Searching for Disaster (9 page)

Right now, he needed to push.

He moved.

It only took three steps to back her against the screen door. His arms caged her in. He braced his thighs apart, trapping her. He kept just enough space between their bodies so she had the time needed to transition without trying to bolt.

“I'm honored you feel the need to push me straight into another woman's perfect arms, but I'm here to tell you there is no perfect woman. And I'm sure as hell not perfect either. So, here's the deal, Isabella. I'm going to kiss you.”

“What?” she squeaked out. She pushed against his chest briefly, then rested her palms over his beating heart. The move alone told him she wanted this as badly as he did. “We can't.”

“We can. I haven't forgotten that night. Ever. It was the best damn sex I ever had. Even then, I wanted more, but it wasn't our time.”

“Liam.”

His name spilled from her lips in a sultry whisper, dissipating high above the stars. “Don't think. Don't worry.” He lowered his head with deliberate slowness, wanting to savor every second. “Just kiss me.”

His lips covered hers.

The years melted away. Her soft mouth trembled, then opened beneath his. He swallowed her groan and slipped inside, drinking in the sweet sting of her flavor, reminding him again of bourbon laced with maple syrup. They learned each other all over again until the kiss caught fire, and she sunk her teeth into his bottom lip.

A primitive growl rose from his throat and he rose to the demand. Twisting his fingers in her glorious hair, he pinned her open under the length of his thigh and ravaged her. His teeth nipped; he soothed with his tongue, claimed her as his.

She gave it back, sinking into a wild thing who exploded in his arms, challenging him at every turn. They feasted on each other, with a touch of the savage, her fingernails digging into the muscles of his arms, her breasts pressed tightly against his chest, her body arched with a demand he intended to serve. He got lost, got found, and fell hard within that one perfect, soul-stirring kiss.

Head spinning, breathing hard, he pulled away inch by inch. His dick screamed to take advantage of the moment, back her into the house, and take her now before she protested. But that wasn't what he wanted. When he got Isabella into his bed, she'd be damned sure she wanted to be there wholeheartedly.

Her eyes were glazed, her lips swollen and moist. He fought against the primal flood of arousal and clawed for control. “Liam?” His name was a beautiful question, and an answer he needed her to get used to.

“I want you.” She shuddered in response. He bent toward her, forehead pressing against hers, hand cupping her cheek. “I want to strip off these clothes, touch and taste every inch of your skin, feel you come against my lips. I want to swallow you whole, make you scream, and do it again and again. Do you understand, Isabella?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I don't know if I can do this.”

“You can. You just need time to get used to the idea.”

She shook her head, pulling away, and Devine knew he'd lost her again. “Don't start something that's going to cause both of us too much pain. Please.”

Her broken plea tore at his heart, shredding his insides. He lifted his hand in the air. “Sweetheart—”

“Good night, Liam.”

She turned from him and disappeared inside, leaving him alone on her porch. He stood there for a while, caught between pushing her now and giving her some space.

Better to retreat and prepare the second phase of attack.

chapter seven

A
COUPLE DAYS LATER,
Izzy pulled into the Animals Alive shelter with a sense of purpose and excitement.

Liam's kiss haunted her.

She'd hoped if he ever kissed her again, the reality would never match the misty memory of that special night. Instead, the touch of his lips on hers shattered the past forever. Her body practically melted against him, helpless against his hot demand to surrender.

And, Lord, had she surrendered.

He'd grown into a powerful figure who not only challenged her mentally but brought a fierce masculine power that broke through all her barriers. She ached for him, and if he hadn't stopped the kiss, she would've allowed him to take her right against the door, like the animal he made her.

She was going to break her damn vibrator.

When Izzy went back to work, she worried he'd try to call, or show up, and she'd have to be harsh. She couldn't let a perfect kiss trick her into believing it could work for the long term. A cop and a former drug addict?

Impossible.

She already knew if she couldn't have Liam for more than a few nights, she'd rather rip off the Band-Aid now. Much easier to deal with a sharp pain than a slow-healing, raw wound.

Kate didn't push her for information on the date. Izzy hoped he'd honor their bargain, move on, and they'd do their best to avoid each other. After all, what man on earth would keep pursuing her? She'd turn him down every time, sometimes adding a bit of sting to help emphasize her point. She'd slammed the door on him after their date. Kind of. She knew men liked challenges, but Liam didn't play those games. Right?

After a long call with Meredith, her mentor, she felt more in control. Her mentor refused to interfere by advising but took a more subtle approach, allowing Izzy to talk freely and come to her own decisions. By the end of the conversation, Izzy decided to stay the course. It made the most sense.

So she decided she wanted a dog. Fast.

