Man's Best Friend (17 page)

Or one with less integrity.

He tried to laugh away the intrusive thought. Maybe he'd look her up in a few years, when life had brought her to heel. But the laugh died in his throat. Bad joke. Tessa, unlike her more obedient canine friends, would never heel to anyone.

The thought troubled him more than he wanted to admit, as did the ache in the place where he once had a heart.

* * *

"She took Licks?"

"Last night," Milt said. "She tore through the kitchen, looking as if she'd cried for hours. She said she'd keep him until you decided what you wanted to do with him."

Rand was angry all over again, but it felt better than the black mood he'd been in since last night. "Licks is my dog. What in hell does she think I'll do to him?"

"She said something about your suggesting he be stuffed and hung over the mantel," Milt said, his face straight as a chair back.

Rand set his mug down with a snort. "She knew I was kidding, for God's sake."

Milt eyed him, his gaze speculative. "What did you do to the girl anyway?"

"None of your business." Rand glared at him. "And from now on I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your analysis of my life and times strictly to yourself."

Milt smiled. "Got to you, did she?"

"She did not—" He sucked in some air in an attempt to enforce his lame denial. Failed. "Forget it. I don't have time for this." He strode out to his car.

* * *

Ned and Cullen Macy were in his office with lawyers from Red Earth and Destiny Tech. In less than an hour the deal was signed, and Ned was showing the legal team out of Rand's office. Macy lagged behind.

He offered his hand and Rand took it. "I know we've signed all the papers, Fielding, but I wanted to give you my personal thanks. With your financial support, Anima III will be on the market in no time. I think you know this product is my baby. My way of making a difference in the world. The fact that you're a doctor—"

Rand was stunned. "How in hell did you know that?"

Macy laughed. "Hey, you're not the only one who does his homework. Am I right?"

Rand gave the barest of nods.

"Well, it's the main reason I went for this deal. You've got the background to appreciate what I'm trying to do—and you have the cash." He grinned and again shook Rand's hand, which he'd held since he'd started speaking. "Anyway, all I wanted to say was that I'm looking forward to working with you. What we're going to do will be damned amazing."

Rand reclaimed his hand and forced a smile. "Yeah, amazing," he said.

With Macy gone, Rand went back to his desk. His clock said quarter to nine, making it almost five in Germany. He reached for the phone.

"I respect what you are... what you do as a man."

Milt said she'd been crying... oh, hell. Rand closed his eyes. He felt damn near like crying himself. With his free hand he rubbed his eyes. What in blazes had connected him with all these starry-eyed sentimentalists, anyway? First Cullen Macy, then Tessa. Not to mention Licks—the soppiest of all!

This deal was worth forty million dollars, he reminded himself. If he didn't take it, he'd be in the trenches with Macy, fighting for government approvals, defending patents, setting up manufacturing facilities. The grunt work of commerce, anathema to deal makers. And that's what he'd become, a deal maker, and a damned good one.

But Tessa thought he was some kind of angel.

His hand went slack on the receiver. Tessa. It had been less than twenty-four hours since he'd seen her—it felt like years. Could he face a lifetime without her?

His hand still rested on the phone when Ned walked into his office, carrying two glasses and a bottle of double malt scotch.

Ned glanced at the phone. "You've talked to them?"

Rand pulled his hand from the phone as though it were ablaze. He eyed the scotch, scowled at it. "Bit early for that, wouldn't you say?"

Ned poured two glasses and shoved one toward Rand. "How the hell else do you celebrate a forty million dollar deal?" he said, not looking in the least celebratory.

Rand twirled the glass of scotch, studied it. "Ever get tired of deals, Ned? Think about doing something... more?"

Ned raised his glass, didn't drink. "All the time." He eyed Rand warily. "You?"

Rand shoved the glass back. "Let's just say this is one celebration I'm going to pass on." He got his raincoat from his closet and shrugged into it. "Call Germany, would you? Tell them the deal's off. I've got to see the woman who stole my dog."

* * *

Tessa picked up her chipped coffee mug, had it to her mouth when she heard someone coming up the stairs to her office.

"Rand!" Her hand shook, and she tilted the mug, spilling droplets of coffee all over John Carter's memo about upgrading the kennel dog food.

"Where's my dog?" he said without preamble.

"He's, uh, he's with Marie, the kennel owner."

"So you got rid of him, too."

"Got rid of?" she echoed. "He's on the morning walk with the other dogs. He always goes when he comes to work with me."

