SBC Fighter: Tails Of Love Part 1

Tails of love.

Lori Foster . . . [et al.].

MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

Lori Foster.

CHAPTER ONE.

It figured that on the most miserable night of the week, Erin Schuler would be the last one out. It was her own fault for staying so late, working wel past closing just because . . .

wel , she real y had nowhere else she needed to be. Her empty apartment wasn't al that appealing. Hanging out at the park was always preferable-when it wasn't so dark and stormy and cold.

The rain came in a torrent, soaking Erin as she locked the door to the park's storage shed and dashed for her car in the farthest lot. Tal , thick trees blocked what little moonlight might have penetrated the stormy sky.

At least she'd gotten the last of the mulch covered and al the tools put away before the skies opened up.

But now, with rain battering down on her, she could barely see two feet in front of her as she navigated over the gravel lot, mindful of shadows and night sounds. With her arms over her head, uselessly attempting to block some of the rain, she jogged fast-and tripped over something smal and soft.

As she went down face-first, whatever she'd tripped over gave a surprised yelp, fol owed by a very heart-wrenching whimper.

She hit the ground hard and, hearing that sad little sound, jerked around and shielded her eyes with a hand. There, looking wounded, wet, and afraid, was an animal.

Her heart lurched as she stared at the smal creature with large, glistening eyes. Shaking from cold and unease, she immediately went to her knees on the gravel and pul ed a smal flashlight from her bag. Shining it at the critter, she found herself face-to-face with a sodden puppy of indiscriminate breed.

"Oh, baby." Erin held out a hand. "There, there, it's okay.

I'm sorry if I hurt you," she whispered. "I didn't see you hunkered down there."

The bal of wet, matted brown fur watched her from worried dark eyes. Whimpering, hopeful but afraid, it inched a little closer.

Very slowly, Erin got off her knees and went into a crouch. "It's al right, baby. You look as cold and miserable as I feel. Come here, now. We'l get warmed up together."

The dog's fur was fil ed with mud and probably unspeakable things, like ticks and fleas. But what the hel , she wasn't in much better shape herself now that the rain had soaked through to her skin and she'd fal en on the gravel lot. She pul ed the little bundle up close and cradled it in her arms.

The puppy couldn't weigh more than three pounds and had the distinct look of neglect about it. In the three years she'd been working with the park, Erin had seen and rescued plenty of wild animals. But never before had she encountered a pup.

Not being a dummy, she wondered if someone had left the animal there, and if the creep was stil around.

The little dog shivered in her arms and laid back its ears in a beseeching way. Holding it close to her chest, Erin unlocked her car and slid inside, then closed and locked the door. Relieved for that much security, she decided to take the dog to her apartment and see what she could do about making it comfortable.

She put the key in the ignition, turned, and . . .

Nothing.

"c.r.a.p." Her battery had died? Truly nervous now, she dug out her cel phone. "It's okay, sweetie. We'l be fine, I promise."

But when she opened her phone and the light came on, she said, "c.r.a.p times two." The battery was al but dead.

Erin flopped her head back against the seat and groaned.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. She had to hurry and cal someone, or she'd be stranded here alone for the night.

The dog licked her chin in encouragement, and after a pat meant to rea.s.sure the pup, she tried cal ing her brother.

No answer. Jerk.

He was probably out having a great time somewhere.

Not that he could have known she'd need him, but stil . . .

Though it was summer, the freezing rain and cool night air sent shivers racing over her body. Who to cal ?

One look out the window and she knew she couldn't bother her folks. Not only would they have been in bed for hours, but she didn't particularly want either of them to be out driving in this horrible storm.

As to friends . . . wel , she didn't have any super good friends who wouldn't mind venturing out late on a rainy night to save her social y dysfunctional b.u.t.t.

That left her with only one choice: Gary Rutledge.

Never mind that Gary was probably asleep, or with a woman, or that she'd been avoiding him for a few months now. Erin thought of the last time he'd cal ed, how frustrated he'd been that she claimed to be too busy to see him.

They both knew it was a lie. Only she knew why she lied.

But d.a.m.n it, what she wanted and what he wanted were worlds apart. His life was already too ful to add a serious romantic relationship, and she cared too much about him for anything less. She had enough problems in her life without fostering a deliberate heartache.

But even if he wanted what she wanted, he had big plans ahead and she didn't want to get in the way of them. And if she was total y honest, she had to admit that his newfound popularity and social standing intimidated the hel out of her.

Lightning crashed across the sky, fol owed by a deep belch of car-jarring thunder. The pup yelped pitiful y. Erin jumped. "Wow," she said as she stroked the animal to calm it. It whined and tried to burrow under her arm. "Yeah, yeah,"

she told the dog. "I know. It's time to suck it up and make the cal . I'l do it right now."

She'd ask Gary for help, but keep things cool and detached. Somehow.

Cooing to the dog, she dialed his number.

On the third ring, Gary gave a low, sleepy, "Hel o?"

Wel hel . She'd sort of hoped against hope that he wouldn't be in bed already, but it was obvious that she'd awakened him.

Erin cleared her throat and without meaning to, asked, "You alone, Rutledge?" If he was with another woman, she'd d.a.m.n wel crawl home in the storm before admitting she needed his help.

