The dog panted happily, already at the back door, sitting politely and gazing at the doorknob.
There he was! Sam Gardner. Kirby froze at the sight of him, then took one step back away from the window. Staying out of his sight, she watched him through the sun-streaked glass. Looking like a rodeo hero, he slung the coiled green hose into the air like a lasso. It unfurled as it sailed over the top of the fence and into his backyard.
Sam Gardner met only one of her criteria. He was attractive. She watched his toned muscles ripple beneath his T-shirt as he adjusted the hose over the top of the board fence and stalked out of sight.
Too bad. Shed be willing to settle for him if he met even one more of her criteria.
A second later, she could hear the sound of water running. What do you think, Jess?
The dog didnt bother to bark. She looked at the doorknob expectantly.
Some watchdog you are. Youre too friendly. You didnt even snarl when he was in the backyard.
The dog gazed up at her happily, long silky ears flopping, pink tongue lolling.
I know, youre a fierce one. Kirby patted the dogs soft round head, laughing because she couldnt imagine her sweet-hearted dog hurting anyone.
She couldnt imagine Sam Gardner running from anyone or anything. He had that tough, dangerous look about him. The one that made a girls pulse skyrocket. Even an average and ordinary girl like her.
There he was again. She could see him on the other side of the fence, in his yard, tugging the hose in a competent, expert way that said he could handle anything. Shocks of dark hair tumbled over his brow as he worked, and the sunshine flitted over him like grace.
Hes probably not a Christian, not nice, not considerate and hardworking, she told herself, as if that were any consolation. Except that didnt ring true.
The dog scratched at the door.
Had she drifted off again? Yep, she was always doing that. Kirby turned the knob and opened the door. Maybe shed go out with the dog and make sure Sam had shut the side gate. He didnt look like the responsible type
A shadow leaped toward her. Big. Dark. Threatening. She fell back against the door, from calm to terrified in a millisecond. She tried to scream.
Couldnt.
The shadow became an enormous dog hurtling toward her. Its powerful jaw opened to reveal enormous sharp teeth. He leaped through the open door and planted his huge muddy paws on her shoulders. Bright, happy brown eyes smiled at her. A wide, wet tongue swiped across her chin in a friendly hello.
I guess youre not too dangerous. Kirby wiped her face with her sleeve. Down.
Pleased with himself, the dog dropped to all fours, glad to sniff noses with the little blond spaniel dancing around him in greeting.
That was one enormous dog. He was at least midthigh high, with a neat short black-and-brown coat. He paraded into her kitchen as if he owned it.
I bet I know who owns him. Kirby thought of that rugged, all-too-confident man next door. The one who mentioned the boards down in their mutual fence. A dog owner would be concerned about a damaged fence.
There was a resemblance between the man and his canine. The dog sauntered over to the kitchen counter and grabbed the biscuit box off the edge of it. As if he had great practice at doing this very same thing many times before, he upended the box onto the floor and little bone-shaped treats scattered everywhere.
Her little spaniel sat politely eating only one treat, but the bold dog attacked the pile of biscuits as if hed been starved for days.
Yep, you belong to Sam Gardner. No doubt about that. Kirby knelt to retrieve what she could of the scattered biscuits. The dog only ate faster, sucking up as many treats as his mouth could hold. You are a bad dog. I hope you know that.
He didnt seem the slightest bit repentant.
Its probably not your fault. Look at your owner. You cant help it. She put the box on top of the refrigerator, far out of reach. She patted her little dog and gave her another biscuit for being so polite.
No more for you, buster. Kirby told the intruder. Cmon, were taking you back where you belong.
The dog looked appalled as she snapped a bright pink leash to his chain collar, but he went with her willingly. He was a very good-natured dog. The spaniel followed them to the door, whining when it was clear she had to stay behind.
Sorry, Jessie. When Sams dog lunged off the front steps, dragging her with him, Kirby thought he must have been an obedience-school dropout.
Just like your owner, arent you? She coiled the leash when she caught up with him, holding him firmly. You are good-looking. I bet all the girls tell you that.
As if in complete agreement, the dog hauled her around the hedge, obviously too self-confident for his own good.
