Read Hounded (Going to the Dogs) Online
Authors: Zoe Dawson
“Jared, come meet Aiden. He’s the fiber artist,” Poe said.
“Nice to meet you,” he said.
“We were just asking him about his creations. The use of the fabrics like wool, linen and silk,” Poe said, smiling.
“Yes, it’s so glossy and gorgeous,” Brooke said.
“The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons,”
aaaaaand she’s off!
Jared had to stifle a grin he knew she’d misinterpret. “The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm
Bombyx mori,
which is reared in captivity. The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular, prism-like structure of the silk fiber, which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles, thus producing different colors.”
“It’s an expensive textile, that’s for sure.”
Aiden nodded. “Poe is very knowledgeable about silk. I’ve only recently learned about it, myself. What is the name of the production again, Poe?”
“Sericulture. Cocoons are cultivated for the filament they are composed of.”
“Are they gathered from the wild?” Callie asked.
“Not usually. Farmers, mostly in China, raise the moths in tightly-controlled conditions. The silk worm begins life as an egg, then becomes a silk worm, then a pupa, and finally a moth. The silkworm, when ready to become a pupa, secretes a protein-like substance through its head to form the cocoon. Some silkworms are allowed to become moths to propagate the species, but most are harvested at this stage to be used in silk production.”
“All I know is I love shantung silk.” Aiden said.
“There are actually eight types of silk familiar to western clothiers,” she continued, oblivious to Jared’s starry-eyed, affectionate amusement, “although there are more around the world: charmeuse, China silk, crepe de Chine, doupioni, noil, raw silk, shantung and tussah.” She counted them on her fingers as she remembered them all. Charmeuse is what most people think of when they think of silk. The back of the fabric is flattened crepe, or simply wrinkled, woven fabric, and the front has a shimmery satin weave. China silk, also ‘plain silk,’ is the least expensive. The fabric is lightweight and shiny. Crepe de Chine is made by twisting some fibers clockwise and others counterclockwise before weaving, producing a pebbly texture. I’d say that’s what you used in your piece, Aiden.”
“I did, actually. Good eye.”
“The fabric is lightweight and does not ravel easily like other silks; however, it tears easily.”
“Yeah it was tricky to work with, but I liked the effect.”
“I do, too. It gives it more character. But shantung is gorgeous. It’s woven with a mix of regular silk thread and doupioni silk thread. Depending on the exact threads used, the fabric may be shiny or dull.”
“I like the shiny stuff.”
“That’s our Harper. She loves the bling.”
“Yes, anything sparkly.”
He bent down and whispered in Poe’s ear. “You’re turning me on with all this intellectual talk.”
She whispered back, “Stop distracting me, you bad man, and get me some champagne.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said and found a waiter and the damn finger food. The man looked so shocked and lost when Jared simply lifted the platter right off his hand.
He looked at Poe. Laughter twinkled in her eyes. When he got back to her, she took one of the crab puffs off the tray along with one of the two glasses of champagne.
“Who is the man who is accosting my wait staff?” a dark-haired woman asked as she joined their little group.
“That would be the guy I brought with me,” Poe said, indicating Jared with her thumb.
Jared raised his glass, and said, “Jared Taylor. Not a lover of the finger foods category of cuisine.”
“Emma Hudson, soon to be Cross. That’s my fiancé over there near the abstract watercolor.”
“Well, congratulations on your opening. Looks like quite the success to me.”
“This one looks like a keeper to me, Poe.”
She coughed on her crab puff, and Jared tapped her back as she took a sip of champagne.
“Are you all right, or do I have to do mouth to mouth?” He said, his voice carrying over the music and the general din of conversation.
Poe nodded, looking at him. He held her gaze for a moment, seeing that disquiet in her eyes, there and gone like quicksilver.
Shortly after that they left the gallery and caught a cab home. “I’m starving,” he said when they entered her apartment, and Poe chuckled.
“I’ve got soup. I’ll rustle you up some grub.”
He tickled her and she jumped away from him, “Hey, none of that,” she scolded. “I’m way ticklish.”
“You shouldn’t have told me that.”
“Stay back or no soup for you.”
He laughed. “What about bread?”
“Don’t push it,” she said, chuckling.
He went into the bedroom to change into shorts and a t-shirt, but Daisy sidetracked him with her grumbling demand for petting.
