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It took everything in me not to react. Logic told me it might have been nothing, but instinct told me it wasn’t. I needed to dig deeper. The sweet woman standing before me needed my protection. And I’d do anything to keep her safe.
ABBEY
The warmth in my belly settled between my legs. It wasn’t my sleep-clouded mind that imagined Duke’s eyes wandering up and down my body.
My shoulder hit the doorframe as I watched him stride down the hall to the front door. His jeans looked like they were made for him, cupping his ass perfectly. His broad shoulders stretched his light gray shirt, molding it to every muscle in his back. I licked my lips and sighed quietly. Duke was one dreamy officer. The vivid dreams he’d starred in last night replayed in my head.
Ahh.
Something cold and wet pressed against my calf. Jax sat beside me, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth. I gave his head a few scratches.
“I guess you need to go out, don’t you, bud?” I asked, and Jax licked my hand. “Okay. Let’s go.” Jax bumped against my leg as he rushed by me toward the door. My bare leg.
My entire body heated from head to toe.
Oh. My. God.
I had no pants on.
Duke saw me with no pants on.
I smacked my palm to my forehead and groaned. It hadn’t dawned on me what I was wearing when Officer Sexypant’s eyes had been wandering. Wiping my hand down my face, I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. I couldn’t change what happened, so I needed to put it out of my mind.
I threw on my jeans and let the dog lead the way.
By the time I’d walked Jax, taken a shower, and inhaled the breakfast left for me on the counter, Duke had returned with my bags.
My phone buzzed on the counter, making me jump. I’d forgotten we’d put it there to charge last night.
Grace: We’re hitting the road. Should be there around three.
Abbey: See you guys soon. Drive safe.
“Was that the girls?” Duke asked after he finished chugging a glass of water. It was hard not to stare. The way his throat worked the refreshing liquid, and the way his muscles bunched with every move he made around the kitchen…
“Yes. They should be here after lunch.” I swallowed to keep from drooling. “Did you have anything planned for today you need to do? I can make myself scarce if you want.”
Duke’s eyebrows scrunched together. “I don’t have anything planned. You’re welcome to stay here, or you can explore the ranch. If anyone questions you, just let them know who you are. Grace and Blake talk about you enough around here. I don’t expect you’ll have any issues.”
“I hope it’s all good things. Those two are like my sisters. Who knows what they say.” I clapped my palms to my cheeks to hide the growing heat. I could only imagine the stories the two of them had been sharing.
“All good so far, but you just got here. Stories tend to come out when everyone is together.” Duke’s eyebrow rose, and a sexy smirk lifted from the edge of his lips.
I stared at the granite countertop. Those gray eyes of his were too penetrating, and there were things I wasn’t ready to share just yet.
“Does that mean there are plenty of stories to hear?” he teased.
I chewed my bottom lip when my eyes landed on his slightly upturned lips and ignored his good-natured question. “I think I’m going to roam around the ranch for a bit.” I strode to the guest room to grab a few things. When we drove down the dirt entrance on the way in yesterday, I couldn’t believe the beauty of this place. My fingers itched to sketch the landscape.
I grabbed my sketchbook, a few pencils, and my phone before heading out. Jax followed me, but I hesitated at the door. I didn’t want to take him out if I shouldn’t. “Stay, bud.”
“Take Jax with you. He needs to stretch his legs. He missed his morning run,” Duke said from where he leaned against the column in the living room.
“He won’t run away or anything, will he?” I didn’t know the dog well enough, and I didn’t want to have to look after him when I wanted to lose myself in my art. And I didn’t want Duke angry with me if I lost his dog. I forced back the shiver that threatened to roll through me. Duke wasn’t Jeff, and he hadn’t given me any indication he would be.
“He’ll be fine. He knows his way around the ranch. We usually let him roam around all day and call him when it’s time to go inside. Plus, the way he’s glued to your side, I don’t think he’ll wander very far from you.” His smile reassured any doubt in my chest.
“Come on, Jax. Let’s get a move on.” I opened the door and stepped into the morning sun. Texas heat was brutal, and with fall just days away, it was only just beginning to cool down. I needed to find shade if I was going to stay out long enough to satisfy my need to draw.
