Courtesy of Belgrave House

http://www.belgravehouse.com

Puppy Love

by

Elizabeth Neff Walker

An Immodest Proposal

by

Jen Albury, Suzanne Barrett, Laura Matthews,

Laurie Osborne, Angela Rashid,

Tracy M. Thurber, Barbara Kay Turner

This eBook was produced by

Elegant Solutions Software Company

Huntsville, Al

Graphic Content Copyright © 2000

Elegant Solutions Software Company

Kenneth Mattern

http://esspc-ebooks.com

All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

"Listen, Molly," Rob said. "This is important."

"To you or me?" Molly asked, cocking her head at him. She had known Rob Halston for almost a year, and not once had he spoken to her of his own free will.

His black stallion backed away, as restless as his rider. Molly's own horse, Cinders, stood calmly at the crossing of the trails where the two riders had met. Molly had thought, at first, that their meeting was accidental. Now, she doubted that.

"The sheriff said I had to talk to you," Rob said. His gray eyes narrowed against the glare of the late September sunshine. Or maybe they narrowed because it pained him to speak with her.

"Sheriff Moore?" Molly frowned. "What about?"

"Jasper." Rob said his dog's name with a certain bluster.

Molly shook her head of short black curls. "I'm not surprised. Your dog is a menace, Rob."

Rob's face set stubbornly. "There's nothing wrong with Jasper. He wouldn't hurt a fly."

"That's hard to tell, when he charges everything in sight, growling and barking." Molly shifted in her saddle. Down the trail she could see the bright yellow aspens that marked the start of his property. "I hear he frightened one of your paying guests so badly she nearly had a heart attack."

"What nonsense," he muttered. He raked his sandy hair back with strong fingers, meeting her mild gaze with a determined scowl. "She's one of those emotional types whose heart pounds from hearing a car backfire."

Molly knew that wasn't likely. Most of Rob's paying guests at the ranch were adventurous types, the sort of city people who loved to be cowboys and cowgirls for a few days. But they also liked having the hot springs to soak their aching limbs each evening.

"So how did the sheriff get involved?" she asked.

He sighed. "Mrs. Smith went to him complaining about Jasper. She said the dog attacked her. All he did was bark a little."

"Jasper never barks just a little." Molly had had several run-ins with Jasper herself. Molly's cabin, with the kennels nearby, was tempting to the overgrown puppy. "Jasper's big, he's unruly, he snarls, and most people would think he was going to bite them, given half a chance."

"He's never bitten anyone," Rob insisted. "He just likes to make a big show of protecting his turf."

"Get real, Rob." Molly grinned at her handsome neighbor's discomfort. "Jasper doesn't just guard your land. Everyone in this valley has had him storm their cattle and horses, their dogs and their kids. He's a menace."

Rob's lips curved into a reluctant smile. "Yeah, so the sheriff said. Why didn't anyone tell me?"

This was not the first time Molly had noticed how sexy his smile was. "Because," she said, after a short pause, "they all like you and they don't want to offend you. And they all thought you knew very well what Jasper does, since he does it at Halston Ranch, too."

"He's just a puppy."

Molly rolled her eyes. "A sixty pound puppy, Rob. With some very bad habits. And he's an Alaskan Malamute. He looks like a wolf."

"That's not his fault. That's the way he's supposed to look."

"I know, but he's going to get in trouble if he doesn't develop some manners. Did Sheriff Moore want me to train him?"

"Yes," Rob admitted. "In fact he said if I didn't get you to agree, he was going to give me a ticket. He said it didn't matter if Jasper didn't actually bite Mrs. Smith. He said Jasper was out of control and would sooner or later cause some real harm if he wasn't taken in hand."

There was nothing Rob Halston wanted less, Molly knew, than to have to ask a favor or her. She sat her horse patiently. There was no way she was going to make it easier by offering her services.

The black horse tossed his head and stamped his feet. A nerve jumped in Rob's jaw.

"So, will you train Jasper?" he asked, his gray eyes fierce. "Sheriff Moore said you're the best trainer in the area, now that Tom's gone. But he said your charges are a little steep."

Molly laughed. "As if you'd have any trouble paying my charges, even if I doubled them. Which I might, seeing as Jasper is such a hard case. If it were easy to break him of his bad habits, I'' sure you'' have done it yourself."

"I haven't got the time to work with him," Rob said.

"Then I can't help you," Molly replied, giving her inky black horse a slight nudge with her right knee. Cinders obediently turned away from the other horse and rider.

