You're the One (10 page)

“So you
wouldn’t rip Harding’s head off?”

“Not his head.
His nut sac, maybe, if he tried anything with her again.”

Kirk gave a
small smile of his own, fleeting but definitely apparent before he
grew serious again. “How about I have a chat to him instead? It’d
be more acceptable from the local cops.”

“You can chat
to him, sure.”

The cop looked
knowingly at him. “You still intend to anyway, right?”

“Bet your
arse,” Moz replied calmly.

“Just don’t do
anything rash.”

“I learned to
keep my temper a long time ago. I’m not about to let two drongos
get me into trouble.”

“Just so we
understand each other.”

“I’d say we
have a good understanding.”

Kirk took a
tentative sip from the mug. “I’ve spoken to the cops in Ellor’s
Loop. They’ve heard whispers of a dog fighting ring operating in
their area.”

“Got any
names?”

“Not yet, but
they’re working on it. You might want to go see them.”

“I’ll do
that.” Moz did a mental run-through of his schedule. “I’ve got to
swing past the abattoirs three hundred kilometres from here, I’ll
be staying at a motel as it’ll be too late to leave by the time
I’ve finished there. But I can do a round journey on the way back
tomorrow and hook up with the Ellor’s Loop cops. Plus I’ll check in
with the city rangers at the same time.”

“Busy
time.”

“Mate, it’s
always a busy time. Too many miles to cover.”

“And yet here
you are.”

Moz shrugged.
“I always did like animals, basically anything that can walk,
crawl, fly or swim. Someone has to watch out for them.”

Kirk’s eyes
crinkled at the corners. “You softie.”

“Not so soft
when I find people mistreating animals. No mercy then, I’ll dig up
everything I can to make sure the book is thrown as hard at them as
I can make it go.”

“I hear
you.”

“Speaking of
which, I hear your pet rat and the baby get on well.”

Kirk grinned.
“Sparkles knows to keep out of hands reach of Lily.”

Moz shook his
head. “I’m always surprised that Molly doesn’t mind the rat near
Lily.”

“We’re
sensible. We’d never leave the baby and the rat alone together.
Sparkles is loose only when we’re in the vicinity. It’s like any
pet with a baby, it’s commonsense.”

“True.” Moz
took a sip of hot coffee. “I guess you haven’t heard of any rentals
around?”

“Sorry, no.
Still looking?”

“Can’t stay at
the boarding house forever, and Mozart needs to be with me in our
own place.”

Kirk scratched
his jaw thoughtfully. “No one around who would let you share a
house and be happy for Mozart to stay there as well?”

“Apparently
not. No rentals or flatmates wanted.”

“Bugger.”

Moz looked
down at the coffee. “I may have to take Julia up on her offer of
bringing Mozart to stay at the boarding house.”

“Why? Isn’t he
happy with Elissa and Simon?”

“Arthur hasn’t
been happy with Mozart in the house, and he certainly won’t
tolerate him walking around. I can understand that, Arthur’s set in
his ways. Simon and Elissa haven’t said anything, they’re happy for
Mozart to stay, but it’s not fair to them or either cat. Plus
Mozart gets anxious, he’s already chewed through a wool
blanket.”

“Oh yeah.”
Kirk’s eyes twinkled. “I heard that Simon was frantic and ready to
head for the vet even though it was midnight, but you talked him
out of it on the phone.”

“Mozart’s done
it before when he’s been anxious. It didn’t affect him then and it
didn’t affect him this time, either. I took him to see Grant the
next day for a check-up but he was fine.” Moz grinned. “Simon
panics a little when it comes to the cats.”

Kirk
laughed.

Moz watched
the steam swirl up from his mug. “Mozart needs company. I’d like to
have him with me at night. During the day he can occupy himself
while I work, but he’s always had me at night since I got him.”

“You’ve had
him since he was a kitten?”

