Foxfire (9 page)

“Well, he is an attorney. I'll probably get a
bill for damaging his property.”

“I don't think so. He was on your property
and he'd have to explain why. Wouldn't the press love that
story?”

They shared another laugh.

“I'd better head for home and call Harri.
She's probably biting her long purple fingernails to the nub. Now
you stop worrying about Tyler being your boss. And don't put him in
the same class as Connor. Give him a chance.”

“A chance for what? He'd run like a gazelle
if he knew the truth about me.”

Brad kissed her forehead. “I think you're
wrong. There's one way to find out, you know.”

“It doesn't matter. He's not looking for a
relationship and neither am I. It's just that he has this way of
making a woman feel...special, and I needed that after Connor's
put-down. It'll pass.”

“How about me taking my two favorite women
out for dinner tomorrow night? Maybe Harri can relieve your mind
about Tyler.” He wiggled his finger in front of her face as he did
frequently. “I'm still not convinced that his being your boss is an
issue.”

Grace hugged him. “As it happens, I am free
tomorrow night. You're impossible, but I still love you.”

“And I'm grateful, darlin'. See you
tomorrow.”

Grace held open the door while Brad slipped
out. “Thanks, Brad.”

“You bet.”

Then he was swallowed up in the dark, his
flashlight jumping through the trees as he made his way back
home.

****

The next morning, Adam caught up with her as
she walked to work. “Hi, Adam.” She waved, hoping he wouldn't
expect her to stop and talk.

“Hi, Grace. I hear you're working at the
clinic now.”

“Yep. Isn't that great? Now I can walk to
work. In fact, that's where I'm heading now. Don't want to be
late.”

He hurried to her side, keeping step with
her. “Tyler isn't there. Had an emergency call. Lainey Miller's dog
got hit by a car.”

“Oh, no! How awful.” A shiver ran down her
spine. She could imagine how terrible it would be if something like
that happened to Tiffany. She subconsciously stroked her dog's
head.

Tiffany studied Adam without growling.

“You never know what'll happen if you don't
keep an eye on your pets. When they run wild, bad things can
happen.”

An icy hand reached out to squeeze her heart.
Adam's statement sounded like a threat.

Then he turned and walked away with a
mumbled, “See ya, Grace.”

“Yeah, see ya,” she whispered.

She continued on toward the clinic, trying to
forget about Adam. Tyler had given her a key, so she let herself in
and checked the appointment book. While she was slipping into her
lab coat, Tyler came in through the back.

“I thought you weren't here. Adam
said  “

“Yeah. I had to take care of an injured dog.
Ms. Miller's Dalmatian got loose and a car hit him. Nothing
serious, just bruised him up a bit, thank God. He'll be fine in a
few days.”

Tyler squeezed her shoulder as he passed and
Grace felt the tingle clear to her toes.

“Thanks for opening up, Grace.”

“You're welcome. That's part of the job.”

He smiled, a tired heavy-looking smile that
did little to erase the grooves between his brows.

“Grace, I wanted…”

Whatever he'd been about to say was
interrupted by the clanging bell announcing their first
patient.

Grace kept herself busy for the next three
hours, periodically removing Muffin from her chair. Tiffany had
stubbornly refused to stay in the clinic, and it made Grace
nervous. She had never worried about Tiffany before, but Adam's
words taunted her. He clearly didn't like her dog, but would he
hurt her? She'd always thought of Adam as shy and kind of wimpy.
She could imagine him saying: “Life is like a box of choc-o-lates.”
His attitude recently didn't fall into character, which made it
even harder for her to approach him about the rose.

“Is that the last one?”

Grace jumped and turned startled eyes to
Tyler. “I'm sorry. I didn't know you were standing there.”

“A penny for your thoughts.”

She shrugged.

A teasing light fired his eyes. “Were you
thinking about me?”

There went the strange feeling in her stomach
again. He stood close enough for her to reach out and push that
lock of hair from his forehead. If not for the look in his eyes,
she might have followed through with the action.

She tried for a neutral expression. “Why
would I think about you? I think you have an over inflated
ego.”

“Who, me?” He looked properly offended.

