Toss Up (The Toss Trilogy) (13 page)

The effect of the move was diminished by her height advantage, but her stomach still scrambled at the implication.
Coming on fast and strong. Is that the way it’s done, these days?
She turned, gently swinging out of his grip, and smiled, strong and in control once more.
We’ll play this game my way, thank you.
“Where are we going tonight?”

To his credit, he didn’t push, though the smile he gave her seemed to imply the disengagement was only temporary. “Mexican or Italian. What’s your pleasure?”

“I haven’t had either in a long time. Let’s do this the old-fashioned way. Surprise me.”

The flicker of humor in his eyes, let her know he had picked up the message to slow down, but gave her no assurance that he would. He held her gaze with his own. “I can do that.” With a tilt of his head, he indica
ted she should precede him to the humvee.

The excitement of competition bubbled through Sally’s veins.
Whew! It’s been a long time—I’m out of practice and he’s at the top of his game.
Staying ahead of, maybe even keeping up with Daniel Smith was going to be a challenge. Sally grinned, feeling reckless. She’d never been one to back down from a contest. This was going to be fun.

Daniel pulled the
H2 into the parking lot at Tia Maria’s. The popular restaurant was busy. Daniel gave his name to the hostess, accepted the pager she offered, and guided Sally toward the bar.

As she stepped into the crowded room, overheated air blanketed her face, and sent her hands to the buttons on her coat. Daniel reached out
to help her remove it. She smiled gratefully and sat as he shrugged out of his own and asked her what she’d like to drink.

“I’ll have a
Cuervo Gold margarita, on the rocks, with salt.” She smiled at him. “Theirs are the best in York.”

He nodded at the waitress. “Two.”

Sally studied the man sitting across from her. He still looked like Trent, only somehow not so much as before. With the worn leather jacket fastened high against the cold, his face had commanded attention: high cheekbones, rumpled hair, rich green eyes framed by thick lashes, and the shadow of a heavy beard. But now, with his jacket off, the rest of him was enough to make any woman’s mouth water.

A soft black wool sweater clung to pectorals that promised was
hboard abs. Its V-neck accentuated the clean lines of his neck and a sharply-defined ribbon of black, three-quarters of an inch wide, that curved toward his right ear and ended, slashed off at a sharp angle. Less than two inches of the tattoo showed.

Dragon, maybe?
Sally had a fondness for dragons. But the thick line and crisp edges of the work resembled a Maori-style tribal tat. If she was right, bold scrollwork would wrap across his neck, shoulder and bicep. It would be interesting to slip the neck of the sweater aside to see.

Careful, Johnston.

She reached toward him anyway. Caution wasn’t in her game plan for tonight. Her fingers stroked the side of his neck in a slow caress and slipped the neck of the sweater a few more inches to the side. “Tribal?”

He hadn’t been at all startled by her touch and merely smiled, his eyes slightly narrowed as if her response to his tattoo was the norm. She took her hand away from his neck and moved her gaze away from his face, making a leisurely sweep of the room as if she cared who else was there.

A small eddy of disquiet drifted to consciousness. She didn’t think he’d gotten the tat for its effect on women, but she’d bet next month’s paycheck that he used the curiosity it generated to his own advantage. She didn’t like feeling that she’d been predictable. If things went according to plan, she’d see him without the sweater soon enough. But she didn’t want him to know that.

Better just maintain position for a while. Can’t afford a fumble. Daniel Smith is a player… and an expert.
It didn’t change her plans. She’d already decided she wanted him in her bed, so they were working toward the same end. But that didn’t mean she intended to get played. She had to stay sharp.

And stop wondering about that design.

Their drinks arrived, strong, tangy and sweet. Thirsty, Sally took a healthy swallow that hit her empty stomach and gave her a fast buzz.
Mistake. You can’t afford to relax around him. Not if you want to stay in control.

Wait a minute. Why was she so intent on staying in control? The e
ssence of sex lay in a willingness to lose control. Was she ready to trust Daniel or not?

Before she could decide, the pager Daniel had set on the table b
etween them lit up and vibrated. Rising, they met the menu-carrying hostess and followed her to a table.

“So Daniel, where are you from, originally?” Sally crunched a tortilla chip carrying spicy salsa, as she waited for his answer.

“I grew up in Oceanside, California. Got my veterinary training at UC Davis.”