Rob's face darkened. "What do you mean? You have to train him, Molly. I don't want Moor to ticket me. You get a couple of those tickets and they make you put the dog down."

"Not unless he harms someone," she said. "They'll just fine you until that happens."

"It's not going to happen."

"I hope, for both of your sakes, that it doesn't." Molly pushed her blue and white bandanna further up her forehead. "But a wild puppy can become a bully of an adult dog. I've seen it too many times to believe it won't happen with Jasper."

"Why won't you train him, then?" he asked.

"Because I can't do it alone. I have to have an owner involved in the training." Molly shrugged at his disbelieving look. "You can't drop Jasper off and come back in a week to pick up an obedient animal."

Rob's brows lowered over stormy eyes. "How much time would it take?"

"Who knows? I've had owners spend a couple hours a day working with me and their dogs. Jasper's going to be really hard."

"How do you know that?"

"Rob, the dog spends half his time at my place." Molly frowned. "I've taught him what manners I could, but they don't seem to work when he goes back home."

A touch of color stained Rob's cheeks. "I had no idea he came over to the cabin," he said stiffly. "I'll see that he doesn't do it any more."

Molly's green eyes sparkled with impish delight. "Oh, sure. Dogs like Jasper are so easily chained up." She shook her head. "The best thing you could do for him would be to give him away, Rob. To someone who has the time to train him properly. Otherwise he's going to become a real liability."

"I like him. I plan to keep him."

"Fine." This time she urged Cinders forward with her knees and didn't turn back. "Good luck."

Chapter Two

Rob was mad as spit. Nothing made him as made as being wrong. And he knew he was wrong about Jasper. Of course the dog had to be trained. Of course Rob would have to spend the time training him, with or without Molly Bishop. And of course he'd be stupid to try to train the dog without Molly Bishop's help.

But he didn't want to spend time with her. Sure, she was pretty and she had a great figure. And her energy and humor were bewitching. But she was his enemy. From the day Molly had come to claim Joel's cabin and land, Rob had wanted nothing to do with her. What right did a stranger have to Joel's land?

Joel had been his best friend. When Joel died of cancer, alone, at the hospice a hundred miles away, Rob could not bear to think of it. He would have gone to be there if Joel had told him how close the end was.

Rob thought it must be like having a brother die. He and Joel had spent the best part of their growing up years together, talking, laughing. Each time he rode near Joel's cabin, Rob felt his loss almost as though it were new.

Molly was someone he'd never even heard of when she arrived in their Western Montana valley. Her inheriting Joel's cabin had made him suspicious. What had she done to deserve such a reward? Why hadn't Joel told him about her?

Rob suspected that Molly had influenced his friend when Joel was in the hospice and too weak to resist. But that was only part of his reason for disliking Molly. The property, right next to his own, meant a great deal to him for many reasons. When Rob offered her a fair price for the cabin and the land, Molly refused to sell.

Annoyed, as he always was when he thought about it, Rob urged his horse into a canter. Together man and beast raced past the red sumac bushes along the trail to clatter across the wooden bridge onto Halston Ranch property.

The large timber ranchhouse sat on rising ground, overlooking a pond that sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. Split rail fences neatly marked off the pasture from the yard, the horse corral from the barn. Rob had lived here all his life.

Five years ago he had turned the property into a guest house. It had been Joel's suggestion. Halston Ranch was small as ranches went, but its hot springs and horseback riding drew more than enough visitors.

From the start Rob had made a profit. Joel had told him that he would. Joel had been the wise, shy one of the two of them, Rob the rash, friendly one. They'd neatly balanced one another. Ever since Joel's death, Rob had felt a little off center.

So it hadn't helped when Molly Bishop arrived that she was pretty, and smart, and level-headed.

The scene in front of Rob suddenly exploded from peaceful to frantic. An animal darted from the bushes, nipping at his horse's feet, startling the stallion. Rob had been deep in thought, paying little heed to his riding. When Charger bolted sideways, Rob found himself very nearly thrown from his saddle.

With an effort he controlled the startled horse, holding firmly to the reins and gripping Charger's sides with his legs. The horse stamped and blew angry puffs of breath from his nostrils. His eyes rolled until Rob stroked his neck and murmured calm words.

When peace was finally restored, he frowned down at Jasper, his Alaskan Malamute puppy.

The dog looked very pleased with himself. His bright brown eyes were shining. His tongue lolled out in happy tiredness. Jasper was the picture of a proud, satisfied animal.

