Tailspin

A blush stained Sadie’s cheeks, making her pink nose less noticeable. Her shoulders slumped and she bit her lower lip.

It was a nice, full lip, Buck realized. He watched her teeth worry it and his heartbeat sped up. She was such an intriguing mix of contradictions. Rigid and formal in some ways, but overtly sensual in others.

He shook his head and concentrated on her eyes. They were a soft brown, almost the color of milk chocolate, framed by darker lashes, and at the moment, filled with guilt.

“I, uh, suppose you could come into my place and call the manager.”

“At six in the morning?” He tucked Butch under one arm and shifted. Everyone in the complex knew better than to bother Henry before a respectable hour. “Respectable” to Henry was around noon, but Buck wasn’t going to sit around in his boxers that long.

Sadie continued to chew on that soft, full bottom lip, agonizing in indecision until Buck took pity on her. “How about you pour me a coffee, maybe even throw some breakfast together, and at eight I’ll call him?”

Her eyes rounded. “Coffee?”

“Yeah. It’s a morning drink. Hot, loaded with caffeine. I didn’t get a single cup yet, and right about now, I need it.”

“I know what it is.” She struggled again, then gave up and cradled the dog a little lower in her arms. “I have some made already.”

“Great.” The damp front of her gown clung to her breasts. “I’m freezing my ass off. My nipples are so hard, I could cut glass.”

Her mouth fell open, and she looked at his chest.

Buck, feeling provoked by that hot, nearly tactile stare, pointed out gently, “Yours too, for that matter.”

Her stunned gaze clashed with his, held for two heartbeats, then she whipped around, giving him her back.

Buck watched the gown settle around her trim hips and the plump curves of her small behind.

Ignoring his comment on her stiffened nipples—which really had tantalized him—she stammered, “Y-you want to stay at my apartment for two hours?”

Distracted, he murmured, “Yeah, why?” And then, realizing how unenthusiastic she sounded, he added, “Is that a problem?”

She shrugged.

“Turn around, Sadie. I don’t like talking to the back of your head.” And he liked seeing her expressive eyes as she spoke, the way she watched him, how easily she blushed.

She turned, but kept the dog held high. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, that’s all.”

So, Buck thought, he was good enough to save her bald, bug-eating dog, but not good enough to feed? Did she find him so distasteful that she couldn’t tolerate his company for two measly hours?

He shifted again, ready to grumble at her, then saw her eyes dip past his navel. She sighed softly before remembering herself and returned her gaze to his face. This time she didn’t blush, but she did look defiant, as if daring him to mention her gaffe.

Given how she kept checking him out, maybe she didn’t find him distasteful at all. Buck grinned. “You think I should just sit on my back porch twiddling my thumbs till Henry wakes up? In this wet underwear?” When she still looked undecided, he added, “With a Chihuahua on my lap?”

The mention of the dog did it.

“Oh.” She frowned, shrugged her thin shoulders and tucked her silky hair behind her ear. “I, uh, I guess not.” And she glanced at his lap again. “That wouldn’t be fair to Butch.”

If she didn’t quit that, the monkeys on his shorts were gonna start dancing. Having a female, even a spinster-type female, stare at a guy’s crotch usually got the action started. Seeing as he had no way of hiding it, he just knew her blush would brighten up a few notches.

With perfect timing to break the awkward moment, Butch barked, then stared at Tish while making that low humming sound again. Buck scratched the dog’s ear, knowing just how he felt.

“There, you see? Butch isn’t as…hardy as Tish. He’s freezing and he wants to visit. I think he’s even a little enamoured with Tish.”

Sadie’s chin went up. “Obviously he doesn’t think she’s ugly.”

Oops. Had that remark he’d made about Tish insulted Sadie somehow? He hadn’t lied. She was bald and fat. Anyone could see that. Still, given how Sadie doted on the dog, he should probably apologize if he ever hoped to make headway with her. “I didn’t mean—”

Sadie gave him an evil look. “I think she’s beautiful. She just needs some love and nourishment and then her fur will come back in and she’ll be a beauty queen, you’ll see.”

Buck watched her loving the homely little critter, and knew that if anyone could make it happen, he’d put his money on Sadie. “You know what? I believe you.”

He turned and started toward her door, but after a few steps, he realized Sadie wasn’t following. He looked over his shoulder. She was staring at his butt. It was nice to be appreciated, but hey, the cold was starting to settle into his bones.

“Your fault,” Buck accused, knowing his seat was wet, that the material was again clinging. “I’ve only had these on ten minutes, and now I’ll have to change again.”

Sadie stared at the boxers, an undisguised look of curiosity on her face.

“I sleep naked. I just put the boxers on to let Butch out.”

“Oh.” She blinked several times.

Knowing she didn’t, but in the mood to tease, Buck asked in his most innocent tone, “Don’t you?”

“What?”

She did have a problem concentrating. “Sleep in the nude.”

She took a step back. “No!”

“Why not?” When she floundered for an explanation, Buck asked, “Get cold at night?”

She jumped on that. “Yes. I do.”

He turned his back on her again, saying, “You need someone to sleep with. Sharing body heat is the best way to stay toasty.” He heard her gasp, but luckily, she couldn’t see his grin. Yep, things were progressing nicely this morning. “C’mon Sadie. Get a move on before I catch pneumonia.”

“Right.” Sounding breathless, Sadie scrambled to catch up. Her gown billowed out behind her, and at the last second, she passed him to reach the door first. With her bottom lip held in her teeth, she stood back so he could go in.

Ready and willing to take every advantage, Buck made a point of brushing against her as he entered. He heard her indrawn breath, felt the stillness that settled over her, and then she moved away.

She flapped a hand toward the tiny kitchenette. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll go dress and be right back.”

Buck hated for her to do that. She looked softer and more approachable in her nightgown. If she changed, he just knew she’d pile on the layers and do up all the buttons and start behaving like a spinster again.

But if he suggested she not change, then what? She’d probably throw him outside in his near-naked state.

Sadie was almost out of the room, Tish secure in her arms, when Buck said, “Grab me a big towel or something, too, will ya? I want to get out of these wet drawers.”

She stumbled to a halt, her shoulders rigid, her spine straight. Without turning to face him, she put the little dog down, nodded and fled the room.