“Actually, I don’t know.” Leaning against the doorframe, she smiled at me so sweetly that she could melt butter. And a little of my anger subsided with it, which was really bad.

  “You’re feeding the dog.”

  Her eyes dropped beside me and she smiled. “Hey, buddy!”

  I did a double-take, wondering why I was even surprised that the little devil was right by my side. “He’s not mine.”

  Dropping to her knees, I could see down her tank top as she talked to the dog through the screen.

  “I think he made himself yours. Who’s a good boy? Huh? Who’s a good boy?”

  “You don’t know if he’s a boy or a girl,” I snarled. “And if you do, that must mean he’s yours.”

  “Well, he doesn’t sit outside my house. He always sleeps on your doorstep, which seems kind of harsh considering how cold it is outside.”

  “Not my problem.”

  “Really?” As she stood, the smile dropped from her face, replaced by the first signs of anger. “The poor dog is just looking for someone to love him. You know what that is, don’t you, Tennessee? What is your real name, by the way?”

  “If he needs someone to love so badly, why don’t you take him in?”

  “Because he doesn’t want me. He only wants his grumpy master.”

  “I’m not his master,” I ground out.

  “Really? So why did I see him riding around in your truck the other day?”

  I had no answer for that. No matter where I went, the dog followed. Whether he jumped in the bed of the truck or somehow found his way into my cab, he was always there. It was infuriating.

  “Look, if you like him so much, feed him on your property, but stop putting food out for him by my porch. You’re attracting raccoons.”

  “Well, raccoons deserve to be here just as much as you and I.”

  “In what way?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “In the way that they were here long before us, and probably will be long after.”

  “And you’re a raccoon expert, are you?”

  “Not exactly, but⁠—”

  “Then you really don’t know how long they’ve been around.”

  “Well, I’m sure⁠—”

  “Because the thing is, they might have been around longer, but I can and will take them out if they keep coming on my property.”

  She gasped, her chest heaving with the movement. And damnit, it was sexy as hell. Not that I was really paying attention.

  “You wouldn’t!”

  “I would.”

  Her eyes flashed indignantly, but she still didn’t give in.

  “Fine. I won’t feed him on your property.”

  “Thank you.”

  “On one condition,” she said just as I started to turn away.

  Gritting my teeth, I faced her once again. “And what’s that?”

  “I want your name.”

  It was something I liked holding over her head for whatever reason, but that was something I could easily give up. People at the bar knew my name. It was only a matter of time before she found out anyway. Besides, I’d had enough of her calling me Tennessee.

  “JR.”

  Her eyes lit with fascination, quickly replacing the anger that was just there. “JR. What does that stand for?”

  I turned and stomped off her porch. I’d made a deal, and now that we were on the same page, the dog hopefully wouldn’t be an issue any longer.

  “Is it Junior?” she called out, rushing after me in her slippers. “I mean, frankly, that’s not very unique!”

  The dog followed me across the property, but at the line between our houses, I pointed at the ground on her side. “Stay.”

  The dog sat down, cocking his head at me expectantly.

  “It’s Junior, isn’t it?” she beamed triumphantly. But when I didn’t answer, her smile dimmed. “Okay, so it’s not Junior. Jack! It must be Jack. You definitely look like a Jack.”

  I continued to my house, walking up the steps, but the moment I heard her shuffling behind me, I spun around and grabbed her by the arms, halting her in her place. Her lips were just a scant inch from mine, so close, so lickable. Fuck, I just wanted one taste.

  But this woman was insane. I didn’t need to invite any more crazy into my life. Hell, if I gave this woman an inch, she’d take a mile.

  Still…my eyes dropped to those plump lips, to the way the tip of her tongue darted out, getting just a taste of whatever shade she had painted on her lips.

  I wanted to be her tongue, damnit. I wanted to know what she tasted like, what it would be like to have that tongue sliding in my mouth…and over various other parts of my body.

  Even if she was insane.

  She swayed forward ever-so-slightly, just enough for her nipples to brush against my chest, and damnit, I lost it.

  Crushing my lips to hers, I kissed her hard. I slid my hand around the nape of her neck, pulling her closer as I took what I wanted, relishing every fucking taste that exploded on my tongue.

  She was perfect, so fucking perfect. And as her tongue danced with mine, I shoved my door open, ready to haul her inside and bury my cock deep inside her. But then the damn dog barked, breaking the spell I was under.

  Tearing myself from her body, I trained my eyes on hers, refusing to let them wander to her heaving breasts or that pussy that I so desperately wanted to taste now.

  “Go away.”

  And then I slammed the door in her face.

  10

  JOSIE

  I shuffled across the lawn and up the steps of my house, still dazed and confused by what just happened. He kissed me, and not just any kiss, but a kiss that could only be described as explosive, passionate, volatile, meteoric, or hell, even hazardous.

  Because that’s what JR was. He was hazardous for me and my lust-addled brain at the moment.

  In all my teasing, I was sure I was getting to him, but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would ever grab me like that and shove his tongue down my throat.

