Read Hounded (Going to the Dogs) Online
Authors: Zoe Dawson
But what other way would give her such a huge payout? She knew the easiest way out would be to ask Harper for the money, but she just couldn’t. First, she wanted to do this on her own, and she had worked very hard not to succumb to Harper’s enormous wealth. It simply wasn’t what their relationship was about, although Harper did throw money at a lot of things to make them better.
Just like she had when Brooke was in that terrible situation last fall with Kristen Wright-Davis and her apparent murder. Even though all the evidence had pointed to Brooke, in the end it had all worked out. But Harper’s offer to get Brooke out of the country was heartfelt. Poe was sure about that. Harper never did anything lightly. But Poe didn’t want to take the easy way out.
It wasn’t that Jared wasn’t working hard, but he just didn’t look good or natural in the routine. The other really big problem was the basset. Poe was now convinced there was something wrong with her. The rules of the competition were explicit. Each couple had to have their dogs perform as completely in the routine as the owner. If it was the case, Poe could just use her Jack Russells, it would be better. But Jared didn’t own either of her dogs.
Sweat dripping down his face, and his hair wet, he leaned against the wall, breathing hard. He reached down and grabbed up a hand towel and mopped at this face and hair.
“I look as awkward as a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.”
“You’re improving, slightly.”
“You’re not a very good liar, Poe.”
She sighed heavily and grabbed two bottles of water out of a small fridge and tossed one to him. “Let’s take a break.”
Jared easily caught the water and slid down the wall. Twisting off the top, he took a long swig, tipping his head back. Poe got mesmerized watching his powerful neck and throat muscles work. He’d taste salty right now and masculine, and just the thought of licking him made her a bit dizzy.
When he drained the bottle and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his gaze collided with hers.
Her breath got suddenly trapped in her chest. She looked away and he screwed the cap back on the bottle.
Her nerves jangling, she said, “I think there is something wrong with Daisy. I’d like to do a workup on her if that’s all right with you.”
He nodded. “I agree. She’s way too inactive for a young dog. I hope there’s nothing wrong with her.”
He reached out and ruffled the fur on Daisy’s head. She raised her muzzle off the floor and her tail swished.
“We’ll find out, and we’ll take care of it.”
“Okay, back to work?”
She nodded and stood. “Let’s go through it one more time.”
#
The animal hospital was dark this late on a Sunday. Poe let herself in, with Jared following. As they reached the lobby, the janitor, Mr. Leonard called out. “Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
“Oh, Dr. Madigan. What are you doing here?”
The man eyed her and Jared. He had lost his dog recently and, ever since then he’d been very sad. She couldn’t blame him. Since Poe had been the one to help him decide whether or not they should operate, she had a pretty good idea just how much he was suffering.
“We won’t be long,” she said giving him a smile, but he turned away, grumbling about doctors who thought they could do anything they wanted.
“What’s with that guy?”
“His dog Scooter wasn’t going to make it without an operation. He had advanced cancer. But it proved too much for him since he was elderly, and he died on the table. It still breaks my heart how hard Mr. Leonard took it when I told him. He hasn’t been the same.”
Jared looked apprehensive as he glanced down at Daisy.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll be able to help Daisy.” She clasped his hand and the jolt sent her blood zinging through her veins. He felt it, too, but in his eyes was gratitude.
“You trust me, right?”
“Yes, Poe. I would trust you with my life.”
She felt herself start to blush, and in the bright interior of the lobby, she turned away so he couldn’t see her. Her heart melted even more for this big hunk of a man and his concern for his dog.
“Daisy is lucky to have you, Jared. It’s clear that she’s very attached to you.”
Jared looked down at the dog again and said, “Really?” There was wonder in his voice.
“Yes, she follows you everywhere now instead of lying on the floor like a lump. She does seem a bit more animated.”
They entered an exam room and Poe clicked on the light. Jared bent down and lifted Daisy onto an exam table. She scrambled a little on the metal, her nails scrabbling.
Jared immediately put his hand on her, steadying her. “It’s okay, girlie. Poe’s real nice. She’s going to check you out.”
The soft tone and that sexy twang in his voice had the opposite effect on Poe. Instead of soothing her it only made her more aware of him, jumbling her up inside until she had to take a deep breath to release the emotion building in her chest.
