In Love and War (6 page)

“Nice job.”

“Maybe you can help me with the rest of the apartment—eventually.”

“Possibly,” she answered with a noncommittal shrug.

“It never mattered much before
. I saw my place as just another motel room, or a temporary way station. But once I get this last trip over, I won’t be able to leave it this way. It's just not conducive to good mental flow”

Big surprise
. Ariela’s eyes went to the desk tucked into a corner of the room, facing the wall. “Well, the first thing you should do is move your desk closer to a window or at least face it out into the room. No wonder this place blocks you.”

“I usually take a walk to get the old juices flowing, but you raise a fair point.”

She wandered over to the smaller side window and looked outside. Max was tossing a toy into the air and racing around with it, a low, playful growl slipping out occasionally. Without turning, she said, “It seems a shame he has to go to a kennel so soon.”

Dylan joined her at the window. “It
’s the only option. Max is too strong for my grandmother.” He pulled the curtain back to follow the dog along the fence. “I still don't know the whole truth about her fall, but that doesn't change the fact that she's too frail to keep him. She asked everyone else in the family before finally checking with me. Knowing my job, she didn’t hold out much hope, but her timing was right. I was already thinking about making some changes. So she still gets to see him, and I have a dog again. It works out for all of us.” Dylan smiled when Max rolled onto his back and worried the hell out of his toy before flinging it away. He leaped up and ran after it.

“That’s nice—sweet.” Ariela glanced over, and her eyes took an unguarded tour down Dylan’s body, finally settling on his legs again. She actually jumped when he chuckled, realizing, to her horror, she’d been busted.

He turned his right leg out slightly, offering her a better look. “Well, what do you think?”

Ariela laughed and chose the safest route open to her. “You’re a fancy dresser, I’ll give you that.”

“I dress for the occasion.”

“Aren’t I an occasion?”
She enjoyed how he brought out her playful side.

“That goes without saying, but I’d rather not deal with the dog in my Sunday best.”
He walked over to the kitchen and lifted the window above the sink. “Would you mind screwing a hose to the faucet when I pass it through?”

“And the value of having me around today begins to make sense.” She smirked. “Sure. I think I can manage that.”

Dylan went outside and removed the screen. He passed her the hose. “Careful not to pinch off the flow when you close the window,” he said through the opening.

“No kidding.” Her sarcasm came with an eye roll—a two-for-one special.
“Anything else?”

“Yeah, come out and join me.”

She attached the hose to the faucet before stretching to shut the window.

He ran back, calling out, “Wait
! I forgot—you need to turn on the water. Make it warm, not hot.”

“Warm, not hot,” she mumbled. “
How’s this, good?”

“Perfect. Now come out.”

She found Dylan holding Max by the collar. The dog looked perfectly happy standing in a plastic kiddie pool. She stayed well back while Dylan sprayed the animal down.

He glanced up. “This would go a lot faster if you helped me.”

Seeing her squirm, his left eyebrow went up. “Haven’t you ever washed a dog?”

She
screwed up her face and shook her head. “No.”

“Ever
have
a dog?”

“Never.”

“I suppose you’re a cat person.”

Ariela shuddered and gave her head a violent shake.
“No way.”

Dylan stared at her.
“Seriously? You’ve never had either?”

“My grandmother said they smelled bad and would make the house a mess. She was right.”

“You poor kid.” He went back to spraying Max.

“Au contraire.
My friend Missy had a cat
and
a dog and their house was covered in fur. It looked clean, but it wasn’t. I dropped a cupcake on their just-cleaned kitchen floor once, and when I picked it up, there was so much hair in the frosting I nearly gagged. They could never keep the cat off the table or the counters, either. That grossed me out even more, because all I could think about was the cat in his litter box.”

“Cats clean themselves, you know.”

“You’d have to dip him in bleach, and I still wouldn’t be satisfied.” She shuddered with horror. “After the cupcake incident, I never ate anything that wasn’t right out of a sealed package when I was there.”

“That’s sad, but I understand.” He ran his hand over Max as he continued to wet his back. “I once made friends with a kid just so I could play with his dog.” He smiled at the memory.

“It isn’t that I don’t like animals, in theory. I just never wanted one.”

“Well, I won’t make you touch Max
, but would you at least consider being my official hose handler?”

“Hose handler
? You’re joking.”

“Garden hose.”
He innocently waved it in front of her, but his grin admitted more than he did. “You spray Max when he needs it, and I’ll do all the dirty work. Deal?”

She couldn’t hold back the little smile when she wandered over and held out her hand.

He slapped the nozzle into her palm. “He needs more under his belly.”

Ariela
crouched down and pointed upward, wetting not only Max, but nailing Dylan right in the face.

He jerked back in surprise.
“Holy shit! You shot water up my nose.” Dylan buried his face in the crook of his arm and dried himself on his sleeve while still managing to hold onto the dog who was wriggling just as wildly as if they were about to play a new game.

Ariela shook with laughter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

Dylan came up sputtering. “I’d be more convinced if you weren’t laughing.”

“I can’t help it
,” she said, certain she didn’t look remotely sorry.

He nudged her with his elbow, but he was grinning
too. “Don’t make me take that hose away from you.”

“
You’d have to fight me for it, and I’d win.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. There’s plenty more where that came from.” Her thumb toyed with the molded trigger and she gave him a feisty look.

