Page 35 of Taming I Do
“That’s awful. Why do so many dogs seem to come from dog fighting rings around here?”
He ran a hand over Buster’s belly. The dog flopped over on his side and let his tongue loll out of his mouth in pure ecstasy. “Deputy Phillips has been tracking a mobile dog fighting ring for a couple of years. Every time they think they’re getting close, it moves out of the area and pops up somewhere else.”
“That’s terrible.” I ran my palm over the dog’s stomach, earning a series of tail whaps.
“He likes you.” Jasper grinned, his smiling warming my soul.
I scratched a little harder and Buster moaned. “He doesn’t know any better.”
“He’s actually a really good judge of character.” Jasper retreated through the open door and back into the hall. “I’m going to run up to the house to see if my dad’s got anything to take care of your crickets. I set a clean towel out for you on the bathroom counter, and coffee’s on.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t used to anyone catering to me. Usually, I was the one trying to make things easier for Stella, always soothing my mother’s rattled nerves. It was nice to be on the receiving end for a change.
Jasper pulled the door closed behind him. I stretched my arms over my head as my gaze traveled around the room. It had been dark last night, but now, with the soft light coming through the curtain, I could get a better look. I’d been right about there not being any sign of a woman’s presence. It shouldn’t have made me feel better, but it did. After that blistering kiss last night, I was going to have a hard time thinking about Jasper Taylor in a strictly platonic fashion. My pulse kicked up as I remembered how his lips had felt on mine.
Getting involved with the hospitality host wasn’t a good idea. I’d only be in town for a month. And I wasn’t about to throw myself into a no-strings-attached fling. I’d be better off bottling up all that heat and saving it for when I got back to Dallas andgot settled. Then I’d have plenty of time to find someone who checked off all my boxes.
I gave Buster a final scratch on his stomach, then rolled out of bed. The day had already gotten away from me. I had places to go and people to see. Not to mention an attraction to squelch.
Jasper
I wasn’tsure what to expect when I entered my place again. When I left, Delilah had been curled up in my bed, snuggling with my dog. It didn’t surprise me that Buster had taken to her right away. As far as I could tell, Delilah had spent her whole life winning people over. It was literally her job. I’d best remember that and not try to find any deeper meaning in that kiss she laid on me last night. I wasn’t about to get used by another gorgeous woman with an ulterior motive. For a half a second, I thought of Adeline. She couldn’t have been responsible for the crickets in Delilah’s trailer, could she?
I knew from experience that Adeline wouldn’t let anything stop her from getting what she wanted. And she wanted the title of most romantic small town in Texas. But sabotaging the judge’s trailer wouldn’t win her any points. Besides, Adeline didn’t do bugs. Someone else had to be behind it. Whoever it was, they’d better stop at a relatively harmless prank. Keeping Delilah safe fell under my umbrella of responsibility. For better or for worse, she was in my care, and I’d make damn sure no harm came to her under my watch.
“I’m back,” I called out as I opened the front door. The last thing I needed was to surprise her and find her walking around naked. Seeing her in that flimsy, see-through nightie had alreadyensured I’d never be able to look at her the same again. Not now that I had a pretty good idea of the curves underneath those fancy skirts and dresses she seemed to favor.
“In the kitchen,” Delilah answered.
Buster bounded over to greet me. “Hey, boy. Have you been good for Delilah?”
She stood in the doorway that led from the living room into the kitchen, a spatula in her hand. “He’s been fabulous. I wish he could talk though. Would have saved me some time trying to figure out where you keep everything.”
“Are you cooking?” So that’s what I smelled. I’d noticed it when I came in the door but figured she’d sprayed some sort of perfume or air freshener.
“Pancakes. Would have cut up some fruit to go along with it, but your refrigerator is empty.” She turned to head back into the kitchen. “Time to flip. You want any?”
I glanced down at Buster. “What’s going on?”
The dog didn’t answer, just cocked his head one way and then the next.
“I couldn’t find any maple syrup so you can have peanut butter or honey on top.” With her back to me, she stood at the stovetop and worked the spatula in her hand.
“You didn’t have to do this.” I leaned against the counter, enjoying the way her hips moved as she flipped flapjacks.
“I know you said we could go out but look at me.” She turned, pointing to her clothes. “I hope you don’t mind I borrowed a shirt and some shorts.”
I hadn’t even noticed when I walked in, but she was wearing one of my college T-shirts and a pair of my athletic shorts. “Where are the clothes I grabbed for you?”
Her face flushed before she twirled back around to face the stove. “I’m not sure it would be appropriate for me to go outin public in any of them. Seems you were in a hurry and only grabbed things from my lingerie drawers.”
Shit. I scrubbed a hand over my eyes. The image of Delilah’s lacy underthings had been seared on my brain. And now she knew I’d had my hands in her drawers. Dammit. Her dresser drawers. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. I figured breakfast was the least I could do to thank you for your late-night rescue.” She opened the cabinet next to the stove. “Where do you keep your plates?”
I moved to her other side and pulled two plates from the cabinet. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” She piled a tall stack of pancakes onto a plate and handed it to me, then flipped one onto her plate before walking over to the table.