Poe popped her head out of the room when she heard footsteps. “Mindy. I need your help. Could you take some blood from this basset and do me a general health panel and a CBC?”
“Sure thing, Dr. Madigan.”
The girl stopped dead when she saw Jared, her appreciative stare making Poe snap, “Now, Mindy.”
Jared gave her a surprised look and she smoothed out her features. Geez. She hadn’t ever talked to the staff like that before, but she didn’t like the way Mindy was looking at Jared.
“Okay, if you could hold her, I’ll get some blood for the panel,” Mindy said when she came back into the room. “Oh, she’s so cute. What a pretty girl.” Daisy bayed and Mindy smiled. “Don’t worry sweetie. I’m really good at this. You’ll hardly feel it.”
He wrapped his arms around Daisy and steadied her as Mindy readied the syringe, found a vein and drew some blood. “I’ll be right back.”
“It should take about twenty minutes for the results. In the meantime, I’ll give her an exam.”
“What does a general health panel and CBC tell you?”
“The health panel is a chemistry test to see if there are any abnormalities. The CBC stands for complete blood count, and it shows the number and types of blood cells present in the dog. That test is important when diagnosing illnesses.
Poe listened to Daisy’s heart, and the steady rhythm beat back through the stethoscope with a healthy cadence.
“One of the functions of the CBC test is to evaluate the red blood cells. When the red blood cell count is abnormal, it is indicative of certain problems. In a CBC blood test, the method in which the red blood cell count is determined is called a hematocrit, or packed cell volume. If the hematocrit is low, that means there aren’t enough red blood cells in the body, and that would mean Daisy is anemic. If the count is high, there are too many red blood cells. This is usually the case in dogs who are dehydrated, in shock, have diseases of the lungs, or who are in higher altitudes.
“The test also measures the number of white blood cells present. White blood cells help to defend the body against bacteria, viruses and fungi. If a dog has an elevated white blood cell count, it could mean there is an infection in the body. The test helps me determine what kind of problem is going on in the dog.”
She glanced up. “Why aren’t you taking notes? There’s going to be a test afterwards.”
He chuckled.
“I won’t go into all of the terms. I think I’ve bored you enough.”
“That wasn’t boring. That was really impressive. It’s cool to see you in your vet role.”
“Why because I’m so kooky and lame outside of the animal hospital.”
“No. That’s not what I meant. I think you’re fascinating inside and out.”
She blushed again and this time he saw. She was sure he wasn’t talking about her role as a vet, either.
“You’re really smart, and I never thought I would say this, but you have a sexy brain.”
She giggled.
“And a great laugh.”
“Oh, stop,” she said, pushing at his shoulder, but, of course, he didn’t budge. He was a wall of muscle. Which conjured up the image of what he’d looked like lifting weights. Okay, so at her core she loved the muscles. Most females did. It was a primal survival instinct.
“I’m sure you’d be equally interesting in your security role. What kinds of things do you do?”
He looked away and she got a strange feeling in her stomach.
When he looked back at her, he said, “Oh, now that’s the boring stuff.”
“Well, elaborate anyway. I went all medical terminology on you. The least you can do is reciprocate.”
“I look at business and residences to set up security systems, hire personnel to attend high-level functions when celebrities are present, and consult on any kind of security issue that needs my expertise. I’ve even consulted on a couple of government projects.”
“Hire personnel to attend high-level functions when celebrities are present? You mean you hire bodyguards?” Her chest felt tight. Could this be a coincidence? “Do you do bodyguard work?”
“No. I’m the boss, so I get to make the rules.”
“But you could be a bodyguard.”
“I’ve done bodyguard work, yes.”
“Okay.” The tightness in her chest eased. “So you could give me advice on this threatening letter business? What is your professional opinion?”
“In most cases it’s just a scare tactic and nothing really comes of it.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But, in a small percentage of cases, the threat can be real and dangerous.”
“Oh. That’s scary.”
He stepped close, cupped her cheek, and heat whooshed over her like a flash fire. His gaze locked on hers, so intent, so focused. So trustworthy and steady.
“I would never let anything happen to you, Poe.”
“I believe that with all my heart, Jared.”
