Teasing Annie: The Temptation Saga: Book Two (10 page)

“I know where to find a certain veterinarian you might be looking for.”

Riggs cleared his throat and rubbed his arms that had become suddenly chilly. “I’m listening.”

“I can tell you where she is,” the voice said, “but I want something in return.”

“What might that be?”

“I want her hurt. Badly.”

“Friend,” Riggs said, “I’m your man.”

I
t wasn’t your fault
. It wasn’t your fault.

The whispered words echoed in Annie’s ears. Dusty had repeated them over and over the previous night, rocking Annie as if she were Sean. Annie had sobbed and gasped into her friend’s shoulder, eventually pouring out the whole story of her marriage to Riggs and swearing Dusty to secrecy.

When she was all cried out, Dusty had taken her upstairs to a guest bedroom and put her to bed, kissing her forehead like a child’s.

This morning, after a quick breakfast, courtesy of Seraphina, she had thanked Dusty profusely and left. Now, after having stopped at her office to send the blood and grain from yesterday to the lab and to pick up more sodium thiosulphate for Dallas’s cattle, she was driving to Dallas’s ranch. She thanked God for the Colorado sun, necessitating the sunglasses that hid her eyes, red and swollen from crying.

You need to tell Dallas.

Dusty again. As Annie drove up the dirt road toward the ranging site where the sick cattle were gathered, she couldn’t shake her friend’s words. She’d promised Dusty that she’d consider it, but she knew in her heart she could never tell Dallas. It was too humiliating.

Speak of the handsome devil himself. Dallas stood, with Chad, next to another sick steer. Annie hit the brakes and got out of the car, her vet bag in hand.

“Another one?” she said, walking toward them.

“’Fraid so, Dr. Annie,” Chad said. “We must have missed this one yesterday.”

Annie sighed and knelt down beside the sick animal. “It’s too late for him,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry.”

She stood up and pulled the medication out of her bag and handed it to Chad. “This is all the sodium thiosulphate I have left. I ordered a ton more this morning, overnight. It’ll be here tomorrow. I also sent the blood and the grain to the lab with a rush. Of course they can’t guarantee a specific time for the results.” She cleared her throat. “In the meantime…”

“Yeah?” Dallas said.

“I think you should contact the authorities.”

“The sheriff you mean?”

Annie nodded. “I’m testing the grass, but I don’t think it’s the culprit. I think someone deliberately poisoned your cattle. We won’t have any proof until the grain comes back from the lab, and even then, it could come up negative. But this doesn’t seem like an accident to me, Dallas.”

“Honestly, it doesn’t to me either.”

“Is there anyone you can think of who would want to harm you?”

“No one who has access to my grain.”

“All right.” She glanced around at the other cattle. “The cops will ask you all these questions anyway. Call them now, will you?”

He nodded.

“I’m going to have a look at the rest of these guys.”

“Thank you, Annie.”

“No need to thank me.”

“I think there is.”

Annie scoffed. “Wait till you get my bill, Cowboy. Then decide if you want to thank me.” She strode toward a staggering steer.

“
T
hat’s
about the extent of it,” Dallas told Sheriff Doug Cartwright. “I trust all my men. I haven’t brought in anyone new in over two years.”

“Could any of them be bought off, do you think?” Doug asked.

“Honestly, yesterday I’d have said no way, but after lying awake all last night ruminating, I just don’t know, Doug.”

“I’ll need to speak to the vet. Where is she?”

“She’s out with Chad medicating the animals. I’m sure they’ll be back shortly.”

“I’ve heard a lot about her. She as cute as the locals say she is?”

There went the knife again, twisting its way through his entrails. Was every man in the four corner states going to hit on his woman? At least Doug was married.

“She’s attractive.” Dallas’s vocal cords were tied in knots. “Here they come now.”

“Hey, Doug,” Chad said, shaking the sheriff’s hand.

“Hey yourself.” He turned to Annie and eyed her up and down.

Dallas wanted to hit him. His fingers curled into his palms.

“You must be this famous Dr. Annie I’ve heard so much about.”

“That’s me, and you are?”

