Searching for Someday (Searching For #1)(19)
Author: Jennifer Probst

Her mouth opened, then shut. “This is out of your way. You don’t know where I live.”

“Of course I do. Close to Kinnections in Verily.”

She bristled with indignation. “Stop nosing around in my life, counselor. You shouldn’t know these things.”

He dropped his voice. “I disagree. And I intend to know a hell of a lot more by the end of the evening.”

She shuddered, wrapped her arms around her chest, and turned toward the window. Slade fought a smile.

They drove to her house in sulky silence. He’d done his research, and had no problem navigating the twisty streets of Verily, until he came to the edge of town close to the water. The small bungalow seemed to fit her. Even in the darkness, her home owned a slight quirkiness and strength he associated with her, with its crooked roof, cheerful yellow paint, and postage-stamp yard with a big weeping willow dominating the front.

He didn’t spot another car in the driveway as he eased to the curb, but the porch and living room lights were on. “Here we go. Safe and sound.”

She shot out of the car like a bullet, spilling onto the sidewalk in a tangle of limbs. “Thanks for the ride, talk tomorrow.” She hurried up the front walk without a glance back.

Slade grinned. Shut the door, locked the car, and strode leisurely up the brick pathway.

She jerked her head around. “What are you doing?”

“Seeing you to the door. Can I use the bathroom, please?”

She narrowed her gaze. He wondered what those ocean-blue eyes would look like during orgasm. “There’s a gas station around the corner.”

He lifted a brow. “You’re telling me I’m not allowed to come into your house to use the bathroom after driving you home? I’m also thirsty.”

“They sell bottled water.”

“Kate.” Her name shot from his lips like a caress, though he intended it to sound like a warning. “Don’t make me beg.”

Her fingers clutched around the key and a vicious curse sailed past his ears. “Fine. Bathroom, water, and then you need to leave. I’m exhausted.”

“Thank you.”

She pushed the door open and he walked inside.

Slade prepared to meet an irritated man with a bad temper and a thousand questions. His adrenaline spiked, ready for a confrontation. Ready for some solid answers on the woman who was beginning to wreak havoc with his sanity. But no one greeted them. At least, no one human.

He caught sight of a blur of fur barreling forward and a joyous bark. Kate dropped to her knees, lifted out her hands, and caught the creature within her embrace. She nuzzled his ears, cooed in doggy sounds, and finally laid her forehead against the dog’s as if they shared a secret, silent mental code.

Robert.

Son of a bitch.

The initial anger quickly gave way to relief. There was no one else waiting on the sidelines for her. The final obstacle melted away and left him with one conclusion that would not be denied.

Slade intended to claim her.

He studied the canine-human embrace and noticed Robert’s back legs were lifeless. His launch toward his owner was completed on his belly, and his rear sagged to the ground. Half pit bull, half some weird mix. Brown, spotted, with a broken ear, homely face, and an assortment of wicked scars, including a bald patch of fur right on his chest. The exposed skin still looked raw, though he bet it had healed as well as possible. Cage fight? Car? Dog battle? The possibilities were endless.

He always had an inclination toward dogs but never had the time to pursue the interest. This one had to be a hell of a lot of work, especially for a single business owner. He pegged her for a classic, low-maintenance Lab to go running with and not a dog so obviously needy.

A strange emotion tightened his chest as he watched the raw love on her face. She was always so guarded around him. He ached to be the man who she looked at like that. Now where the hell did that thought come from?

“I’m sorry, baby,” she whispered into his ear. “Are you going to be able to pee? Or am I too late? Mommy did a bad thing and stayed way too long. I should’ve had Shelly check in on you.” With gentle, expert motions, she ran her hands down his flank, belly, and probed his bladder. “We have a shot, so let’s try. Wanna go out?”

Robert barked once.

“Okay, here we go.” She took out a contraption that looked like a cart, and quickly attached the straps to his body. Robert waited with dignity, staring up at him with the assessing gaze Slade had expected her live-in boyfriend to exude.

Kate rose to her feet and gave him a hard look. “Slade, this is Robert. I need to take him out. The bathroom is down the hall to your right.”

In amazement, he watched the dog glide on his cart toward the yard, the wheels spinning madly where his back legs should have been. He had no idea those things had even existed, let alone see a dog use one.

Slade quickly used the bathroom, then stepped out onto the front porch and joined them. Robert seemed able to complete his business under the tree, then broke into a canter, running round and round the tree trunk. Kate’s laughter echoed in the chilly wind.

“What happened to him?” he asked.

Her shoulders stiffened. “I found him half dead on the side of the road. Thrown from a car. Vet thinks he managed to crawl out of the ditch and then was hit a second time, crushing his back legs.”

“And you saved him?”

She lifted her face up. The moonlight soaked her skin, illuminating it to the sheen of a pearl. Those pale pink lips pursed in the timeless symbol of a kiss. “No. We saved each other. I just helped get him the medical care he needed to stay alive. He deserved someone to believe in him.”