“No, I got him
about eight months ago. Was doing an inspection on a breeder who
had been reported. She bred a variety of cats - Siamese, Persians,
Sphinx, Exotics. A buyer dobbed her in for the appalling conditions
of her cattery, I was one of the investigating officers.” Moz
grimaced. “Those poor cats. They were all neglected, suffering from
malnutrition, and the conditions they lived in were disgusting. The
kittens she kept in the house, kept them well fed and looking good,
but the adults no one saw. The buyer had some kids who ran out the
back and spotted them, and from there it was on.” Moz paused,
thinking back. “We got a court order, had the cops out there, took
all the cats. Some had to be put down, most we were able to
re-home. She’s prohibited from owning animals for six years and
paid a hefty fine.” A scowl grew on his face at the memory of the
cats’ conditions. “I’d have preferred a gaol sentence and a
lifetime ban, but you know the courts.”

“I know the
courts,” Kirk echoed, his face sober.

“Yeah, I bet
you do. You’ve seen criminals walk away scott-free after some
horrendous things they’ve done.”

“Yeah.”

Silence filled
the room as they both got lost in thoughts and memories before Kirk
finally broke the silence. “So, you got Mozart from that
cattery?”

“Yeah. He was
the only surviving Sphinx. They only have soft downy hair, really
fine, and in winter they need a lot of warmth. That woman had left
them in a concrete-floored cage with wire all around, even on the
roof. The rain had gotten in and the other two Sphinxes were dead.
Mozart was this shivering, sickly boy. The vet thought he’d die, I
was determined he’d live. One look into that face, into those eyes,
and I knew he was mine.” Moz smiled slightly. “He’s been with me
ever since.”

“And suffers
anxiety if you’re not around.”

“He’s fine for
the periods I’m at work, but he’s used to being with me on days off
and night time. So yeah, I need to get him settled and in an area
bigger than a bedroom.”

“What about
you?”

“I settle
pretty much anywhere.”

“Huh.”
Draining the last of his coffee, Kirk straightened. “Okay, I better
get back on the road. Thanks for the coffee.”

“My
pleasure.”

Kirk levelled
a look at him. “Do I need to say anything more about Dawson and
Harding?”

Moz levelled a
look back. “I heard you.”

“Just so we
understand each other.”

“We’re on the
same page.”

“Good.” Kirk
nodded. “Catch you around.”

“See you.” Moz
waited until he heard the front door shut before murmuring quietly,
“Unless they hurt a hair on Del’s head, then they’re open
game.”

Now he was
alone, his thoughts drifted back to Del…and the kiss.

Cripes, he’d
actually kissed her, and it had been some kiss. Those plump lips
were as dewy and soft as they’d appeared. If he could have deepened
that kiss even more, coaxed her to open for him, he bet she’d taste
as sweet as honey.

Arm bent
slightly, hand braced on the bench, Moz took a mouthful of coffee
and squinted at the posture-safety poster on the far wall. Geez, he
hadn’t meant to kiss her, hadn’t meant to do anything but go in
looking for socks. The fact that she’d actually thought to get some
in stock for him was, well, touching, to put it sloppily.

Those big eyes
of hers, one minute snapping with temper, the next sparkling with
amusement, he felt like he could look into them forever, drown in
the pale blue depths.

So many things
he hadn’t meant to do, hadn’t even consciously thought about, but
it had happened. He’d watched the graceful, natural sway of her
hips as she’d led him around the racks to the sock display, that
long blonde hair that swung silkily down her back, that faint,
fresh scent she used, the warmth of that body as he’d leaned closer
to reach over her to take a pair of socks. That curvy, slim body
pressed against his front, the nestling of her bottom against him,
the heat that had spread out from the contact to curl languidly
through him. Then she’d turned and looked up at him, suddenly
uncertain, blue eyes wide, little tongue flickering out to moisten
those plump lips…and that husky voice asking if there was anything
else he needed.

Hell yes,
there was something - her. Could anyone blame him for the desire
that slammed through him, hitting hard and deep? He wanted her,
wanted to taste those lush lips, had given in to the primitive
urge.

Was he sorry?
Hell no. Any regrets? No. Okay, well, not exactly regret, but he’d
been shocked as shit when he’d realised what he’d done, had
expected her to slap him silly.

Moz sighed,
slumped back against the bench. Then he’d retreated. Bumbled about,
tried to apologise and ran like a little kid caught with his hand
in the biccie barrel.

