Can't Hardly Breathe (The Original Heartbreakers #4)

Wait. Hold up. What the heck was she doing? Daniel Porter wasn’t going to chase her away from her own business. Well, not again. Not ever again. On principle, she increased her speed.

About two blocks away from the inn, a truck pulled up beside her, the breaks squeaking. A squeak she’d heard before. Don’t be Daniel. Don’t be—

“Hey, Thea.” The vehicle remained at her side, the window rolled down. Daniel hooked an arm over the door, a little tricolored Chihuahua nestled against his chest.

He had a dog? A tiny creature he nurtured and loved? Be still my heart.

No, no. Stay strong! “Hi, Daniel.” Her heart thumped against her ribs. Because she’d overexerted herself, no other reason. “Headed to the inn to report for your he-ceptionist duties?”

When she stopped to catch her breath, the truck stopped. Intending to tell him to mosey on, she faced him...but no words escaped. The sun was in the process of rising at last—directly behind him. Of course! The storm clouds hid most of the golden rays, but a few managed to escape and frame Daniel, as if drawn to him.

This just in: the sun is female.

“You mean my assistant duties. And the answer is yes. But what are you doin’, darlin’?”

His exaggerated Southern drawl was sexy as heck.

I’m huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf, sweating and generally looking like crap. “Take a wild guess.”

His grin was slow and wicked, making her shiver. “This isn’t a guess so much as a statement of fact, but you are definitely turning me on.”

No way. Just no way. “You are not turned on,” she blurted out.

His grin only widened. “I’ll stop the truck and show you. Just say the word.”

“No!” Thankfully, there were no other cars on the road to witness her mini heatstroke. “I’ll pass.”

“You sure? My you know would love to show off.”

She hesitated. She actually hesitated. “Very sure,” she finally said with a nod. No reason to throw the ultimate temptation into her influx of problems.

“You sure you’re sure? I’m sensing doubt.”

Rather than answer him—and possibly lie—she focused on trudging uphill. When she reached the top, the town square would be visible. The real world. Daniel would stop flirting. Anything to keep his secret, right?

“Do you jog every morning?” he asked.

“Yes.” Changing the subject before he could invite himself along, she said, “Cute dog.”

“I found her. Something or someone mauled her back legs. I couldn’t leave her alone in a strange house, especially while I’m searching for her owners.”

A big strong guy taking care of a poor, injured dog. Was there anything sweeter? “What’s her name?”

“Princess.” One of his brows winged up. “Animals are allowed at the inn, right?”

Her mom had always issued a No Pets Allowed policy, but Dorothea overrode it, effective immediately. “Princess will be a welcome addition to the staff.”

He began to protest, only to shut his beautiful mouth. Expected a completely different answer, had he? “You aren’t worried about your desk being used as a chew toy, or finding poop in your filing cabinets?”

“Why would I worry? One can be fixed and the other cleaned. By you. My he-ceptionist.” And now, they’d reached the top of the hill. She picked up the pace, and this time, he let her move ahead.

In fact, he never accelerated past her but remained on her tail. Looking out for her, without publically associating with her.

Great! They weren’t even dating, and he’d already made her feel worthless.

When she reached Main Street, she moved to the sidewalk. She passed Daniel’s dad and Mr. Rodriguez, who were setting up the table and chairs they used for their daily round of checkers. Both men hollered out a greeting, and she waved without looking over. The last time she’d come across them, they’d done nothing but praise Daniel.

He’s grown into a handsome man, hasn’t he?

His wife will be a lucky lady. There’s no man more faithful. Bet his kids will be cute as buttons.

Oh, there’d been one bit of hinting/leading, too.

He’s troubled and needs a woman to soothe him. (nudge, nudge)

Troubled? Daniel? Ha! Except...

The night she’d propositioned him, there’d been a haunted glaze in his eyes when he’d opened his door. A glaze she’d overlooked in her panic but hadn’t forgotten in her thousand and one mental replays. Sweat had beaded over his brow and upper lip, and his breathing had been accelerated.

Every morning for the past week she’d jogged past his dad’s house. Because it was located along the best route, no other reason. Daniel had been up while the rest of the town had slept. He’d paced back and forth in front of the window.

Considering his military background, he’d probably seen and endured horrors she couldn’t even imagine. Did memories plague him?

He idled his truck in front of the salon, chatting with his dad, taking the focus off her, and she gratefully raced around the corner, soared inside the inn and—

Stopped, incredulous. Holly sat at the reception desk, ignoring the ringing phone while playing on her cell. She should have been getting ready for school.

Dorothea’s temper—utterly—exploded. She stomped over and pushed Holly out of the chair. As her sister crashed to the floor—then jumped to her feet—Dorothea pointed to the hallway. “Go! Gather your school supplies and get your butt to class. Now!”

Defiance crackled in Holly’s eyes. A look Dorothea had never seen in her own. “I won’t, and you can’t make me.”

“I can drag you kicking and screaming, and I’ll do it without a qualm. Go!”

“You think you’re stronger than me?” Holly actually drew back a fist, intending to...punch Dorothea in the face?

She braced, ready to take the blow. Maybe, after hitting her, Holly would finally feel vindicated. They could start fresh.

The bell over the front door tinkled just before her sister struck. A second later, Daniel stood between them, his arms extended to hold them at a distance, Princess barking at his feet.

“We use our words, ladies, not our fists.” His hard tone demanded immediate submission. “Back away, Holly.”

“Whatever. I’m out of here.” Holly flicked her dark hair over her shoulder and flounced out of the room. The back of her T-shirt had two bold letters: F and U.

Nice.

A scowling Daniel focused on Dorothea. “Tell me what that was about before I blow a gasket.”

He was mad at her? He had no right! “That was private business and—” Dorothea deflated with disappointment as questions raced through her mind. Would Holly ever speak to her again? Or would her sister spend the day building stronger walls? “You shouldn’t have interfered.”

“Are you freaking kidding me? She was going to hit you, Thea.” The words lashed from him, his anger only seeming to grow.

“Afterward she might have talked to me. Thanks to you, I’ll never know.”

Oh, yes. His anger was definitely growing. Steam practically wafted from his nostrils. “Let’s get one thing very clear. No one hits you. No one. Not for any reason. Ever.”