Rob knew he had no choice but to beg Molly Bishop to train his dog.

Molly was sitting on the front steps of her cabin, drinking a cup of hot coffee, when she heard the sound of hoofbeats. She shaded her eyes against the morning sun and made out Rob Halston on his black horse just starting up the drive. The dog Jasper trotted along beside them.

Before horse and rider reached her, Jasper raced ahead to greet Molly. He was a loving dog, at least, she reminded herself. Malamutes were known to be wonderful for romping with their human companions.

They also were known to be stubborn and difficult to train. And Malamutes not properly trained became aggressive. The key was to train the dog young. And Jasper, though still a puppy, was probably eight months old. A real challenge.

Rob dismounted and tied his horse's reins to the fence along the drive. He wore his standard outfit of jeans and a plaid flannel shirt. Molly found that he was taller than she had thought, probably close to six feet. She took a sip of coffee as he approached her.

"If you'll train him, I'll spend up to an hour a day here," Rob said as he stopped a short way from her. Then, almost unhappily, "More, if it's really necessary."

Molly set her coffee cup down and stood up. "Malamutes get really hard to work with after they're ten months old. Do you know how old Jasper is?"

"The family who gave him to me said he was six months. That was two, two-and-a-half months ago."

"Why did they give him to you?"

Rob looked rueful. "They said he wasn't much of a town dog. My guess is they couldn't break him of his bad habits."

The sun caught the blond highlights in his sandy brown hair. He looked so handsome that Molly looked away. Reaching down to pet Jasper, she said, "All right. Do you want to start now?"

"If that's okay with you."

She offered a careless shrug and led him to the kennel.

Chapter Three

Molly had made the kennel out of a small, weathered barn. At any given time, she was borading three or four dogs and often as many cats. The cow was gone, but the horse Cinder occupied the last remaining stall.

Because the kennel wasn't far from her cabin, she could hear barking dogs and howling cats throughout the day. But the barn made a comfortable kennel, and she was proud of having worked on it herself.

"Joel just kept the cow and horse here, before he got sick," Rob said as he followed her into the barn.

"I know. He told me all about his home," she replied.

Rob looked at her suspiciously, but she didn't explain. He followed her into the tack room. It was now crowded with grooming materials-combs and brushes and shampoos, a hair dryer, and other tools of the trade.

His brows rose in disbelief. "Are there really people around here who get their pets groomed."

"Sure. You're forgetting that half the valley's been claimed by 'foreigners.' All those movie stars and bestselling authors want their pets to have the very best."

Rob snorted.

Molly held up a picture of an orange-colored tiny French poodle with blue ribbons in her hair. "This is Fifi. Not only do I groom her. I show her."

"Like at dog shows?" Rob shook his head. "Seems a waste of time to me."

She shrugged. "There's money in it. And in breeding dogs. That's what I plan to do next."

"What kind of dogs?"

"I haven't decided yet." Molly set the picture aside and reached up to a hook on the wall. She chose several items and set them along with a can on the countertop.

"These are what we'll need, a six foot leather leash, a jeweled training collar, and a shake can."

The jeweled collar was really made from small metal links welded close together. Molly said that it was the best kind to use because it was the strongest.

Rob looked doubtful. "You mean we're going to choke him?"

"Of course not," she said, indignant. "You give it a tug to correct the dog. If the collar is put on right, it merely tightens around his neck and releases. I'll show you how to do it."

Molly carried the training equipment outside and set it down on a weathered bench. Jasper had followed them at Molly's command and now he sat down beside the bench.

"You have to form a letter P, with the free ring hanging from the right side of Jasper's neck." Molly showed him how to do it, then removed the collar and handed it to Rob. "Try it."

Rob fumbled with the metal chain and ended up with the ring hanging on the left side of Jasper's neck. With a tsk of annoyance he removed it and tried again, with the same results.

"Remember you're backwards of me," Molly said. "Stand behind me and watch."

When he was behind her, she had the odd feeling that his concentration was not on the metal chain. He cleared his throat and reached around her to remove the chain from Jasper. This time he did it right. "What's the can for?" he asked. "It's a shake can, to get Jasper's attention." Molly gave the coda can a brisk shake, making the pennies rattle loudly inside. Jasper immediately cocked his head in her direction. "Puppies are easily distracted," she explained. As are puppies' owners, she almost added when he went on staring at her. Rob gave himself a shake and watched as she showed him how to work with the dog. He was quick to pick up her system of corrections and rewards. Molly could see his fondness for the dog. What she also saw was the way he used his hands. They were large, work-roughened hands with long, strong fingers. Rob used his hands to correct Jasper with the collar, and he used them to show his approval when the dog responded. Molly could scarcely take her eyes from his hands when Rob stroked the dog's head, or patted Jasper's flanks. His touch by turns calmed, rewarded, and encouraged the dog.