Arilyn practically danced with joy when she heard, then competently took over. They were meeting today to visit with the animals and see if she bonded. There was one thing she decided to stay away from. Puppies. She'd heard enough stories and seen Alexa's pain when her house got ripped apart and peed on, and when every designer shoe got eaten. She pictured a trained dog, still young, who'd be her loving companion, confidant, and sleeping partner.

She really needed someone in her bed, even if it was a canine.

“I'm so excited!” Arilyn said, giving her a hug when she climbed out of her car. The shelter was quite large, with outside runs for the dogs and a large, dark-shingled house off to the right. Farm animals grazed by the giant red barn, and acres of woods lay toward the back.

“Me, too. Gen wanted to meet us today, but she's away for the weekend with Wolfe.”

“I'll take good care of you. Our outdoor runs are mostly full, since it's such a beautiful day, but there are still some inside. I just want to sit down with you in the adoption center so we can discuss a few things and I can make sure you're properly fit.”

“Great.”

Arilyn led her to a small room cheerfully decorated with animal posters, signs, chalkboards with scribbles galore, and a cute corner with a green rug, a small TV, and a comfy couch with a slipcover stenciled with dogs. A small desk with a few wooden chairs was placed on the far right. “This is our cuddle area when one of our volunteers feels like chilling with one of the animals and watching a movie.”

“Hope it's not
Old Yeller
.”

Arilyn laughed. “Happy movies only. We have DVDs of
Beethoven
,
K-9
,
Lady and the Tramp
, and
Benji
. That should cover all tastes. Take a seat here, and I'll ask a few questions. Oh, do you mind if we have someone else join us? He's ready to adopt and I've decided to take care of you both.”

“Of course; the more the merrier.”

“Am I late?”

Izzy stiffened.

No. No, no, no, no, no . . .

She looked up. Slowly. And there he was, standing over her. All tall and dreamy-like, straight from a Hollywood set. Burnished hair, hip cocked, worn jeans cupping his ass and legs like they worshipped him. A navy-blue plaid button-down shirt was casually open at the neck, with the sleeves rolled up, showing off corded forearms and hands that could make a woman weep. Work boots clad his feet. Had he been doing work in his house? The image of him on a ladder with a hammer made her tummy tumble.

Arilyn gave him a hug, clueless about Izzy's sudden gripping tension. “Good to see you, Devine. About time you decided to adopt. I've been working on you awhile.”

He grinned, those white teeth flashing. “Like you said, it's a big decision and I didn't want to make it lightly.”

“I agree. Izzy's on the same path, so I thought it would be fun to do this together.”

Izzy closed her eyes momentarily.

So. Much. Fun.

Liam shot her a knowing grin. She wanted to kiss it off his handsome face. “Good to see you again, Isabella. How've you been?”

Oh, he was bad. His wicked gaze probed all her delicate girly parts and sprung them to life. She looked like a mess, too. Crazy hair 'cause she hadn't tried to tame it, with old jeans, sneakers, and a Mets jersey. “Just ducky,” she drawled.

His grin was pure delight. “Mets, huh? I'm a Yanks fan myself.”

Alexa would say it was fate they weren't meant to be together. Her sister was more of a fanatic than she was, but Izzy had learned early on to appreciate baseball and to root for the Mets at all costs. It had been a huge issue with Alexa's husband, Nick, but eventually, her family had come around. Could she bring another Yanks fan to her family table?

Never.

“Figures. Just another confirmation of our differences,” she muttered.

“You're saying baseball is a deal breaker in your relationships?” he asked curiously.

“Absolutely.”

Arilyn looked interested in the exchange. “Over baseball? That's crazy.”

“You don't know my family.”

Liam rocked back on his heels. “I'm flexible. I can change teams.”

She stared at him with pure indignation. “That's an insult to your team,” she pointed out. “New York fans don't just change teams easily. It's completely disrespectful!”

Instead of fighting back or getting offended, he considered her outrage with a reasonableness that made her want to lose her temper. “Let's just say if I had to choose between the woman I wanted and the Yanks, I could live without baseball.” His eyes dazzled pale-blue sparks, stealing her breath. “Not her.”

She froze in place. The world dropped away as they stared at one another.

“That's romantic, Devine,” Arilyn said in her musical voice.

Izzy managed to blow out an annoyed breath. “It's still screwed-up. Some things should never be asked for. Even in love.”

“Let me ask you this, Isabella. If you fell in love with a Yanks fan, would you force him to choose between you and his team?”

Damn him. She wriggled with discomfort, hating the question. “Are we going to see the dogs?”

Arilyn glanced between them with fascination. “Sure, but I want to hear your answer, too.”

Liam lifted a brow and waited.

“No, I wouldn't. It would just be . . . wrong.”

“Exactly. Thank you for proving my point.”

