Page 30 of Say Yes

“No. She’s very fragile.”

He said with a touch of sarcasm, “She doesn’t sound fragile. Does it ever shut up?”

“Well…no. Not so far.” Then she hastened to say, “But I’m certain once she settles down, she’ll get quiet.”

Gavin sent her a doubting look as he carried the dog through the house. “You didn’t bother to wonder what I would think, but did you stop to wonder how Satan might react to the dog? She wouldn’t make much more than a snack for him. He might just mistake the dog for a squirrel or some other rodent. And in case you didn’t know, Satan is real fond of catching rodents.”

Sara’s eyes widened. “No, I hadn’t considered that.”

“Make certain the front door is closed tight.”

Sara started to ask why, then saw that Gavin was about to open the cage, and the little dog was running in circles as if winding itself up for the event. She checked the door, and just as he released the dog, Satan strolled into the room to investigate. The dog shot out as if propelled by force and skittered to a frenzied halt directly in front of Satan.

Then the yapping began again.

Satan endured it with nothing more than a mild look of disgust before he turned away. When the dog made a grab for his tail, Satan turned, punishing the animal with a quick swipe of one paw, then sat back to judge the results.

The dog went instantly mute.

Keeping a wary, worried gaze on Satan, the dog began slinking very slowly over to Sara, its gait awkward due to the missing leg. Satan blinked once in dismissal and curled up in the center of the floor to sleep.

Sara picked up the dog and smiled. “There, you see. They get along fine.”

Gavin seemed to be considering her. He watched her for so long, she began to squirm, and finally her temper ignited. “Will you stop it?”

He lifted one brow. “Stop what?”

“Stop trying to dissect me. I brought home a dog. This is still my home, Gavin. I can do as I please.”

It sounded like a challenge, a rather nasty one at that, even to her own ears. She was immediately contrite, but it put her on edge having him study her that way.

Gavin dropped his gaze to the floor and his hands went to his hips. She could see his chest rising and falling and knew he struggled to control his own temper. She almost wished the dog would start barking again. It was too damn quiet.

And then Gavin started toward her. She backed up two steps before she caught herself. He took the dog from her arms and set it on the floor. It wandered cautiously, creeping on its three legs, over to where Satan slept.

Gavin tugged her close to his chest. “I don’t want to fight with you today, babe.”

His voice had been so low, so husky, Sara blinked in confusion. What was he up to now?

He nuzzled her neck and she felt her annoyance melt like a chocolate bar in July. Her heart started galloping. He was such a sexy man, and it was so unfair of him to keep teasing her like this. When his hands settled on her back, then coasted down to her bottom, she sucked in a quick breath and shivered. “Gavin…”

“Shh. You’re so tense, honey. Relax, will you?”

Relax? She couldn’t possibly relax. Not when he was touching her. At the best of times he could arouse her with only a look, but touching, too? She tried to step away, but Gavin tightened his arms.

“I want you, Sara.”

Her mouth fell open, then she leaned back to see his face. “What?”

“I want you. Now.”

She continued to stare at him, disbelieving, her anger building to the boiling point, then suddenly detonating. “Of all the rotten, mean, underhanded…” She shoved him away, seeing his face go blank in surprise. “Have you looked at me, today? Well, have you? Do I look the least bit attractive?”

Both Gavin’s brows shot up. “Well…yes, you do. You always look nice.”

She leaned forward, jutting out her chin. “I’m bloated,” she growled in a near demonic tone, as intimidating as Satan ever hoped to be.

“Uh…”

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