“That smells really good,” he said when he returned.
Domestic looked way too damn good on her as she puttered around the kitchen. He’d known lust and had come close to losing his heart before, but nothing like this ache, this craving. He could easy spend time with her until it dwindled down to nothing. Would he get that chance?
Poe wasn’t even doing anything particularly remarkable or cute at the moment. She was heating some soup and making coffee. Still in the skull dress, but sans the sexy rose sandals, she looked good barefoot in the kitchen.
“Don’t get too excited,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear, “but I made blueberry muffins, too. They’re from a box, but Betty Crocker assures me they’re real blueberries, and Betty would never lie.”
If she had even a clue of how easily she excited him, she’d run for the hills. Maybe that was what was going on in her mind. Maybe he was coming on too strong, and the glimpses he saw of her unease were connected to that.
She bent over and pulled a muffin tin out of the oven and set it on the stove. She ladled out the soup and set the muffins into a basket. Pouring two cups of coffee, she asked, “Cream?”
“Just a dollop.”
She set the food on the counter and came around the small island, settling into the chair next to his.
So it was now both comfortable between them and somewhat awkward. He wasn’t sure exactly why, except maybe she was feeling crowded.
They dug into the food, neither speaking for several long moments.
“What was going on between you and Aiden Sinclair?”
“What? What do you mean?” His stomach dropped like a stone.
“There was something there in your body language, like you knew him, but that’s not possible, is it?”
He took a deep breath, damning her observant nature. He didn’t want to lie to Poe, and as a security specialist and a former Marine, he knew how to bend the truth. “Aiden was a Marine, too. I guess it’s innate after serving. All fellow Marines are brothers.”
“Oh, that explains it.” Her voice was subdued. “He was wounded, too, and she doesn’t talk about it much. I know she and her family are relieved Aiden is out of the military.”
She spooned up a bite of soup, swallowed.
She covered his hand. “I’m grateful for the military, but,” she said her voice hushed, “I’m glad you’re out, too. Safe and sound.”
“For the most part.”
“I am sorry about that.”
He shrugged. “Comes with the territory.”
“I’ve experienced real fear just recently. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live that 24/7, or even for one harrowing night.”
He covered her hand and they sat that way for a few moments.
“I should get this cleaned up.”
“I’ve got it,” he said, jumping to his feet. “You cooked. I’ll pick up.”
She smiled. “I’m going to change then, and we can take the dogs out.”
“Sounds good.”
He was just finishing up when he heard Poe swear, then the door hit the wall and she was shouting.
He bolted out of the kitchen, quickly closing the door before the dogs could escape. In his bare feet, he pelted toward the front of her building, just catching a glimpse of her as she disappeared down the stairs.
His heart in his throat, he burst out of the front doors and saw her round the corner of the block. “Poe!” he yelled, but she didn’t slow.
He took off after her, and when he rounded the edge of the block, he stopped dead when he saw her standing on the sidewalk, searching.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
“Trying to catch the man who’s slipping these frigging threatening letters under my door.”
“What were you going to do when you caught him?” He grabbed her shoulders, the fear for her safety making his voice gruffer than he meant it to be.
“I don’t know. Find out what the problem is. Find out what I did to him.” She broke his grip and paced away. “I can’t stand this anymore.” Her voice cracked.
He wanted to go to her, but her body language was clear. She didn’t want comfort right now. She wanted, needed, to vent. He held his ground while she paced, then stopped and clenched her fists.
“I’m sorry.” She turned to face him. “You didn’t really sign up for this and, although I appreciate your help, this isn’t your problem.”
He folded his arms across his chest and frowned. An unexpected wave of frustration swept through him.
“Do you actually think that I could stand by and watch you do something as foolish as chase an unknown man down darkened streets in your bare feet…and do nothing?”
Her eyes turned thunderous and she marched over to him. “Do you think I need a keeper?” She poked him in the chest. “I don’t! I’ve gotten along quite well on my own. People like you think just because you’re big and strong you can go all arrogant and dictate how I’m going to live my life. I won’t be kept in the dark or have someone fight my battles for me. I had enough of that.”
“You mean something to me…”
“What? We’re not dating.” She waved a slender hand in the air between them, grasping for the right words. “We’re just…having an affair.”
