heaven’s sake. He was used to excitement and danger.
In Chester, the most excitement he got was photographing old man Tilburn’s house because the neighborhood rascals had toilet-papered it once again. For a man like Riley, a man of his skills and background, that had to add up to a lot of frustration. Even chasing Regina’s ghosts had to be better than that.
But she wouldn’t complain. Regardless of what motivated him, she needed his help, so she’d take what she could get.
She expected the thrill that skated through her when she started to open the door.
What she didn’t anticipate was Butch going into a complete hostile frenzy. He transformed from tiny shivering dog into Tasmanian devil right before her eyes.
Riley called out, “Regina? It’s me. Open up.”
“Just a second.” She picked up Butch, but holding the snarling, rigid, four-pound mass of meanness was nearly impossible. Outrage stiffened every muscle in his lean little body and he fought her to be free—so he could attack her visitor.
What a courageous dog!
Using one hand, Regina turned the locks on the door and then struggled to maintain her hold on Butch while Riley stepped inside. The dog broke free. Regina almost dropped him but managed to get him to the floor, head first.
He rolled, landed on his feet and like a shot, went after Riley.
Riley stood there, brows high, expression arrested, while Butch tried to tear his pant leg off. “What the hell? Is that a rabid squirrel?”
Indignant, Regina closed the door and crossed her arms. “Of course not. It’s my dog, Butch.”
“That’s a dog?” Incredulity rang in his voice. “Are you sure?” His head tilted down at the wriggling fury hanging from his leg. “How can you tell?”
Offended on Butch’s behalf, Regina huffed. She pulled the dog free and went about soothing him. “Shh. Butchie, it’s okay. He’s allowed in. Such a good dog. So brave.”
Riley looked like he might puke. “That is a dog. What the hell is wrong with it?”
Regina sat on the couch. “Nothing. He’s perfect.”
“He can’t weigh more than four pounds.”
“He’s four exactly.” She rubbed Butch’s belly and he rolled to his back, his skinny legs falling open, his eyes half-closed.
Riley pulled back. “Good God.”
Regina didn’t take him to task for that comment. After all, Butch was showing his equipment with no evidence of modesty whatsoever. She cleared her throat. “The breeder said I should have him neutered.”
“He’ll only weigh three pounds if you do.” Grinning at his own joke, Riley took the seat beside her and reached out to pet the dog. Butch went berserk again, his doggy lips pulled back tight, rippling with menace, the whites of his eyes showing. One second he looked so innocent and sweet and the next he appeared like a vicious gnat.
“He needs time to get used to you,” Regina explained in a rush, and hoped that was true. If Butch continued to act so contrary, what would she do?
In his usual calm manner, Riley surveyed Butch. “What kind of dog is it?”
“He’s a pure bred Chihuahua. His beautiful coloring is very unique.” She certainly thought him beautiful. “Red with black brindling.”
Riley only nodded. “How much bigger will he get?”
“Oh, he’s full-grown.” She rubbed Butch’s ears and watched his bulgy eyes narrow in bliss. “Isn’t he just precious?”
“No.” Riley frowned at her. “Please tell me this isn’t your idea of a guard dog.”
“But he’s perfect,” she said by way of answer. “You saw how he attacked you.”
“And you saw how I held real still so I wouldn’t accidentally hurt him.”
She had noticed that. Riley was always so cautious with people, so careful. She knew a lot of that had to do with his training and his ability. It would be so easy for him to hurt someone, that he naturally tempered himself in almost all situations. Others might not be aware of his restraint, but Regina had seen it in his intense blue eyes, and she’d felt it during her lessons.
She’d also noticed that he hadn’t been startled by Butch’s attack. Most people would have jumped, maybe even screeched.
Not Riley. She couldn’t imagine anything unsettling Riley enough to wring a screech out of him. With unparalleled calm, he’d taken in the situation and then reacted, without haste, careful not to hurt Butch.
Such an incredible guy.
Nodding, she said, “I did notice. Thank you.”
Lounging back in his seat, Riley put one arm along the couch back, almost touching her shoulder. Without leaving Regina’s lap, Butch slanted a mean gaze his way, his rumbling growls a warning. Riley continued to watch the dog while speaking to Regina. “When do we eat? It smells good.”
Flustered by the compliment, she came to her feet, holding Butch like an infant—which he seemed to enjoy. “It’s ready now. We have to eat in the kitchen. I don’t have a dining room. Once I get moved in I’ll have a dining room, and we can use it then. I mean, if you’re ever over for dinner at my new house....” Turning her back on Riley and rolling her eyes at her own rambling nonsense, she rushed into the kitchen. Hostesses should not ramble. They should feed their guests.
Riley followed. “Regina?”
“Hmm?” She turned after setting Butch in his bed. He came right back out of it, still watching Riley, inching closer for a sniff. Now that Regina no longer held him, he was jumpy enough to lurch back a step each time Riley moved.
“We’ll be having plenty of dinners together.”
The sneaky way the dog advanced distracted her. “We will?”
Butch was at Riley’s foot now, his sniffing more purposeful. Knowing what Butch probably intended, Regina scrambled to find a chew stick. In no way did she want Butch to mark Riley. He was not part of the permanent territory and unlikely to become so.
Riley crouched down and held out a hand to Butch. The dog gave his fingers a thorough inspection, donned an angelic expression complete with big innocent eyes and a small doggy smile, and even allowed Riley to rub under his chin. Teasing, Riley said, “You sure he wasn’t bred with a rat?”
Regina, too, bent down to hand Butch the rawhide chew. The second she got near, Butch did an about-face. He snapped at Riley in warning, squirmed up close to Regina and accepted the chew.
“Contrary dog,” Riley commented while standing up straight again.
Butch retreated to his bed to work over the chew. “He’s getting used to you already.”
Riley caught her hand and pulled her upright in front of him. Her heart pounded when his strong, warm fingers laced with hers, palm to palm.
“What about you, Red? You getting used to me, too?”
Oh boy, there was a load of innuendo in the way Riley said that. And truthfully, she was so used to him that when he wasn’t around, she missed him. Dumb. Regina Foxworth did not allow herself fanciful infatuations. She thought to tell him that yes, she was used to him and why shouldn’t she be? He was no different from any other man. But with his callused fingers holding hers, words stuck in her throat. She barely managed a shrug.
With his gaze holding her captive, his hand opened, slid slowly up her arm, over her shoulder and the side of her neck, along her jaw until his fingers curled around the back of her neck. Where he’d touched, gooseflesh sprang up and she trembled.
Softly, Riley whispered, “Wrong answer.”
Her startled gasp emerged just as he urged her to her tiptoes. “Riley?”
“You need to accept a few things, Red.”
She felt spellbound, uncertain. Anxious. But if she hesitated much longer, her chicken would burn and then she’d make a bad impression. She forced herself to say “Like?”
“Like this.” He bent and kissed her.