He studied the stubborn tilt to her chin and wondered about her secrets. Why would a vibrant, beautiful woman such as her need saving? Something was locked up there he wanted to unbox. The lawyer in him screamed with the challenge of delving deeper. “Why? He wasn’t your dog in the first place, right? Didn’t the vet suggest you put him to sleep with those types of extensive injuries?”

The barriers dissipated as red-hot anger flared to life. She leaned in, her white-gold hair a hellish halo around her head. “Putting him down would have been the easy road, right? No medical bills, no responsibility, and no mess. Maybe people deserve more than what’s easy. Maybe there are too many imperfect people out there, with disabilities and problems no normal, sane individual would ever want to take on.” Her eyes glittered, and her pale skin flushed. Her voice trembled with the depth of her emotions. “But maybe we’d be worth a chance. When I looked into Robert’s eyes, I saw more than a dog with a disability. I saw a beautiful spirit who needed someone to give him a chance, who’d been heartbroken so many times in the past but had enough courage to take a shot on me. He was willing to try one last time and trust me.” She blinked as if fighting tears. “I didn’t care about the money or the time or the sacrifice. Because what I got back was so much more. You don’t need to be thrown away if you’re partially broken. Robert made me believe again, and I don’t care how stupid you think I sound.”

Slade locked down on every impulse burning through his body to yank her into his arms and kiss her. To once again feel the burn of her skin, the softness of her mouth, the muskiness of her scent. He was humbled at the gift she’d given without any knowledge. Another layer shifted, settled, and revealed a piece of her inner core. This woman fought for what, and who, she believed in. She was a fierce mama bear who protected her dog and believed in the goodness of a soul. Her magnificence floored him, but she needed time to process what she’d admitted. And he needed time to regain his balance.

“I don’t think you’re stupid,” he said softly. “I think Robert’s gift in this life was meeting you. I think he’s a lucky son of a bitch.”

A flicker of surprise lit her eyes. She paused for a moment before speaking. “He is technically a son of a bitch, isn’t he?”

“Funny.” He tugged at a stray lock of her hair. “Can I have that bottle of water now or are you kicking me to the curb?”

Her lip quirked. “One bottle.”

The wheels whirred as Robert followed them inside. Kate removed the cart, freshened his water, and turned. “Bacon or peanut butter?”

Robert barked twice.

“Ah, a change-up tonight. Good choice.” She plucked a peanut butter dog treat out of the bag and gave it to him. With a gentle motion like he took it from a baby, Robert closed his teeth around the treat and dragged his legs behind him to settle on the woven mat.

“Did he really understand you?” Slade asked.

“Sure. I ask him questions all the time. We have a code; one or two barks will be his choice.” She opened the refrigerator and gave Slade a chilled bottle of Poland Spring. “It’s a long drive back.”

He took a long swallow, wiped his mouth, and grinned. “I know. Mind if I sit for a few? I’m tired. Wouldn’t want to endanger my life and fall asleep at the wheel.”

She snorted. “You’re good. Maybe if you use that famous charm on Hannah you’ll end up in a serious relationship. In love. Happy.”

“Maybe. You called me hot in the car. Now you admit I have charm, huh?”

She blew out a breath, grabbed a bottle of water for herself, and headed into the living room. Slade followed and noted the character inside the house matched the outside. It was small, but held a cheery yellow love seat, worn recliner, massive entertainment center, and braided throw rugs over cherry hardwood floors. The curtains were delicate lace, and colorful artwork adorned the walls. One bookcase took up an entire wall from ceiling to floor. Piles of books fought for space with framed photos, strange ceramic vases, and an assortment of tiny full-bellied Buddhas.

Slade tried to be casual as he wandered toward the bookcase, intrigued by her reading habits. Damn, her DVD collection was respectable, with a bunch of comedies slanted more toward males, and some great HBO history series. “I like your place.”

She remained standing at a respectable distance. “Thanks. It suits us. Why are you still here?”

He cocked his head. “Why are you always trying to get rid of me?”

Kate seemed to choose her words carefully, “Because I don’t want you to get any ideas. About us. My job is to find you a satisfying, fulfilling relationship with someone else. I don’t want you to lose sight of the goal.”

He took a step forward. “What if I told you I have my goal clearly in sight?”

The connection between them surged like a live current. The air thickened, and she seemed to struggle for breath. She threw her hands out like she attempted to ward off a stalker. “N-n-no. This is one big test you set me up to fail. You want to expose me as a con artist, remember? You intend to save your sister from my evil clutches. Fine. But you have to prove my intentions, and so far you’ve been quite lousy at living up to your part of the contract. Seducing me is only a way for you to show Kinnections doesn’t work. You’re a master mind gamer and I’m not about to be your next victim.”

He should have been mad by the insults. Instead, he had the craziest urge to laugh and lunge at her. Slade paused in his approach to give her a moment to settle. “Not giving yourself much credit, are you? What if I told you I don’t want to keep ignoring the attraction between us? Why set me up with another woman when we may be good for each other?”