9781618850034TroubleHunter Page 6

  As Samson backed up for another go, Ky cautioned. “Down, boy. He gets so excited when anybody comes.”

  “Who needs me the most?” Ky groaned at her innocently loaded question. If she only knew.

  “Well, Samson, of course. Most people want puppies or small dogs. He’s been here for over two years, thinks he’s in charge.”

  “I’ll take him.”

  Her confidence surprised him. “Are you sure, honey? He’s a lot of dog.”

  “I’m sure.”

  Ky had been around a lot of women. And a man just knows. He could tell when a woman was interested in him. A few minutes ago, when Cooper had been staring at the bulge in his pants, the awareness he felt pass between them had nearly taken his breath away. And now, it was gone. In fact, Cooper wasn’t putting off any of the usual feminine, flirty vibrations. It was if she had lowered a curtain on that part of herself. Ky wasn’t used to it. Women, available or not, usually all wanted him and they never hesitated to make him aware of it. There was none of that coming from Cooper. She was being very nice, but completely asexual. This wouldn’t do at all. “Okay. He’ll make a good outside dog.”

  For the first time, he heard her really laugh. The sound washed over him like a rush of springtime. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her tight. Ky had to force himself to listen for words. She was speaking to him.

  “I doubt he’ll stay outside. If he acts as a guard dog, it’ll probably be from the couch.” Then she sobered. “I just long for something else in the house that breathes, besides me.” She looked so sad. Ky could only assume she missed her husband. Crap! How was he supposed to battle that?

  Samson was crowding them, as if he knew his turn had finally come. “All right boy, we’ll get you ready to go to your new home in a little while. There’s a little paper work to be done.” At least he could keep her with him a while longer.

  “Wait.” She stopped him with a light touch. Shivers of awareness sparked from his skin to hers. “Would it be possible for me to adopt more than one?”

  “Sure.” Ky looked around at the assortment of dogs. “Let’s see, Rover is a sad case.” Ky pointed out the Bassett hanging back, as if he expected to be scolded for living. “We think he was abused. A friend of mine found him at the garbage dump.” As soon as he singled Rover out, Cooper started toward him. Ky watched as she approached the nervous dog slowly, and then sank down to softly pet him as he cowered at her feet. She leaned over and whispered to the sad-faced animal. Striving to hear what she said, he was confused at what he heard.

  “I’m so sorry, Rover. I know how you feel. If you come live with me, we can protect each other.” What did that mean? Ky watched her carefully, trying to read her face and body language. “I want him, Ky,” she spoke emphatically.

  “If you want him, he’s yours, sweetheart.” Bravely, Ky jumped in. He had to know. “Are you still mourning your husband, Cooper?”

  Cooper looked at him strangely, as if trying to decide whether to answer. She stood up and began to walk away, but stopped and answered him. “No, I’m not mourning him.” He waited to see if she would elaborate; she didn’t. “Can I see the cats now?”

  “Sure you can, go in and let one of them pick you out.” Ky set his pace to match hers. He wanted to ask her out. Usually, he didn’t even have to ask. Women just made themselves available to him; in fact, most of them did the asking. Oddly, this time, he found himself practically tongue-tied.

  “You have a dog, don’t you? I mean, I’ve seen one with you out in front of your house.” She was making conversation with him. He smiled.

  “I have two. A German Shepherd named Beast and a miniature dachshund named Fergus. They’re my best friends. I also have a big orange tomcat named Thomas and a whole herd of Beefmaster cattle. You’ll have to stop by and let me introduce you to them sometimes.” Hint. Hint.

  “I’d like that.” The words were what he wanted to hear, but the tone was non-committal. Before he could press the issue, they arrived at their next destination. Opening the cathouse door, he kept them at bay while she made her way in. Just as he expected, the tiny orange man leaped up on her leg and began his ascent.

  “Oh, you doll.” She picked up the kitten and held him close.