“Out of uniform, I’m afraid. I’m Doug Cartwright, the county sheriff.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“I need to ask you some questions about these animals.”

“Shoot.”

After Annie had told the sheriff all she knew and suspected, she turned to Dallas. “I need to get back. I’ll call you if I hear anything from the lab. You too, Sheriff. I’ll be by tomorrow morning to have another look.”

“Thank you,” Dallas said.

“It’s my job.”

“You going to be around later today?” Doug asked.

“I’ll be in my office in town, unless I get a call. Why?”

“Thought you might like to grab a coffee.”

Damn. Red anger crept up Dallas’s spine. “She doesn’t like coffee,” he said, “and aren’t you married, Doug?”

“I guess you haven’t heard. Sandy and I separated two months ago.”

“In that case,” Annie said, “I’d love to have a coffee.”

“For someone who hates coffee, you spend a lot of time in that damn coffee shop,” Dallas said through clenched teeth.

“Calm down. I’ll have tea. Stop by anytime this afternoon,” she said to Doug. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Very nice meeting you,” Doug said. “I’ll see you later today.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” Annie walked to her VW Beetle, got in, and drove away.

“She’s some looker,” Doug said to Dallas and Chad. “The accent’s a little grating, but her body makes up for it.”

“I think her accent’s charming,” Chad said, “and I wholeheartedly agree about her body. You’ve got some competition for her though.”

“You?”

“Maybe. We had lunch yesterday. And Joe Bradley. He’s seen her a few times.”

“Well, I’m hardly looking for a serious relationship. I’m technically still married. Wouldn’t mind a roll in the hay with some of that, though.”

Dallas couldn’t help himself. He lunged forward and punched the sheriff right in the jaw.

He eyed the redness in his knuckles. His fist felt damn good.

“Are you crazy?” Chad tackled him to the ground. “He’s a lawman for Christ’s sake.”

Doug, clearly stunned, sat on the ground rubbing his jaw. “I could arrest you for that, Dallas.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, though, seeing as how you’re upset about your stock.”

“You treat that lady with respect, Doug, and you’ll have no more problems with me.”

“You her protector or something?”

“No. Just be good to her.”

“Dallas—” Chad began.

“No. Don’t say it, Chad.”

“This is my exit cue.” Doug rose to his feet. “Let me know of any new developments in the case.” He wiggled his jaw back and forth. “You pack a mean punch, Dallas. I’ll try to remember to stay on your good side.”

“You should hit him back,” Chad said. “God knows he deserves it.”

“Not while I’m on duty, but I might take you up on it some other time. See you all around.”

As the sheriff drove away, Chad turned to Dallas. “It’s time for you and me to have a talk, big brother.”

“Can’t imagine what about.”

“You’re in love with that woman.”

Dallas inhaled sharply. He couldn’t deny it. “It’s none of your concern.”

“You’re in love with her all right. I knew the minute Zach fell for Dusty, and I knew the minute you fell for Dr. Annie.” He scoffed. “God, the two of you are so transparent it’s amusing.”

“Like I said, it’s not your concern.”

“Get it through your thick head, if you haven’t already. She’s beautiful, and she’s built. And even more attractive to the cowpokes around here, she’s different. She wears different clothes, a different hairstyle. She even talks differently. She paints her toes silver. Which is really hot, by the way, though God knows why.”

Dallas’s facial muscles tightened.

Chad continued. “People are going to take notice, Dallas. Hell, you’ve seen it already.”

“And your point is?”

“Whatever’s keeping you from her, get over it.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“What is it?”

“This conversation is over.”

“Suit yourself. Hear this, though. You came close to taking a swing at me over her yesterday, and you didn’t stop yourself with Doug today. You’re damn lucky he took it in stride. If you plan to clock every guy who looks Annie’s way, prepare to have it come back to bite you in the ass. Sooner rather than later.”

“I can control myself. I don’t need some twenty-eight-year-old who’s never had a serious relationship giving me pointers.”

“I’m thinking you’re the one who’s never had a serious relationship.”

“I was married!”

“What difference does that make? You and Chelsea had about as much to say to each other as Jesus and the devil. Though I can’t decide which of you is the devil in that analogy.” He chuckled. “Marriage is a piece of paper, Dallas. You never loved Chelsea, and she never loved you. But you love Annie. You’re a fool to let her go.”