His words held that faint warning again, though it was wrapped up in pure sex appeal and masculine demand. Got her hot every time. Why did he have to be so droolworthy? It was completely unfair.

Arilyn broke the stare standoff and sat behind the desk. “Let's just do a quick intake now that you're both here, and go see the dogs.” Devine took a seat next to her, his long length barely fitting in the small wooden chair. His hard thigh brushed hers. Goose bumps peppered her skin. “First off, is there any particular breed or mix you're interested in? Any breed you're concerned about?”

Izzy shook her head. “I love all breeds and am open to any of them.”

“I agree,” Liam said.

“Great. How about any restrictions to your home or property? Other animals? Limited time?”

“Since I have a great boss, I'm sure I'll be able to run home and let my dog out,” Izzy said with a grin. Arilyn grinned back. “And as we both know, the bungalow is perfect.”

Liam scratched his head. “My house is set up already with a fenced-in yard and plenty of room. My work schedule could sometimes be a problem if I hold down double shifts, but I may be able to get my neighbor to check in. Or I can trade off some shifts if I need some extra time home in the beginning.”

Arilyn nodded. “Great, I think that's reasonable.” She went through a quick checklist, making sure they knew all the responsibilities of pet ownership. “Now, is there a certain age bracket you prefer?”

“No puppies,” they both blurted out in unison.

Izzy looked at him. “You, too?” she asked.

“I just spent endless months renovating. I'm not up for a puppy.”

They smiled at each other in understanding.

“Got it,” Arilyn said. “Too bad—we have the most adorable litter ready to be adopted. They'll probably be all gone by tomorrow. Let's head out and start meeting the animals.”

Izzy trailed behind her, noting Liam matched her pace to hang back. “How's work?” he asked.

His casual question set the tone. Distance. She needed to cultivate friendly distance. “Good. I'm learning to program the matchups and spreadsheets, and it's fascinating work. I never thought science could merge into the art of matching up two people for a relationship, but Kinnections proved me wrong.”

“I didn't know you liked computers.”

“Yeah; I have a tiny piece of nerdism within me. Something about all that useless data turning into something that can run an empire inspires me. I'm good at data matching and finding the holes in code.”

“I'm not surprised. It holds just enough challenge to keep you interested.”

“Exactly.” He tugged at her hair in a playful gesture that made her smile. The damning words tumbled from her lips too fast to stop. “I'm assuming you're working with Kate now to find your match?”

He looked pleased at her question. Too pleased. “Why? Interested in who they come up with for me?”

Her foot stumbled over a rock, and he reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her. A flash of heat tingled her nerve endings. “No. Yes. I mean, no, no—of course not. That's your personal business now.”

“So you haven't thought about me or that kiss?”

“No. It was a way for us to reach closure. I've put it behind us, and so should you.”

His deep laugh mixed with the sharp tones of barking. She narrowed her gaze. “What's so funny?” she hissed.

“You. I finally got you to lie.”

“Here we go,” Arilyn chirped merrily. She opened the gate where cages spread out over the green grass. For the next two hours, she led them to each dog, describing the personality, habits, common behaviors, and history. Izzy met small dogs, big dogs, white dogs, mottled dogs, shy and nosy ones, the calm and the playful. Breeds were a potpourri of color and beauty, and she enjoyed each visit, treasuring the time and saying a quick prayer for each one to find his or her forever home as she went from one dog to the next.

Liam walked two of them, and Izzy walked three. Finally, Arilyn led them inside the house, greeting the various volunteers along the way. “There are ten more dogs inside, plus the new litter. I think Rocky may be a great fit for you, Devine. He's a boxer with a great personality.”

“Sounds good.”

Sharp barks and activity surrounded them. The smell of dogs and antiseptic drifted in the air. “We have them in the playroom right now so you can have fun meeting half of them at a time. We try to get them out of their cages as much as possible, so many of our volunteers take time just to sit in the playroom for an hour or two and give them attention.”

Arilyn reached out to unlock the door when a man with buzz-cut brown hair and frantic eyes rushed up. “Arilyn, we have a huge problem with Hugo—can you come over for a minute?”

“Sure. Excuse me, guys. Can you hang out here for me?”

“Absolutely, go,” Izzy said. Arilyn ran off and Izzy shook her head, amazed at her friend's knowledge and her dedication to the animals.

“So, what do you think?” Liam asked, leaning against the wall. “Feel kismet with any of the dogs so far?”

Izzy sighed. “I adore many of them and see them as a possibility. The white terrier, Cynthia, was a nice fit. But I don't feel that crazy connection like I thought I would. Is that stupid? Maybe that's just a fairy tale and it doesn't exist anyway. I don't want to not take a dog because I have an idea in my mind something is real when it isn't.”