Molly refused to think about what his touch would do to her.

Rob's patience surprised Molly. She had learned to think of him as hot-headed and restless. She had not thought he could channel his drive into something more useful.

When he saw her watching him, his eyes met hers with a question in them. "Am I doing something wrong?" he asked.

Molly felt herself flush. "Not at all. You work very well with Jasper."

"I've worked with horses all my life," he said. "But never a dog. All our dogs seemed to come well trained."

"They probably grew up on ranches. Jasper didn't." Molly called Jasper to her and released him from the training collar. "That will be enough for today, Rob. Leave him with me, though. He needs to spend time with the other dogs."

Rob nodded absently. "Should I pick him up later?"

"I'm sure he'll find his way home," Molly said dryly.

"I…um…I want to thank you for doing this," he said. "Maybe you'd like to come over and use the hot springs pool."

Molly's back stiffened. "You don't have to reward me. This is my job. I'm glad of the work."

Rob's eyes flashed. "I wasn't rewarding you. I was trying to thank you. Maybe should learn to reject an invitation more gracefully."

"I don't need correction, either. I'm not in training like your dog," she snapped.

Rob looked like he wanted to shake her, but all he did was roll his eyes. "Why are you being so prickly?"

She was just asking herself the same thing. The answer was all too clear to her, if not to him. She was attracted to him-to those strong hands and that rugged face. To the sunlight in his hair and the depths of his gray eyes.

"You're the one who's barely spoken to me in a year," she said gruffly.

Rob stared at her until she raised her eyes to his. "That was my mistake, Molly. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted," she said. "See you tomorrow."

Though he hesitated, after a moment he shrugged and took himself off. Much to her relief.

Chapter Four

Rob arrived at Molly's every morning at nine. Over the course of a week he learned the proper use of "No" and "Okay" in training a dog. With a firm voice and clever hands he taught Jasper to sit and to heel.

But Jasper was a difficult dog. Learning "sit and stay" and "down and stay" was much harder for him. Rob was almost convinced that Jasper could not learn to come when called. Rob's patience was beginning to wear thin.

"How do you do this all day every day?" he asked Molly.

She laughed. "It's my work. I'm used to it."

"No one could get used to a dog being so headstrong."

Molly leaned back against a colorful cottonwood. A mass of black curls framed her face. Rob thought maybe she was laughing at him, the way her lips turned up on one side. Her eyes danced with amusement.

"Dogs are no more headstrong than people," she said.

Rob snorted. "Sure they are."

He released Jasper from the training collar. There was no way he was going to work with the dog any more that morning.

"Maybe you should go home and soak in that hot springs of yours," Molly said. "After all, you're the one who's frustrated. Not Jasper."

"He should be," Rob grumbled.

When Jasper wandered happily into the barn, Rob sat down on the bench. Sitting down seemed to him the best way to prevent himself from walking over to Molly, tilting her head up, and kissing her.

Now where had that thought come from?

Molly pushed herself away from the tree. Rob could see that she was restless. She walked back and forth in front of the barn and finally spoke.

"You're going against a dog's instincts sometimes when you train him. But right now we're going against your own."

Startled, Rob asked, "Against which of my instincts?"

She shrugged. "Lots of them. You don't want to be here. You want your dog to obey you simply because he's yours. He should know better than to oppose you."

"Well, he should." Rob grinned. "I feed him and shelter him. He's supposed to be grateful to me."

"Right. You'd probably think the same thing of a wife."

Molly had come to a stop right in front of him. Her hands were on her hips. Rob resisted the urge to pull her onto his lap.

"That's not the same thing at all," he protested. "And, sure, I'd expect a wife to be grateful to me. I'd be grateful to her, too."

"For what?" Molly asked.

Because she was glaring at him, he said only, "The usual things."

Molly waved that aside with an impatient hand. "You have to learn how to respect a dog for what a dog gives you, Rob. You think you're the one doing all the giving. You give him food, and a bed, and a big ranch to run around. You take him to the vet and pay some attention to him. Big deal."

