his feet. I briefly wonder if they had a previous relationship in jail. The guy bends and unclips the lead from her collar. “She doesn’t need this,” he says and steps back, Marigold’s bulging eyes following him but she doesn’t leave her spot. I’m floored.
“How did you do that?”
He straightens up, and cracks his knuckles just by flexing his fingers. “I’m always in charge.” The innuendo isn’t lost on me and I immediately think of Reed. A sense of defeat sweeps over me. Chimes from the front door rattle, and I’m instantly relieved knowing I’m not the only customer in here.
“ W ell , if you could just show me how to be in charge too, I’d greatly appreciate it. My friend Reed gave her to me, and I made a promise I intend to keep and take care of her.”
His eyes bore into me and I tangle my hair around my finger. There’s a stretch of silence, and his head tilts as if I’m a mystery.
“Bacon.” The baritone of voice swirls around me and my nipples instantly harden. A swoosh of air escapes me as I turn to face him and his gloriously hard body. Shirtless and covered in a thin sheen of sweat he looks like a sex god. My not so distant memory of him face down between my thighs makes my insides tingle and as if he could read my mind the corner of his mouth slants up. I need to stop this.
“What do you mean, bacon?” I ask in my weak attempt of distraction. I really want to ask what the hell he is doing here but my rational side blocks my heart. I’m floating on an emotional precipice, my body already physically reacting to his presence as my voice of reason desperately convinces me not to have a mental breakdown in a room full of men. My common sense wins, deciding not to hash out the reasons why he left me in front of a live audience. It doesn’t matter anyway, reinforced a lesson in protecting my heart I won’t soon forget.
Reed walks towards me, each step echoed by his heavy boots and I’m immediately eclipsed by his broad frame. Jaw clenching side to side, he doesn’t answer my question. He circles me, close enough so I can feel his brooding presence but slightly out of reach. I sense his gaze raking over my body and pray he doesn’t notice my clenched thighs. He appears in front of me, his hot breath against my ear as he whispers, “The scent of your pussy is driving me insane.” And then, to prove his point, I watch in disbelief as his eyes close and his chest slowly rises, the outline of his ribs accentuated by the exaggerated breath.
He cocks his brow as I pull my arm back to slap him. I stop mid way, my anger turning to humiliation. I’m so confused, he wants me, he doesn’t want me. If he can’t make the decision then I will make it for him, even though it shreds my heart.
A cough behind me brings me back to reality and I’m reminded of the other men in the room. Reed nods his chin in the direction of Marigold.
“She’s following commands because Lucas has bacon in his pocket.”
“Wait, you know these guys?” Now that he has me distracted I look over to the guys who work here. Reed glances to them and back to me and I wonder what kind of communication just occurred. “Yeah, we all work together.”
“Oh, I had no idea you’re a dog trainer.” This revelation shocks me. It’s not the career field I would have pinned him for.
He raises an eyebrow to me as if I just offended him. “Do you have a problem with that pretty girl?”
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath and exhale deeply before responding. “Well, no. It’s just not what I thought you did. I thought maybe you were in construction or something like that. And you no longer have the right to call me pretty girl or make comments about my pussy.”
There’s a gaggle of laughter behind me and someone is choking. But I don’t care. No way do I want Reed Callahan to think I’m pining for him. There’s a moment of quiet between us, and I feel like it’s some sort of test but I’m not sure
Shawn Underhill, Nick Adams
Madison Layle & Anna Leigh Keaton