Just like his owner.
The phone was ringing loud and clear through the window hed left open to air out the kitchen. Sam dumped the end of the garden hose and crashed through the old screen door. He caught the receiver on the fourth ring. Yeah?
Oh, I was about ready to hang up. Aunt Ruths chipper voice singsonged in his ear. I thought maybe you gave me a number that wasnt hooked up yet. But I should have known the go-getter you are would have your telephone in already.
It was tough work to dial the phone company. Nearly took all my energy. Now Im too weak to fix the plumbing.
A warm chuckle rang on the other end of the line. Oh, you can always make me laugh, boy.
A man does what he can. Warmth seeped into the center of his chest. He loved his aunt, whod been a second mother to him and had written him faithfully every week when hed been in the military. And during the tough times afterward.
I suppose youve already got your tool belt on and working.
The tools are on the floor, but I am tinkering away.
If he could call it tinkering. It was more like a major repair. He took one look at the trashed sink, broken faucet, the holes in the wall, the door ripped off the front of a filthy fridge. And that was just the beginning.
The question was, how much did he tell her? Aunt Ruth had become more frail after his uncles death. The repairs are well under way.
Theres no grass growing under your feet, Sam Gardner. No, I can always count on you. She sounded so proud of him. I admire a hardworking man. You are something special.
Nope, just bored. He blushed, because her affection embarrassed him. Because he didnt feel special at all. He had a lot of hard lessons and proof to the contrary. The truth is, I agreed to move here and help you out so I had something to do. Flying around the world was getting too dull. Been there, done that.
I learned long ago not to believe you, Samuel James Gardner. Beneath that crusty manner of yours is a soft heart gooier than melted chocolate. Which reminds me, thanks for running to the grocery store for me. I found the surprise you bought along with the groceries. You are a dear, precious boy.
That settled it. The woman was just too darn gushy. Sam grabbed a Phillips screwdriver from one of his tool bags and opened a sagging cabinet door. What hed do is fix that bent screw. Found the bag of Snickers bars, did you? I was trying to bribe you. I want you to like me better than my other cousins.
No problem there, as long as you keep bringing me my favorite candy. You are my favorite, boy. Always have been and always will be.
No problem there, as long as you keep bringing me my favorite candy. You are my favorite, boy. Always have been and always will be.
You are my favorite, too. That was about as affectionate as he could stand being. He loved his aunt, but love was tenuous. And hed believed in lovehis mothers, his wifesand seen how easy it was for love to crumble away into hatred.
The bent screw gave and the broken cabinet door handle tumbled into his hand.
Sounds like youre hard at work. Now the worry was there in Ruths voice. The damage to the house isnt too bad, is it?
Not too bad, he said, because it was only the truth.
The damage wasnt too bad at all. It was more than bad. It was appalling. The place was trashed. But it wouldnt be by the time Ruth saw it. Hed fix everything damaged between the roof and the foundation first.
Oh, Im so relieved. The Realtor was simply exaggerating about the damages, then. I dont know what I would do if I had to find the money to repair that house. It was fine enough to inherit a rental property, but its been nothing but trouble. Sam, youre my saving grace in all this. I cant tell you what it means to have you take care of this for me.
For you? Youre the one letting me buy this place. The real estate market around here is pretty tight.
Yes, but heaven knows the house has to be in good repair. And clean. I could hire my cleaning woman to come over. Shes quick as a whip and thorough, too.
The place in Sams chest where a whole heart used to be felt constricted. His aunt was a good person, and there werent too many of those in this world. Lets hold off on a cleaning lady for a while, okay? A long while. Id like to do a few more repairs and then paint the whole place.
Oh, of course. Maybe Id best buy the paint. You go down to the hardware store and put it on my account.
Although it was generous of Ruth, Sam figured that by the time he was done, he would have charged up an easy ten grand. Why dont you let me worry about that? I thought that was our agreement. I fix this up for sweat equity, right? Ive got it under control.
Such a relief, such a dear boy. Say, have you met little Kirby McKaslin next door?
The memory of his beautiful neighbor flashed through him like sunlight. She was as graceful, as soft and as perfect as the warm spring day. Yep. I did happen to meet her. I had to go next door and borrow her hose.
