“You’re doing a damn fine job now,” he affirmed before taking another sip of his beer, listening to the continued sound of crickets.
“Miss Molly already passed her Canine Good Citizen test. We’re not taking this lightly. It’s against the law to pass off a fake service dog.”
“I didn’t say you were.” Max stretched his arms, expanding his chest, and let out a low sigh.
“I’m sorry to be defensive. People understand Seeing Eye dogs and dogs that assist with mobility. But when the animal is helping with developmental or emotional disabilities, people can be incredibly...rude and unenlightened.” Just as before, Natalie’s gaze turned downward, pain evident in every part of her.
“Then enlighten me.” He tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear.
She angled her head away. “I think we need to be careful here.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, wanting her to spell it out. What they were feeling.
“I didn’t invite you here as anything but a guest.”
“Understood.”
“An attraction is just that. An attraction. It doesn’t have to be acted on.”
“Fair enough.” He rested his elbows on his knees, clasping his bottle, retreating for now. But only to regroup. “I appreciate your generosity with the room. Your place here offers a homey feel I don’t find often in my travels. Now back to talking about your dog. I want to know more about the training.”
Even in the moonlight, he noticed a blush rise on her neck. She sipped her wine, before talking into the glass. “You’re just being polite.”
“I’m curious. Explain it so my techie mind understands.”
“Okay, have you heard about studies on dogs that can sniff out cancer?”
“I have.” He nodded, gesturing with his beer. “I assume it’s like drug-sniffing dogs.”
“Nice analogy. And there are dogs that alert to seizures and diabetes glucose drops.”
“Keep talking.” He genuinely wanted to know. And God, he also liked the sound of her voice.
“Those all involve chemical changes in the body, with physical tells. Think of processing issues and stress from autism in the same way. We can teach the dog to anticipate problems, assist in managing the environment... Your eyes are glazing over.”
Narrowing his gaze, he processed the implications of what she was saying.
“No, I’m thinking. It makes sense.” He leaned forward, looking past her, eyes alert on the surrounding area, always looking and observing. A calm street in a calm town, no threat to either of them present here. Old habits stayed with him, probably would forever. Including his drive to help, which was giving life to a deep protectiveness for this woman carving out a life on her own in the face of challenges that would have caused many people to crumble. “Have you got an online presence to chronicle your journey with Miss Molly and Colby?”
“In all my free time?” she asked drily.
“You could make a difference for others. Let me help set something up for you. I can make it very user friendly. And you would be surprised at the reach you can get with adding in guest bloggers like your trainer, your vet, people here in town.” He grinned. “The cyberworld isn’t all bad, you know.”
“Why would you do that for me?” Her slender fingertips traced the rim of her wineglass, and she tilted her head in wonderment.
“Because what you’re doing is important. You wanted to help. I like to help. I’m a lucky man. I can do what I want with my time. No worries about income. It’s not a huge sacrifice really. I’ll get one of my techs to work with your trainer. Free publicity for her, since she’s volunteering her time at a discount to you. Call it paying things forward.”
Her eyes lifted in surprise. “That’s really kind of you. Thank you.”
A crooked smile spread across his face. “I’m not doing it just to be kind.”
“Then why are you?” She leaned into him, desire flashing in her eyes.
“It’s a good thing to do...” He angled closer, unable to resist. “And because I really, really want to get on your good side so you’ll let me kiss you.”
Determined to put a hint of space between them even if she couldn’t will herself to just walk away, Natalie flattened a hand to his chest.
The hard, muscled wall of his chest.
Gulp.
“I’m complimented you want to kiss me, but that’s not included in the bed-and-breakfast package.”
He chuckled, the rumble of his laugh vibrating against her hand. “That’s the nicest put-down I’ve ever received.”
Gaining strength, she let out her own low laugh, arching her eyebrows, taking him in, trying to focus on the crisp September air instead of his musky scent. Or the way the shadows played up his bad-boy mystique. “I imagine you don’t often get told no.”
“Another compliment. For someone who is rejecting me, you’re doing it very nicely.” Voice still throaty, he swallowed, eyes fixed on hers.
“So you hear me saying no to your advance?”
He shook his head, the line of his lips growing taut. Sincere. “I hear you. No is no. I just want you to remember I still feel the same way. I want to kiss you. Very much. And if you decide you want to act on this attraction, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
The courtyard dimmed ever so slightly. The moody stars seemed brighter as the lights from the B and B went out one by one. People were making their way to bed. She ought to be moving in that direction, too. Away from Max. Away from the way his aqua stare sent her reeling.
“You assume the attraction is mutual.” A lame defense. She knew it as soon as the words flicked from her tongue into the night air.
He stayed quiet and held her gaze.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Attraction exists. But I think it’s fair to say people don’t act every time they’re attracted to someone.” She looked past him, toward the street. A neighbor walking a border collie shuffled by in a half daze. The sound of gravel shifting beneath paws and feet gave her something else to focus on besides the tempting muscled man in front of her.
“Touché.”
“You’re conceding?” Narrowing her eyes, she tucked a few strands of hair behind ear, unconvinced.
Max passed the now-empty beer bottle from hand to hand, the green glass glinting. “Not giving in. Just noting your point, since you noted mine. We are attracted to each other. I consider that a huge win. I’m a patient man, especially when the stakes are important.” He leaned forward, a devilish twinkle in his eyes. “Very important.”
“A kiss? Really?” She’d never met a man patient for a kiss.
He leaned close, so close his breath caressed her face. “Yes, really. What I believe is going to be a really amazing kiss.”
He smiled at her, collecting his empty bottle and her glass as he stood. His absence allowed for the light breeze to brush her exposed skin, leaving her aware of just how close they’d been sitting. How easy it would have been to act on any of her feelings and temptations. How she simply could not allow herself to do that.
As if she needed another reminder. Watching him walk back to the B and B, Natalie swallowed hard.
Just