Alarm bells rang. Oceanside was just outside Camp Pendleton, where she and Trent had lived. Suddenly spending the night with Daniel seemed less like a good idea. But…
Don’t be silly. He was still a kid when Trent and I were there…a college kid. Besides, the notes started six months ago. He wasn’t here then.

True.

Sally brought her attention back to Daniel.

“What about you, Sally?” He reached across the table and stroked her wrist. “Did you grow up around here?” Ceding the hand, she answered and then bounced the conversational ball back into his court.

“Tell me how you came to be interested in veterinary medicine.”

He answered, appearing absorbed in their conversation, but as he spoke, he turned her hand palm upwards and began tracing a spiral that arced from the base of her thumb slowly inward to the sensitive center of her palm.

Wow. It was immensely distracting.
Sally schooled her features, wanting to appear unaffected as tingles flowing up her wrist to her arm, and deep inside her. Watching Daniel, she saw the corners of his mouth turn upwards. The effect of his move must have shown in her face.

Drat
. Well, she may have slipped behind, but she wasn’t ready to give up yet. She shifted in her seat and slid her hand out from under his, curving her fingers to trace a trail along his palm and down to the tips of his fingers as she withdrew. She saw his eyes narrow slightly.
Yes! An involuntary response. And the home team makes a comeback.

The food at Tia Maria’s was excellent, but Sally barely tasted it. Her competitive instincts aroused, she focused on the game between herself and Daniel, on move and countermove, to the exclusion of all else. As the meal drew to a close, she considered herself down on points, but continued fighting gamely. Her body thoroughly awake and alert, her mind working at warp speed, she kept score play by play, engrossed in the contest.
He’s moving into his end game.

After helping her into the
Hummer, he buckled her seat belt for her—a proprietary move. Then he reached up and slid a warm hand around the back of her neck, drawing her face down to his, moving slowly, giving her plenty of chance to object if she chose, before he captured her lips in a warm, persuasive kiss.

She had to give him full points for technique. Instead of trying to top her height advantage, he’d chosen a moment when any man would be working uphill to kiss her. It was genius. As he shut her door and came around
to the driver’s side, she leaned back in the seat smiling.

She wondered how he would handle the close.

chapter
twelve

Jim threw his coat on the floor of the shelter lobby and continued his pacing. He looked out the darkened window and across the moonlit meadow to Sally’s house. “Dammit, I am the sorriest, stupidest, biggest sap to ever walk this earth.

“She told me she wasn’t in the market for love. She called me warden. She tried to ditch me.”

And Smith had his hands all over her in the surgery.

“She doesn’t want me here.” Every vicious phrase slammed into his heart like a kick from a booted foot. He almost welcomed the pain. Where the hell was his pride?

She’s out with Smith, and she’s going to sleep with him.

“No damn complications from love there! So why the hell am I here?” A fist bounced off his chest. “Because I’m an idiot, that’s why.”

Because she’s going to give herself to Smith, while I sit over here like some damn pathetic pervert, knowing what she’s doing.

“I should just walk away and be done with her.”

And I would if I had even one blasted ounce of pride where she’s concerned. She’s made it obvious she wants me gone.

“Hell, I’m leaving. This is nuts…” Jim stopped pacing. Striding toward the lobby counter, he scooped his jacket up from the floor and yanked it on. About to grab his laptop and go, he stopped dead.

“Dammit, I can’t leave. I don’t trust Smith to stay the whole night. He’ll run off once he’s had his fun… And—stupid, stupid idiot that I am—I will not leave her unprotected, no matter what.” He tore off his coat and threw it back on the floor.

“Dammit!” His foot connected with the desk chair facing the window in a violent kick that sent it rocketing across the room.

Jim stared at the chair for a moment, breathing hard, before crossing the room to bring it back. He resumed his seat facing out the window, and took up his vigil again with a shake of his head. “Stupid sap.”

Where the hell were they? What the hell were they—
no, don’t go there.

Headlights shone on the road as a car approached from the south and turned toward the shelter, slowing as it passed Sally’s place. It was hard to tell, with only moonlight for illumination, but it looked like… It was.
A police cruiser.

“Oh, shit.” Jim held his breath as the car crawled slowly past the she
lter. He turned his head, watching for the reflection of headlights on the wall of the glass entryway. When the cruiser continued on its way, he relaxed and turned his attention back to Sally’s house. Restless, he got his laptop off the counter and sat back down.
May as well get some work done.

Ten minutes later, as Jim alternated between reading a PDF on hoof fungus in cattle and scanning the meadow, the kennel erupted in barks and howls
. The sound of someone banging on the glass door echoed through the entryway.