“You don’t know shit about love, Chad.”

“Well…can’t say I’ve ever been in love myself, but I know gut wrenching, heart stopping love. I saw it with our parents and with Zach and Dusty. And now with you.” He scratched his head. “Course it’s not all that attractive in your case.”

Dallas sighed. “You don’t know the half of it, brother.”

“What’d she do that was so bad, Dallas?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Suit yourself.” Chad adjusted his Stetson. “Not that you deserve it, but I’ll leave her alone in deference to your feelings. But don’t expect Joe and Doug to share my scruples.” He tucked his hands in his pockets. “I’ve got some work to do. Call me if anything else happens with the stock.”

“Will do.”

B
akersville
, Colorado.

That was where Annie was hanging out her shingle.

Some little Podunk town on the back ass of nowhere. Trying to hide from him, no doubt. She’d soon see how futile that was.

Riggs stopped at a convenience store to fill up his gas tank. He had no credit cards and was running low on cash, so he decided a little hold up was in order. He was alone on the Kansas prairie, and he needed to conserve his resources. This gas was going to be on the store. His revolver, obtained illegally before he left New Jersey, sat idly on the passenger seat next to him. When the gas nozzle clicked, he replaced it on the pump, leaned in over the driver’s seat, and picked up his gun.

Behind the counter stood a teenage boy. Kansas farm boy to a tee. Tall, lanky, freckle-faced, and nervous. Riggs walked around the back of the store, casing it. Farm boy seemed to be alone. This was going to be the easiest heist he had ever pulled.

“That’ll be thirty-five even, sir, on pump two,” the boy said, his gaze not quite meeting Riggs’s eyes.

Riggs threw a bag of sunflower seeds on the counter. “How much with these?”

The boy rang up the seeds. “Thirty-seven fifty altogether.”

Riggs pulled his revolver from under his shirt. “That’ll be on you, freak, and I’ll take the rest of the cash you’ve got.”

The boy froze, a slight tremble of his lips the only movement on his glacier like face.

“Did you not hear me, idiot? I said give me your cash.”

“I-It’s not here. It’s in a s-safe. I… I don’t have access.”

Bullshit. Riggs knew a liar when he saw one. The kid had balls though. He’d give him that. “Get the cash, you clown, or I’ll take it out of your hide.”

The boy’s whole body quivered when Riggs touched the tip of the gun to his forehead. Was he pissing himself?

“P-Please. I don’t have access. You’ve got to believe me.”

“Well, I don’t. You have thirty seconds to produce the cash, or you can say goodbye to your farm. One, two, three—”

Riggs stared intently as the boy fumbled underneath the counter. Damn! A silent alarm, no doubt. He hadn’t considered a tiny farm town store would have such a luxury. Riggs panicked. His blood chilled several degrees in his veins and his pulse raced. Shit, he was going to be sick. What now?

He closed his eyes and fired his revolver, the recoil vibrating up his arm to his shoulder.

He opened one eye and then the other and walked slowly behind the counter. The boy lay still on the floor, one eye shot out. Crimson streams of blood meandered down his cheeks. But that wasn’t the worst. The display of snuff and cigarettes behind the counter was spattered with blood and brains. Riggs heaved and his stomach emptied on the dead boy’s chest.

Shit. He hadn’t wanted to kill the guy. Now what?

Frantic, he looked around for a video camera. He didn’t see one, thank God.

He ran out to his car and gunned the engine, determined to put as many miles between him and Tiny Creek, Kansas as he could.

C
offee with Doug Cartwright
was easy. Annie sat across from the attractive red-haired sheriff. His brown eyes had a natural twinkle, and he had an adorable dimple on his left cheek when he smiled. The sun’s rays coming through Rena’s front window cast highlights of gold and copper in the auburn mane that fell to his shoulders. And he was funny. He made her laugh.

She thought again how easy he was to be with. A lot like Joe Bradley. Handsome as they both were, though, Annie felt no spark. Damn Dallas McCray anyway. She hadn’t felt that kind of spark with any man before him. Certainly not with Riggs, though he had swept her off her feet at one time.

