Chapter 6 #2
She wrangled the piece of rope until she managed to free it from the dying scrubby bushes I’d yet to cut down, almost falling on her butt in doing so. As if in one of those comedy movies, she jumped to her feet, holding the rope inches in front of my face.
“This is how you were tying up your dog, your tiny baby puppy? No wonder he cried. You’re a horrible monster.” She huffed and puffed, shaking her head when I didn’t say anything right away. Few people caught me completely off guard. “You have nothing to say for your horrible actions?”
I finally cleared my throat. “Look at the condition of the wood on the back of the building. That kid damaged my shed.” Something had occurred, although the deep scratches could have easily been created with thick nails from a dog.
“That kid? That kid is my child. My perfect child and my guess is that he was trying to rescue the poor, sweet, abused animal any way he could. He’s a little hero.”
Her sickeningly sweet smile was just enough to briefly fluster the hell out of me. “A hero? Pouring it on a little think, aren’t you?”
“Every bit the truth.” As she rose to her feet, she smacked one hand on her hip. “Am I going to find other sick and hurt puppies in your shed or poor little dead bodies?”
“Huh?”
She tossed the rope and scooted around me with a wide berth, disappearing all over again. This woman had some nerve. I threw my hands into the air, glaring at the sky.
I found her trying to open the door, jerking on it even though the wooden entrance was obviously locked. Although the lock appeared scarred. Had the kid tried to get inside? Without thinking, I slapped my hand over hers.
In perhaps the most shocking moment of all, I was driven into utter silence and immobility with only my heart thudding. Not because she’d hit me with a tree like before, but because of the heavy jolt of electricity that slammed into my hand, within seconds traveling down the length of my body.
Specifically, to my dick, which responded by pushing brutally against my jeans.
Her gasp drew my attention. So did her expression of consternation while her gaze lingered on my crotch. There was no doubt she was having the same heavy dose of sensations, especially since she dared inflame the situation by dragging the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip.
Her plump bottom lip.
Christ. Now I was undressing her with my eyes. Not only because of the crazy unwanted connection but also from her intoxicating perfume, the fragrance of smoky vanilla and deep amber creating sensual, luxurious promises of passion.
Wow. I was clearly still exhausted.
She yanked her hand away, furiously wiping it on her jeans as she shook her head. Removing cobwebs? “You didn’t answer the question.” The defiant anger from before had dissipated, leaving a breathless sound to her voice.
“I don’t remember what the question was.” And I didn’t. Not because I had an issue remembering anything, but because of her insane beauty.
“Of course you wouldn’t, blockhead. Are there more puppies to worry about?” While she likely hadn’t wanted me to notice, she glanced at her fingers before curling them. Did she think I had cooties?
Blockhead? Wow. I could add that to the list.
However, now her tone was dreamy. And I was losing my mind. “Of course not.”
We glared at each other in defiance while sparks flew in various vivid colors, swirling like a raging thunderstorm. My God. I needed sleep. Days of sleep.
“Good. Fine. There better not be. And why are you naked?” Her demand was followed with a laugh-snort that she tried to pass off as a sound of disgust.
But I heard it. My cock twitched in response.
“What do you mean why am I naked? I’m not naked. I’m wearing jeans.”
“With no shirt! And you are… You’re…”
I’d be damned if the woman didn’t blush, blinking a few times before looking away. Was she attracted to me?
I believe she was. In fact, when she realized I’d caught her looking again, her face turned beet red.
How freaking adorable.
Even if the woman was a pain in the ass.
Her entire nasty demeanor seemed to be crumbling, fizzling into the earth. About damn time. However, before I had a chance to say a thing, she turned and headed toward the forest, her long legs forcing me to admire her rounded butt. My mouth was dry, my balls aching.
Jesus. What the hell was wrong with me?
I opened my mouth to object when she skidded to a stop and spun around to face me.
“You’re a terrible person.” Her eyes were wilder than before, her entire face lit up like a Christmas tree. While highly inappropriate, I was thoroughly aroused.
But her nasty attitude grated on my nerves. “And you need punishment for beating me with a log.” And I meant it.
“Ha! Punishment? Over my dead body, buddy. You try and do anything to me and I’ll… I’ll…” I’d be damned if the woman didn’t fist her hands, taking a fighter’s stance. I could almost see her in front of my punching bag. Or mud wrestling. Yeah, I’d pay to see that.
My balls twitched in response. “You’ll what, exactly?” I was eager to hear her answer.
She huffed, the air in her lungs powerful enough to blow a huge strand of hair several inches from her face. I had a way of making women angry, but not like this. “Bastard.”
“Why, yes, I am. Thank you for noticing and for giving me a damn good reason to highlight my best side.”
“Oh! Just so you know,” she barked. “We’re keeping the puppy. A beast like you doesn’t deserve a sweet little creature. You poor excuse for a man. You snake. You… You’re lucky I’m not going to contact the police myself.”
With that and a big, fat, deep huff, she disappeared into the shadows.
Her sultry perfume lingered, filling my nostrils to intoxication.
“What. The. Hell?”
I stood in the very same place, positioned like a man suddenly consumed by dry ice, staring at the woods. Did I think she was going to magically reappear like a wood nymph? Or was I worried she had friends, wolves in sheep’s clothing?
I had no clue, but what I did know was that if she was my neighbor, we were going to get a few things straight, like that she couldn’t allow her kid to appear on my property without my permission for starters.
Plus, neither that devil child nor his mother had any idea there were wild animals in these woods.
Bears and wolves, coyotes and… bears. Lots of bears.
Maybe not this close, but close enough. And just to pick up a puppy and decide to keep him? What if he belonged to someone? What if he had parents who were desperately looking for him?
Great. I had a puppy thief living next to me.
This was ridiculous.
Why should I care if she was mauled to death by a furry creature with razor-sharp teeth? Cursing under my breath, I turned to head back to the house. With images of the mysterious wild woman still floating in my mind. Crap. I was losing it, my balls still tight and my cock refusing to deflate.
Maybe I did need to get laid, but not with her. If I tried, my dick would likely end up being cut off for some monstrosity of a crime.
I chuckled, pretending I’d dodged a bullet when the sun cascading through the trees sent a strange reflection into my eyes. What the hell? Crouching low, I grabbed the object, pulling it into the light as I stood.
“Holy shit.” I was holding a Matchbox car, but not just any toy you could purchase at some store or on the internet.
The bright red enamel exterior with a solid black interior nineteen seventy-one Dragster was considered one of the rarest Superfast cars and valued well over four thousand dollars.
I’d never seen one in my life and somewhere in my parents’ attic was a box containing at least a hundred fifty tiny, perfect vehicles, several considered rare.
I kept it held into the light, staring in awe and with extreme reverence.
I’d always wanted one for my collection.
The kid must have dropped it when wrangling with the puppy.
With a quick glance toward the forest all over again, for a split second the evil boy inside of me, the one who was suddenly ten years old all over again and one mean son of a bitch had returned.
I could just keep the valuable car and the kid would never know.
The thought lingered for a full ten seconds until I mentally kicked myself in the ass. Had I truly thought something so heinous? Could I do that to a kid? Even if he was a little hellion?
No. I could not. Contrary to what the mystery woman thought, I wasn’t a monster.
Maybe just an asshole.
But I could fix that. If she was my neighbor, it would be the neighborly thing to do.
At least I could fix my reputation in the process.
And I wouldn’t leave until we had a few things straight between us.