Page 16 of Things We Hide from the Light
“No. I wedge myself in drain pipes two or three times a week. It’s in the job description.”
“You’re a funny guy, hotshot.” Lina called over her shoulder as she dropped to her hands and knees in front of the pipe.
I stabbed at the skin between my eyebrows and tried not to pay attention to her provocative position, seeing as how my arousal was on a hair trigger already.
“You’re gonna ruin your clothes,” I warned her, looking up at the blue sky and not down at her as she crawled forward on all fours.
“That’s what laundry and shopping are for,” she said, ducking her head into the opening.
I glared down at my erection, which was digging into my zipper and belt.
“Hi there, sweetheart. How’d you like to come out of there so I can make it all better?”
She was talking—crooning—to the dog. I knew that. But something stupid and desperate inside me responded to her soothing, throaty tone.
“Let me handle this,” I said, mostly to her shapely ass in slate-gray tights.
“What a good boy or girl,” Lina said before popping back out. She had smudges of dirt on her cheek and sleeves. “Got any food in your vehicle, hotshot?”
Why hadn’t I thought of that? “I’ve got some beef jerky in the glove box.”
“Mind sharing your snack with our new friend? I think I can get him or her close enough to grab with something tempting.”
She was something tempting. I’d have belly crawled through frozen mud just to get a better look at her, but that was me, not some half-frozen stray.
I headed back to my SUV, willing the blood to vacate my groin. I found the beef jerky and gathered a few more necessities out of the emergency kit in the back, including a slip leash, dog bowl, and water bottle.
When I returned with my haul, Lina was even farther inside the pipe, lying on her belly, visible only from the waist down. I crouched down next to her and peered inside. My filthy little fur ball had inched closer and was almost within licking or biting distance.
“Be careful,” I warned her. Visions of rabid squirrels assailed me.
“This sweet baby isn’t going to attack me. She’s gonna ruin this very nice shirt when I snuggle her up. But that’ll be worth it. Won’t it, princess?”
Anxiety was building in my chest. I didn’t bother trying to figure out what had triggered it. Everything seemed to these days. “Lina, I’m serious. This is police business. Let me handle this,” I said firmly.
“You didnotjust police business me over a shivering stray.” Her voice echoed eerily.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I’m not going to get hurt, and if I do, I made the choice and we both can deal with it. Besides, you and those broad, hero-like shoulders would never fit in here.”
I should have called the county Animal Control. Skinny Deke would fit just fine.
I couldn’t see clearly, but it looked as if the dog inched a bit closer to sniff delicately at Lina’s outstretched hand.
“Jerky me, Nash,” Lina said. She extended her opposite arm back and wiggled her fingers.
My semisolid dick was still having a hell of a time ignoring the way those leggings hugged her ass. But I managed to rip open the bag of jerky and hand some over.
Lina took it and reached toward the dog. “Here you go, cutie.”
The little, muddy fur ball belly crawled tentatively toward her hand.
Small dogs bit too. Lina wouldn’t be able to block an attack. And then there were things like infections to worry about. Who knew what parasites were growing in this half-frozen muck? What if she got an infection or needed facial reconstructive surgery? All on my watch.
Lina kept on making kissing noises and the dog inched closer as my heart threatened to smash its way through my sternum.
“Look at this. A nice piece of beef jerky. It’s all yours,” she said, waving the jerky temptingly in front of the dog.