The corner of his mouth twitched with exasperation and, truth be told, unexpected hurt. She made their relationship sound so brief and impersonal, and he was justifiably annoyed she wanted to pretend things were so superficial, when that was very, very far from reality.
She turned on her heel and left him standing there. He watched her retreating back.
He’d touched a nerve, and that might just be what was causing her so much turmoil.
When he got back to the apartment, she was slipping her flip-flops on and leashing The Terrible Two.
He shut the door and leaned against it. “Poe, I’m not trying to rule your life or keep you in the dark.” He had to hold back the wince on that one. “It’s in my nature to be protective of people I care about.”
“I care about you, too,” she said grudgingly. “Don’t listen to me tonight. I’m nonsensical.”
“You’re probably the only person I know who would say nonsensical at a time like this.”
Her eyes flashed. “You’re very bossy and persistent, you know that?”
“And you’re very stubborn, so I think that makes us just about even, wouldn’t you say?” He lifted a brow, daring her to contradict him.
She rolled her eyes and huffed out an irritated sigh. “I just hate this, Jared. I can’t solve the problem when the person is elusive and refuses to face it head-on.”
“I know. But that’s not on you. In fact, you were so fierce tonight, you just might have scared him off.” Framing her face between his hands, he brought her mouth to his and kissed her, long and slow and deep.
With a sign of acquiescence and a snort of laughter, she twined her arms around his neck. He held her against him, knowing that when this was all over and the threat was past, he would have to find a way to explain why he’d had to keep her in the dark.
He could only hope she accepted his explanation and didn’t shut him out of her life forever.
Time passed too quickly, and after a few more sessions with Jared, she might have to accept the fact that she couldn’t win this contest with him as her partner. Daisy was doing so much better, but even with her improvement, it wasn’t enough. After two and a half weeks, even though Jared knew the routine, he still looked awkward and uncoordinated.
She was currently having lunch with the girls after a very busy morning on the job at St. Mark’s.
“How goes the competition?” Callie asked. “You guys have been there every night this week.”
“I’m afraid it’s not good.”
“Oh, no,” Brooke said, looking sympathetic.
“Well, at least he’s good to look at. I mean, wow.”
“Yeah, sign me up for that rodeo,” Brooke said.
“He’s a very decent guy,” Harper said.
Poe looked at her. “Really, nothing about how hot he is? That surprises me.”
“I would definitely sit him in the hot seat,” Harper confirmed. “All I’m saying is he’s a good man.”
“How do you know that?”
Harper looked away and Poe got a strange, uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“Harper?”
“I got a chance to talk to him at the gallery opening. That’s all.”
Callie and Brooke exchanged looks. “Are you okay, Harper?”
“I’m just worried about Aiden.”
“Why? What’s wrong with Aiden?”
“He’s not the same man who left. War changed him, and I’m not sure how to help.”
“In what way?”
“A newfound cynicism. He’s more withdrawn. He won’t even debate with my father. It’s different. I feel like there’s a wall between us.”
Poe covered her hand. “Maybe he just has to work through it himself. Sometimes I see that flash of sadness in Jared’s eyes. It was there the night of the gallery opening. I could have sworn he knew Aiden, deep down. But, of course, he didn’t. But with the both of them former Marines, I guess there is a bond.”
“They do have a bond.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just the same frame of reference and experiences,” Harper added, biting into her roast beef.
“So, what are you going to do?” Brooke asked.
“I don’t know.” Poe brushed back her hair as the slight breeze blew it into her eyes. “He’s trying so hard, but I think it’s what Callie said.”
Callie frowned. “What did I say?”
“That it might be mind over matter. He just doesn’t want to look stupid.”
She nodded. “Oh, yes, that
was
profound.”
Poe grinned at her.
“How about a dance instructor?” Callie offered, unwrapping what looked like tuna on rye.
“Are you saying that I can’t teach him myself?”
Callie tilted her head, thinking as she took a bite of her sandwich, then chewed. “I’m sure you can teach him a thing or too, but maybe your nervous tension is rubbing off on him?”
“I have taught him a thing or two.” Poe said.
Callie gave her a sly smile. “I bet you have. You saucy wench. But I heard that he taught you a thing or three in a row.”
“Wow, he must really eat his spinach,” Brooke said, holding up a leaf of the substance in question from her chicken salad sandwich.