  “He’s one of five. The litter was all boys. I call them the ‘wrecking crew’. There is that orange one, two white ones, and two tailless blacks.”

  “I’ll take them all.” She looked so excited Ky couldn’t help but laugh. “These are my first; I was never allowed to have pets.”

  “Your husband didn’t like animals?” A casual question.

  “My husband didn’t like anything.” Cooper’s voice was empty when she said those words, totally empty. “I’ll have to make two trips. Two dogs and five cats in one small car might be asking for trouble.”

  “Come on; let’s take care of the paperwork. If you’ll let me, I’ll bring everyone over after I finish for the day. I have pet carriers.” He made the suggestion casually, but tensed up, waiting on the verdict.

  Cooper was silent for a moment. She looked at him closely, as if trying to read his mind. “That’s very nice of you, but I can’t put you to that much trouble. I don’t mind making two trips.”

  “It won’t be any trouble, and it’s certainly not out of my way. We live right next to one another. Besides, I have that package I need to deliver.”

  This time she heard him. “Package? What package?”

  He couldn’t help it. He grinned. “Yeah, I told you earlier that UPS delivered a package of yours to my house by mistake.”

  Blood rushed to her face. “You have my, uh, special delivery?”

  “ ’Deed I do.” He looked like the cat that ate the canary.

  “Sorry about that. I hope it didn’t embarrass you. I tell you what, to make up for any inconvenience, when you bring my package and the animals, I’ll trade you a home cooked meal.”

  “Sounds great. I’ll bring a bottle of wine.” Maybe, this would be easier than he thought. An answer to a prayer.

  Oh, no. Cooper stopped. She looked at Ky, closely. “A bottle of wine?”

  “You don’t drink?” he asked. Why was she looking at him like that? He would swear she looked wistful for a moment.

  Taking a step back, she looked at the ground. “I wasn’t assuming you would want to come and sit down with me to eat, Ky. My intention was to cook you a meal, pack it in into to-go boxes, and send it home with you. As a thank you.”

  Ky was adamant. “If you’re not busy, I would like to have dinner with you, Cooper.”

  “That’s very nice of you. An honor, really. But like I told you yesterday, I don’t socialize very much.”

  “I don’t want to take my food home in a doggie bag, Cooper. I want to sit down and eat with you and talk, get to know you. I would like to call on you, sweetheart.”

  “Why?”

  So, she wanted to know why. Ky chuckled. So, he would tell her. “Why? Because, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You are nice, and you like animals. We have things in common. Mainly, it’s because I’m very attracted to you, love.”

  “You need glasses.” The look on her face was still skeptical, but at least she was smiling.

  “So, do you. I only found the one glass when I got you a drink of water last night. Do you still have unpacking to do?” He was just teasing. There was no way he could have anticipated the flush of embarrassment flooding her face, or the crestfallen look sweeping her features.

  “I had all I needed. There’s just me. And I don’t have much money; my new business is just now turning a profit.”

  He stopped her rambling. “Babe, babe. Hush, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t mean anything by that careless comment. I would rather share one glass with you than drink out of crystal with the Queen of England. Don’t ever think you have to do anything to impress me. I’m already hooked—on you.”

  Her face brightened and her countenance lifted. “Okay. I’ll cook for you and we’
ll eat together. I guess I could use a friend.”

  Just friends. Not the hell, likely, if he had anything to say about it, but at least it was a starting place. “Good.” He stepped closer to her. This time she didn’t step back. “And, Cooper, my vision is twenty-twenty. I can easily see how gorgeous you are.”

  “You’re incorrigible. I like you, Kyler Landon. Do you eat shrimp etouffee and bread pudding?”

  “Yes, ma'am. I do. That sounds great.” Once inside the office, Ky laid out the adoption papers and the agreement she would get the kittens neutered. She signed everything. There was no charge. He walked her to her car, more aware of her as a woman than he could ever remember being. “I can’t wait to spend time with you tonight.” Ky looked deep into her eyes, trying to tell her what he wanted without actually coming out and saying it.

