Page 56 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
Lacey paddled toward her.
“It was on sale!” He sounded defensive. As he should.
Kateri started to laugh.
Then he stood.
She froze.
Water ran off his hair and face in rivulets that slid under his collar and down his chest. She knew because his blue denim shirt was plastered to his chest and… muscles. In detail. His jeans sagged low on his hips. Really low. The kind of low that if she gave them a tug, she would see London and France, and probably all of the Iberian Peninsula.
This could not be good for her heart.
Too late she realized he was headed right for her. “No. Don’t! You’re—”
Gently he wrapped her in his arms, pulled her close and up onto her toes, and kissed her.
The cold water soaked through her uniform, opening the way to the blistering heat of his body. His mouth was wet and warm and absolutely intent… on her. He absorbed her. He consumed her. He… wanted her. Heat and cold. Forest and stream. The great, dark depths of the ocean rising up to envelop—
Lacey barked. Furiously. Imperiously.
Stag pulled away, looked down at the little dog at their feet and laughed. Taking the Barbie towel out of Kateri’s hands, he leaned down and dried Lacey from head to toe, picked her up and cradled her. And slid his arm around Kateri’s waist.
Stretching and reaching, Lacey licked at their chins.
Between Stag and Kateri, passion simmered beneath the surface.
At the same time, they shared an affection for the dog who adored them so.
For Kateri, this felt like family, close and tight. Support… for one moment, she allowed her head to rest on Stag’s shoulder.
His big hand came up and pressed her into him.
They both straightened.
“Come on. I’ll walk you to your car.” Still holding the dog, Stag steered Kateri with his hand on her back. “When do you go see the doctor again?”
The switch of conversation startled Kateri out of her pleasant reverie. “What? The doctor?”
“About your ribs.”
“Oh.” She had winced when he embraced her; she had hoped he didn’t notice. “I’m supposed to stop in when I visit Rainbow.”
He stopped by her car, put Lacey into the passenger seat and strapped her into her doggie seat belt. “So tonight?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go with you.”
It was on the tip of Kateri’s tongue to tell him not to bother. But… no way around it, it was going to be a long day. She was tired and sore and grief-stricken about Rainbow. So she said, “Thank you.”
Taking her face between his hands, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Good girl!”
Kateri muttered, “Woof.”
He gave Lacey one last pet and strode away. Strode. Not walked. Not sauntered. Strode. Like Clint Eastwood on steroids.
“Whew.” Climbing in the car, Kateri said to Lacey, “So he heard what I said at the Gem Lounge and he didn’t get pissy or run away. Point for him.”