Jim shot up, whirling toward the lobby door. He couldn’t see the e
ntryway from where he was. Setting the laptop on the floor, he moved toward the center of the room. Yeah, someone was standing outside, pounding away. It looked like Demarco.

Great.
Just what I need.
Jim moved into the entryway and opened the door for the officer.

“What are you doing here,
Donovan? And why is your truck parked in the stalker’s turn off up the road?” There was no warmth in Demarco’s voice, and his hand hovered near the holster on his belt.

Jim sighed, pushing the door farther open. “Come on in, Officer D
emarco. I can explain. Haven’t you ever seen a man making a total fool of himself over some female?”

Demarco stepped into the entryway, frowning. Jim didn’t wait for an answer, but turned and headed back to his chair.

Demarco followed and stood to one side of Jim, not blocking his view out the window, but not relaxing either. “What’s the story, Donovan?”

Jim shook his head in disgust and looked out the window. “In a word, I’m
an idiot.” He jutted his chin toward the house. “She’s out tonight with Daniel Smith. I’m watching for the stalker.”

He turned his head to glare at Demarco. “She thinks she’s safe now. I’m not sure she is. He swung his arm to take in chair, laptop, window and himself. “So here I am.” His face twisted in disgust. “Thanks for as
king.”

Demarco didn’t move for a long minute. Then he hooked a chair and sat, looking at Jim’s face in the gloom. When he spoke, his voice was sympathetic. “God damn, man, you really do have it bad. Why’d you park your truck so far away, and how’d you get in here?”

“I didn’t want Sally to see the truck, and I’m the vet on call—I have a key to the place.”

“You planning on sitting up all night? What if your partner goes i
nside with her? How do you know who she’s with anyway?”

Jim rubbed his forehead. “He’s not my partner. He has a
six month contract and then he’s out of here... And I know who she’s with because he told me—besides, I was here when he picked her up.”

“You got binoculars here?”

“Yeah, on the counter. But he drives a big old humvee. Didn’t need binoculars to see it was him.” Jim snorted. “Didn’t want to look that close. Look, Demarco, I’m not going to go barging over there if he goes inside. It doesn’t matter.” Much. The knife in his gut twisted, turned by his own hand. “Sally and I are over. But I promised her my protection, and the job’s not finished yet, even if
we
are.”

“So you are planning on sitting here all night.”

“Yeah. You have a problem with that? I’m on private property, where I have a right to be, not hurting anyone.”
Except myself.

“Well, Doc, I don’t think it’s the wisest thing you’ve ever done, but no, I don’t have a problem with it. You make sure you stay put when she comes home.”

Ice settled in Jim’s stomach and spread to his gut. He let it chill his blood and numb his gaze as he raised his head. “You don’t need to worry about that, Demarco. I’ll be keeping my distance.”

In the Hummer,
Daniel navigated the drive to Sally’s house in silence. That seemed odd, but she didn’t really mind. They’d talked a lot at dinner… And now the time for talking was over.

Sally
tried to relax, but couldn’t. In the empty night, feelings of unease sprouted and grew.

Stop it. This is a straightforward solution to a simple problem. Daniel is safe and you won’t hurt him.

But with every mile her disquiet increased.

Trying to recapture the feeling that this was a good idea, she imagined Daniel’s embrace—his hands on her shoulders, sliding down to trap her arms at her sides. She felt herself pressed against the wall by his body, chest to chest, belly to belly, thigh to thigh, reminding her she was female and vulnerable…

Wait a minute.
It was Jim she saw.

Daniel. She had to focus on Daniel.
She felt the tingle of his erotic caress in her palm, and her sensitized hand longed to cup muscular triceps as she rubbed her cheek against a broad, hard back…

Damn
. It was Jim again.

She deliberately shifted her brain to wanton-mode and, focusing on her hormone-driven urges, began to drift in a sensual haze of desire. Soon, she felt familiar sensations stirring in her. She wanted a man. She slid her hot gaze over to Daniel…the strong throat, the tempting tattoo, the muscular chest…and the haze of desire cleared.

Sally felt her stomach curl into a tight, tense little ball. This wasn’t going to work. Confusion began to claw at her chest. Why was this happening? The game with Daniel had been fun—exhilarating, even. But now, when it came right down to the point, it was horribly clear that she’d only been fooling herself. The awakening her body had been feeling lately, her return to life after years of cold solitude—it all hinged on Jim. Why? How?

