Tailspin

“There, you see? Butch isn’t as…hardy as Tish. He’s freezing and he wants to visit. I think he’s even a little enamoured with Tish.”

Sadie’s chin went up. “Obviously he doesn’t think she’s ugly.”

Oops. Had that remark he’d made about Tish insulted Sadie somehow? He hadn’t lied. She was bald and fat. Anyone could see that. Still, given how Sadie doted on the dog, he should probably apologize if he ever hoped to make headway with her. “I didn’t mean—”

Sadie gave him an evil look. “I think she’s beautiful. She just needs some love and nourishment and then her fur will come back in and she’ll be a beauty queen, you’ll see.”

Buck watched her loving the homely little critter, and knew that if anyone could make it happen, he’d put his money on Sadie. “You know what? I believe you.”

He turned and started toward her door, but after a few steps, he realized Sadie wasn’t following. He looked over his shoulder. She was staring at his butt. It was nice to be appreciated, but hey, the cold was starting to settle into his bones.

“Your fault,” Buck accused, knowing his seat was wet, that the material was again clinging. “I’ve only had these on ten minutes, and now I’ll have to change again.”

Sadie stared at the boxers, an undisguised look of curiosity on her face.

“I sleep naked. I just put the boxers on to let Butch out.”

“Oh.” She blinked several times.

Knowing she didn’t, but in the mood to tease, Buck asked in his most innocent tone, “Don’t you?”

“What?”

She did have a problem concentrating. “Sleep in the nude.”

She took a step back. “No!”

“Why not?” When she floundered for an explanation, Buck asked, “Get cold at night?”

She jumped on that. “Yes. I do.”

He turned his back on her again, saying, “You need someone to sleep with. Sharing body heat is the best way to stay toasty.” He heard her gasp, but luckily, she couldn’t see his grin. Yep, things were progressing nicely this morning. “C’mon Sadie. Get a move on before I catch pneumonia.”

“Right.” Sounding breathless, Sadie scrambled to catch up. Her gown billowed out behind her, and at the last second, she passed him to reach the door first. With her bottom lip held in her teeth, she stood back so he could go in.

Ready and willing to take every advantage, Buck made a point of brushing against her as he entered. He heard her indrawn breath, felt the stillness that settled over her, and then she moved away.

She flapped a hand toward the tiny kitchenette. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll go dress and be right back.”

Buck hated for her to do that. She looked softer and more approachable in her nightgown. If she changed, he just knew she’d pile on the layers and do up all the buttons and start behaving like a spinster again.

But if he suggested she not change, then what? She’d probably throw him outside in his near-naked state.

Sadie was almost out of the room, Tish secure in her arms, when Buck said, “Grab me a big towel or something, too, will ya? I want to get out of these wet drawers.”

She stumbled to a halt, her shoulders rigid, her spine straight. Without turning to face him, she put the little dog down, nodded and fled the room.

Buck stood there smiling, pleased and pondering Sadie’s behavior. She was so easy to read, but also confusing in her different reactions.

Considering how many times he’d caught her at it, she liked looking at him, no two ways about that. But she blushed when she did it.

She hadn’t hesitated to barge into his apartment and then order him out to get her dog. Yet, she’d been reluctant to let him into her place, and she seemed stunned silly whenever he got too close to her.

He’d never seen her date. And he’d be willing to bet she’d never seen a guy in his underwear.

Was she one of those women who only had sex in the dark? Not that he minded the dark on occasion, but generally, he liked to look at a woman as much as touch her. But if she preferred the dark, he’d make do.

There was only one problem. Dumb as it seemed, he kept wondering if she’d had sex at all. In so many ways, Sadie acted just like…a virgin.

But that didn’t seem likely. Women these days were experimenting before they finished high school, and definitely by college. Sadie had to be—what?—midtwenties, probably twenty-four or twenty-five. The odds of her being that innocent were pretty damn slim.

But once Buck thought it, he couldn’t get the idea out of his head. It teased him, sending a variety of possible scenarios flitting through his male brain, making him wonder about things he probably shouldn’t wonder about.

Like just how much experience she might have. Kisses, surely. Everyone kissed. Even prim, spinsterish women.

But had she ever gotten a really good kiss, the killer kind that nearly pushed you over the edge and made common sense not too common?

Had a guy ever touched her breasts? Kissed her nipples? His jaw tightened just thinking about it.

Her breasts were modest, but then, she was a petite woman, so anything larger would have looked overblown on her frame. And seeing her nipples tight against that pale gown had really got to him. Before she’d hidden herself from him, he’d seen them clearly. They were small and tight…and he wanted to taste them.

Would he be the first?

That thought jolted him. Hell, she didn’t even like him. He’d had to coerce her into letting him in her apartment.

And, of course, they had nothing in common. Buck wasn’t even a dog person! But then, that hadn’t stopped Riley from leaving Butch in his care, so did it really matter that Sadie had a lot of dogs coming and going?

He wasn’t a spinster person, either, preferring women who were more like him, outgoing and full of laughter, willing to play. But from the day he’d met her, Sadie Harte had intrigued him. Because of her, there were some pretty vivid fantasies zinging around his brain. Watching her blush and listening to her stammer beat drinking coffee alone any day.