"It is a big deal."

"Compared with what he gives you?" she asked. "Get real. He's your companion. He gives you love and loyalty."

Rob found himself on his feet. That put him so close to her that she stepped back. "Could I kiss you?" he asked.

Confusion and something else clouded her face. "Of course not," she said. "Don't be ridiculous."

With a gentle finger he traced the oval of her face. She swallowed and blinked at him. "You're awfully pretty, Molly."

"I think you're losing it, Halston," she muttered, backing farther from him. "All this frustration is getting to you."

He nodded. "I'm frustrated, all right. But not just because of Jasper."

"You don't like me. Remember?"

Surprise widened his eyes. "Why do you think that?"

Molly laughed bitterly and took another step backwards. "You're clear as glass, Rob. From the day I arrived here you've scorned me."

"Well, I didn't know you."

"And you think you know me now? Guess again." Molly spun away from him, moving to put the bench between them. "Go home, Rob."

He crossed his arms over his chest and stayed where he was. "I do know you now," he said. "I've watched you work with Jasper, and with me. I've seen you with the other dogs. You're good with them, you're good with me."

"That's my job."

His eyes narrowed. "That's not the whole truth, Molly, and you know it."

"It's close enough." She shooed him away with her hands. "Go away. I have other stuff to do."

"I'll go. But I'd like you to come over later. Use the hot springs. There will be other people around."

"No, thanks."

"Around nine. The nights are cool and the hot water feels great."

Molly said nothing.

Rob added, "You'll like my guests. I have a midwestern couple staying now who breed cairn terriers."

He could see the interest in her eyes, but she turned around and headed for the barn without speaking.

"We wear bathing suits," he called after her.

Molly had no intention of going. Nine o'clock, indeed. As an early morning riser, she went to bed at ten. But even if Rob had said seven o'clock, she wouldn't have gone.

Besides, the only bathing suit she had was ten years old.

At five she fed the dogs. Distracted, she wandered into her bedroom and opened the bottom drawer of the dresser. Sure enough, that's where she'd put her bathing suit when she came to the valley.

Molly held the suit up in front of her. Though it had been a bright aqua blue with a bold pattern of tropical flowers, it had faded. Not really badly. If you didn't know how bright it had been, you wouldn't really notice.

Annoyed with herself, Molly put the suit back in its place and slammed the drawer shut. She was not going to Halston Ranch at nine o'clock to display her pale body to Rob Halston or anyone else.

Dinner was a turkey sandwich and a carton of yogurt. It was time to shop again. But she disliked grocery shopping and always put it off until there was nothing decent to eat in the cabin.

Of course, the store down the road wouldn't be crowded at this hour. She could put her suit in the car in case she decided to stop at the ranch on her way back. Nope, couldn't do that. The frozen foods would thaw.

Molly washed her few dishes and sat down in the wooden rocking chair in the living area. The new issue of her professional dog training magazine had a story about training cairn terriers. The authors were from Missouri, and she wondered if by chance they were the couple at Rob's.

Unlikely, she knew. And yet, she would love to talk with someone about raising puppies for sale. Molly glanced up at the clock on the mantle. It was only 7:30.

She had few friends in the valley. It wasn't natural for Molly to keep to herself. She was an outgoing woman. But most of this year had been spent setting up her kennel and advertising her grooming and obedience training business.

And Rob's disapproval of her had made her wary. Everyone else might feel the way he did. But if she went to the ranch tonight, it could be a turning point in her Montana life.

One way or another.

Chapter Five

At ten after nine Molly parked her Jeep on the gravel alongside the ranchhouse. She was nervous. Her bathing suit was wrapped in a blue towel on the passenger seat. It suddenly seemed absurd to be arriving here at this hour.

Before she could change her mind, Rob was there at the car door, smiling at her. "I'm glad you came," he said.

In the darkness she couldn't tell if he was laughing at her. She picked up the rolled towel and climbed down from the Jeep. "I can't stay long," she said.

"Of course not," he agreed.

So why had he invited her if he didn't want her to stay long? Molly knew she was being contrary, but she couldn't help it.

"I'll show you where to change." Rob held the front door open for her. Inside, the room was lit by table lamps, which cast a soft glow over the rustic furnishings.

Molly had never been in the house before. The size of the living room startled her. Her whole cabin could have fit in it.

"Wow! Do you do all the work around here?" she asked.

