“Karly, what are you doing?”

Her breath hitched, and she pivoted. “Thad Lopez, would you stop sneaking up on me?”

She hadn’t seen Thad for two days but, oh my, he looked edible in those jeans riding low on his hips and a black leather jacket draped over his shoulders. However, the menace in Thad’s tone made her cringe. Even the rescue dog standing next to her tucked his tail between his legs. “And to answer your question, I’m picking up poop. Want to help?”

“Don't play games. You know what I mean. I don't need your help finding a job.”

“Oh, that. Well, it wasn’t me, exactly. Well, I mean, I did stop by to see Bill, then he suggested I stop by the Bainbridge sisters—”

“Great. Now the whole town’s involved.”

The laser-focused anger emanating from Thad made her wonder if staying inside the gated kennel might be prudent. The pit-bull mix stared up at her while she took her time emptying the waste into a five-gallon bucket. Finishing the chore left her no choice. She lifted the latch.

“Not everyone is involved. Only the people who care. You know how this town is.” Karly set down the pooper-scooper and bucket before turning back to the man who was spouting steam like a whistling teapot, boiling mad. “We just want to help.”

His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

“You know how to use tools,” she continued, steering around the caution signs. “Plus, Chase needs help. It’s a win-win type of thing.”

“A win-win thing,” his jaw muscles ticked of time like a bomb counting down to detonation, “like tickling a meddlesome female until she cries uncle?”

“Don’t tell me the military turned you into Mr. Grey. You’re not into bondage and submission, are you?” She giggled and winked at Thad, hoping to turn his sour mood into sweetness.

“Karly.” His eyes narrowed further, and he took a step closer.

“I’m kidding.” She held out her hands to stop him. “No, really. I’m just joking.”

The way he looked at her mouth, she’d bet a twenty he wouldn’t mind kissing her into total submission. He could—without much effort. The fence clanged musically when she backed into the wire links.

His gaze followed hers and then shifted away. “Why are you trying to help me?”

“I told you before. Kenny asked me to, and this town supports the military.”

He moved closer, pinning her against the kennel gate. “And?”

She studied his jaw, which pulsed as he gritted his teeth, along with the muscles in his neck. His shoulders were tight with tension, and he was holding back a tidal wave of resentment. She could feel the strain.

“Tell me the real reason.” His tone was steady. Too steady. Like the silence before the rumbling of a storm.

“I…uh…”

He ran a finger gently down the side of her cheek and then brushed the pad of it over her mouth. She closed her eyes against the melting gold of his eyes. No longer numb with alcohol, she would remember how beautiful he was to touch. The precise lines of his muscles, his earthy scent, the heat of his skin. Her eyes latched onto his mouth, his tongue moistening his lips. “I…well…”

His hot breath against her skin weakened both her knees and the wall of willpower she had built against his ability to drag her in. He wanted her. She’d seen his need two days earlier.

“Why can’t you admit you want me just as much as I want you?”

His announcement liquefied everything in touching distance. Not just her knees, but her hands, feet, head.

She fought off the feeling.

No matter what, she couldn’t fall again.

Not for Thad Lopez.

He’d left her. He wasn’t there on the worst day of her life.

A day tattooed in her mind forever.

But her hands had different ideas and reached for his waist. The heat emanating through his shirt could melt chocolate, and made her want to let her fingers roam. She slid her hands up his chest to feel the thrum of his strong, steady heartbeat through her fingertips, slowing her breathing, and synchronizing her rhythm with his tempo. He hadn’t moved. Just let her explore.

He could be sweet, but she preferred spicy. She licked the corner of his mouth, and then took another nibble. And then gently sank her teeth into his chin. Beneath her hands, his muscles jerked.

She let out a heavy sigh. “I can’t want you. You’re dangerous to my health.” Besides, you need to be with someone else. I can’t give you what you want. Not anymore. She slipped out from between him and the fence and took several steps away before turning back.

He studied her, and then was holding her, kissing her, making her forget all the reasons why she needed him to stay away. His tongue pushed and tickled against her lips until she had no choice but to allow him entry.

Dangerous. Definitely dangerous.

He reached below the hem of her tank top, searching, skimming every surface, until he reached her bra and pushed it up, exposing her breast.

Ohhhh. Totally delicious.

He cupped her, his thumb creating the kind of intense desire she’d only experienced with him. Lifting the fabric, he took his time appreciating, and her nipples tightened and saluted him in response. He dipped his head and rested his mouth against her engorged nipple to blow hot air.

Then she felt his muscles vibrate. Ah. So she wasn’t the only one feeling like the world had shifted off its axis. His soft moans of pleasure had a way of filling her mind and pushing every last excuse aside.

Oh, God. We can’t be doing this. She gripped his hair and pulled. “Thad. You have to stop.”

His hands slid up her sides.

