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CHAPTER TWELVE

WHITNEY WAS SO intently watching Lexi eat that she didn’t realize Adam had come back into the cottage until she heard a soft sound behind her. She turned away from Lexi and smiled at him. “That gate needs a lock. Obviously, Lexi can figure out how to open it.”

“I think a combination padlock would be easiest.” He paused. “We have a storeroom at the office with all kinds of locks and security devices. I’ll bring one home tonight.”

“Thanks. I appreciate all you’ve done.” She ruffled her hand through her hair, remembering how she’d flung accusations like hot coals. “Wow! I really overreacted. Much as I hate to admit it, I owe Ryan an apology. I’ll call him first thing in the morning.”

“Why don’t you have an attorney look over those papers? If he says it’s okay, sign them. You need to move forward.”

“You’re right,” she assured him. “I’m ready to start over. I really am.”

He studied her for a moment, then moved closer. “Are you?”

Electricity arced between them, so strong she could practically feel its heat. Her breath caught, then rushed out ragged and fast. His intense blue eyes dilated as he gazed at her and waited for a response.

“Absolutely.” The word fell from her lips as a soft plea. “I want to get on with my life.”

She wasn’t sure how Adam felt, but she knew she wanted him. After that first scary encounter, she’d been afraid of him, but her impression had changed. He was an attractive man, but more than that, he was a kind person. She couldn’t imagine Ryan running around in the middle of the night searching for a lost dog owned by a woman he hardly knew.

“Come here.” There was a huskiness to his voice that spiked her pulse. When Adam reached for her, Whitney eased into his arms with a sigh that floated through the air.

He crushed his mouth to hers, muttering something that sounded like a low growl. Her lips instantly parted and she squeezed her eyes shut. She folded her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his as his tongue swirled into her mouth-hot, greedy. Her breasts molded against the hard planes of his chest and her nipples immediately began to throb. He tasted every bit as masculine and erotic as she’d imagined he would.

The warmth of his powerful body sent a heady sense of anticipation through her. What would it be like to make love to him? she wondered as he continued to kiss her. During the last year with Ryan, their lovemaking had been sporadic. She’d sensed his indifference and tried everything she could think of to please him. It had been so stressful that she couldn’t remember what it was like to be desired. With a thrill, she realized this man wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Forget Ryan! He’s so-o-o over.

Adam’s hands wove through her hair, changing the angle of her head so he could kiss her more deeply. The feel of his fingers on her scalp sent languid heat radiating through the lower reaches of her body. Her toes curled. His tongue kept tangling with hers until she was nearly mindless with the need to have him inside her.

His hands left her hair and caressed the taut muscles of her back. Too many long, lonely nights seemed like something that had happened to a stranger. For an instant she wondered about Adam’s past, about the haunted look in his eyes. But those thoughts vanished as his hands roved lower and squeezed her bottom, then pushed her flush against his erection. Senses reeling, she arched her back and moved invitingly against the turgid heat of his arousal.

He edged one hand between their bodies and captured her breast. The nipple was already a tight nubbin, but the heat of his hand made it ache with a need more intense than anything she’d ever experienced. She longed to feel his mouth on her breast, her nipple between his lips.

His thumb swept back and forth across her nipple, teasing the sensitive bead through the sheer fabric of her T-shirt. A primal moan rumbled from deep in her throat. She honestly couldn’t get enough of him.

A chirping sound made her pull back. “W-what?”

Adam gave a snort of disgust. “My cell phone. I’m on call, but I don’t know what could be going on at this hour.” He yanked the tiny phone off his belt. “Hunter.”

Whitney turned, noticed Lexi had finished eating and was standing at the back door. The retriever always went to the bathroom right after she ate. She let the dog out and stood watching her. The gate was closed, but she refused to take any chances.

She put a hand to her moist lips. Her heart was still pounding, her knees still jittery. What had she been thinking? She was acting like some wanton woman who’d been on a deserted island for the last year. Granted, few of her peers would fault her, but she had her own standards. Whitney had never been one to throw herself at a man. She heard Adam come up behind her and looked over her shoulder.

“I’ve gotta go. An emergency at one of our guard posts. Could you take care of Jasper?”

“Of course,” she replied, resisting the urge to ask when she’d see him again.

He bent down and brushed a soft kiss across her lips. “I’ll come back with the lock.”

After he left, Whitney trudged into the bedroom, so exhausted she could hardly think. Jasper and Lexi followed her. They found Maddie and Da Vinci asleep on Whitney’s bed. Creatures of habit, they’d put themselves to bed earlier in the evening. Surprisingly, the sound of a car and Lexi’s return hadn’t disturbed them. Common sense told her to take them outside-especially Da Vinci, who was prone to “slips,” but she was too tired.

She nudged them aside so she could have a place on the queen-size bed, reminding herself that over forty percent of dog owners slept with their pets. She wasn’t so strange. Jasper sprang onto the bed and joined the two other small dogs. She scooted sideways to make room for Lexi. She patted the mattress. Lexi stood there a moment, perplexed. She usually slept in her cushy dog bed on the floor. A second thump on the covers, and Lexi sprang up beside Whitney, then settled in.

Whitney stroked the soft fur on the retriever’s head, her heart stutter-stepping when she thought how close she’d come to losing Lexi. Something hummed inside her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was a cry of relief or despair. A post she’d read on Muttsblog.com sprang to mind.

When did Fido become Fred? The online question had been followed by a very thoughtful post about how the Fido of the fifties-a house pet-had become Fred-a bona fide member of the family. As society changed, the blogger claimed, pets assumed a new role. Dogs began to fill the emotional gaps in people’s lives as the world became increasingly disconnected.

When Whitney met fellow walkers-dog owners often walked at the same time along the same route-they referred to her not by name but as “Lexi’s mom.” This implied her retriever had the status of a child. Few of those dog owners in the neighborhood where she’d lived with Ryan knew her name.

A soft snuffling sound told her Lexi was asleep but Whitney kept petting her. It was true, she conceded to herself. Lexi filled so many voids in her life. From the time they’d bought Lexi almost five years ago, the dog had begun to move into the place that Ryan had once occupied. It was the beginning of the end of their relationship. Looking back, she realized Ryan had begun to withdraw shortly before he brought home the puppy.

Without family or many friends, there was an empty space in Whitney’s heart that she hadn’t realized existed until now, when Lexi moved into it. She had been on the brink of utter despair when Lexi vanished. The depth of Whitney’s vulnerability had been even worse than when Ryan had left her. She’d almost lost it-in front of Ryan and the bimbo he’d married. In front of Adam.

“You need a life,” she whispered into the darkness.