Rob laughed. "Hardly. I have a couple who manage most of the day to day business. I get to do the fun stuff-trail rides, hot springs soaking, talking with the guests."

She looked around the room with interest. "Is this where the guests hang out?"

He nodded. "Some do. It's a comfortable place to read and talk."

She thought it looked charming with its fat sofas and deep armchairs. "Did you grow up here?"

"Yep. I've lived here all my life." He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. "It was always kind of this way. When my folks retired to Arizona and turned it over to me, Joel suggested I turn it into a guest house."

Molly found herself standing on an old braided rug in the middle of the room. "You don't mind the lack of privacy?"

He looked at her intently. "Sometimes I do. But there are lots of places I can go that I won't run into anyone else."

She would have liked to ask him where, but thought better of it. "Where should I change?"

Rob led her up the stairs to the second floor. At the far left end of the hallway he pushed a door open. "This is my room. Join us when you're ready."

He explained how to find the hot spring-heated pool and left her alone. His room was simply furnished. An old brass bed rested under a window that looked out at snow-capped mountains.

Molly set her towel on the bed and quickly stripped. She felt uncomfortable standing naked in his room. When she pulled on her swimsuit she felt worse. How could she have forgotten how revealing the tiny piece of fabric was?

But it was too late to leave. She followed Rob's instructions and soon heard voices echoing off water and walls. Drawing a deep breath, she pushed open the door.

There were five people in the pool. The underwater lights gave off an eerie glow in the otherwise dark room. Molly had no difficulty picking Rob out of the group. From where she stood he might have been naked. She swallowed hard.

"Here's my neighbor, Molly Bishop," Rob said, easily hoisting himself out of the pool. He dripped across the concrete and took her cold hand with his warm fingers. "Come and meet everyone."

One couple, Jim and Beth Patten, were somewhat older, in their forties. The other pair, Peggy and Tom Cella, were in their mid-thirties. Rob said it was the Cellas who raised the cairns.

Molly slid into the steaming water with a gasp. Peggy Cella laughed. "You haven't been in here before," she guessed.

"Right. It's hotter than I expected." Molly could feel Rob watching her as she pushed her wet hair back from her eyes.

"You get used to it," Tom Cella said. "In fact, it's super relaxing."

Molly didn't feel at all relaxed. She was aware of how her suit clung to her, and of how little Rob was wearing. Physical labor around the ranch had made his arms and legs strong. An arrow of his sandy chest hair pointed toward his swim trunks.

Across the pool he grinned at her. It was a lazy, seductive sort of grin and Molly turned away. To the Cellas she said, "I'm thinking of raising dogs here in Montana. But these cowboys seem to like bigger dogs than cairns."

Peggy laughed. "If Jasper is any example, they certainly do."

"I understand you're trying to train him," Jim Patten said. "You have your work cut out for you."

"I know." Molly risked a glance at Rob. He was still watching her intently. "But he's not a bad dog at heart."

"Just like his owner," Rob said, winking at her.

"I'm not as sure about that," she retorted.

His guests laughed and told stories about Rob from other visits to Montana. It was obvious they were fond of him, but they knew his impetuous side. Beth Patten told of the time he had saved her from an angry moose.

"He could have driven it off," she said. "But, no, he had to be a cowboy. He came racing along on Charger and grabbed me off the rock I'd climbed."

"Damn near threw her back out," her husband added.

"Damn near threw my back out," Rob admitted. "Stupid stunt. But it was fun."

"Speaking of back, mine is ready for bed," Beth said. She and her husband said goodnight and disappeared into the ranchhouse.

Molly took advantage of the chance to discuss raising dogs with the Cellas. They listened to her questions and answered them. But she could tell they were not totally paying attention.

Beneath the surface of the water their bodies seemed to almost merge, they were so close. Molly could tell that Tom's hand was on Peggy's bottom. Peggy's hand was on his thigh, high on his thigh.

Peggy's voice became thick when she spoke. Tom's eyes burned with a barely suppressed desire. After a few minutes, they confessed to being very tired. Ha, Molly thought.

But she was left alone with Rob.

Chapter Six

"I should go," she said.

Rob swam across the pool to her side. "Not yet. It's early."

"I get up early."

"So sleep in tomorrow."

His eyes were bright with a warmth she couldn't ignore. Her insides responded with a tightening that made her knees feel weak. And no hot springs were going to help her relax. She was far too close to him.

Rob reached out and pushed the wet hair from her face. "You're so pretty," he said. "I still want to kiss you."