Nope. Not with any man except Dallas. He had ruined her for any other. She just wasn’t interested.

“So are you hungry?” Doug’s voice jolted her back to reality. “Dana over at the Blue Bird makes a great green chile. We could catch a bite, and maybe a movie.”

Annie smiled, though her heart wasn’t in it. “Sure. Sounds great.”

“Awesome, let’s go.”

Dana’s green chile, while excellent, was spicier than Annie expected. Her skin heated as she grabbed for her glass of water.

“You okay?” Doug asked.

“Yeah, fine,” Annie rasped. “Just a little hot for me.”

“Sorry, babe. I should have warned you. Don’t you have Mexican in Jersey?”

“Well, we have Taco Bell.”

Doug erupted in a peal of laughter. “That ain’t Mexican, honey.”

“I’m sure I’ll get used to it. As soon as the smoke stops coming out my ears.” Annie wiped her eyes with her napkin and motioned to their waitress. “More water please.”

The waitress laughed and nodded.

“I have a feeling I’m a joke in here tonight,” Annie said to Doug.

“Nah. Just a new girl in town, so everybody’s interested.”

“I guess I’ve made quite a splash.”

“You’d make a splash anywhere, babe. Just look at you.”

“Thank you. I think. So what do you want to see tonight?”

“Well, we have a choice. We can check out what’s playing at the Plex, or…”

“Or what?”

“We could rent a couple of DVDs and go back to my place.”

“Oh.” Annie’s heart nearly stopped. She wasn’t ready to go to his place. “How about the Plex? I haven’t been there yet.”

“Disappointing choice.” He laughed. “But okay. There’s all kinds of time for other stuff.”

“Just what I was thinking.” Her cell phone vibrated. “I’m sorry. Would you excuse me? I have to take it. It might be a sick animal.” Good excuse to end the conversation too. “This is Annie,” she said into the phone.

“It’s me.”

Dallas.

“Yeah? What’s up? Do you have another sick steer?”

“No. I just wanted to talk to you. To hear your voice.”

His words were slightly slurred. Annie excused herself to Doug and walked to the women’s room. “You’ve been drinking.”

“A little.” Dallas hiccupped into the phone.

“Look, if you don’t have a veterinary emergency, I’m afraid I need to go. I’m kind of in the middle of something.”

“What? Hot date?”

Hell. Why not tell him? He probably wouldn’t remember in the morning anyway. “Yes, I’m on a date. With Doug Cartwright.”

“He’s married, Doc.”

“He’s separated.”

“You don’t want to get involved with him.”

“Yes, yes, I know. Just like I don’t want to get involved with Chad.”

“Or Joe Bradley,” Dallas agreed.

“Of course. Anyone else I should stay away from? Besides you, of course?”

“I don’t want you to stay away from me.”

“Oh? That’s news.”

“I want you. I want to kiss your sweet lips. I want to run my tongue over your beautiful nipples and lick down your belly all the way to that sweet, hot—”

Annie squeezed her thighs together as she moistened, her clit throbbing. She wanted him so badly she thought she might implode on the spot. “Stop right there, Dallas. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Come over, Doc. Please? I’d come to you but I can’t drive. I’ve had a little bit to drink.”

“I’ll say. I’ll see you in the morning.” She clicked the phone off.

She couldn’t continue her date with Doug. It wouldn’t be fair to him. Clearly, he had more than just a friendly movie in mind, and she didn’t want to lead him on.

“I’m sorry,” she said as she sat back down at the table. “I can finish dinner, but I’m going to have to take a rain check on the movie. I need to go on a call.”

“Shoot. Well, how about tomorrow night then?”

“Weekdays are bears for me. Can we make it the weekend?”

“I guess you’re worth the wait.” His brown eyes beamed and he flashed his sexy dimple.

“That’s sweet of you. I truly am sorry.” And also a liar, but what the heck?

Doug kissed her good night at her door. A lingering open-mouthed kiss that she could have done without. She ended it as quickly as she could and thanked him again for the dinner, assuring him she’d see him on the weekend, but already thinking up ways to break the date.

