Page 14 of Tucker

Not that he was looking at her face with her in that position, her ass right there as if to tempt him.

“Ooooh,” she whispered in breathy awe, her head under the bed. “Tucker, they’re beautiful.”

He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips, but he did manage to resist joining her on the floor. “Yes, they are.” He’d put a big, soft blanket under the bed once he realized the dog was settling in there. He’d already cleaned and dried her and the babies as best he could, but for a few hours after, she’d patiently continued to groom them.

Not what a man wanted to listen to while trying to sleep. In fact, it was kind of gross. But of course he hadn’t complained. The poor dog had been through enough, in his opinion, and if she wanted to dote on those babies, well, he’d encourage her all he could.

“They’re so tiny,” Kady whispered.

“But chubby. She’s taking good care of them, feeding them well.” In fact, that was something else he’d heard long into the night–the sound of little gluttons suckling.

Damn it, he smiled again just remembering.

Kady said, “Ohhh,” as the mama dog did an army-crawl out from under the bed. The dog turned her worried brown eyes on Tucker.

“It’s okay, girl.” Odd how the dog had immediately bonded with him, but not Kady. Maybe it was his calm demeanor that she gravitated to. “She’s just here to admire you and those beautiful pups.”

As if she understood, the dog’s curly tail wagged, and she disappeared back under the bed.

“She looks very different without the mud.”

Just as Kady looked very different kneeling beside his bed. “All the pups have the same white blaze on their faces. They’re like little miniatures of her.”

“It’s dark under the bed and they’re in the blankets, so I couldn’t tell—oh!” She’d no sooner started to explain than the dog brought out a puppy and set it by her knees.

Kady’s expression melted. “Oh, Tucker.” Gently, she cradled the fat, wiggling ball of yellow fur, brushing it against her cheek.

“She’ll bring you the rest now.” Unable to stop himself, he came to sit near her, thought better of it and instead sat on the side of the bed.

Dangerous territory, that. He reached down and took the puppy from her.

“Careful! Don’t hurt your arm.”

“My arm is fine.” It wasn’t, and it wouldn’t be for a while, but he didn’t want her mothering him.

No, he wanted something entirely different from her—but he knew he shouldn’t. He knew, sure as he knew he’d eventually wear down, that she’d be trouble for him.

But he wasn’t a man who ran from trouble; he preferred to face it head-on.

“You should be wearing your sling.”

“I’ll put it on before I leave the house.” He’d also steer clear of her until he was 100% again. God knew he’d need to bring his A game to deal with her and all the ways she tempted him. There’d be hurdles—quite a few of them, considering the size of her family—but he’d manage. Onhisterms, not hers.

Before Kady could do more complaining, she had the other puppies in her arms.

“She’s a proud little thing,” Tucker explained, “and she loves showing off her babies.”

“I can see why. They’re so adorable.”

“Yeah.” Tucker hefted the pup he held up to his face. Now clean and dry, the puppy smelled nice.

“I love puppy breath.”

Puppy breath? He’d never really thought about it, but yeah, he kind of liked it, too. The pup he held fit in the palm of one hand, but with a firm round belly overflowing. “I’ve always liked dogs,” he admitted.

“Really?” Somehow she’d scooted closer so that her shoulder touched his shin, and her upturned face made her eyes look big and innocent.

He wasn’t buying it. Physically, she might well be innocent; he had no reason to doubt her on that. In fact, his gut told him that everything she said was true.

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