She had to laugh despite her better
intentions.

“Actually, I was worrying about Tiffany,”
Grace said.

Tyler leaned against the counter. “Why? She's
not going to run down to the main highway like Ms. Miller's dog, if
that's what you're worried about. That was a freak accident.” He
reached out a hand and twirled one of her curls around his finger.
“She's a smart dog.”

His hands continued to caress her hair,
setting her body on fire. She wanted to press her cheek against his
hand, wanted him to pull her into his arms like he had before.

He pulled his hand away and she felt the
connection break. “So...last patient?” Tyler straightened and stuck
his hands in the pockets of his white coat.

“Um,” Grace looked at the appointment book
though she knew the answer. “Yes, last one until two.”

“Good. I'm hungry. Care to join me for a
sandwich?”

Lord, she didn't want a sandwich, she wanted
to be back in Tyler's arms with his lips doin all those crazy
things to her emotions.

“No thanks. I've got some things to take care
of at home.”

Was that disappointment crossing his
face?

“Grace, you can't deny there's an attraction
between us.”

She paused with one arm in and one arm out of
the lab coat. Her gaze locked on his.

“I haven't slept since Thursday night,” he
continued. “I keep thinking about that kiss, about how you felt in
my arms, about the way your hair glows in the moonlight. I know I
promised, but...”

He stepped closer and removed her lab coat,
tossing it to the chair. He placed his hands on her shoulders and
began to massage them. Her eyes closed, and she lost herself in his
touch.

His fingers slid higher, up the side of her
neck, threading together and cradling her head. She opened her
eyes.

His nostrils flared and she breathed in his
unique scent of citrus and animals. Mesmerized, she watched his
head tilt, his lips part. A pulse throbbed in her neck rushing heat
through her body.

“Grace.” Her name was a moan on his
lips...his tempting lips that moved closer.

The doorbell clanged.

Grace jumped back, startled. She heard
Tyler's muffled curse followed by Adam's voice.

“How's Lainey's dog, Tyler?” Adam came to an
abrupt stop. His gaze raked over them, narrowing when it met
Grace's flaming cheeks.

Tyler answered, “He'll be fine. Just some
bruises.”

Grace busied herself clearing the reception
desk.

“We're closing for lunch. Is there something
I can do for you, Adam?” Tyler asked.

When she dared to look up, Adam's face burned
an angry red. He opened the door. “No.” The bell clanged as the
door slammed shut behind him.

****

Kissing. Adam couldn't believe what he'd
seen. She wouldn't have dinner with him, but she'd let that dog
doctor paw her. Worst of all, she seemed to like it.

Adam stomped up the path, putting as much
distance between the clinic and himself as possible. He'd had such
plans for Grace. It had been years since a woman made him feel the
things he did when he was near her. He wanted to protect her,
shower her with nice things, love her.

Adam struck his fist against his leg. Then he
hit it again, harder, relishing the pain that helped ease the
gnawing agony of his broken heart.

He came to a stop and stared at the house his
parents had lived in when he was born. Grace's house now. Another
pain twisted inside. He'd sold the house to her hoping that one day
he'd own it again after they were married. Their children would
live in it and carry on the tradition.

Adam needed an heir, someone to take on the
burden of Foxfire when he died. It was a burden he'd carried alone
for far too long. And he wasn't getting any younger. He'd waited
too long for Lainey to change her mind. He still felt a pang of
hurt when he thought of her and how he'd destroyed their
relationship.

He straightened his shoulders. Maybe he'd
misunderstood what he'd seen in the clinic. They might have been
sharing a hug between friends. He hadn't really seen them kissing.
Adam forced his gaze away from the house and he headed home to make
plans.

A low growl stopped him. Grace's dog raised
her head from the back porch, lifting her canine lips to show
sharp, pointed teeth. Warning him.

Adam continued on his way. He'd have to do
something about that dog. Maybe he'd get lucky and she'd run onto
the highway and get killed. He'd console Grace by buying her a
little lap dog, one of those furry non-threatening dust mops.

Grace really should watch her dog closer. One
never knew what dangers lurked in these woods.