They both jumped when
Max cut off their teasing with an impatient bark.

Ariela laughed.
“Looks like he loves this.”

“He’s a water hound. If I don’t close the door to the bathroom when I’m in the shower, he’ll nose right in with me. Trust me
—the last thing you want to feel is a wet dog against your leg when you’re half asleep.” He doused the dog, drenching him. “I think we’re ready for the shampoo. Could you hand it to me?”

Ariela picked up the bottle, and just as she put it into Dylan’s hand, he pulled back in alarm.

“Look out!” Max went into a full body shake, spattering them both. “Now, why would you do that?” Dylan asked the dog. “We’re just going to have to wet you down again, stupid mutt.”

Fifteen minutes later, freshly bathed, Max tore around the yard, rolling in the warm grass while Dylan bent down to grab one edge of the pool.

Ariela walked up behind him, admiring his muscular butt. “You sure know how to impress a girl. Need any help?”

“Sure.”

Together, they tugged the pool over to the bushes and tipped the water out of it. Dylan took it from there, rolling the pool on its edge into a gap between the fence and the back of his garage.

He turned, wiping his hands on his wet shirt.
“You hungry?”

“I could eat.”

“Good. I’ll light the grill then we can go in and wash up.”

When they got inside, Dylan paused to open a bottle of wine to let it breathe. Ariela looked at the glasses he set out, then at him. “Don’t assume you’re getting lucky tonight.” Her tone was teasing
, but the message wasn't.

He reeled back dramatically, as if she'd struck him. “Well, fine. What’s the point then? I’ll just get my keys and take you home.”

Ariela was staring at him, stunned, when he spun back with a chuckle. For a second there, she thought he was serious. Making a face, she said sarcastically, “Very amusing.”

Shifting into host mode,
Dylan opened the refrigerator. He whipped around a second later, a wild look in his eyes. “Tell me you like steak!”

“I like steak.”

He patted his chest. “Whew.”

“You’re very strange.”
Ariela gave him a big smile. "What can I do?"

Dylan put her to work slicing potatoes and onions while he shucked corn.

“Potatoes go on first,” he said, grabbing the foil packet she’d made and heading for the door. “Why don’t you bring the wine and join me? I’m not comfortable leaving Max out there with a hot grill.”

Of course,
Max didn’t go anywhere near the grill, but it was nice to be outside. Ariela grabbed one of the lawn chairs and dumped dried seeds out of it before sitting down. Dylan opened a second chair and dropped into it. Even slouching, the guy was sexy.

She watched him as he closed his eyes and inhaled, clearly appreciating the bouquet of the wine in his glass. Then he took a slow, contemplative sip. His lashes swept up and their eyes locked. Ariela couldn't blink, couldn't look away. His quiet gaze pulled at her, made her want to get up and go to him. The urge was almost irresistible. He broke their connection first to glance at the grill. Sitting forward he set his glass down
on the patio next to his chair.

“Would you protect my wine from Max in case he comes over to investigate? I
should rotate the potatoes.”

“Sure.”

Over the course of the next half hour, Dylan was up and out of his chair more often than an anxious mother. Ariela offered to help, but he waved her off. “Just be comfortable.”

It was hard to follow that advice when he was running around all the time, even taking the time to top off her wine.

During a momentary lull, he dropped into his chair, stretched his long legs into the warm sunshine, and said with a sigh of complete sincerity, “Isn’t this relaxing?”

Ariela burst out laughing.
“For me? Yes.”

He chuckled and hopped up again to turn the steaks and rotate the potatoes one last time. “Well, I’m having a ball.”

“You’re not normal,” she reminded him gravely.

He looked pleased that she thought so, wiggling his eyebrows playfully before taking another sip of wine.
Dylan rolled his neck and shoulders, and she watched his head fall back for a moment. That throat was made to be kissed. “I’m looking forward to a shower after this,” he admitted with a low groan.

“Why don’t you go
take one? I can watch things for ten minutes.”

“But you’re doing the dishes.”

“Am I?”

“
Yep. Do you want to know why?”

“I guess I do.”
This she had to hear.

“Because I knew you’d insist. I’m just ahead of the game.”

She snorted when she laughed. “You think you’re so smart.”

“Am I wrong?”

“No,” she admitted, crinkling her nose at him.

Dylan grinned. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Crinkle your nose at me.”

“Why not?”

“Because it makes me want to jump you, and I don’t think that chair will support both of us.”

Ariela’s heart skipped and fluttered excitedly at the thought, but she played it cool. Looking down at the cheap aluminum frame and slatted seat beneath her, she nodded. “You’re probably right. You’d better stay right where you are.”

“
Not so easy when you look so damn appealing.”

Ariela laughed and swept her flyaway hair back from her face.
“Need I remind you this is not a date?”

He sputtered on his next sip of wine.
“It isn’t?”

“
No. I told you I can’t date you right now.”

“
Then what is this?”

“Heck if I know.
Hanging out?”

“
So definitely no sex.”

“
Most definitely.”

“
Hmm. Then I guess we might as well eat.” Dylan shot to his feet.

That was
way too easy
. Did he somehow know all he’d have to do is crook his finger and she’d come? What was she doing? This was madness—like putting a cigarette and a lighter in front of someone who’s trying to quit. She was going to have the shakes if she didn't figure a way out of this before she did something reckless and stupid.