"Erin?" New awareness chased away the slumber in his tone. Voice now firm and demanding, he said, "What's wrong?"

Her phone gave a series of near-silent beeps, indicating an impending disconnect from a dead battery. Jostling the pup to keep it stil in her lap, panicked at the idea that her phone would die any second, she rushed into speech. "I need you, Gary. I'm at the park, in the north lot, and everyone else is gone. Bring some towels. Maybe a blanket and-"

The phone blinked off.

Erin stared at it in horror, then let out a long breath. Had she said enough? Had he heard her location?

If so, surely he'd play white knight. Surely, he'd understand the seriousness of what she asked.

Surely he'd come alone, and not force her to ride back with whoever his current bed-warmer might be.

Rain lashed her window and lightning again lit the area, stretching ominous shadows and amplifying just how alone she was. If Gary didn't show up, she supposed she would have to start walking. It would take at least an hour just to get to the main thor oughfare, and the park roads were dark and narrow and . . . wel , scary. But she'd do it if she had to.

Hugging the dog, Erin wondered how she always got herself into these fixes.

She needed to get a handle on her work schedule.

She needed a new car.

Hel , she needed a new life.

Cracking the window to hear any sounds that might be unfamiliar in the surrounding woods, Erin waited. The pup whined in confusion and discomfort. She felt like joining in.

After ten minutes that felt like an hour, headlights shot into the parking lot and a sleek, sporty car crept in. Hope mingled with nervousness, but she'd just have to trust that it was Gary. If not, she might have a bigger problem than she wanted to contemplate.

Silhouetted by his own headlights, the driver got out.

Moving toward her in the darkness, he looked big and powerful. His car idled in the silent lot.

Erin swal owed.

He wore a long Windbreaker with the loose hood pul ed up, hiding his features so it wasn't until he'd strode right up to her car and his gorgeous face was there against the window, frowning in concern, that she knew it was Gary.

Her knees turned to Jel -O.

He looked relieved to see her, but also a little p.i.s.sed.

Brown eyes narrowed, rain dripping off his nose, he said, "Open up, Erin, and start explaining."

Seeing Erin, sodden but safe and sound, helped a little, but Gary's heart stil thumped in residual fear. Getting a "save me" late night phone cal from her was not his idea of fun.

He'd cal ed her right back, but she hadn't answered, and he'd thought the worst.

Now, knowing she was okay, he felt like yanking her pet.i.te a.s.s out of the car and shaking her. She'd taken him from a sound sleep to panic in a nanosecond. For too long now she'd been dodging him, making him nuts, and then to hear her on the phone, so late at night, with not much more than an "I need you" demand . . . Wel , she'd better have a good explanation.

He waited, getting more soaked by the second while she appeared to gather some things in the seat beside her.

Without a word she put up her window, opened her door, and stepped out to shove a squirming, frightened pup into his arms.

Brows lifted, Gary asked, "What's this?"

"A dog."

He was in no mood for her unique brand of sarcasm. "I can see that, smart a.s.s." Gary automatical y opened his Windbreaker and held the dog to his warm chest. Muddy paws and a muddier bel y scuttled in close, no doubt ruining his shirt. Poor little thing. "Where'd it come from?"

Erin kept her head down and closed her car door. "I found it when I got off work."

"Which was when?"

"Should've been hours ago, but . . ." She shrugged.

"Since I lock up the place, I stayed longer to get some stuff done."

She stil wasn't looking at him, and Gary didn't like that.

"Why didn't you answer me when I cal ed back?"

"Dead phone. I guess I forgot to charge it." Then, defensively, she said, "I'm lucky I got through to you before it went entirely kaput, or I'd have been walking home."

When lightning splintered the black sky, fol owed by several cracks of thunder, Gary took her arm and steered her toward his car. "Not real smart, Erin. You shouldn't be out here alone."

"Yeah, no kidding." Her short dark hair was plastered to her head, and rain water dripped over her face. As they walked back to his idling car, she hoisted a bag over her shoulder. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but-"

"Forget about it."

She started to say more when she saw the Audi and froze. "No, you didn't."

"Didn't what?" Gary hauled her the rest of the way to the car and opened the pa.s.senger door for her.

She didn't want to get in. "You drove your new Audi."

Now she hated his car, too? "So?"

She put her hands to her head and stood there in the pouring rain. "So it's a fifty-thousand-dol ar car and I'm wetter and muddier than the dog."

He smiled. "I can see that."

Finally she looked at him-but it was with wide-eyed horror. "I can't ride in there!" She pointed at the front seat of his Audi TT interior. "I'l ruin your leather seats."

Icy rain made its way down the back of his neck. "The leather's treated. It'l be fine. Now get in."

"But . . . I'm muddy."

Impatience had him nudging her along. "The car can be cleaned." As she gingerly seated herself, Gary stared down at the top of her head and, feeling provoked, said, "You can help me with that on your next day off. Okay?"

Her gaze clashed with his, but only for an instant. "Uh, sure."

So much enthusiasm. He shook his head and put the pup in her lap. "The towels are there in the seat if you want to wrap him up."