  “I look forward to our friendship and to getting to know you. Thanks for everything and I’ll see you tonight. What time do you think you’ll be by?”

  Opening the car door, he stepped back so she could get in. As she sat down, he could see the tops of her breasts peeping out of the camisole. His mouth watered. “Is seven too early?” He wanted as much time with her as possible and that would give him enough time to get the livestock fed, mail off a couple of belts and come back by here and collect the animals.

  “Sounds perfect.” She gave him a sweet smile and he shut the door, all the while thanking his lucky stars she had walked into his life—just when he needed her the most.

  * * * *

  With joyful anticipation, Cooper went to the grocery store and bought everything she would need to cook supper for her and Ky. He would be her first visitor. She also bought supplies and food for her new menagerie. It was amazing; before, she had been all alone and depressed and today, she had a new friend and a houseful of pets. Shopping carefully, she stayed within her allotted budget.

  For the last two years, she had been supplying handcrafted bracelets and necklaces to three boutiques in Albuquerque specializing in gemstone jewelry. Even before Richard’s death, she had been sneaking around doing this on the side. He wouldn’t give her any spending money and barely enough to keep groceries in the house. If it hadn’t been for her secret account made up of her mom’s savings and insurance money, she never would have been able to survive. Thankfully, he had been gone enough so she could put into practice what she learned during her brief stint in college. If she had stayed, her degree would have been in fashion and design.

  Richard had refused to let her find a job, so she had made herself a work area in the attic, ordered a few supplies and put together several pieces she thought would sell. Her one good friend from her college days, Lisa Rogers, had tried her best to stay in touch with her. Lisa urged her to keep working on her jewelry, and to send some of the pieces to her shop to test the waters. Luckily, they had sold quickly and Lisa had ordered more.

  Gradually, through Lisa, other boutiques in the area had contacted her about the unusual pieces and soon, Cooper had all the work she could handle. She wasn’t getting rich by any means, but at least she could take care of herself, if she was careful. Lisa had known something was wrong with her friend’s marriage, but Cooper had not shared. Frankly, she was just too embarrassed.

  Once Richard was dead, Lisa was the one she turned to. Lisa had loaned her enough money to escape and Cooper had almost repaid every cent. Thankfully, Lisa was accepting her pieces of jewelry as payment. Cooper didn’t know what she would have done without Lisa.

  Thinking of those days made Cooper sick to her stomach. Before Richard’s death, she had tried to leave. Over and over again, she had tried to leave, but Richard had too many friends, to many people who owed him a favor. His power had been far-reaching and no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t break from his grasp. If she ran away, a deputy or a highway patrol would bring her back. If she tried to turn him in for abuse, his cousin, the DA, just swept it under the rug. He owned the lawyers, the doctors, every conceivable avenue of help had been denied her.

  Earlier when Ky had asked where she was from, she had been tempted to tell it all. But how would that sound? Yeah, I’m from a small town run by a good ol’ boys club that nearly killed me—where no one listened, and no one helped. So, she had stayed. Until he was killed.

  Since Richard had died, she had tried to do research online to find an answer that would explain his actions. Cooper had known he was sick. However, he refused to get help. Now, she understood more about ‘roid rage and how steroids could affect a person’s personality. Steve, his brother was on them, too. In fact, they all were. Steve had owned a dog, a yellow lab. If Steve had ever loved anything, it had been that dog. But one day, the dog dug a small hole in Steve’s front yard and Steve had gone ballistic. In a matter of moments, the dog was dead. Steve had shot him without even thinking.

  Cooper also got wind that Richard and Steve and some of their cronies resorted to burglary to support their habit. In fact, she had no idea what all they had been involved in. She was just grateful to be out of there. Richard had been so cruel and the drugs had been part of their problem.