Molly thought she should say no. But her thumping heart and unruly body wouldn't let her. She wanted to feel his lips on hers, wanted to feel his body pressed against her.

She nodded, trying to keep her gaze steady on his face. Rob's lips broadened into a smile. Without a pause he pulled her toward him. Wet, warm lips covered hers. Molly shivered at the stunning impact on her body.

How was it possible to react that strongly to a kiss?

They were in deep water. Rob put his arms around her waist and held her against him as he kicked them toward the shallow end of the pool. His strength excited her. His hands, his body touching her made Molly ache inside.

When they could stand in the water, he kissed her again. His mouth moved from her lips to her chin. Then lower, to her neck and to the spot just above her suit. Molly heard herself moan.

The aqua suit has a short zipper over her breasts. Rob eased the zipper down. The suit spread so that most of her breasts were visible to him.

Alarmed, Molly said, "Someone could come in, Rob."

"No one's going to come in, Molly." His lips moved onto the exposed white flesh.

"Oh, God," she said.

He nudged the suit back until one whole breast escaped. Rob took the nipple into his mouth and drew on it. A riot of sensations raced through Molly's body.

"This isn't a good idea," she managed to whisper.

Rob released her with a rueful grin. "Oh, I think it's a pretty good idea," he said.

Molly sighed with a relief almost as strong as her regret. "We don't have that kind of relationship."

"We could." Rob ran his hands down her arms, brushing against the naked breast. "I'd like to, Molly. Don't you feel at all attracted to me?"

She should lie to him, but Molly wasn't good at lying. "I'm … uh …attracted to you, Rob." She'd have to do better than that. "But we're not even friends," she protested.

"Seems to me we've become friends."

Molly shook her head. "No, we're just temporarily friendlier."

He kissed the tip of her nose. "Tell you what, Molly. We'll spend the next half hour in the pool, naked. Then, if you think there's nothing between us, you just get dressed and go home."

Her voice shook. "Naked?"

"Sure. It wouldn't be fair if you were the only one to reveal your body." He abruptly slid his swim trunks down his long, powerful legs.

Molly tried not to look at him, but she couldn't resist. There was enough underwater light for her to see him fairly clearly. Her heart started hammering in her chest.

"Now you," he said, smiling gently.

She knew very well that she didn't have to do it. She could zip up her suit, climb the stairs at the corner of the pool, and leave him there. Molly told herself that's what she should do.

But what she did was lower the straps of the aqua suit and slide it down over her hips. Before he could react, she swam away from him.

This is nuts, she told herself.

But naked, the water felt like silk against her body. Rob swam after her, but lazily, not pressing her. He did a somersault that revealed all of him. A lump formed in Molly's throat.

Rob was like a porpoise, diving around her and playfully reappearing. He teased her with little splashes of water. His body passed close, lightly gliding against her flesh. She reached out to touch him.

Under water his skin was slick. The coarse hair on his arms and chest was rough under her fingers. She felt his firm hands on her buttocks and splashed water in his face, moving away.

He swam behind her, pressing his body to hers. She could feel his shoulders, his chest, his legs. And she could feel his desire, hard against her. Molly's body arched back toward him.

His hands stroked her breasts. Molly felt the tide of desire sweep through her. She twisted in his arms so that she could face him. "I want you," she said, kissing his lips. "Here. Now."

Rob laughed. "You're asking a lot of me, sweetheart. This is deep water. Wouldn't my bed be more comfortable?"

She ducked her head. "Yeah, I guess."

They quickly wrapped themselves in large towels. Rob took her hand and tugged her toward the door into the ranchhouse. Their suits lay forgotten at the bottom of the pool.

To Molly's relief they met no one on the way to Rob's room. She had left the door open, with the lamp on the side table turned on. Rob closed the door behind them and turned to her.

Molly clutched her towel tightly against her, suddenly uncertain. Rob gently drew her into his arms. When his lips met hers, desire swelled in her again.

Both towels slid to the floor. Their bodies pressed eagerly together, warm damp flesh to warm damp flesh. Molly sighed and wrapped her arms around Rob's waist.

Outside, the calm night was shattered by a fierce snarling and loud barking. "Damn," Rob groaned, as he released Molly and hurried to the window.

After a quick glance, he turned and said, "Jasper, of course. I'll have to get him. He's got a raccoon treed and he's not going to shut up until I bring him in."

Rob wrestled himself into a pair of jeans and came to give Molly a quick kiss. "Don't go away. I'll be right back."