Cold fear slammed into her gut, and she took quick, shallow sips of air. She couldn’t worry about that now. Shit!

What was she going to do about Daniel?

She’d never been a tease or a cheat, but he might well think she was both. He was male and a hell of a lot stronger than she was. What would his reaction be? Slamming into the rear of that fear was another. It was night. The stalker might be around, and if she sent Daniel away, she’d be alone.

There are locks on the doors. I’ll be fine.
But Jim’s voice sounded in her brain. “…out here where it takes the police half an hour to get to you…”

Dammit, Jim, how did everything get so wrong? What am I going to do?

But he was gone. She’d sent him away—driven him away.

Logic, Johnston, logic.
Her emotions were scattering like leaves before a storm.
You can’t rely on emotion.
Her stomach rolled. She was going to be sick.
No! Get a grip.
Logic had brought her to this point with Daniel.
Forget emotion—the facts haven’t changed.
The only safe thing to do is stay with the plan.

He parked the
Hummer in her driveway, and came around to help her out. Sally took a deep breath, mentally pressing her stomach back into place. She forced a smile to her lips and lifted shaking fingers to touch his hair. “Daniel, would you like to come in?” She pulled the key from her pocket and placed it in his hand.

Something flashed through his eyes—an expression too brief to ide
ntify, yet somehow out of place. Then he took her hand in his and led her to the house.

Still holding her hand, he shut the
front door shut behind them. His free hand cradled her waist, slid to her hip and tucked the key back into her pocket. Leaving his fingertips caught inside the lip of her pocket, he searched her face with his eyes.

A band seemed to be constricting around Sally’s chest. Why didn’t he
do something? She tried to keep her expression welcoming, but as the moment stretched out, it became harder to do. Finally, she had to drop her gaze and look away.

Immediately his fingertips left her pocket and he tugged on her hand. Unresisting, she stepped forward as he led her to the couch. She sat, waiting for him to drop down beside her.

He released her fingers and sat in the overstuffed armchair.

Startled, she lifted her head and stared. A smile graced his face and his eyes were amused. “Sally, tell me what’s happening. You quit saying
‘Yes’ to me as soon as I kissed you. I’m wondering why you asked me in. Don’t you think it’s only fair to ‘fess up?”

Heat crept up Sally’s neck, past her jaw, over her cheeks and onto her temples. She groaned. Then—the look on his face was so good humored, so engaging—she felt the corners of her mouth lift despite her frown. “I must be out of my mind. You are what I was looking for. I wanted this—you, fun,
no strings. I still
want
to want this, but it just isn’t working.”

He quirked a brow at her.
“Is it the resemblance to your husband that’s thrown you off?”

“Oh... No. You’ve accomplished that goal. You don’t look like Trent to me anymore. You look like Daniel. I’m sorry. You must be feeling pretty upset with me, though you’re hiding it well.”

“Upset? No, not actually. Disappointed, of course. But dinner with you was fun. This doesn’t change that. Mostly, I’m curious.”

Relief washed over her. “
Curious? You’re not…”

It’s a gift. Take it and run.
But she couldn’t quite let it go.

“
So didn’t you... I mean don’t I… Well, why did you just let it go? You didn’t push me at all.” Safely alone on the couch, she looked him in the face, ignoring the flush she felt warming her cheeks.

He drew back slightly. “I don’t push. Never have.” Then he shrugged and shot her a wry grin. “Never had to.”

She was enjoying simply looking at him. “I can believe that.”

“Besides, I have three sisters—two older, one younger. They trained me right.
It’s not that I don’t like you.” He looked at her, taking his time, a slight furrow between his brows. “Sally, can I be straight with you—without you thinking I’m a conceited jerk?”

Unsure where he was going, she smiled. “Yeah, sure. Go ahead.”

“In my experience…” He looked away and shook his head, grinning. “I’m not sure I
can
be straight with you. Just saying that to you makes me feel like a conceited jerk.”

Her laughter erupted in a snort. “It’s because I’m female. Pretend I’m a man—a young mentee come seeking advice.”

He shot her another one of those bad-boy looks. “Yeah, right.”

She did like the way he made her feel, especially now that she wasn’t pressuring herself to do more than simply enjoy it.

Then he settled himself more firmly into the chair, changing gears, it seemed. “Okay, young Padawan,” he said.

She smiled at his mentor-voice, ready to enjoy the conversation.

“In my experience, when a woman—a nice woman—comes on and then backs off, it’s because her heart is entangled elsewhere.”