"I don't remember your discussing it with me."

"I didn't think it needed to be discussed." She steadied her hand and set her coffee on the memo. It made a thick brown ring.

"I'd like to take Licks home with me. Would you please get him?"

Just as she started to say—heaven knew what!—she heard Marie bringing the dogs in through the back kennel door which was just under her office. "They're back now. I'll get him."

"Do that," he said, his eyes glinting strangely. "And tell your boss, you're taking off for the rest of the day."

She stopped in her tracks. "Excuse me?"

"You need to apologize to me, and I need to apologize to you. It's best done in private."

Tessa didn't know what to say. He was right, of course, but it wouldn't take a day to set matters straight between them, and he wasn't the only one who could give orders. "Come with me," she said, anxious to get their talk over with. Looking at him, wanting him as she did, wrenched her soul.

Tessa introduced him to Marie and made him wait while she settled the dogs in their kennels. She put Licks on a leash and called Millie.

"There's a park around the corner," she said. "We can't take the kennel dogs there, but I'm sure Millie and Licks will behave. We'll share my lunch." She smiled a bit. "Actually, it's your lunch. Milt made it for me."

They walked the half block to the park in silence. She'd never seen him so edgy. They found a picnic table and Tessa set her lunch and a Thermos of coffee on it.

"I'm not my brother." Rand's words came out fast and hard, jarring Tessa to full attention. "Though I'll admit to feeling an obligation to him. Misplaced? Maybe." When Rand looked at her his eyes were dark with sadness. "Griff was a lot of things, Tessa, arrogant, self-serving at times, and maybe even... troubled in some way, but he wasn't morally corrupt."

Her stomach hit bottom, and she let out a painful breath. She'd been a thoughtless fool! Rand had to believe in Griff because he loved him. She should have understood that, should have known he still grieved for his twin brother, perhaps always would. "I'm sure he wasn't. I'm so very sorry I said that. I was way out of line." She raised her eyes to his, knew they were teary, didn't care. "Can you forget it? Please." She wished again that she'd listened to Milt, been more patient, less rash.

"Yes, I can forget it," Rand said. He took off his raincoat and sat down beside her on the bench seat of the picnic table. "If you'll forget I made that crass proposition." He took her hand, lifted it, and kissed her palm. "I insulted you. And I'm sorry." He took a deep breath. "I just wanted you to stay."

She pulled her hand back, resisted the urge to fling herself into his arms, and tried to smile. "Maybe the next time one of us needs to talk, the other should head for the hills."

Rand didn't answer. Instead he lifted her chin with his knuckle and tilted her face toward his. "Will you marry me, Tessa?"

"Marry you?" Tessa knew she was gasping.

"I love you, and it's what you want. So I want it, too."

Tessa leaped to her feet. "Whoa. Slow down here. Last night you were offering to pay me to be your... whatever." She waved a hand. "And today you want me to marry you. I don't get it."

He didn't look the least perturbed. "Do you realize you've been out of my life for years?"

"I left at midnight. That's less than a day." Had the man lost his mind along with his sense of timing?

"Years," he repeated, tugging her into his arms. "And I never want it to happen again. In less than twenty-four hours, I lived a lifetime without you. It was like—" he closed his eyes briefly "—losing Griff all over again." He brushed his lips over hers. "I love you, Tessa. Believe it. I sure as hell do."

A part of her weakened, the big, warm, fuzzy part around her heart. Maybe it had to do with his mouth on hers, his breath warming her skin. Or maybe it was because she was absolutely certain Rand was the love of her life.

She kissed him back, then looked into his eyes. "And I love you, Rand, with all my heart, but... I need some time to think."

At least time enough to catch my breath.

He looked down at her, his expression filled with regret. "I guess I deserve that." He stroked her cheek. "Take all the time you need, love. I want everything to be right between us. No ghosts. No shadows. No reservations. But, please, spend your thinking time with me—" he glanced at the pup who'd scrambled to the table top and was now devouring their lunch, "—and Licks. We need you, Tessa."

And I need you,
Tessa thought, knowing when it came to spending time with Rand, eternity wouldn't be enough.

Still, she'd wait a while before telling him that. At least until tomorrow.

Who said she couldn't be patient?

The End

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A Note from

EC Sheedy

Dear Reader,

Thank you for buying and reading MAN'S BEST FRIEND, I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, you'll check out my other e-titles. :-)

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