Poe giggled and gave Callie a saucy wench smile. “I guess I inspired him.”
“Or you are a really good student,” Callie offered.
“Did you get an A…um…I mean an O,” Brooke asked, wry smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
“I bet there were a lot of…
oh’s
,” Callie said with a breathless, Marilyn Monroe inflection, “…being thrown around.”
“Excuse me,” Poe said, matter-of-fact. “I always get top grades.”
“Right, so that would be an O+, my bad,” Brooke said, smirking.
“That answers the question on whether or not we can keep this conversation on track,” Poe said, shaking her head. “But there isn’t anyone I’d rather jump the rails with than you all.”
“I was serious about the dance instructor.”
“At this point, I’m screwed, so I don’t have anything to lose and plenty to gain. Do you have someone you can recommend?”
“Yes, a former client. She had a little dog I helped her with. I’ll call you when I get back to work.”
Poe nodded. “Thanks, Callie.”
After lunch, Harper offered to drop Poe back at St. Mark’s. “Are you sure this competition is just for fun?”
“It is for fun.”
Harper bit her lip. “You look so worried. If it’s for fun, just go and compete and let it flow.”
“That’s good advice.”
“And, Jared. What’s going to happen after the competition?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, sounds like you might be open to continuing a relationship with him.”
“I don’t know.” It was Poe’s turn to bite her lip. “I like him very much and, all kidding aside, the sex is amazing, the best I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Why are you undecided?”
“I don’t know that, either. I just feel…uneasy.”
“Jared gives you the creeps?”
“No! Not like that. He’s…well, he’s simply wonderful. Attentive, sweet, kind, gentle, handsome, sexy with a sense of humor that won’t quit. I could go on and on. He has integrity. I can tell that, and it’s hard to find.”
Harper sighed and looked away. “Poe, you know I love you like a sister, right?”
“Of course. I’m sorry you’ve been going through this difficult time with your family. Aiden will come around. I’m sure it takes a lot to re-acclimate to life outside of the military, and he went through a terrible ordeal. Just give him time.”
“You know me. I don’t like to see my loved ones struggling. You know I’m a big meddler.”
Poe laughed. “Yes, you are. But, believe it or not, people can work out their own difficulties.”
“Maybe.”
The limo pulled up to the curb. “Thanks for the ride,” she called to Harper’s Hulk-like chauffer as she exited.
He met her eyes in the rearview and nodded. “My pleasure, Dr. Madigan.”
She hugged Harper, thinking about how that light, floral scent that was so subtlety Harper made her feel grounded.
“See you.”
As Poe stepped out of the limo, she saw a cockapoo streak across the parking lot. Then Mr. Leonard, the janitor, ran past, along with one of the techs. Poe stopped short as he passed, her eyes riveted to his retreating form. Something nagged at her, something about the way he was running sparked a memory. But she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Shrugging, she went back to work.
#
“Not bad, Mr. Taylor, but I sense that disco is not exactly your cup of tea.”
Poe had been sitting and watching Jared move around the dance floor with the instructor for the last half an hour. The woman was quite good, but Poe wasn’t sure it was going to be enough to win the competition.
She drew her knees up to her chest, remembering the last conversation with her mother. How could she be so serene when she was losing her house? It made Poe feel all the more guilty that her mother had made such a sacrifice. At this moment, she missed her dad with a deep ache in her gut. Her whole family had always tried to shelter her, cocoon her, and baby her. She was sensitive and idealistic, that was true. Ever since she’d seen the condition of the animals in that shelter and her foundation of trust with her father had been shaken, she had been determined to make a difference.
Now she wondered if her blind crusade had ruined her mother financially, her mother, who had worked so hard to support them all after her father had died.
Poe was so close to her dream. A dream her mother had helped make a reality. She was already helping so many animals and making a difference in their lives.
She covered her face and tried to hold on to her composure.
“Poe? You alright, darlin’?”
The soft, southern cadence of his voice soothed her immediately, and she looked up into his warm, concerned, moss-green eyes.
Gratitude filled her and she wrapped her arms around him, burrowing her face into his neck. He smelled so good, all musky and male. He smoothed his hand down her head and cupped the back of her neck.
“Talk to me, puddin’”
She laughed softly into his neck.