Chapter Seven

Because he thought Molly might be watching, Rob grabbed Jasper's training collar from the table in the hall. He slid it over the unsuspecting dog's head and gave him a stern "Off!" command. When Jasper didn't respond, Rob gave him a corrective tug.

He'd caught Jasper's attention. This was just how it was supposed to be, catching your dog in the midst of bad behavior and correcting him. Much to Rob's surprise, Jasper obeyed his command to "Come," leaving the raccoon up the tree.

Proud of his dog, Rob glanced up to his bedroom window, but there was no sign of Molly. She was probably in bed, he thought. So he took the dog around to the back and locked him in the kitchen. Rob wanted no more interruptions that night.

In all it took him fifteen minutes to handle the dog problem. By the time he opened his bedroom door, he was more than ready to be warmed by Molly's lovely body.

But Molly wasn't there.

For a second, Rob didn't believe it. He checked in the bathroom, and, foolishly, under the bed. Only the two towels were left, slung over the back of the rocking chair.

He groaned and dropped down onto the bed. He knew why she'd left. She didn't trust him. And she had no way of knowing that he'd come to trust her.

Despite her aching head, Molly got up early to take care of the dogs. Then she carried her cup of coffee to the front steps and sat down. When she heard Rob's truck turn into her drive, she sighed.

He brought the truck to a stop in a cloud of dust. Jasper wasn't with him when he climbed down. Instead, Rob held her swimming suit in his hand.

Molly felt a flush rise to her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she said. "I just couldn't stay."

Rob surprised her by nodding. "I know. There are some things we need to clear up."

Molly made room for him on the step beside her. The morning sun flooded the spot with a golden autumn glow. Molly held her coffee cup tightly between her hands.

Rob cleared his throat. "Would you tell me how Joel came to leave his cabin to you?"

"I wish you'd asked me a year ago."

"I should have." Rob ran a hand through his shaggy, sandy hair. "I've wasted a lot of time."

"My mom was in the same hospice as Joel." Molly bit her lower lip. "They talked a lot. That happens, when you don't have much time left."

"God, I'm sorry, Molly." Rob removed the coffee cup from her grip and clasped her hand firmly.

Molly looked down at their joined hands. "Mom told him that I'd sold pretty much everything I had to pay for her care. Her insurance had been canceled even before her cancer came back."

Rob winced. "I didn't know. Joel never said anything."

"Did you expect him to leave the property to you?" Molly asked softly.

He shook his head. "No. Years ago he'd told me he was leaving it to his sister if he didn't marry. But she's married with kids now and lives in Ohio."

"If she'd inherited it, you could have bought it from her."

"Probably." Rob raised their joined hands to his lips. "But I wouldn't have met you."

Molly hesitantly met his steady gaze. "I fell in love with the cabin and the valley when I came here. I couldn't sell it, even to you."

"Even to me?" he asked, puzzled.

"Joel told me about you," she said.

Rob's brows rose. "What did he say?"

"That you were his best friend. That you were impulsive and quick temepred, but a good man." Molly shifted uneasily on the stair. "That you'd look after me."

He groaned. "Damn. And all I did was cause you trouble."

Molly smiled. "I realized, after a while, that he must not have had a chance to tell you. He died rather suddenly in the end."

"I know." Rob leaned back and rubbed his forehead with his free hand. "I missed a call from him the day he died. When I phoned back it was too late."

Molly could see the pain in his eyes. "He knew how much you cared about him, Rob. And I didn't really need looking after."

"No, you didn't." Rob smiled the smile that made Molly feel all shaken inside. "But I'd like to look after you, if you'll let me."

The warmth and tension within her increased. Molly moistened her lips. "There are certain ways I'd like you to look after me," she said.

Rob bent to kiss her. When they were both breathless, he drew back and said, "Good. I want to make you happy."

Molly felt her throat tighten. "I feel sure you can. And I hope I have a lot to give you, Rob."

He hugged her tightly to his chest. "You've given me a lot already, Molly. Can you trust me to learn the rest?"

"I trust all my pupils. Even Jasper," she said with a grin.

"I don't think I'd be as hard a case as Jasper."

Molly looked up at him with mischievous eyes. "Oh, I imagine you will be. But I'm a patient woman."

As Rob bent to kiss her again, he said, "Thank heaven for that."

Table of Contents

Puppy Love

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

An Immodest Proposal

Table of Contents

Puppy Love

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

An Immodest Proposal