“I didn't mean to jump you.”
Cimarron took that moment to nudge himself between them. The dog dropped to his haunches beside Dayne, then leaned into her thigh. She immediately scratched his ears.
Kason noted the naturalness between Cim and the tomboy. The Doberman sensed something about her that Kason had yet to put his finger on. The earlier cell phone call had brought out the fight in her. She'd then gone on to challenge him for the trailer, win or lose.
In the end, he might have lost more than she. Her scent, taste, and feel soon followed him to bed. A bed where he slept naked and alone.
Cimarron had settled on the foot of the mattress, only to desert Kason within minutes for the guest room. He'd heard the springs on Dayne's bed squeak as she'd edged over and welcomed his Dobie. Cim was one lucky dog.
Four
Kason Rhodes kept company with the dawn. He'd always been a fan of mornings and rose with the first fingers of light.
He stretched out on his back, jammed a pillow beneath his head, and fought the full press of his erection. Damn, he was stiff.
Dayne had infiltrated his dreams. She'd aroused him in a fantasy of foreplay and sweet panting. Yet there'd been no satisfaction. Boners sucked. His flying solo fell flat.
He hadn't taken himself in hand since he was sixteen.
There wasn't enough soap on the planet to satisfy him this morning.
Today, Dayne will pack and depart.
The thought jacked him from bed. He had every reason to want her gone, yet his gut tightened at the thought of her eviction. He hated to be the bad guy, even with good reason.
Kassie. He'd never imagined the childhood name would cause such a knee-jerk reaction. The previous evening he'd gone all animal on her. He'd shut her mouth with a punishing kiss, then proceeded to stroke her wet.
Lady had gone slick for him.
He'd had no business touching her.
He felt like an absolute ass.
He didn't seek forgiveness often.
Yet a second apology might set things right.
He'd shower and shave, and afterward they'd talk.
Female laughter captured the dawn, just outside his window. He glanced out.
He located Dayne just beyond his Hummer. A red Woodstock '69 T-shirt hung loosely off her shoulders and black sweatpants with Key West across her bottom draped her hips. She stood barefoot in the dewy grass, one arm raised, ready to throw a tennis ball for Cimarron to chase. Cim was so excited, he quivered.
Tomboy had a good arm. She powered the ball a fair distance, giving the Dobie a solid run. The dog retrieved, returned, and dropped the ball in her palm, ready to go again. Twenty tosses, and they changed games.
Hide-and-seek came next. Dayne made Cim sit and stay while she hid behind the Hummer. She whistled, and Cim charged to find her. Once spotted, Dayne took off. The Dobie loped at her heels. Cimarron lived to give chase.
In his exuberance, Cim sideswiped her hip, knocked her down. Dayne landed flat on her back in the grass. Cim dropped down beside her.
She was so out of breath, her laughter came choked and thin. The Dobie licked her face, and she wheezed even harder.
Hand over her heart, she slowly calmed. She shaded her eyes against the sun and looked at the crystal blue sky. She inhaled deeply—fresh air and the scent of the woods—and sighed with contentment.
“Eat.” She knew the way to Cimarron's heart. Both woman and dog rose and returned to the trailer.
The scent and sizzle of hamburger made Kason's stomach growl. Lady was cooking breakfast.
He drew on a pair of gray athletic shorts, rounded the bed, and stepped into the hallway. The sight of Dayne feeding Cimarron two enormous hamburger patties on a paper plate brought him up short. The Dobie looked at her adoringly before devouring his breakfast.
She was spoiling his dog.
Dayne sensed Kason before he could move. Her gaze flicked up, then down, taking him in. Familiarity darkened her watercolor blue eyes. She'd known his kiss, his touch, the press of his erection. There was no moving beyond her stare.
Her look dared him to face her after the previous evening. He met her challenge. His shoulders squared and his abs flexed.
His hands fisted.
He widened his stance.
Heat circled his groin. His dick strained to impress. He was nearly the size of her porno vibrator. She blushed, and was the first to look away.
His neck burned.
There was no reason to stand in the hall and point at her. He sidestepped into the bathroom, cracked the door, called out. “You're up early.”
“I wanted to shower before you got up.” Her words came around the wooden frame.
Damn. “Any hot water left?”
“It's a very small tank.”
The tank heated water for one shower, not two.
The icy cold tamped him down. After skrinking and shivering, he shot from the shower. He toweled off and dressed.
Back in the kitchen, Kason found Dayne bent low before the cupboards, itemizing her groceries. Her T-shirt climbed her spine, revealing a symmetrical display of soft, smooth skin and a nicely curved ass.
Cimarron had become Dayne's shadow. She nearly tripped over him as she collected several #10 cans, then staggered toward the front door. She stacked the items beneath the living room window.
Twisting toward him, she said, “I'm clearing the shelves so you can bring in your own food.”
He hadn't planned to shop today. “What you don't want to haul, I'll buy,” he offered.
She circled back to the kitchen. “I'm getting boxes from Frank's Warehouse today. I'll load up, see what's leftover, and cut you a good deal.”
He moved to the coffeemaker, poured himself a cup. “How do you plan to get the boxes back to the trailer?” he asked with his first sip.
“I'll make several trips on my bike.”
“That could take days.”
“I could get a couple of people from work to help me.”
“I don't want strangers in my mobile home.”
“I was a stranger once.”
She was familiar to him now. He had kissed her deeply, stroked her intimately. He'd almost taken her against the refrigerator. In the aftermath, they'd connected. She'd recognized and understood his pain.
“Where will you go?” His need to know proved stronger than he liked.
“I just might camp on your doorstep.”
“Bad idea.”
She sighed, concentration furrowing her brow. “I plan to buy a newspaper, scan the classifieds, and see if there's a one-bedroom available close by.”