  Not that I was complaining.

  He was an excellent kisser. Like, top-notch. I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could set my toes on fire like that.

  I shoved the door open and stumbled inside, staring off at absolutely nothing as I replayed every single second of that kiss.

  And how he kicked me out afterward.

  What did that mean? Did he only kiss me to shut me up? Was his plan to draw me in, only to squash any hope of anything happening between us? Then again, maybe he didn’t mean to kiss me. Maybe I really fell against him and inadvertently shoved my tongue in his mouth.

  Oh, God. He was an innocent bystander, just minding his own business, when his crazy neighbor came along and attacked him with saliva! I was a horrible person. I should go apologize.

  Except, if I apologized, that meant that I would have to see him, and seeing him right now was definitely out of the question. He would probably slam the door in my face and call me a floozy or a swindler. Then it would get around town and everyone would look at me like the witch who cast some evil spell on him and got him to fall for the woman he detested based on my love of Milo.

  I would be a laughing stock.

  “Are you alright?” Sawyer asked, dragging me out of my internal debate.

  “Huh?”

  “You have that…spastic eye thing going on.”

  “What spastic eye thing?”

  “You know, the one where you’ve done something you shouldn’t have, and now you’re freaking out.”

  I laughed nervously at that. “Why would you assume I’ve done something? I haven’t done a thing.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I think I would know if I had done something I shouldn’t have,” I said, storming past him to get away from his watchful stare.

  If anyone could get to me, it was my brother. He knew me too well. I just had to hope that he was too depressed over losing Pearl that he would drop the subject.

  “The neighbor was just here.” He jumped up from the couch and hurried over, eager for information.

  “So?”

  I couldn’t look at him. He would see right through me. I opened the fridge and buried my head inside. The cool air hit me, immediately freezing the panic rising in my chest.

  “So, did it have anything to do with him?

  I shuffled around the yogurt, taking my sweet time to delay the inevitable response. “Um… what?”

  “The flushed look on your face. The reason you’re burying your head in the fridge. Is it because of him?”

  I spun around and glared at him. “Why would I hide from anyone?”

  “Because—”

  “Have I ever hidden from anyone?” Going on the offensive was the only strategy I could employ right now.

  “No, you don’t, but you do⁠—”

  “It’s ridiculous to think that I would hide in a fridge. I was looking for something to eat.”

  “You don’t have anything in your hands.”

  “Because you started accusing me of hiding!”

  “Fine, then get something to eat.”

  “Fine, I will,” I snapped, turning back around to the fridge. Digging through it, I found a yogurt, hoping I could stomach it when my insides were flip-flopping like a gymnastics tournament was being held inside my body.

  If I couldn’t eat this damn yogurt, I’d never live this down. I needed another distraction, something that would put him on edge just as much as me.

  “Don’t you think it’s time you moved on from Pearl?”

  His eyes narrowed. “That’s low, Josie.”

  I peeled back the lid, tossing it away to buy myself a few more seconds. As I sauntered around the room, I stirred my yogurt thoughtfully.

  “I just mean that maybe it’s time for you to take a trip and get away. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet someone.”

  His left eye twitched with indecision. Good, I had him thinking about something other than what just happened with me.

  “Well, I mean, I don’t know where I would go.”

  “I’m sure you’ll think of something. Somewhere you can escape. Where nobody knows you.”

  “If you tell me to go to the Cheers bar, I’m outta here.”

  “I’m just saying that you’re missing the whole point of being single. And this is the perfect time because we’re supposed to have that snowstorm coming in. They’re calling for a massive amount of snow, and you could escape it all.”

  “That’s true⁠—”

  “Ooh, you could go visit Grandma and Grandpa!”

  “Because I would meet a lot of hot women over there?” he deadpanned.

  “No, but you could stay with them for a night on the way to wherever you’re going.”

  “You just want me to go so they don’t summon you.”

  “Well, that may have something to do with it, but it would kill two birds with one stone.”

  He scrubbed a hand over his jaw, thinking it over. Meanwhile, I was still stirring my yogurt, trying desperately to get out of answering any more of his questions.

  “Well, you may have a point.”

  Then his eyes landed on my hand. “Are you gonna eat that?”

  My stomach twisted at the thought of putting anything inside the churning bin that was my insides. I lifted the spoon, but the moment the smell hit me, I knew I couldn’t do it. I was too wound up, too anxious over what had happened.

  I needed tea.

  Setting down the yogurt, I quickly moved about the kitchen. “Tea?”

  “Ha! I knew it! This is because of the neighbor!”

  “It is not.”

  “It so is,” he laughed. “What did he say?”

  “Nothing. It was absolutely nothing. We argued about the dog.”

  “Right, the dog,” he nodded as I continued to do my level best to be busy.

  I found my teacup and got to work on making my tea, but still, he didn’t let up.

  “Oh, come on. You’ve seen me at my lowest, and you’re not going to tell me?”