Actually, to
be truthful, he’d have liked his hand to be somewhere all right,
namely up her blouse or down her panties, but he had no idea how
she thought about him. Apart from the fact that he apparently
annoyed the hell out of her.

She made him
horny.

Go figure.

Taking another
swallow of coffee, Moz debated his next move. Basically, he wasn’t
sure. They didn’t exactly have any history between them. Oh, wait,
unless he counted the fact that he’d trapped her against her
kitchen wall the previous day and ended up with a boner to rival
all boners last night when he’d contemplated where that could have
led.

Shit, maybe he
should have seen where it would lead. But whatever she’d been
feeling, she’d hidden it deep and brazened her way out.

Mr Suave he
wasn’t. Maybe if he got really stuck he could talk to Grant,
someone who wasn’t closely connected to Del.

Or he could
just do his job like he was supposed to and try to figure out Del
and his next move later.

Del and his
next move? Was there going to be a next move?

Moz pursed his
lips, pictured Del’s pretty face with those soft lips and
expressive eyes, and decided that yep, there was definitely going
to be a next move. But first things first.

Taking the mug
of coffee, he strode out into the main office, flicked on the radio
so that music played softly, and settled down to finish some
paperwork before heading out to the abattoirs and his other
designated duties.

The fun just
never stopped.

~*~

Del returned
home later than usual, pulling into the space in front of the old
house with relief. Man, it was good to be home, even if said home
was threatening to fall down around her ears.

Getting out of
the car, she studied it in the gloom. The outside sensor light
hadn’t come on because she was trying to save on power. She only
put the sensor on when she knew she was going to be coming home in
the dark.

The old house
probably did look a bit spooky, most old houses did. The dark
veranda with the shadows, the dark windows, but it didn’t faze her.
After living with the creaking framework, she knew the house well
and didn’t feel any fear. This house was definitely not
haunted.

A dog howled
in the distance, a harsh voice quietening it quickly. Turning, she
peered in the direction of Harding’s home across the road.
Headlights flickered over the tree tops before disappearing.
Whoever drove along the road had probably turned off into Harding’s
driveway.

Mentally
shrugging, Del locked the car door and strode onto the veranda. The
house was cool inside thanks to the stone walls. The old runner
from her parent’s home ran down the corridor, making it a little
less stark looking. Thankfully, she’d managed to get the ceiling
put in the house before she’d bought the shop, so that combined
with the new lino lifted the feel of the house.

Sure enough,
the new locks on the windows were sturdy, the best to be had, but
she’d expected no less from Ryder. Admittedly, it did give her a
feeling of protection, though if anyone were really going to try
and gain entrance they could just smash a window.

Security
screens could stop that.

No sooner had
that thought crossed her mind than she shrugged it away. Being
locked in didn’t suit her, the thought of grills on the windows
making her shudder. So far Gully’s Fall was a safe place, the
majority of the inhabitants having grown up and grown old here,
most of their off-spring still here continuing life. The tourists
hadn’t given them much trouble and it was still a safe place to
live. Maybe one day it would change but she certainly hoped not. If
and when it did, she could always re-evaluate.

Showering
quickly, she pulled on a nightgown and cotton dressing gown, slid
into a pair of thongs and returned to the kitchen to scrounge in
the freezer. Her mother had given her some leftover stew, so she
zapped that in the microwave.

She was just
starting to spoon it into a bowl when the sound of men’s voices
yelling disturbed the quietness. Dogs barked, snarling filling the
air, followed by a yelp.

Placing the
bowl down, Del flicked on the back light and ran outside, picking
up the baseball bat her father had insisted she take for some
protection when she’d first moved out to the house.

Peering
around, she listened. Cursing sounded from the road and she moved
quietly around the house, sticking to the shadows. Another dog
barked, then something came hurtling through the bushes, branches
cracking, growling and snarling filling the air. Something small
and furry, spitting and hissing, bounded past her feet to scamper
around the back of the house.

Perplexed, Del
raise the bat, resting it on one shoulder as something else much
larger barrelled through the bushes.

A dog, big and
powerful, bounded into the clearing. It swung its head towards her,
teeth bared, growling as it came to a stop and eyed her.