“All of your heart,” he murmured. “Now, there’s something that sounds really good.”
“Here are the results, Dr. Madigan. Oh, I’m sorry,” Mindy said as she paused in the doorway, eyeing their close proximity. Poe stepped away, sure she was flushed. Mindy entered, her cheeks pink, her eyes twinkling as a grin spread across her young face. After handing the report to her, Mindy said under her breath, “Way to go, Dr. M.”
“I hope she wasn’t uncomfortable because of our show of affection,” Poe said after she practically skipped out.
“I don’t think so. In fact, I’m pretty sure she just gave you a high five.”
Poe’s mouth dropped open, then snapped shut again.
“What?” he asked, looking all innocent, and probably trying to sound innocent, too.
“Men.” She paused, then said, “Admit it. You like having a conquest affirmed by another. It’s a guy thing. I don’t hold it against you.”
He grinned. “You’re very cute when you’re trying to create borders.”
“Okay, Jared, I’ll let you have that, because, after all, you are a man.” Too bad they did have to have boundaries between them. At least the kind that kept her from climbing all over him and having him all over her.
She looked down at the report. “Let’s see what we have here. Hmmm, everything is normal.”
“What does that mean?” Jared picked Daisy up, as if he needed the dog close to him to protect her from Poe’s diagnosis.
“It means it’s more complicated. At least, if it’s a medical problem, I can prescribe something, but I’m afraid it’s psychological.”
“Psychological?”
“Yes.”
“Are you saying my dog is a mental case?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then what?”
“I think she’s depressed.”
Early on Monday morning, Jared didn’t even give his brother enough time to open the door. He barreled inside, grabbed him by his shirtfront and growled, “What did you do to Daisy!?
“What are you talking about? I wouldn’t hurt a defenseless animal. What the hell is wrong with you, son?”
“Poe said she was depressed.”
“What?” He shoved at his brother’s shoulders and Jared didn’t budge. “Let go!” Jared released him. “Who’s Poe?”
“She’s a vet.” This time he noticed his brother looked like shit, had gone way downhill since the last time he saw him. His hair was a mess, he was unshaven, his eyes bloodshot and he looked hung over.
“Look, I thought she was lazy.”
“She’s not. When did she start acting like this?”
He turned away, shrugging. “I don’t know. I don’t pay attention to dogs. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Nate, think. This is a living, breathing creature. You must have noticed when she started acting lazy. Think back.”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s up with you?”
His eyes shuttered. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Why aren’t you at work? You look like something I’d trip over in a pasture.”
“Nice. I took a sick day.”
“From the trading floor…wait…didn’t you just have a week off last week? Did your rafting trip turn out bad?”
“I didn’t go.”
“Why?”
“What does it matter to you?”
“Why didn’t you go, Nate?”
“Because I had planned it with my girlfriend and, fuck, I didn’t want to go without her. Okay?”
“You miss her?”
“I really screwed up.” Moisture gathered in his brother’s eyes and he rubbed at his stubble. “I should have paid more attention to her. But I was too fucking busy making money, living the high life like I always wanted. Now it doesn’t mean shit. I was going to propose to her. I have the ring and everything.”
“You’re in love with her.”
“It doesn’t matter now. She left me. She was the best freaking thing that ever happened in my life.”
“Why haven’t you gone after her?”
“Let me ask you something. You come here and borrow my dog for this dancing competition. What is going on with that girl?”
“Nothing. Don’t drag me into this.”
“Then why you so hot under the collar about Daisy?”
Jared looked away.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Nate said smugly. “Don’t preach to me, brother, when you haven’t roped your own filly.”
Jared took a deep breath to keep from punching his brother in the face.
“Okay, let’s get back to Daisy, then. Did she start acting this way after your girlfriend…what’s her name?”
He swallowed hard. “Pru—Prudence.”
“After Pru left, then.”
Nate stood there for a moment, his face full of the agony he felt. “You know? I think so.”
“So she’s been living with someone who is depressed, and she misses Pru, who probably was the one who gave her all the affection.”
“Yeah, I’m a mean sumbitch. Why don’t you just come out and say it?”
Jared felt bad for his brother. “Nate, you’re not mean, you’re just selfish.”
“Oh, like that’s better,” Nate scoffed.
