Yardley rolled her eyes. Georgiana Flynn hated people making remarks about her red hair, or calling her “Ginger” or “Annie.” Right now she was acting like the worst kind of fan girl. I’ve been compared to worse things. Pul-eeese!
She bent to fill Oleg’s food bowl, but the wolfdog began noisily lapping water. Her gaze swerved back toward the doorway, wishing he would stop but knowing Oleg needed to drink after their run. After a few moments, the sloshing stopped and she could hear again.
“—the cutest thing,” she heard Georgie say.
“Lily can seem a bit reserved but secretly, she loves attention. Take all the photos you want.”
“No. Stay in the frame. The shots are better with you two interacting.”
Yardley felt the urge to growl as she moved to dump fresh coffee beans into her pot only to realize Georgie had already made fresh coffee. The girl had lied to get that man inside her house. Can’t trust anyone.
Belatedly, she gave Oleg the signal that he could eat.
In his hungry surge to clean the aluminum bowl in a single gulp, Oleg knocked it over and sent chucks of dog food skidding across the floor. He made so much noise chasing after and scarfing up the pieces that Yardley had to step to the doorway in order to continue to eavesdrop.
“—nice. Yes. Good. You’re a natural. Did you know Harmonie Kennels does a studmuffin calendar of dogs and their handlers?”
Oh hell no!
Yardley bolted through the doorway. “Georgie.”
Georgie looked back to see her host’s disapproving expression, but it didn’t shut her down. “I was just telling Mr. McGarren he’s perfect for Harmonie Kennels’ next Hot Handlers and Cool K-9s calendar. Unless he’s a total dough boy underneath that jacket.” Georgie looked back at Kye, mischief in her gaze. “Are you a total dough boy? I need to know. Strictly for professional purposes.”
Kye grinned as he glanced at Yardley. “How about a few audition shots?”
“Let’s do it.”
“Not here.” Yardley’s voice had gone all drill-sergeant-loud. She couldn’t help it. She didn’t want this man posing in her house. Certainly not half naked. Make that abso-fuckin’-lutely not! “You hated doing the calendar, Georgie. You said you’d never do it again.”
Georgie ignored her. “Over by the Christmas tree. Lily, too. Oh yes, nice.” He had shrugged off his parka to reveal a navy-blue Henley tucked into his board shorts. “You should know, Mr. McGarren, the calendar raised one hundred thousand dollars nationwide for training K-9s for law enforcement departments that can’t afford them. That’s why I’m thinking about doing the second one. I certainly hope you can qualify.” She moved toward him, and then her nose twitched and she paused. “Oh.”
It took Kye a second to register the reason for the funny look on the photographer’s face. Then he remembered the dried stain on his shirtfront. He brushed it with his hand. “I, ah, held this baby on the flight while the mother took her six-year-old to the potty. He leaked.”
“Oooh. That was so kind of you.” Georgie turned toward Yardley, mouthing Isn’t he adorable?
Yardley ground her teeth. He was something all right. None of it to her liking.
Georgie had moved on. “Let’s get you out of the stinky shirt.”
Kye didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the back of his shirt at the neck and pulled.
Yardley didn’t look away. She told herself that was because there was nothing special coming. She saw half-dressed men so often she had long ago stopped ogling the delights of well-toned abs and pecs, and other manly parts. But dammit. This was different.
Kye was a big man. He looked so much larger without that shirt. It was as if his chest swelled once released from the compression of his clothing. His pecs and abs, well, just every best part of his torso had expanded in a most amazing display.
Put it back on. Yardley wanted to look away but saw that he was watching for her reaction. Why did he care? And no, she wasn’t going to display even a speck of interest. She folded her arms, cocked a hip to one side, and stared at him as if he were something broken that she needed to fix.
But he wasn’t broken. He was pretty damn perfect.
“Nice forearms,” she heard Georgie say from what seemed about a mile away. “Must be all that skiing. How about a foot braced on the hearth? No, don’t cross your arms. Hold Lily loosely in one arm. Rest your other elbow, hand relaxed. That’s better.”
Forearms. Elbows? That’s what Georgie was concentrating on when there were all those acres of hard-sculpted physique in between?
Yardley felt a decidedly unwelcome stirring down low between her legs. As if! But really, well, yeah. She wasn’t lustproof. Only Kye McGarren–proof.
Completely at ease, Kye lifted Lily onto his bare shoulders. “When we’re on SAR winter patrol she rides like this.”
“While you’re skiing?” Georgie was totally into her shots.
“Yeah. She’s a great little balancer.”
“You’re so going to be Mr. December. Great gift to open under the tree, right, Yard?”