Inside she plopped on her couch and thought about Dallas. Poor inebriated Dallas who would feel like hell in the morning. Served him right.

Ten minutes later, she was in her car driving to him. A glutton for punishment, that’s what she was. After all, she’d stayed with Riggs all those years, hoping things would get better, knowing full well they wouldn’t.

Now she was on her way to play nursemaid to a man who clearly wanted her, but didn’t want to want her. The thought of him spending the night alone in a drunken stupor was more than she could bear. Even if he did deserve it.

He didn’t answer the doorbell. She tried the door but it was locked. Clearly he had learned something from the whole Chelsea debacle. She went around to the back. It was open. She stole in quietly. The house was dark, which surprised her. “Dallas?” she called. “It’s me. I’m here.”

She walked up the stairway to his bedroom. There he was, sprawled on his bed, a bottle of Macallan in his hand. The TV was turned to ESPN.

“Dallas?”

His head turned toward the door. “Annie. Oh, thank God!”

He struggled to his feet.

“No, Cowboy, don’t get up. I’ll come to you.”

She took the bottle from him. It was nearly empty. “How full was this when you started?”

“All the way.”

She studied it. “Twenty-five year? This stuff’s over a hundred dollars a bottle. You should be ashamed of yourself, wasting it.”

“I want a kiss,” he announced.

“I’m not here for that. I’m here to take care of you.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say I owe you one. You took care of me that first night, remember?”

She wasn’t sure he’d heard a word she said. “A kiss. Please, Doc. One kiss.”

“Personally, I can’t stand Scotch, Cowboy, and you’ll likely taste like a barrel of it. So I’ll pass on the kiss.”

“I said I want a kiss.” He grabbed her arm, pulled her onto the bed, and rolled on top of her.

“Mmmpphh,” Annie said.

His mouth clamped onto hers. She opened to him in spite of herself. Intoxication clearly didn’t inhibit his kissing abilities. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue danced around hers. He did taste like Scotch, but it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t bad at all. Because he also tasted like Dallas. Like the man she loved.

The thought that crept into her mind jerked her out of the kiss. She wasn’t in love with him. She couldn’t be.
God, he doesn’t even want me
. She pushed him away. It wasn’t difficult, considering his condition.

“Get off of me,” she said, her voice sharp and commanding.

He lay sprawled on the bed again. “I’ve missed you.”

“Have you now?”

“Yeah. I think about you all the time. I can’t stop. It’s driving me insane.” He pulled at his hair. “Even the Scotch doesn’t stop it.”

“You’ve had enough Scotch,” Annie said.

“Nope. Need more. Need to pass out.”

“Oh, you will,” Annie said, “but you’ll probably have to throw up first.”

“Nah. I never throw up. I’m sensible. I don’t drink enough to throw up. Never have. Chad and Zach, they threw up. I had to take care of both of them, keep it from our pa. He would’ve whooped their asses.”

“That was you, huh? The sensible big brother?”

“Yep. Always the sensible one. Never made the same”—he hiccupped—“mistake twice.”

“All right. No more talking now. I’m going to run you a bath. You need one.”

“Only if you get in with me.” He pawed for her.

“Not a chance. While the water’s filling up I’ll go to the kitchen and brew you some coffee. Which you
will
drink, do you hear me?”

“Yes’m.”

She took the bottle from the night stand. “This is going in the trash, and you’re not to touch any more of the stuff,
capiche?
”

“
Capiche.
That’s cute. You’re so cute, Doc.”

“You’re not going to think I’m cute when I get done with you. Stay here.”

She started a bath in Dallas’s luxurious jetted tub and then went down to the kitchen to make the coffee.

By the time she got back, Dallas was sitting on the side of the bed. “Remember how I said I never throw up?”

“Ugh. Don’t tell me. Come on, let’s get you to the bathroom. Quickly.”

She pulled him off the bed, walked him to the bathroom, and stood him in front of the toilet. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not watch.” She closed the door and left the bedroom. She didn’t want to hear it either. Ten minutes later, she returned.

“Cowboy?” she said to the door.

“Yeah. I’m done.”

“You want me to come in?”