“It is, because now you see what your selfishness has gotten you.”
He sighed. “Nothing.”
“Exactly. So stop wallowing in your misery. You’re Texan and a Taylor. Go after her.”
“Yeah, I’m afraid she’ll say no.”
“Dad would slap the back of your head and tell you to get up the gumption and do what is right.”
“Yeah, ole’ Roy, he’s quite a daddy. I miss that old man.”
“That
old man
is only a plane ride away.”
Nate nodded, acknowledging that he should really visit their daddy. “And to woo Pru?”
“If I’m any judge of women, flowers, and if I was you, I’d pull out the kneepads, because this will involve a lot of groveling.”
“If it gets her back, I’ll crawl on my belly. What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What are you going to do about Dr. Poe?”
“My situation is much more complicated than making up for some selfishness.” He turned to go, but stopped at the door. “Nate.”
“Yeah.”
“Give me a call sometime. We’ll go out for a beer.”
Nate chuckled, and for the first time since Jared had been in New York, he actually sounded optimistic. “Yeah, okay, brother. I’ll do that.”
Back in his truck, Jared sat there staring out the windshield. His brother’s words crowded the back of his mind. What was he going to do with Poe? He knew what he wanted to do with her.
He wanted to fuck her. He wanted to make love to her. He wanted to roll over and find her in his bed lying next to him, all soft and Goth, pierced and tattooed. He wanted to take her dirty and sweet, take her any way he could get her and every way he could dream up—and since he’d become a man, he’d dreamed up plenty of ways.
Hell, ever since she’d damn near taken him into total meltdown in the kitchen, he wanted her bad.
But his conscience, damn it to hell, would worry him from now until he died if he took advantage of her. She was scared. She was vulnerable. How could he ever be sure she wasn’t reacting to the situation more than she was reacting to him?
And, a distraction while he was trying to protect her. If anything happened because he wasn’t focused, he would carry that guilt forever, like he carried his guilt over the men in his unit who had lost their lives when he’d made an error in judgment.
Oh, they said it wasn’t his fault, that he couldn’t have predicted it, but he’d run so many security scenarios that day, he should have predicted it and had a contingency ready. Instead of drumming him out of the Corps, they pinned a medal on his chest.
He put the truck in gear and headed back to her apartment. Once inside, the first thing he saw was a rat on the fire escape loitering near a half-open window.
The second thing he noticed was that half-open window exactly the inch a certain Jack Russell needed. Allan, his ears pricked and clearly on full alert, stared at the rat. And then he remembered that Jack Russells were bred specifically to eradicate vermin.
“Allan, no!” Jared hollered.
Allan turned to look at him, then back at the rat, then at him again. The look said,
sorry, buddy, but I’m chasing that rat! It’s what I was bred for, so talk to the tail!
The mutt lunged forward, but Jared got a hand on his collar in time. He had to grab Edgar as he also raced past. He put them in Poe’s room, but before he could close the door, Allan wiggled out, raced back toward the window, and was already halfway through the opening when Jared tripped on a dog toy and took a header.
“Allan,” he called, but the dog was on the hunt, had the rat’s scent, and there simply was no stopping a tenacious terrier.
Jared didn’t hesitate. He jumped up, threw open the window, stepped out, and then closed it tightly behind him. All he needed was for Daisy and Edgar to get out and have all three dogs racing down the street after the rat.
He saw Allan working his way down the fire escape and Jared bolted forward, taking the metal stairs two at a time. When Allan ran out of metal stairs, he simply jumped and landed hard in the alley below. Not even breaking his stride, he took off. Jared released the ladder and, instead of climbing down it, he slid to the ground and ran full-out after Allan.
He swore softly as he saw the dog rush across the street. Thank God it was empty of traffic, but he was heading into busier streets, and it looked like it was going to rain again. Jared had to catch him, fast.
Still running full-out, Jared got close to Allan, but he was still too far away to grab him. He leapt forward, but missed the dog literally by inches. Allan didn’t make a sound, exactly as Russells are born and bred to do . The rat knew he was after him, though. That critter ran full-out too.
Soaked with sweat, his elbow smarting from what was surely a scrape from the concrete, Jared rounded the corner and ran right into a dog walker. The dogs went crazy and Jared got caught in their leashes, while the dogs’ nails delivered a few more scrapes. Finally he disentangled himself, and apologized profusely as he ran away.