Chapter Seven

Damn his luck. Max threw some bills on the
table and weaved his way through the restaurant toward the bank of
telephones. He stood in the shadows pretending to make a call and
watched as the hostess escorted Grace and her two crotchety friends
to a table much too near where he'd been sitting.

Under the overhead glow of soft lighting,
Grace's hair shone like the fur on a young vixen. Soon, he'd be
running his fingers through it, letting the curls wrap him with
molten fire. His hands would play her like a violin making sweet
music. It had been too long since he'd had her in his bed. And he
would have her one more time before he killed her.

****

“I have the strangest feeling that someone's
watching us.” Grace pulled her chair in closer to the table. She'd
had a prickling feeling at the back of her neck from the moment
they'd entered the restaurant.

“Darlin', everyone's looking,” Brad said.
“They're all wondering how I rate two gorgeous women.”

Grace grinned and gazed across the table at
Harri, dressed as usual in outrageous clashing colors. Her
oversized pink earrings emphasized her double chin and her vivid
blue tunic top draped softly over red and yellow striped slacks. Of
course people were looking at them, but that wasn't what bothered
Grace.

“So you feel it, too?” Harri narrowed her
eyes.

Grace nodded.

Harri slipped her glasses onto her nose and
accepted the menu from their waiter. Immediately, he recited the
specials of the night, took their drink order and left.

Harri nodded toward the entrance. “See that
man over there?”

Grace craned her neck and caught a glimpse of
a dark-haired man in a business suit pushing his way outside.
Something about him seemed vaguely familiar. “Who is that?”

“No idea, but did you see his dark aura?”

“I didn't see anything. How do you do that
anyway?” She leaned across the table. “Can you teach me?”

“You just have to focus, dear. I'll be glad
to work with you.”

“Harri, don’t start that nonsense. This is a
celebration dinner.” Brad turned to Grace with an apologetic
grin.

“But I want to learn,” Grace protested. “It's
fascinating.”

“Don't encourage her.” He glanced at his
menu. “What are you going to order, Harri?”

Grace studied the menu, wondering if the man
Harri mentioned had been the one giving her the uneasy vibes, for
she no longer felt them. She couldn't shake the idea that she knew
him.

“I'm going to have the beef tips and
noodles,” Harri said.

The waiter returned and Brad placed his and
Harri's orders. “What are you having, darlin'?”

Grace pushed the man's image out of her mind
and gave her order to the waiter.

“Brad tells me you're falling in love with
the vet,” Harri said.

Grace had just taken a drink of water. She
coughed and spewed water, grabbing quickly for her napkin.

“Now, Harri, that’s not what I said,” Brad
challenged.

Harri waved a hand to quiet him. “Doesn't
matter what you said. The truth is plain as day. I can see it in
her face.”

Brad scraped his chair back. “Excuse me.” He
slapped his napkin on the table. “I've got to visit the men's
room.” He glared at Harri. “Sometimes you really tick me off,
Harriet.”

Harri flipped a hand as if to say good
riddance. “Men. They just don't understand these things.” Harri
stared intently into Grace's eyes. “Tell me what's going on.”

Grace grabbed a napkin and dabbed at her
mouth. “Not much. Just...well, we kissed. That's all.”

“Is he a good kisser?”

Grace leaned forward conspiratorially. “The
best.”

“Um hum. So what are you going to do about
it.”

“Nothing! I told him to forget about it and
he has.”

“Um hum. That's what's really bothering you,
isn't it?”

“He's my boss!”

“So what?”

“You know what happened with Connor.”

“Connor is a lying, cheating fraud. Tyler...”
She patted her lips with her forefinger and stared beyond Grace's
shoulder. A moment later she looked back at Grace. “He's definitely
got some issues. Like I said, there's something a little off in his
aura, but I don't think he's anything like Connor.”

From her peripheral vision, Grace saw a
figure moving toward them.

“Hi, Grace. Harri.”

Both women looked up at Adam, who stood
twisting his hands and looking very out of place in a pin-striped
suit, white starched shirt and bow-tie. His dark hair had been
combed neatly back. Without the ever-present ball cap, Grace might
not have recognized him if he hadn't spoken.