She released him enough to look into his face. “Puddin’?”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Sorry, cain’t help it. Sometimes the Texas can’t be stifled.”
“In your case, most of the time the Texas is too big to contain.”
“I sure agree with that. Speaking of Texas, I noticed there’s a Texas-type honky-tonk next door, serving authentic Tex Mex. What do you say?”
“After all that you’ve put yourself through for me? Let’s go.”
The music was pumping out of the place as they approached, and she caught Jared’s enthusiasm.
“It must be tough to be so far away from what you know and love.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“There’s no shame in loving what you love, Jared.”
He tightened his hold on her. “Smells great in here. Let’s have a seat and see what’s on the menu.”
The place was packed. There was a bar in the corner, and tables surrounding a large dance floor in the middle of the room. Off to the side, in a pit, was an honest-to-God mechanical bull.
Jared held up two fingers to the bartender, and he slid two beers down to him. “Tab,” he said, and the waitress nodded.
They found a table close to the dance floor, and the waitress brought over two menus and indicated she’d be back to take their orders. The girl looked busy and frazzled.
Poe opened the menu and read through it. “I think I’m going to need some stuff translated.”
“And my big brother is the one to do it.”
The deep voice of the man standing at the end of the table was so like Jared’s. She looked up and was struck by the shock of midnight black hair and the dark green eyes examining her with the same intensity that Jared stared at her, only this man had more of an edge to him. A lot like her brother Wilde. He was definitely in the bad boy camp.
His drawl was much more pronounced, as if he couldn’t give a crap what anyone thought of his accent. He wore a black cowboy hat pulled low over his brow, a western-style shirt that was more New York than it was Texas, and a pair of sinfully tight jeans that hugged his impressive form in all his impressive places. His belt buckle looked real, though, complete with a bucking bronco.
“He’s the official ambassador of Texas. Aren’t you, Jared? All howdy ma’am, hand-shaking and baby-kissing, down-home country boy.”
“Shut up, Nate.”
Jared’s brother Nate grabbed a chair from a nearby table without even asking, flipped it around and straddled it, giving his brother an innocent look. “Hey, you said to call you for a drink some time. This is a good time as any.” He turned that laser-like gaze on her again. “Hello, Dr. Poe Madigan.”
“Poe, I’m sure you know by now, this is my brother, Nate.”
Several women at nearby tables were checking him out, whispering to their girlfriends about his lean, rock-solid physique and the confidence he exuded.
He gave her a lopsided grin, so much like Jared’s that it made her smile.
“
Yeehaw
, son. That’s a fine-looking woman. All dark and mysterious with just a bit of whimsical added for flavor. No wonder you want a taste.”
“Nate,” there was a real warning in his voice.
“There he goes, feeling like he’s got to protect little ole’ you from big, bad me. But I figure you can protect yourself, so pay me no never mind. That’s what my brother does. He protects people. I’m a damn stockbroker. All I do is fleece ‘em and drive around in my Porsche.”
“You’re drunk.”
“Yup.”
“Poe, I’m sorry. We should go.”
Poe studied Nate, and instead of seeing his bravado, his brashness, all she saw was a man in pain.
“No, Jared that’s all right. Nate’s just spouting off and being a jackass. But even jackasses have their own layers and depth.”
Nate threw back his head and laughed. The unmistakable humor in his tone gave her another glimpse of a man who could be not only forthright, but playful. “I like her.”
“So, tell me, Nate. What’s her name?”
“What you talkin’ ‘bout, darlin’?
She was amazed at how comfortable she felt with this man she’d just met. Normally it took her a long time to warm up, but his obvious distress, his attempts to mask it, and the similarity to Jared put her more at ease. “The one who broke your heart.”
He raised his bottle. “She’s a perceptive one. ‘Cept I don’t have a heart. Ask Jared.” The flash of pain that was there and gone in his eyes belied that comment.
This time Jared just sounded weary. “Nate, come on.”
He waved his hand in the air at Jared. “To answer your question, Dr. Poe. Her name is Prudence, Pru for short and she sounds snooty, but she’s not. She’s got those solid Midwest values and she knows how to put a man in his place with just a look. She’s got some Indian blood in her and knows how to skin and dress a deer like a seasoned hunter. Her daddy’s a senator in the great state of Wyoming, and she’s pretty as a picture, and she takes them, too. She’s a photographer.”