Take Me Again (5 page)

"Hmmm...” Laski nodded like one of those dog thingies perched on a dashboard. “Smart and pretty. Dangerous combination wouldn't you say, Crane?"

"Extremely,” Crane replied, before turning his hot glare on Laski. “What I don't understand is why my orders were not followed.” The veins in his neck bulged. He was pissed and this time it wasn't directed her way.

Yippee
!

"I explained the importance of using the patches every day for ten days to bring down Dunguard's blood pressure.” He reached out and gently stroked the horse's neck. “You can't continue to run this animal without being prepared for the consequences. One too many times and you'll kill him."

Bravo. Chew his ass good
.

Maybe Crane wasn't so bad after all.

Tracy flinched as he suddenly turned his steely glare on her. “Now let's talk about her. Looking to replace me?"

Gulp!
Her eyes widened. Erase her last thought.

"Absolutely not,” Laski said. “Just doing Carl a favor by letting his niece visit today."

Visit? How humiliating. Heat flooded her face as her arms unfolded.

"Favor.” Red-hot anger roared to the surface before she could restrain it. “You call watching my ass for the last thirty minutes a favor? If you had no intention of giving me a chance, why the hell did you even agree to meeting me?” She didn't wait for an answer. She turned to Crane and growled, “And you—"

Dammit. She braced her hands on her hips to hide the tremor that shook her, but it didn't work. She couldn't stop trembling.

"—get over yourself,” she said, more sharply than she intended. “This isn't personal.” There was so much more she wanted to say but couldn't get past the man's haunting eyes. It was like falling into the dark abyss leaving her speechless.

Damn him. Damn him to hell.

It took all the strength she had to tear her gaze away from him. When she did she bent and retrieved her bag. Tears swelled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Without another word she turned and walked away.

Dolan Crane would not run her out of town. If anything, he would be the one leaving.

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Dolan eased back in the booth and tried to relax, but the fire he had seen in Dr. Marx's eyes earlier today was burned into his memory. Not only had she put Laski in his place, she'd managed to do the same to him.

It chapped his ass to know she was right. Soliciting his clients wasn't personal, but it sure as hell felt like it. Wrapping his fingers around a cold glass of beer, he took a long drink and let the amber wash away his thirst.

"Gotta love Hooters,” Rowdy said, grinning. His hungry gaze slid up the backside of a long-legged brunette as she bent over to pick up a fork off the floor. “Beer. Burgers. And good looking women."

Dolan had to agree. In fact, he had made the restaurant selection thinking the scenery would chase a certain fiery redhead from his mind. The jukebox flipped to another song and the rocking beat of Keith Urban singing “You look good in my shirt” conjured an image of the redheaded vet in Dolan's bedroom standing sexy in one of his T-shirts.

Clearly his plan wasn't working—not by a long shot.

Had there been tears in her eyes as she had turned away from him? For some silly reason the thought weighed heavy on him. Dammit. Hurting her wasn't what he aimed to accomplish. He just wanted her gone and even that wasn't true. Screw seeing her in his T-shirt. What he really wanted was her naked and in his bed.

There. He'd said it. He had the fuckin’ hots for the woman who could damage his career.

"Hungry?” He glanced up at a large-breasted blonde whose nametag identified her as Alyssa. She was new here. Through half-shuttered eyes, she looked down at him, giving him the distinct impression she wasn't speaking of the burger and fries she set down before him. To make it even clearer in his mind she leaned forward and reached across the table to retrieve the ketchup.

Nice breasts. Rowdy joined him in taking a good look.

"Ketchup?” She eased into a standing position, making sure he saw every bit of what she had to offer.

He winked, taking the bottle from her hand. “Thank you."

Alyssa smiled prettily, placing a slip of paper beneath his napkin. “The pleasure is mine.” She turned and quietly walked away.

Might just give her a call tonight
, he thought with less enthusiasm than usual. That alone told him his head wasn't where it should be. His stomach growled as if confirming the fact. He gave the ketchup lid a twist and tipped it over.

Rowdy cocked his head to steal a glimpse at Alyssa's ass covered in tight short-shorts as she headed for the kitchen. “Do you have that effect on all women?” He shoved a French fry into his mouth.

