AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’ve never wanted that.
Not with anyone, not even when things with Adrian were new and a wink from him across a crowded lecture hall could make my skin flush all over.
I’m so stunned that I don’t speak for several long seconds, long enough for the man to repeat himself, “Are you okay?”
Swallowing hard, I nod, but before I can speak, we’re attacked.
No, not attacked. It’s more like we’re mobbed, but sweetly mobbed, by soaking wet, wriggling balls of furry enthusiasm. Three dogs—puppies, it looks like—tumble over us, between us, licking and whimpering as my savior does his best to keep the leaves out of our faces and grab for their collars at the same time.
“No! Down, Bacon,” he rumbles as one of the dogs leaps onto my back, flattening me onto his strong chest again. “Sorry,” he adds. “I have no idea how they got out of their kennels.”
“It’s fine,” I say, my words ending in a grunt as Bacon leaps off my spine. I take the opportunity to wrench myself into a seated position and reach for the tree limbs. “Here. Let me hold those while you get up.”
“Thanks,” the man says, cursing as two of the dogs hurl themselves across his thighs. He sighs, humor mixing with the frustration in his voice as he says, “No, Egg and Cheese. Get up. I told you; we’ll snuggle when we’re somewhere safe and this isn’t it.”
As if to underscore his words, another cracking sound splits the air as the trunk splinters more at the base.
The dogs on Sexy Stranger’s legs launch into startled motion, bolting across the parking lot toward the terminal entrance, where Bacon is wriggling in front of a man in a blue uniform. The man dangles something brown in the air above the dog, sending him into fresh paroxysms of excitement.
“Bacon’s about to eat bacon,” the man mutters as he comes to stand beside me, smoothing his wet hair away from his face. He casts a quick smile my way, one that’s every bit as warm as his eyes and instantly makes the crush I’m developing ten times worse. “I didn’t name them. The people at the shelter did. As much as I love a breakfast sandwich, I wouldn’t have gone for bacon, egg, and cheese as puppy names.”
“Valid,” I breathe as my traumatized brain connects the dots. A man with three puppies, three pit bull puppies… What are the chances this gorgeous, heroic human is anyone but the pilot I’ve been sent to collect? “Good way to stay hungry all the time.”
“Exactly.” His grin widens as he extends his hand. “I’m Gideon. Nice to meet you…”
“Sydney.” Yep, he’s my guy, all right. My cheeks burn as his fingers close around mine. They’re still oddly warm despite the chill in the air and the urge to keep touching him is stronger than ever. “Sydney Watson.” I force myself to squeeze his palm once and release it. “Moira with Pilots for a Paws called me a little while ago. I’m here to pick you up and take you to your lodging for the night.”
His expression softens with relief. “Thank God. And good thing I kept you from getting crushed.”
“Very good,” I say, with a nervous laugh. “Thank you for that. I don’t know if I would have made it out of the way in time. I thought the sound of the tree falling was lightning at first. By the time I realized what was happening…”
“Yeah. Glad I wasn’t too late.” His smile dims as he reaches for my cheek again. “You do have a little cut though. Just here.”
I fight the urge to lean into his touch. “Really? I can’t feel it.”
“It’s small, and barely bleeding, but you’ll want to clean it when you get home.”
“Thanks, will do.” I tell myself to step away before I do something embarrassing like nuzzle his palm, but I lack the willpower at the moment. “We should get you and the puppies settled.” I glance back toward where the three dogs are performing very wiggly “sits” for the man in blue to win pieces of the bacon. “And we should get them back in their kennels before our nice friend over there runs out of treats.”
Gideon’s hand falls to his side with a sigh. “Agreed. I’ll go wrangle the pups. Could you pull your car around to the terminal to load the kennels? I wouldn’t usually mind a walk in the rain, but this is a lot of rain, and I tweaked my back a little when we fell.”
My forehead furrows. “Oh no, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” His gaze locks with mine in a way that makes the blood rush in my ears. “I’m just a little bruised. Nothing a couple Ibuprofen won’t cure. I’m just glad you’re all right. After the day I’ve had, the last thing I needed was to witness a beautiful woman being crushed by a tree.”
My cheeks burn from the compliment. “Thanks again. I’ll bring the car around. There should be plenty of room in the trunk for all three kennels, but if not, we can put the seats down in back.”
“Great. See you up there,” he says before he turns and strides away.
I only watch him go for a second, but it’s plenty of time to note that he’s every bit as gorgeous from the back as he is from the front. He has an easy, confident gait that reminds me of professional athletes. He walks like a man who’s at home in his own skin, a man who has no doubt that he can handle any challenge that comes his way.
If there’s anything sexier than that, I can’t name it.
I also can’t name the feeling buzzing beneath my skin as I hurry back through the rain toward the car. I only know that it’s warm and achy and reminds me of how starved I always felt after a long day of classes with no time to grab lunch in between.
It’s like I’m hungry.
No, not hungry…another “h” word, one I’ve never experienced in connection with a man I’ve only known for five minutes. I’m more of a slow burn kind of girl. I don’t contract cases of spontaneous lust, but there’s no denying that’s what this is. I’m filled with lustful feelings for a complete stranger.
