Page 30 of Surly Sheriff
Rae had stared at the exuberant woman with widened eyes.
Much like she was staring at Beau now.What had he said?Ah yes, was she sure about taking Kismet?
Her breath hitched again. She was opening herself to a world of heartache. “Yeah,” she said, exhaling.
“Well, then,” he said, falling in step beside her. “Let’s go spring our boy free.”
Our boy.
That sounded so … right.
Rae couldn’t believe the difference in Kismet when Tony Hurley led the dog into the reception room. His ribs still protruded something awful, but his pale coat gleamed a richcream, and his eyes shone with enthusiasm. Kismet scampered to Beau, his tail wagging so hard it shook his entire body. Kneeling, the man accepted the enthusiastic licks across his face and neck without protest until he issued a firm command to sit. Much to Rae’s surprise, the dog obeyed, and Beau secured the new neon blue harness to the quivering body.
Medication and care instructions in hand, they walked back out into the sunshine. Rae looked at the truck bed and laughed again. It contained amoundof stuff Beau had purchased earlier while she had shopped for essential groceries. “You sure there’s nothing more Kismet needs?”
Beau gave her a sheepish look. “Guess I went a bit overboard?”
Rae laughed. “Maybe just a smidge,” she said, lifting her hand and showing a narrow gap between thumb and forefinger.
His expression sobered and the glow in his eyes darkened. He lifted his free hand and cupped the back of her neck. “You are so beautiful, Rae,” he whispered, and lowered his head. Tunneling his fingers into her hair, he nudged her closer and their lips met. It was a chaste, closed-mouth kiss, and much like the one earlier in the kitchen, over far too soon.
But the stormy look in his eyes when he straightened … she felt the promise of more to come right down to her core.
Visions of her and Beau — both naked, of course — writhing about on the bed in her new accommodation while he made good on his promise to kiss every inch of her body filled her mind.
Kismet bumped against their knees.
Beau stepped back, his Adam’s apple bopping as he swallowed. Without a word, they continued to Esmeralda, Kismet pulling on the leash.
“He knows which car,” Rae commented, trying to get her mind out of the gutter it had sunk into.
“Smart dog,” Beau replied, guiding the dog onto the back seat. He snapped the harness to the seat belt. “All set.”
She rounded the vehicle and slipped in behind the steering wheel.
He pushed the passenger seat upright and closed the door, slapping his palm on the rim. “Right behind you.” He gave her a sharp chin lift before heeling about.
She followed his movements back to the truck, loving the way the denim hugged his firm backside.
Kismet whimpered, having turned to watch Beau’s retreat.
“It’s okay, boy,” Rae soothed, smoothing her hand over the dog’s neck. “He’s following us to your new home.”
Kismet swung back and gave her a lick across the back of her hand followed by a sharp bark.
Rae chuckled. “Okay, then, let’s get moving.”
The dog soon forgot his upset about the forced separation from his rescuer on discovering the joy of riding in a convertible. Eyes closed, tongue hanging from his open mouth, the hound basked in the glorious sunshine, a picture of canine happiness.
Her gaze shifted in the rearview mirror from the dog to the truck trailing her and she focused on the man behind the steering wheel.
He was the reason for Kismet’s new-found contentment.
And hers.
Oh, Rae, what have you done?
*