  “There’s nothing to tell,” I said, spinning around and pinning him with my best aggravated look, though I was pretty sure I probably looked constipated.

  “Nothing to tell. Right, that’s why you marched over to his house.”

  “Because I was arguing with him!”

  “Arguing about your love for him?”

  My cheeks flamed red as the kiss we shared flashed through my mind.

  His smile dropped at the look on my face. “Holy shit,” he whispered. “You love him?”

  “Of course I don’t love him!”

  “Then why are you being all weird? What happened?” he asked, chasing me around the room as I stormed away, trying to reclaim my sanity. “Did he kiss you?”

  I spun around so fast I bumped right into his chest. “Listen here, mister. There is nothing to tell. And even if there were something to tell, which there isn’t, I wouldn’t tell you. Not even if my life depended on it.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’re a sap. You fall in love with the thought of love, and the last thing I need is you acting all…lovey dovey over some imaginary thought in your mind that I’m getting together with the neighbor!”

  “So, you have thought about it,” he grinned.

  “Do you want me to stab you in your sleep?”

  Tossing his head back, he laughed raucously. “Oh, man. This is so good. Him?” he pointed in the direction of JR’s house. “The grouch next door is the man you’re falling for?”

  “Not falling for!”

  “You kissed him! I can see it all over your face! Man, wait until Grandma and Grandpa hear about this.”

  I snatched his arm as he turned to go, my eyes pleading with him when no sound would leave the voice box that was suddenly useless.

  “Alright,” he sighed. “I won’t tell them, but this means you can’t give me any shit over any of my relationships for at least a month.”

  “Two weeks,” I countered.

  “A month, and if you try to counter my offer again, I’ll make it two months.”

  My lips snapped shut in agreement. “Fine. One month.”

  He spat in his hand and held it out. I did the same, sealing our agreement with saliva and a handshake.

  With a new bowl firmly in hand, I went to my property line and dropped it on his side, careful not to cross into his territory.

  Though technically, I wasn’t sure he had a leg to stand on. He was renting from the Parker family, so it wasn’t really his place to order me around.

  “Milo!” I called the precious dog over.

  Yipping, he sat up, his ears perked high as he waited for the usual rattle. Bag in hand, I shook it just once, and he came running toward me. Pouring the food in, I was careful not to cross the property line.

  Brushing his wet nose up against my hand, he delighted in a few pets before he shoved his face in the bowl and started scarfing down his delicious bites. Well, I hoped they were delicious, anyway. I had thought of getting some wet food for him, but the price would absolutely kill me.

  “You’re such a good boy. Yes, you are,” I cooed as I ran my fingers over his mangy coat. “You really need a bath. You should definitely talk to your owner about fixing this situation. Maybe sneak into his house and get in the shower with him,” I smiled.

  “What the hell are you doing?” JR shouted from his front steps.

  He was flying down them and stalking toward me, the anger on his face nearly making me laugh. But I had enough common sense not to poke the bear.

  “I was petting your dog.”

  “You were feeding him!” JR shouted.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I can see the bag of food in your hand.”

  Looking down, I frowned at the bag that was very clearly marked as dog food. “What, this? Oh, no. This is mine.”

  Those gray eyes narrowed on me in a way that I knew I wouldn’t like the challenge that followed.

  “Yours, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “You eat dog food.”

  “It’s a healthy treat,” I countered, unwilling to give in.

  “Then let me see you eat some.”

  “Oh, I can’t,” I chuckled. “See, you’re only supposed to eat three bites a day, and I already had my fill.”

  His feet moved swiftly until he was right at the edge of his property line. Broad shoulders loomed over me, his Henley stretched to the brink by those large muscles that filled every inch of fabric so perfectly.

  I could still feel the way those rough hands gripped my neck and how tight his body felt as it was pressed against mine.

  I would not think of any of that. Not when I was waging a war here.

  “Stop feeding the dog on my property.”

  “I didn’t feed the dog on your property.”

  “The bowl is on my side.”

  “You told me not to go on your property, and I haven’t. I haven’t put a finger over the line.”

  “Again, the bowl is on my side. You had to cross it to pour the damn food!”

  “That’s not true. I could, hypothetically, dump the food from my side into your bowl.”

  “The dog’s bowl.”

  “Hypothetically speaking, if I had done such a thing, that would not be breaking any of your rules.”

  “I told you not to feed my dog.”

  “Your dog?”

  “The dog,” he quickly corrected. “That dog. The nuisance you keep feeding so he shows up at my door!”

  “Well, as I said, these are my treats.”

  “They look exactly the same as the food in his bowl!”

  “Must be the same manufacturer as the brand that whoever was filling your bowl was using.”

  His teeth ground hard as he watched me. Yes, I knew I was needling him, and that wasn’t typically something I enjoyed. I tended to be happy all the time and relished in making others just as cheery as me, but something about this man just made me want to see how far I could push him.

  “Keep your damn food off my lawn, and stop feeding the dog.”

  As he turned to stalk away, I just couldn’t resist one last jab. “You know, a storm is coming!”