  Of course, part of it was her fault. She did not doubt she was overweight and unattractive, but she was almost certain her appearance alone had not set off all of Richard’s episodes. From what she could tell in her studies, on top of the drugs, her husband had been a manic depressive and a sadist, and could only find true sexual satisfaction from causing pain to another human being.

  There had been a world of gossip about Richard’s women. He had told her himself he had other women with whom he had carried on regular affairs, with normal sexual relations. Now, she doubted it. Truly, she didn’t think Richard could perform sexually. His male genitalia had been too damaged by the drugs.

  In the long run, it hadn’t really made any difference with her, because as husband and wife, it had never been about normal sex. He had not even tried. He would become semi-erect only after he began beating her, and when he had subdued her and pummeled her into submission, then he would masturbate to completion. She hadn’t been allowed to watch, even if she had wanted to.

  She had never dared touch him, which was one thing that set him off quicker than anything. Today, when she bumped into Ky, it all come rushing back. If she had accidentally touched Richard’s private area like that, he would have knocked her down. Of course, he hadn’t required too much of an excuse to hit her. Deep down, Richard had known it was wrong. Several times, he had apologized. Nevertheless, he had said it was her fault. He always told her he could get it up with everybody in town but his wife. Sadly, that had not stopped him from almost daily undressing her, humiliating her, and then taking maniacal pleasure in causing her pain.

  As she waited in the checkout lane, Cooper closed her eyes in shame. Reliving those days was painful. She had to get her mind off it. Tonight was a new start for her. A friend was coming to dinner. It had been a long time since she had been able to say that. No one had been brave enough to be her friend back home; Richard had been the one with the friends. They had all protected him, and no one had protected her. Her only salvation had been Richard’s death. Even then, she had been forced to leave in the dead of night, taking only her car, clothes, the jewelry supplies, and a box of family albums and papers she had kept in the hall closet.

  Lisa had met her about two blocks from her home and followed her until they could get to a safe place. The little bit of money she had in her savings had been her lifeline. It had been in her mother’s maiden name and Richard had never known about it or considered she had it. Nothing had been off limits to him. If Richard knew she valued anything, he took pleasure in taking it away from her. Therefore, if she wanted to keep anything, she had learned to keep it well hidden.

  Pushing aside the depressing train of thought, she headed back home. Passing the video store, she decided to stop and get a popular new movie, just in case Ky stayed a while and they needed something to do. Careful to avoid anything that could be construed to be su
ggestive—she didn’t want him to think she was trying to get him in the mood—she settled on an action film she thought he might like.

  The only cloud on the horizon was deep down inside; Cooper wanted this to be a real date. And that was one thing she could not let Ky know, she had to keep everything casual and platonic. She couldn’t afford to scare off her first real friend. Just thinking about Ky made her heart race. She tried to tell herself not to get excited, not to take his words seriously. Ky was grateful to her, that was all. Any man who took care of animals was a good human being in her book. So, he must be teasing her; trying to be nice. She was still the same woman that Richard had rejected and there was a better than average chance that Ky would reject her also. That is, if she gave him the chance.

  * * * *

  Kyler Landon whistled while he worked. He couldn’t wait to be with Cooper again. Cooper. She had said it was a strange first name for a girl. Yet, paired with her face, it was an endearing and perfect name. He wondered if her friends called her Coop. “Coop.” He said it aloud and smiled. It sounded right coming out of his mouth. Heading to the Post Office to mail off the belts, he detoured in order to buy the bottle of wine he had promised her.

  As he searched for a perfect accompaniment to the Cajun food, he considered her marriage and how it seemed to have affected her. There was something odd about it all, but he hesitated to label it. The thing that really puzzled him was why she had seemed skeptical about his interest in her. Tonight, he would make sure she realized he wanted her. Her. He wanted her in ways he never considered before. There was something about her that touched him. Ky wanted to know everything about her. And he wanted to protect her. But most of all—he wanted to love her—all night long.