Chapter Three

Sara was yanking at a stubborn weed when one of her dogs growled. She looked up at her and then where the dog was staring to see an older large truck pull into her driveway. She wasn't alarmed. People stopped all the time to ask directions or ask questions about the house.

The person pulled up in front of the garage and got out. She squinted her eyes and thought she was seeing things. The fact that she hadn't been able to get the man out of her head made her think so.

She stood, pulled off her gloves, and walked toward him. Her two dogs growled.

"Stay," she told them and stood waiting for the man to walk up the steps.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi."

"Are you lost?"

He smiled. "No. I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by."

She tilted her head to the side. "First off, how did you get my address? And secondly, I'm kind of in the middle of nowhere, so I don't have a neighborhood."

He laughed. "Let's just say I was close and decided to stop. I've been told you train dogs?"

He looked at the two German shepherds sitting politely on the porch and then back at her.

"Yes, I do, but I'm not a professional. I can give you a few names of some I know."

"I don't want anyone else. I want you."

The intense way he was looking down at her made her insides tremble with growing desire. It was something she hadn't felt since her husband died.

"Can we go inside?" she asked.

He nodded. "Sure."

She walked up the steps of the porch and snapped her fingers, giving the dogs the order to follow her. They were right on her heels, and he followed them.

She pulled off her hat and then realized what she must look like. Her hair was up in a messy bun. She wore her old overalls with a white t-shirt and garden shoes with paws on them. To top it off, she had on her garden hat. She used it for the coverage it gave her, not for how attractive it was. It was old, large, and floppy and had a few fake roses on it. Her boys always made fun of her when she wore her garden outfit.

"Would you like something to drink?" she asked.

"Sure. Do you have beer?"

"I think so. One of the boys brought some last time they were home."

She opened the fridge and pulled out a can. "It's Budweiser?"

"That will work."

She pulled a pitcher of cold water out with the beer and set them on the counter.

"Are they okay to pet?"

She turned to him to see her dogs sitting a few feet from him.

"I'm sorry. Let me introduce them. The right one is Bella, and the other is Lacy. Girls, this is… Oh, I don't think I caught your name."

"It's Grant."

"Meet Grant."

He held out his hand, and they sniffed him a few times before letting him scratch behind their ears. "And your name?"

"Oh, sorry, it's Sara. They'll sit there as long as you pet them. They're shameless sometimes."

He chuckled. "Well, nice to meet you, Sara."

"Girls, go to your chairs." Both dogs went to the two chairs and lay down. She looked at him. "Have a seat."

He sat on a tall stool on the other side of the counter.

She walked to a cabinet. "Do you want a glass?"

He shook his head and opened the can. "No, thanks. I'm good."

She got herself one, stood on the other side of the counter, and poured herself a glass of water. She took several sips before she concentrated on him.

"So, tell me about this dog?" she asked.

"He showed up a few weeks ago. He's filthy and skinny. We started to feed him, but he won't let any of us near him. He lays under the porch at the main house. I would love to take him to a vet because I know he at least has ticks and fleas, and God knows what else."

She thought about it for a moment. She didn't even know the dog, and she was worried about it. "When would you like me to come?"

"I thought if you had time now, I'd take you home with me."

"I can drive myself, and that way you don't have to drive me back."

He shook his head. "No. I'll drive you."

Her eyes widened at the gruff, dark tone of his voice. It didn't scare her, but it did tell her he was definitely an alpha male, something she'd read about but had never experienced. Her late husband didn't have the protective alpha trait, and she was the dominant one in the marriage. She's the one who checked to make sure the house was locked up at night. She's the one who bought and learned how to shoot a gun for protection. She had thought this was normal, and the things she read about dominants were fiction.

"That's fine. You want me to go with you now?"

"Yes."

She looked down at herself and grinned. "Can you give me a few minutes to change?"

He chuckled, reached over, and used one of his fingertips to wipe what she guessed was dirt off her cheek.

"I've never been one that could stay clean when working outside. That's why I wear this outfit."

He smiled. "I happen to like that outfit."

She snorted. "I'll be right back. There is more beer in the fridge."

He shook his head. "No. I'm driving, so one is enough."

Sara nodded and walked off down a hallway. In her room, she took off her garden clothing and pulled on a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt. She kept her hair in a bun, out of the way, but did wash the dirt off her face and arms.

She grabbed her sneakers and walked out to the kitchen. She caught the look of surprise on his face. "What?" she asked.

"I thought it always took women an hour to change."

She grinned. "Maybe some women, but I'm not one of them, especially since this isn't anything but me helping an animal."

She sat on the floor and started to pull on her shoes.

He crouched next to her and lifted the other shoe. "Jesus, these are tiny."

She laughed at the picture of her shoe in the palm of his hand. It looked even smaller. "Or maybe your hands are huge."

He chuckled and handed her the shoe, which she had pulled on and tied. She went to stand, but he just lifted her to her feet and held her until she was steady.

Sara looked up and then up some more. "You're very tall."

He grunted. "Or you're just tiny."

She laughed. "Let me get the dogs settled."

He stayed in the kitchen while she made sure the dogs had food and water, and the doggy door to the backyard was open if they needed to poop. She petted both and grabbed her purse.

"I'm ready."

On the porch, he stood behind her, watching her lock the door.

"Good girl."

She looked over her shoulder. "What?"

"I'm glad you take precautions and lock your door. It would amaze you how many people don't."

"I'm by myself, so I have to think of my situation and act accordingly."

He gripped her elbow as they went down the steps to his truck. He opened the side door and effortlessly lifted her in. Her breath caught in her throat when he reached over her to buckle her seat belt.

His masculine scent went to her head, making her feel almost dizzy. Damn, she never thought she'd feel desire again, and what she was feeling for Grant was so much more.

She needed to get a grip. He wanted her help, and that's it. Nothing more.