Allan zipped down an alley, and Jared could smell Chinese food. He caught another glimpse of Allan’s small, white body when he stopped to sniff around a dumpster. He wriggled underneath before Jared could get hold of him. Damn him and his little stubby tail. Jared tried to crawl underneath, but the stench overwhelmed him and his gag reflex kicked in. He held his breath and crammed himself underneath, only to see Allan shoot out the other side of the dumpster.
Swearing, he tried to wriggle back out and got stuck. Through brute force and probably a scrape on his back, he got free and took off after the elusive, tenacious, speed-demon dog again.
That’s when the leaden sky opened up and drenched him to the skin. He saw the rat heading for the sewer grate and with water already rushing through the sewers, Jared knew how dangerous it would be for the small dog. There was no doubt. He was going to leap after that rat.
He accelerated, knowing how deeply Poe loved her Terrible Twos. He couldn’t let her down. He launched himself through the air and slid on the slick street, scooping up Allan just as he launched himself right toward the sewer after the rat.
Jared’s back hit the curb, and several people, standing on the sidewalk under a restaurant’s awning, clapped and a flash went off.
Great, New Yorkers taking freaking pictures
.
He curled his fingers through Allan’s collar, tucking the wriggling animal under his arm. He waved to the crowd and headed down the street with Allan, who was now barking his fury at the lost rat.
When he got back to Poe’s apartment, he took Allan directly into the bathroom and ran the water in the tub. The dog was filthy. After scrubbing him clean and drying him off, Jared let him go, let Edgar and Daisy out of Poe’s room, and headed back to the bathroom, stripping down. He assessed the damage.
There were scratches on his face, a scraped elbow and tender hands, but his skin was tough. When he turned around to survey his back, he saw he had a bruise starting to show, but no raw skin.
That was at least something.
He used hydrogen peroxide on his scrapes and cuts and turned to the shower. Getting inside, he sighed at the hot water, washing away the dirt and the sweat. That freaking little dog could boogie.
Shutting off the water, he dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist.
“Jared!”
She burst through the bathroom door. “Allan?”
“He’s fine. I’ve already given him a bath.”
“You saved him.”
“How do you know?”
“Callie. She was having lunch with her brother. She called and I left work. She got a picture of you sliding on the wet pavement in the rain, scooping up my sweet boy.”
Totally without warning, she ambushed him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and then tugged him closer, bumping his hips and eliciting a tortured groan.
He slipped his hand underneath that silky, silky hair to her nape. She clasped his face in her hands and pulled his head down. She kissed him, filling it with all the gratitude she was feeling and something more, something that had heat at its core that was waiting for the right moment to explode. It was the moment. She kissed him so honestly, so easily, his own barriers began to crumble, ones he hadn’t even been aware were there.
And he kissed her back, just went for it and fully indulged himself in the taste and feel of her hot, wet mouth.
He kissed her more deeply, until she was making those soft little moans that drove him crazy. Then he was sliding his hands down over her hips and tugging her thighs, urging her to wrap her legs around his waist and let him press the rock-hard length of his dick more deeply between her thighs. Sweet almighty, he might never have enough of her.
And then she was kissing him back, voraciously, hooking her ankles at the base of his spine, urging him closer. Once again, they had too many layers on between them.
Then the fog cleared. What was he doing!? Sweet geezus, he promised he wouldn’t do this.
“Hold on,” he told her, wrapping one arm around her back, the other hand around the nape of her neck, trying to disengage her mouth. But it fused again to his as he stumbled them backwards, hitting the bathroom wall.
The impact jarred her loose, his back throbbed with pain, but he barely felt it. She grabbed for his shoulders, her ankles slipping down over his backside.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.
“Trying to be a gentleman.”
“Screw that,” she teased, tilting her head to allow him access to her throat.
He let her feet drop to the ground as he turned them so he could try to extricate himself. “Poe, we can’t.”
She smiled up into his eyes. “I know. I have no business getting sidetracked by you, much less letting you get sidetracked by me. But sometimes to hell with what we should do. Spontaneity needs to be set free, especially yours, Mister Square Man.”