Page 27 of Tempting Fire

“Please, I can’t deal.”

He whined.

She looked past the huge animal to Zarek who was standing behind his dog.

“Don’t look at me, this is between you two.”

Slayer laid his curly black head on her thighs. She pushed her fingers through the silk of his fur. She swore that the dog moaned in pleasure.

“I think you’ve just been adopted,” Zarek smiled.

“Which one of us are you talking too?” Chloe asked.

“Both of you. Let’s get you into the house.” Zarek snapped his fingers and Slayer stepped back from the truck and went to his master’s side.

“What kind of dog is he?”

“He’s a Black Russian Terrier. Very territorial of his house and his people.” Zarek helped Chloe step down from the truck.

“Why was he nice to me?”

“He’s got good instincts.”

“Seriously.”

“I told him you were a friend, and what’s more you smelled like me.”

He leaned into the back seat of the cab and pulled out the overnight bags. She glanced to the bed of the truck that had more of her things that he had packed the day before yesterday from her house. He saw her looking.

“Is there anything in there that you need tonight, or can it wait for tomorrow to be unloaded?” he asked.

“Tomorrow is fine.”

“Let’s get you inside.”

Instead of waiting for him to assist her, she grabbed her bag of candy and jumped out of the truck, landing wrong on her bad foot and gasped in pain.

“Dammit Chloe, can’t you just wait for a second and let someone help you?”

“It’s not that bad,” she said as she gingerly stepped forward. Zarek put his arm around her and guided her toward the door that led into the house. The first thing that struck her was the bouquet of flowers on the kitchen counter. She sent Zarek a quizzical glance.

“They’re for you.”

“You got me flowers for invading your space? Are you out of your mind?” She moved forward towards them, and he continued to support her so she didn’t put additional weight onto her foot.

“They’re beautiful. How did you arrange these? Seriously, you’re crazy.” The man got her flowers when she was nothing but deranged burden from his past.

“Luke was dog-sitting for me, I told him to pick up a bouquet of daffodils for you. I pray to God the guest bedroom has clean sheets. He said he would take care of things.”

Chloe touched the petals of the flowers. Zarek was doing things that made her feel. It was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid. The candy, the flowers, the dog…the man. She whirled on him, flinching when her foot hurt.

“Stop it!”

“Huh?”

“Just back off.”

“Whoa, Chloe, what’s wrong?”