“Tell me, Karly. Tell me you don’t feel anything for me,” he whispered.

She groaned and laid her head on his shoulder. “I can’t.”

“That’s what I thought.”

He lifted his head to angle in, but she took a step sideways. “If we could keep this casual, it would be one thing. But nothing between us has ever been casual. It’s either all or nothing, and this time it has to be nothing.”

She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans to keep from touching him, but his eyes skimmed down her front, so intense it felt like his hands were doing the skimming.

He released a breath. “You’re not nothing. You’re even more beautiful today than back then…”

“Thad. There’s too much baggage between us.”

“Okay. Let’s have a garage sale and get rid of it all. No more baggage.”

“This isn’t something to joke about.”

He took a step closer.

She held up her hands. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Don’t remind you of what it’s like to get wet and slippery together? We’re good together, you and I.”

Her breath skipped with stolen memories of a hot summer’s day at the lake. Take that memory, minus the teenage jitters, and she had a feeling she might enjoy sex more. A lot more. Yet their relationship couldn’t go anywhere. On that fateful day, she promised herself never, ever, ever to take him back, because he didn’t love her enough to stay. Fight for her. Love her. The crippled emptiness inside her womb pushed back.

“I won’t start anything which can’t have a good outcome. I need to concentrate on my business. It’s what I love. The only thing I love. I don’t have time to do anything else.”

A stunned look crossed his face, then his expression sobered. “Tell me you don’t want me. Want this.”

“I don’t. Well, I do. But what I’m trying to tell you is that I just need a friend right now. Nothing more.”

Thad’s frustrated groan practically vibrated the kennel fence when the front door chime sounded. “You had better go get that.” He stepped back and gripped the wire fence.

“Thad, I... We still need to talk about what’s going on.”

He held up a hand. “I’m good. I just need a pack for Custer. I saw a couple of harnesses when I was here the other day. If Custer is required to carry oxygen tanks, he’ll need to get used to carrying some weight.”

Her mom’s shrill voice sent tingles crawling down her spine. “My mom’s here. Go out the back.”

“Some things never change.” His voice landed on the lighter side of menacing. “You had better jump, or are you waiting for your mom to tell you how high?” He hung his head. “I’m sorry. I…I shouldn’t have said that.” With a carefully blank face, he pushed through the back door.

You’re right. Some things never change. We’re good together, you and I. Too good.

“There you are. I heard voices. Whom were you talking to?”

“Just the dogs, Mom.”

The door behind her swung shut, and she swore Thad had started barking, mimicking Custer. That idiotic feeling of emptiness sneaked back inside. “What can I help you with? I need to finish picking up after the dogs.”

“I don’t know why you insist doing such disgusting work. You’re the business owner. The least you can do is hire someone to help do the less-than-pleasant chores.”

“I’ll think about it. Is there a reason you stopped by?”

Karen Krane smoothed the hair off her face. “I was speaking with Vivian Newhall yesterday.” Her lips pursed with pleasure. “She was telling me about this mobile fashion boutique. It’s the rage.” She ran her fingers lightly down Karly’s arm. “With my selling ability, and your common sense, we could start a business together. Sounds like fun. Don’t you think?”

Fun?

Shock kidnapped her air and held it hostage. The woman clearly had no idea. No idea she was ripping Karly’s heart out and stomping all over her dreams.

“Tell you what, Mom. Why don’t you go home and do some research? Find out how much it will cost to purchase a good used truck and commercial insurance, and the cost of merchandise, business cards, and signs. Once you have the information, we can discuss where to park the truck.”

“It would be fun to work on it together.”

“Have you discussed this with your accountant?”

“He’ll just tell me I don’t have the funds. I’m sure it’s because he likes to keep the money in the account to earn his commission.”

No, it’s because you don’t have the money to waste. “Maybe we should pass on this one. It sounds like a lot of work, and I’m busy here.”

“Okay. I wish you would work in an environment that wasn’t so…wasn’t so, so dirty.” Her mother retrieved her travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer and squirted a mound in the center of her palm, then kissed Karly on the cheek. “You still need a haircut. How about I make an appointment at my salon? I’m sure there’s an opening.”

And, drive for an hour to get there? No, thanks. “Mother.” Her frustration pushed its way out.

“No need to raise your voice, hun. I was just trying to help.” She turned, wiggled her fingers over her shoulder. “See you tomorrow night for dinner.”

Karly’s stomach rumbled, and she crossed her arms over her waist to ease the nauseated churning. Thad’s spoken words came back. We were good together, you and I.

That’s because you’re the only one who gets me.

But she couldn’t go there. Thad had always wanted a big family. He joked about raising a soccer team. After what he went through, Thad deserved to find happiness. He deserved to have a wife who could give him what he wanted—that soccer team—something she couldn’t provide.