Shes a cute girl, dont you think? And as good as gold. Comes from a fine family
He knew where this was going. Dont even start.
Start what? Im just telling you about your new neighbor. I want you to be friendly to her, since shes a friend of the family.
Friendly? Is that all? I heard a scheme in your voice.
You heard no such thing.
Call it instinct, then.
Instinct? Why, thats preposterous. I wouldnt try to fix you up with a nice, pretty young woman
Fix me up, huh? At least hed got her to admit it. Sharp, fire-hot pain scorched a sharp point through the center of him, all the way down to his soul. He knew she had no clue what she was doing to him. Ive asked you not to fix me up.
Ruths sigh came across the line, not as a whisper of surrender but rather as a gathering of determination. I know how you feel about women. Youre wrong, and youre smart enough to figure that out one day. There are plenty of wonderful, kindhearted women in this worldgood Christian girlslooking for a strong and decent man like you to love and cherish.
His chest compressed. His lungs deflated. The pain left his eyes burning.
To love and cherish? No, hed tried that once and he wouldnt go there again. He refused to remember another nice Christian girl, the one hed vowed before God to honor and love for the rest of his life. Ruth, youre killin me here.
Dont you think its time you moved on?
I have. His throat seized up. If he didnt stop his aunt from going down this path, hed wind up one big, raw wound, open and bleeding. I know you mean well, but youve got to stop this. I cant take it.
A big strong warrior like you?
Im not a warrior anymore. The sadness of that battered him, too.
Youre a fine man, and Im proud to call you my nephew. Love shone in her words.
But it wasnt strong enough to diminish his hopelessness. Or change his mind.
Ruth, protected and gentle hearted, didnt know what he knew. Hed seen too much as a man, as a soldier, as a husband to believe there was any goodness at all in the world. Any goodness that lasted.
He reassured his aunt about the house so she wouldnt worry, and ended the call before she could get another word in edgewise about Kirby McKaslin.
How did Ruth think that hed just be able to trust anyone enough to love again? And why Kirby McKaslin? Her pretty face flickered back into his thoughts like a movie reel stuck on one vibrant, flawless frame, refusing to fade.
Why was he thinking about her? Picturing her in his mind as if he was interested? He wasnt. A smart man would put all thoughts of her aside and keep his distance from her. Forever.
There was nothing else he could do. He had no heart left.
Since he was a smart man, he didnt look out the window over the sink, which gave him a view of the side of her house. He blocked all images of her as he dropped the screwdriver into his tool belt and ambled out the door and into the welcome sunshine.
Hed finish replacing the valves in the basement, coil up the hose and return it.
Kirby McKaslin was nice enough. She was his neighbor. Hed have to see her time and again. The casual kind of run-ins that neighbors wound up having. Hed be nice to her, friendly, polite, neighborly.
But that was all.
With his game plan ready, Sam stretched the kinks out of his back. Where was his dog?
Oh! A womans gasp of surprise tore him out of his quick flash of panic.
What was Kirby McKaslin doing in his yard, glowing golden and dainty and heavenly, her hair rumpled and windblown? Then he looked down and realized she had a tight grip on a bright pink leash. The leash was attached to a powerful rottweiler. She bent to free the dog, and Leo bounded forward to run circles around Sams legs.
Howdy, boy. What have you done now? Sam knelt to stroke his hands down the dogs broad back. It was the best choice, since that meant he didnt have to look at Kirby.
It was his rotten luck that he couldnt forget her entirely. Her feet were in his line of vision. Delicate feet to match the rest of her encased in trim leather loafers made of the softest-looking leather hed ever seen. She was quality all the wayany man could see it.
Remember, be polite and neighborly. That was the plan. He refused to remember another delicate woman. See, with just that tiny thought, pain ripped through him, raw and jagged. A constant reminder of the biggest mistake of his life.
One hed never make again.
Chapter Three
Your dog must have found a space in the fence, she said in that velvety-soft voice of hers. It was no trouble figuring out who he belonged to.
She was trying to make conversation. Whether she was just being polite or trying to start a relationship thing, Sam didnt know. He couldnt let himself care.