Tish trotted past him, drawing Buck’s attention. He bent down to pet her, but she scampered away in obvious fear.

“It’s okay, baby,” he crooned, holding out his hand for her to sniff. But she cowered in the corner, her ears down, her round eyes watchful. She was truly afraid of him, as if she expected the worst. That bothered Buck. A lot. It sort of reminded him of Sadie.

Unwilling to upset her, Buck slowly straightened and took a step away. It occurred to him that the little dog deserved special attention—just as Sadie did.

Butch struggled to be free, so Buck set him down near Tish. She probably outweighed him by two pounds, not that Butch minded. His eyes were huge, his ears raised on alert, and he definitely had courtship on his mind as he began sniffing Tish from one end to the other.

Truly, love was blind.

At least Tish liked and trusted Butch; her tail wagged in greeting. Like most guys, Butch wasted no time testing the water. Only Tish wasn’t having it. She was anxious to play, but amorous attempts got shot down real quick.

“Typical,” Buck grunted, thinking of how Sadie had ordered him out to get her dog, then tried to refuse him coffee.

Seeing that the dogs would get along fine, Buck decided to look around Sadie’s apartment. It was nice, in a female-cluttered kind of way. Lots of silly knickknacks, lush plants, a few ruffles here and there, like on the white kitchen curtains and the tablecloth on her minuscule dinette table.

On her refrigerator were a variety of photos. No men, no family, just cats and dogs of varying sizes and ages. It devastated him to think of what they had been through. It took a strong woman with a big heart to heal them. It took a special woman.

A woman without much of a social life.

Beside the refrigerator hung a calendar. Buck hesitated, he really did. But there was no sign of Sadie’s return, and the temptation was too great. Because she was so standoffish, this was the best chance he’d likely ever get to know her better.

He walked over to the calendar and read the few notes she’d written in for September. Most of her days were empty, but there were four blocks with writing in them. She had marked an afternoon appointment with a vet, a trip to the dentist, a library book due back and carpet cleaners scheduled.

No dinner dates. No parties. Nothing exciting at all.

He flipped back to look at August and saw much of the same. Then back to July—and he froze.

July second, Sadie had met with a funeral director. Two days later, she’d met a lawyer. In her ladylike script were the words “Settle Mother’s estate.” And two days after that was “Secure death certificate.”

Jesus. Buck swallowed, wondering if her mother’s death had precipitated her moving into his apartment complex. The timing was right. He stared off at nothing in particular, trying to remember how she’d been three months ago, when he’d first met her. Quiet, alone. She’d spent nearly a week moving in, unloading her car each day all by herself. Back and forth she’d go, thin arms laden with cardboard boxes, lamps and small pieces of furniture.

What she couldn’t carry she’d pushed or dragged in. She’d been relentless, tireless. Determined.

Buck had offered her a helping hand, but she’d refused, thanked him and gone back to work. That first day had seemed to set a precedent. No matter what he offered, she always refused.

The dogs came running past Buck’s feet in a blur, ears flattened to their round heads, tiny bodies streamlined. They were a cute distraction. Tish enjoyed Butch’s company, and Butch looked besotted.

Buck narrowed his eyes in thought. He had two weeks’ vacation lined up, and no real plans because it’d all be spent with Butch. If being here made Butch happy, and being with Butch made Tish happy, then surely it’d make Sadie happy, too.

Maybe he could combine things to everyone’s advantage.

He rubbed his hands together as the plan formed. Ms. Sadie Harte wouldn’t be able to deny him any longer.

The best way to her heart was through her dog.

CHAPTER TWO

SADIE RAN THROUGH her morning routine in record-breaking time. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was half-afraid that if she took too long, Buck would leave. That he was in her apartment in the first place was nothing short of a miracle.

With ruthless determination, she brushed the tangles out of her hair and pulled it back into a quick twist. It wasn’t the neatest job she’d ever done, but then she’d never done her hair with a big handsome man waiting for her in his underwear.

Oh, Lord.

Hands shaking, she cleaned her teeth, even gargled for safe measure—not that she expected to be too close to Buck, but… Several times, he’d invaded her personal space.

She stared at herself in the mirror, breathing hard, unseeing. Every single time Buck had gotten near, she’d enjoyed it. It likely meant nothing; he was a big guy and just naturally took up more room than most. But it still thrilled her, even when she knew she had no business being thrilled. Buck was not the kind of man she could start dreaming about.

But he smelled so good. Hot and musky-male. The freshness of the brisk morning air had competed with his scent, creating an intoxicating mix.

She closed her eyes, took a calming breath and quickly washed her face. She never bothered with jewelry or makeup, so less than ten minutes later she was dressed in a crisp pink blouse, a brown skirt with matching cardigan, and her comfortable weekend loafers. She had a bath towel—the largest she owned—draped over one arm.

Still she hesitated. Buck Boswell was just so…much. So much male, so much muscle, so much appeal.

And he was sitting in her kitchen. In his underwear. With his impressive, hairy chest, wide hard shoulders and flat abdomen all on display.

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