Page 21 of Unlawful Seduction

“He was a rescue. Bad situation. The pup was close to death from malnutrition. He had sores all over his body from where his former owner used to burn him with cigarettes. He walked with a limp for six months after I took him in. He was broken mentally, psychically, and spiritually. The exterior wounds healed.”

He wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already seen. “It’s amazing the lengths rescue organizations will go to. Then there’s the amazing foster parents and adopters like yourself. Thank you for adopting him and giving him a better life.”

“I didn’t adopt him.”

“What do you mean?”

He lifted his head ever so slowly. “I took him from his previous owners.”

“Oh, they gave him up.”

“Not exactly.” There was that smirk again. There was another frigid chill running all the way down my neck and spine to my toes as well.

“I don’t blame you. They didn’t deserve him. I hope you turned them into law enforcement. In most states, animal cruelty that severe is a federal crime.”

He stood, his huge figure looming over me. “Not exactly. I’m going to get us dinner.”

“Oh, um…” The switch was so abrupt I didn’t have a snappy comeback. Not exactly. I could easily read between the lines.

A lesson had been taught. Oddly enough, I wanted to learn the details.

“Take care of him, Doc. He’s all I have.” Without asking me what I’d like or where in town was a good place to grab us a quick bite, he grabbed his jacket and returned to the front room. The man wasn’t threatening me exactly, but I knew better than to cross him under any circumstances.

As soon as he’d walked out, I let out a captured breath, feeling completely lightheaded.

“Your daddy dog is something else, baby boy. Whew.” I closed the cage, checked the fluids, and turned out the overhead bright light. Jax needed his rest.

Breathing out to gain full control, I hadn’t realized how nervous he made me until I moved into the reception area, noticing he’d already left. I briefly thought about locking him out and heading home, but everything in the back of my mind told me he’d break in, hunt me down, or both.

I locked the door behind him, at least wanting some sense of control, and immediately grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge before heading to my office. With him gone, I coulduse the time to see if I could find anything on the internet about him.

Barely fifteen minutes into doing so and I realized there was literally zero on the man on the worldwide web. That wasn’t crazy abnormal, but in this day and age, it seemed like everyone had a footprint. The mystery was increasing.

I continued searching, lost in the pages when I heard a hard thumping on the front door. Jumping involuntarily, I hissed and pressed my hand against my chest. How hard could my heart beat at this point?

After cutting off the monitor, I hurried to the entrance, peeking out before daring to open the door. Beckett stood covered in snowflakes, looking far too handsome for someone I considered a killer. The thought brought butterflies to my stomach. Then my stomach growled in appreciation of the incredible smells associated with whatever dinner was hiding behind the two paper bags.

“I must admit that smells incredible.”

“I shoulda asked what you wanted. I picked. Chinese.”

“Who doesn’t adore Chinese? Come on, I have a tiny breakroom, but I have napkins, forks, and a little table for us to sit at.”

He locked the door behind him just like he’d done before, his boots stomping on the tile as he trailed after me. The breakroom was incredibly small for a massive frame like his, but at least he didn’t crowd my space. Yet being around him was still oppressive. There was no reason for me to think that way.

After he took off his jacket, he moved to one of the bags, pulling out a six-pack of beer. The purchase struck me oddly, making me smile.

“You should have one, Doc. You deserve it,” he told me, the tone still commanding, but not threatening in any way.

“Technically I’m on duty. I’ll get my bottle of water from my office.” I pulled out a couple of cartons, shocked at the amount of food he’d purchased. Now my stomach was really rumbling.

“I’ll get it for you.” He popped the top on one beer, took a huge swig, and thudded the bottle down on the table before walking out of the room.

I blew out and his jacket caught my attention. Without thinking it through, I moved toward it, riffling through the pockets. When I found two cellphones, I became certain my assessment of the man was close to accurate. Maybe one for business and one for pleasure. I also found a wallet, hating how much I was shaking as I tugged it free.

After a quick glance toward the door, I couldn’t help myself and opened it. Another man’s driver’s license was right there in front, a few bills of cash in the sleeve, but nothing else. That in itself was odd, unless the unknown owner’s credit cards had been stolen.

I didn’t take Beckett for a common thief. A wave of nervousness rushed through me and I slipped it back into the pocket where I’d found it, quickly grabbing a couple of plates from one of three cabinets.

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