Dolan glanced at the waitress staring at him from across the room and noted that she wasn't as attractive as one redheaded veterinarian. Nor did she have a voice like silk. “Nah.” He gave the ketchup bottle a couple quick shakes and a big blob of sauce plopped on his plate, splashing upon his shirt and arm. “Fuck.” He grabbed a napkin and wiped his arm and then his shirt. This was gonna stain. Would anything be easy today?

Rowdy set his beer down. “Everything okay?"

The ketchup bottle wobbled as Dolan angrily placed it on the table. “That obvious?"

"Well. Yeah. What's up?” His friend picked up his hamburger.

"Lost a foal yesterday.” Dolan hesitated. The colt's death still bothered him, but there was more to his unrest. “There's this woman,” he heard himself admit.

"Don't tell me you're in love?” Amusement laced his friend's voice.

"Hell no.” Dolan blurted the words and then calmed himself before he continued. “Just the opposite. Damn woman is my competition."

Rowdy stopped midway into taking a bite of his burger. “Competition?” He eased his sandwich upon the plate. “She's a veterinarian?” A shadow passed before his friend's eyes.

"Yeah.” Dolan took another swig of his beer. “To top it off she's smart and sexy as hell. Flaming red hair."

Rowdy choked. “Red hair?” He looked a little peaked.

"You okay?"

His friend cleared his throat. “Sexy as in you're afraid that she'll romance your clients away or—” he studied Dolan, “—are you attracted to her?"

Both
. Dolan pushed his fingers through his hair. “Business, of course.” The lie stuck in his throat.

"Are you sure?” Rowdy pressed. “Looks like there might be something more."

"Shit. It's that obvious?” He was usually more discreet, but there was no denying there was something about this woman that consumed him.

His friend grinned, picking up his hamburger. He took a bite, chewed for a moment and then swallowed. “You know—” Grabbing his napkin, he wiped a big drop of mustard from the corner of his mouth. His eyes danced with mischief. “I've got this gal lined up for Monday night. I think you might like her. Why don't you join us?"

Why did he feel as if Rowdy was setting him up? “I don't know."

"Wow. Dolan Crane turning down an opportunity to get laid.” He taunted him. “This woman must really be screwing with your head."

He had no idea.

"C'mon. You'd be helping me out. She has this fantasy.” His friend took another bite of his hamburger. Chewing, he said, “Two men. Handcuffs.” He swallowed before concluding, “I guarantee you'll love her."

Dolan thought for a moment. He needed a diversion. “What the hell. Why not?"

Another French fry disappeared into Rowdy's mouth. “Great. My house. Eight o'clock."

Dolan looked down at his shirt, remembering he had several more appointments before he could call it a night. “I'd better wipe this ketchup off before it stains.” He got up from the table and headed for the bathroom.

"Hooters.” Tracy huffed in disbelief. She couldn't believe her last client had recommended the place and she had taken it. It wasn't a place she particularly cared to have lunch, especially alone. At least she had the good sense to call ahead and order a chicken sandwich to go. She'd just eat the sandwich while heading to her next call. Pulling her truck into a parking space, she cut the engine and got out.

The cutest little brunette opened the heavy glass door and welcomed her. “Alone or meeting someone?"

"Alone. No. I mean to go. I called in an order,” Tracy corrected, wondering why it always felt so pitiful entering a restaurant alone. As she stood at the hostess desk, she scanned the restaurant. Just what she thought, the majority of occupants were men ogling the waitresses. She frowned until her gaze landed on a familiar face. Rowdy sat alone in a booth.

"Your name?” the cheery waitress asked.

"Marx."

"Give me a second and I'll check on your order,” the brunette offered before she turned to seat a couple who came through the door.

Tracy heaved the strap of her purse over a shoulder. Maybe she'd just say hello. As she approached, Rowdy got a huge smile on his face that disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. He shot a nervous glance toward the bathroom.

So, you're here with someone
.

"Hey.” His eyes widened as she slide into the booth across from him.

"Hi.” She hid the grin begging to be released as he began to squirm. “Wha'ya up to?” The untouched hamburger in front of her smelled good enough to eat.

Rowdy wasn't usually short of words, but he seemed particularly quiet at the moment. “Eating."

