Maisey Yates - Animal Attraction

“I’m Roxi, Nadine’s new assistant. You’re Shohn Hudson, right?”

“Guilty.”

Oh, he was guilty, all right. Guilty of being too blasted hot for his own good.

“Well, your cousin called. She said she’d already left a message saying that you were picking up Rookie. She wanted me to make sure Nadine got it. Since I was ready to go, I figured I’d walk Rookie along with me.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“Nadine’s very protective of the animals,” Roxi said. “They adore her, and vice versa.”

Nadine appreciated the defense.

“Amber trusts her completely,” Shohn agreed. “I’ll be sure to tell her how careful Nadine was before letting me have Rookie.”

“Well,” Roxi said with hesitation. “I can’t really let you have him, either. I need to give him to Nadine.”

“Sure, no problem.” Shohn walked over to the wall so he could see her. “You about done? Your assistant needs to see you.”

Done recuperating? No. Done breathing heavy? Not even. Nadine pasted on a smile. “Just finished up.” As if she’d been cleaning, she dusted off her hands as she rounded the wall.

Roxi smiled. “You heard?”

“Yes, and since I got a little hung up here, I, too, appreciate it that you brought Rookie over. Let me say goodbye to Shohn and I’ll be right up.”

Roxi nodded. “It was nice to meet you, Shohn.”

“And you.”

He watched her go, but when she was out of sight, he immediately turned to Nadine, kissed her before she could decide if she wanted him to again—but of course, she did—and then he took the leash.

He was smiling as he stroked the dog. “You ready to go, buddy? Amber will be home soon.” At the mention of Amber’s name, Rookie barked his approval.

“Goodbye, Shohn.”

He winked at her, saying, “I’ll see you around, Nadine,” as he gathered his clothes and headed off the porch.

Not unless you get a dog, Nadine thought. For her own well-being, she intended to steer clear of the awesome Shohn Hudson. He was too dangerous, too outrageous, and far, far too appealing.

If she wasn’t careful, she’d end up like all the other ladies after all.

* * *

Shohn hung around his uncle Morgan’s house, waiting for Amber to get in. At twenty-six, a year older than him, Amber had her own place. Her own business, too, a nice bookstore that kept up with the times and pleased everyone in Buckhorn. But whenever she returned from out of town, she always spent the night with her folks for a little R and R before returning to work.

And so Shohn waited.

His parents had come up the hill to visit Morgan and Misty, too, and they all sat on the front porch, his mom and dad on the porch swing, Morgan in a big chair with Misty on his lap. Shohn lounged on a step. He’d pulled his shirt back on, but the night air remained muggy so he hadn’t bothered to button it.

Since Morgan had been the town sheriff for a long time before becoming the mayor, everyone in the family was used to seeing a Hudson with a gun strapped on. No one reacted to it—in fact, he just realized that Nadine hadn’t reacted much to it, either. Huh.

Usually the ladies either acted fearful, or turned on by the idea of him being armed. Nadine had just been...Nadine. Bossy and spirited, casual and easy to be with.

Why had he never before realized how special that was?

It was nine o’clock, and the sky had turned a deep purple streaked with crimson over the lake. The sight never failed to lull him—even when he felt more testy than usual over a certain soft but stubborn woman. Damn, but she’d tasted good.

“See that look on his face, Sawyer? I do believe the boy might have women troubles.”

Shohn smirked and turned his head to address his uncle Morgan. “Doesn’t matter how old you get, you always have Misty in your lap.”

Morgan hugged his wife to his chest. “Old.” He snorted. “Don’t make me get up or you’ll regret it.”

“I was just saying.” He did love tweaking Morgan.

“Never take for granted the best things in life.” He patted Misty’s hip. “And she is the best.”

“Morgan,” Misty protested even as she laid her head on his broad shoulder.

Time had been good to Morgan. Even with a little gray at the temples, he still looked strong as an ox and far too imposing, but around Misty, he was all heart.

“It’s true,” Morgan said to his wife. “You’re even sexier now than the day I met you.”

Shohn’s mother smiled. “As I recall, you almost ran her off.”

“Not true, Honey. Your sister is far too pigheaded to turn tail and run, even from me.” He kissed Misty and murmured, “Thank God.”

Shohn’s dad, always more somber, got up from the swing and came to sit on the step with him. “Something on your mind other than Morgan trying to embarrass us all?”

Misty laughed. “Stop it, Morgan,” she chided when he continued to nuzzle her.

“You’re still a hot little—”

She smashed a hand over his mouth. “One day, he will mellow,” she promised everyone.

Morgan said, “The hell I will.” Then he looked at Shohn. “So spit it out. What has you brooding here with us? Did some young lady finally turn you down?”

“What makes you think it has anything to do with a girl?”

“Because I know the look, having been there and done that.” Morgan grinned. “Sawyer knows what I’m talking about.”

“Thank God it was a long time ago. Unfortunately I had to put up with your uncles all butting into my business.”

Shohn looked at his mother, and saw her smiling. No doubt there was a good story there, but he’d save it for another time. “I’m not brooding. I’m just waiting for Amber.”

Honey said, “I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

Oh, great. He could tell by his mother’s tone that she, too, thought he was brooding. “Maybe I’ll just catch up with her tomorrow.” But he no sooner said it than headlights shone down the hill at the bottom of the long driveway leading up to the houses.

His dad and uncles owned fifty prime acres surrounding the lake. His parents lived in the same house that had once belonged to his grandma. Morgan had built a nice house farther up the hill but well within visiting distance. His brother Casey lived down the hill with his wife and kids. Uncle Jordan had moved into Georgia’s house back when they’d married. And Gabe kept a place in town with his family, closer to where he worked as a handyman.

One day, Shohn thought, he’d build his own house on a piece of this land. It was what the family wanted, what he wanted. He couldn’t imagine living away from the lake. Not forever.

“Why do you need to talk to Amber?” his mom asked.

“I told you, Honey.” Morgan grinned. “Women trouble. You know Amber is the resident know-it-all.”

Misty smacked his shoulder. “She’s very helpful to everyone.”

“So helpful that she has them all wrapped around her little finger,” Morgan said.

True enough, Shohn thought. Gabe’s daughters, Kady, April and Briana, rarely made a move without consulting with Amber first. Garrett, Amber’s younger brother by two years, gave her hell about being nosy but any girls he actually liked he brought to Amber for approval. Adam, Jordan’s son, who was twenty-eight, wasn’t averse to listening when Amber doled out her unique brand of wisdom. Only Lisa, Jordan’s daughter, who was a regular barracuda in the business world, seemed content to keep her own counsel. At fourteen and twelve, Casey’s kids were still a little too young to need dating advice, but they showered Amber with proper adulation.

“My girl missed her calling working in a bookstore,” Morgan said. “She should have been a bartender.”