“Just go away and let me die.”

Annie laughed in spite of herself. “No, Cowboy, you’ll live. Trust me, I know.” She opened the door and looked around. “At least you managed to hit the target. That’s more than I did my first time.” She took his toothbrush from the counter and spread it with toothpaste. “Here you are. Brush like a good boy.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Why should I?”

“You want any more kisses?”

“More than I want my next breath of oxygen.”

“Then brush. I’m not kissing you unless you do.”

“Yes’m.” He brushed his teeth, scowling at himself in the mirror.

Annie checked the tub, and finding it full, turned off the taps. She returned to the sink and filled a glass with water. “Spit,” she said to Dallas, “and then rinse.”

She held the glass to his lips like she would for a child. “Now strip. It’s time for your bath.”

He grinned. “I don’t strip unless you do.”

“Ha-ha. Do you really think you have any power here?” She unbuttoned his shirt, discarded it, pushed him down on the toilet seat, and pulled off his boots and socks. “Now the jeans, Cowboy.” She took a deep breath, trying to rein in her scalding desire at the sight of his chest, and unbuckled his belt. She closed her eyes and completed the job. She quivered when, pushing his jeans and boxers to the floor, she brushed the hot skin of his hips.

She opened her eyes slowly. He was completely and totally aroused. With a devil may care grin on his handsome face.

“Damn, Cowboy. You’re stinking drunk. How is this possible?”

“Because you’re here.”

“Whatever. In the tub.”

“I’m serious. I’m hard as stone whenever you’re around. I can’t control it. It’s starting to piss me off, to tell you the truth.”

“I’ll bet. In the tub. Now.”

He stepped in obediently. “You gonna wash me?”

“No.” She turned.

“Please? At least get in with me. This tub is huge. There’s plenty of room.”

“Absolutely not.” But she wanted to. So badly she could barely breathe. “I’ll go see about your coffee. When I get back here I expect to see your hair washed.”

“You promised me kisses if I brushed my teeth.”

“I did no such thing.”

“You did!”

“Nope. You weren’t listening. I said I wouldn’t kiss you if you didn’t brush your teeth. I didn’t say I would if you did.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Too bad. Happy bathing.”

She walked out and shut the door behind her. She leaned against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest, imagining the slick warm water flowing over his beautiful body. Panting, she left the room.

Ten minutes later, she ran back in, terrified that he might pass out and drown. What had she been thinking, leaving him alone? He was nearly incapacitated.

“Thank God,” she said, when she saw him lounging in the tub, unharmed. But his hair wasn’t wet. Now she was pissed. “You were supposed to wash your hair.”

“I want you to do it.”

“Sorry. No dice.”

“Please? I’ll stop asking for kisses if you wash my hair.”

“You will?”

“No.” He chuckled. “But it was worth a try.”

“Get cracking. Now.”

His lazy smile spread across his face. “No shampoo.”

“What? Oh crap.” Annie grabbed a bottle of shampoo out of the shower stall and returned to the tub and handed it to him.

Within seconds, he had grabbed her wrist and into the tub she tumbled, fully clothed. She sputtered as water sloshed over the sides of the tub. “Damn you! Now look what you did.”

“Now you have to wash my hair.”

“I don’t
have
to do anything but stay Italian and die, Cowboy.” She struggled against his hold. “Let me go!”

“Kiss me.”

“No, damn it, let me go!”

For a drunk, his grip on her was like a vise. The more she struggled, the wetter she became, until he eventually turned and pinned her against the side of the tub. She opened her mouth to protest and he clamped onto her, thrusting his tongue between her lips.

The kiss was exquisite torture. She pushed at him at first, but his slick naked body slid under her touch. He, however, fisted his hands in the wet fabric of her blouse and held on for dear life. After several minutes of unsuccessful grappling, she surrendered and sighed into his mouth.

His groans fueled her passion, and she pressed her soggy clothed body to his. When they broke to breathe, he nibbled across her lower lip.

“I want you so much,” he said.

“Mmm,” was her reply.

“Take off your clothes. Please. Make love with me.” His smoky whisper was threaded with desire.

“You’re killing me, Dallas. This isn’t fair.”