Whoever he was with sure liked ketchup, she noted. “Moved into your new place yet?” She searched for small talk.

"Not yet. Closing is Monday morning.” He glanced toward the bathroom for the second time. Putting him out of his misery, she stood. Relief fell across his face. “We still on for that evening?"

It probably should have bothered her that he was here with someone else while making plans to sleep with her Monday, but for some reason it didn't. Although he was a good-looking man, there weren't any real feelings other than friendship. “Sure.” Lord knows she needed something to get her mind off of one particular veterinarian.

"Hey, why don't you wear that cute little bustier you wore that second night. You know the one."

Oh yeah. She knew the one. He hadn't let her wear it for long.

"It should drive my friend as wild as it did me.” He laughed as she felt heat flood her face. “You said you were game for anything."

Those were her words and it was her fantasy. Now if she had the guts to go through with it.

"Miss Marx.” Tracy jerked around. The brunette waitress stood beside her. “Your order is ready."

Ohmygod
. How much had the waitress heard?

"My order? Oh. Yes. My order.” She almost dropped her purse as she scrambled to find her credit card. Meanwhile, Rowdy sat there with the biggest grin on his face.

"Are you, Tracy?"

She was going to kill him. Ignoring him, she handed the woman her credit card. When the waitress was out of earshot, she faced Rowdy again. “Bastard,” she whispered with a chuckle.

"You look so pretty all red and embarrassed.” He winked. “Are you game?"

"Ohhh,” she growled, turning to walk away without another word.

"Was that a yes?” he hollered, following it up with a stream of laughter.

Yes. Yes. Yes. But she wasn't giving him the satisfaction of hearing her say it.

Crap. Now he was imagining seeing the woman.

Dolan wiped his damp palms down his jeans as someone who looked a lot like Tracy Marx exited the restaurant.

Red hair.

Tight jeans.

The wet spot on his T-shirt was right over a nipple that grew taut. With each step he took the material scrapped over the sensitive nub, and that wasn't the only thing firming. If he didn't watch it he'd have a raging hard-on by the time he reached the table.

Dammit. He had to put an end to the fascination he had for this woman. Maybe Rowdy offered him the right opportunity. He slid into the booth. Guilt written all over his face.

Dolan checked his lunch. Nope. No bite out of his hamburger. Fries all where he left them and his beer looked untouched. Must be his imagination once again running away.

"We're on for Monday night. Anything I can bring?” he asked.

"Not a thing. I think I've taken care of everything.” Rowdy looked away.

Odd.

"Need any help moving in?"

"Nah. I've hired a team of people to move and unpack me. I'll just sit back with a beer and supervise."

Dolan picked up his sandwich and took a bite. “Sounds like you have everything under control."

"I hope so.” Rowdy chugged down his beer and then held up the empty glass to get the waitress's attention.

Alyssa didn't miss a beat. “Another round?” She batted long eyelashes at Dolan.

"Not for me.” He took another bite of his hamburger, realizing how hungry he was. He'd skipped breakfast and the encounters with his competition this morning had left him more concerned about his livelihood than his stomach.

"I'll take another,” Rowdy said.

"Are you sure?” She placed her palm on Dolan's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

Surprisingly he felt nothing. Not a spark of interest, which was disconcerting. He loved women of all shapes and sizes. Every one of them held a mystery. They were like puzzles he prided himself on solving, but not today. Even the scent of her sweet perfume did nothing to him.

"I'll take another beer,” Rowdy repeated.

"Can I get you anything else?” She drew a little circle on Dolan's shoulder.

The frustration on Rowdy's face was hard to miss. Dolan cleared his throat. “A beer for my friend."

She jerked her hand back, visibly bewildered by his lack of interest. “Of course.” She faced Rowdy. “Can I get you anything else?"

"No, just the beer.” As she turned to leave, Rowdy mumbled, “Thanks, buddy."

Dolan glanced at his watch, realizing the time. He pushed the last of his hamburger into his mouth. “I've gotta go. Anything planned for tonight?” He dug into his pocket and threw a twenty on the table before he rose.

Rowdy pushed his plate away from him. “Thought I'd hang out at Norton's. What about you?"

"Maybe. Depends on whether any emergencies arise. I'm on call this weekend, remember?"