Wild in the Field by Jennifer Greene Read Free Book Online Page A

right mind. Anyway—”
    She couldn’t find a log. Lots of twigs in the grass, but nothing big enough to do any damage.
    â€œAnyway, the neighbors finally figured out that Art wasn’t coping on his own. They called the cops, who called Social Services, all that. Everybody was prepared to take care of Art, but no one realized they’d find the dog in such a godawful mess.”
    â€œYou’re taking this dog right back.”
    â€œNope, I’m not. But if you don’t want him, you can call the pound.”
    â€œI most certainly do not want him—”
    â€œOf course, they’ll put him down,” Pete assured her genially. “They don’t have the time or means to turn him around. Actually, I’m not sure anyone can. But the pound, for sure, will believe it’s easier to put him to sleep. In fact, that’s probably what I’d do.”
    â€œYou son of a sea dog, you take this dog back! I can’t believe this! That you’d desert me. Leave me alone with this horribly vicious dog!”
    â€œNaw. I’ll give you the number for the pound, if you want them to come and kill it—”
    â€œQuit saying that.”
    â€œQuit saying what?”
    â€œThat they’re going to kill the damn dog!”
    â€œWell, Cam. That’s how it is. I just thought… Darby’s got one chance left. That is, if you’ll give him one. He was such a great dog that I just thought, man, he has to be worth one last try…. But hell.” Pete pushed back from the fence. “Who cares, right? I’ll go home, get the phone number for the pound—”
    A log was too good for him. She vaulted over the fence, determined to give him what-for. She wasn’t precisely sure how to deliver that what-for, but she was madder than a bed of hornets and the “how” didn’t immediately seem that important. She hurled after him, yanked at his shirt, put a wagging finger up in his face, and the next thing she knew, she was in his arms.
    It all didn’t make a lick of sense. She was mad. Sheknew she was mad. And whatever emotion Pete MacDougal might have been feeling, he’d never let on for a blink that he felt anything sexual for her.
    Yet his lips came down on hers as if they had been waiting for just that moment. His arms slid around her waist, as if he’d known she was going to be on shaky ground. The sun tilted in her eyes, so bright and hot she couldn’t see. She still planned to sock him. Eventually. It was just that right then…she was so stunned.
    His lips were sun warmed, smooth. He dipped down for a second kiss before she’d recovered from the first. He was tall enough to make her feel surrounded, protected. She heard the yearning coo of a mourning dove. Felt the damp earthy loam beneath her feet, felt the sliver of breeze tickle the hair at her nape. She felt his heart, beating, beating. Felt her own, clutched tighter than a fist.
    Slower than a sigh, he lifted his head. His gaze roamed her face, his eyes dark with awareness, electric with what they’d kindled together. She felt his fingertip on her cheek. His voice came out rough and tender-low.
    â€œI knew it was in there. That soft, wonderful heart of yours. I hate to see you hurting so bad, Cam.”
    He didn’t lower his hand particularly fast, or turn around and start walking away with any speed. But still she couldn’t come up with an answer before he was already a hundred yards onto his own property. She couldn’t talk at all. She still seemed to be gulping in air and sensation both.
    There’d never been anything wrong with her IQ. She realized perfectly well that Pete had been trying to reach out a hand to her ever since she’d come home, but she’d assumed it was a neighborly hand. She’dnever expected…kisses. She’d never expected to feel his heart thundering against hers, to see the stark shine of desire in his