Call of the Wilds (12 page)

The cascading hot water felt amazing, just what the doctor ordered. Sharp needles of spray stung her back and flushed away the dirt and physical traces Malcolm left behind. Too bad it couldn’t wash away the hurt his words had left.

* * * *

Frank waited until he saw the Wrangler go by. Then he pulled his truck out of the brush and headed back to the refuge. He preferred his Ford Ranger to the marked car. It took the trails better and carried everything he needed for emergencies. Everyone recognized the red FX4 as his, anyway.

His jaw clenched tight, and his hands tightened around the steering wheel. Christ, she put him in a black mood. He shouldn’t go back. Maybe he just wanted to kick ass. Maybe he just wanted some ass. He couldn’t get the picture of the two of them out of his head. He and Karin should be a couple by now. Instead, she fell for Connor’s superhero act. Big mistake. Anyone who lived in solitude the way he did had something to hide. It would come out in the wash sooner or later. Preferably sooner. A man couldn’t be expected to wait for a woman forever.

He parked next to the ATV, straightened the brim of his Stetson, and stepped up on the porch. Surprised to find the door locked, he pulled out his keys and opened it.

“Karin?”

No answer.

He went on through to the back and looked in her office. Drawn by the sound of running water, he approached the bathroom. The door was slightly ajar, and steam escaped around it. He couldn’t resist the urge to look inside. Seeing Karin’s blurred silhouette behind the mist-covered shower door brought a smile to his lips.

Posturing like a hunter afraid to scare his prey, he watched motionless as the water flowed over the outline of her body. Each time she moved, his body tightened in response. She raised her arms to wash her hair, and her breasts lifted, firm and ripe for his touch. He hungered to feel the weight of them in his hands. She lathered the plump mounds, and he groaned inwardly when she massaged them and played with her nipples. Muttering jealous curses, he thought about Malcolm’s mouth on those breasts, his hands on her body. The images filled him with rage and, at the same time, excited him.

She slid a hand over her flat belly and then lower, stopping at the juncture of her thighs, her intention clear. Obviously she wanted to get off. Maybe macho man couldn’t satisfy her. He ached to give her the climax she wanted, to bury his growing erection inside her, and hear her cries of satisfaction. He wanted to hear his name come out of her mouth at the moment of her release. What would she do if he took his clothes off and got in there with her? Scream? Or wrap her legs around him like she did with her lover? Afraid to incur her wrath, he forced himself to keep still.

Her soft moans over the sound of the water were sexy as hell. He thought he might come right then. She gasped and leaned forward, one palm spread against the tiles, the other still on her sex. The delectable view of her rounded bottom tempted him to move closer. He wanted to grind his rock hard cock against her ass. In her ass.

He took a deep breath and let it out. She wanted it. Hell, she asked for it. Maybe she knew he was watching, and she put on this show for his benefit.

The water stopped and brought him out of his reverie. This wasn’t the right time. His day would come. He slipped out to the reception area before she could see him.

He waited until he heard her open drawers and answer the phone. Then he called out.

“Karin.”

She limped in. Her wet hair hung over her shoulders in wheat-colored waves and dampened her T-shirt. She looked like a little kid. He had a momentary twinge of guilt, but he shoved it aside.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Her face was chalk white, and she looked angry.

“What’s wrong?” What was her problem? Did she know he’d been watching her?

“I locked up for a reason. I needed to clean up and change my clothes.”

“I saw the ATV and the locked door, and I thought something might be wrong.” He plastered a sheepish look on his face. “I haven’t heard from you, and I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I’m okay now. You really scared me, Frank.” She sighed. “Come in the back. I’ll make a pot of coffee.”

“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He grabbed the pot. “Here, let me do that. Looks like you’re still hurting from your spill.”

“I tripped in the enclosure this morning.”

“You’re getting accident prone, Karin. You need to take better care of yourself. Can I do anything for you?”

“Thanks, I can manage.” She looked contrite. “I should have called you. I want to thank you for getting the Mule running.”

“No need. I’m glad to do it.” He poured some coffee and handed her a mug before taking a seat by her desk. “We’ve been friends for a while. You know you can count on me when you need something.”

“I appreciate it, but next time call before surprising me like this.”

“I’ll remember that.” His frustration rose to a new height, and he tried to tamp down his anger. For sure, her lover didn’t have to make an appointment. Maybe it was time to bring things out in the open. “Like I said, we’ve been friends for a while, and I think it’s time to kick it up a notch. I’ve heard the best relationships start out as friendships.”

“Frank, I value your friendship more than you know,” she said.

“But?” he snapped.

“This is not a good time,” she said gently.

“Is there someone else?”

“You’ve got to be kidding. I hardly know anyone here.”

“I just feel like you’re holding back.” The lying bitch couldn’t even be straight with him. His hand clenched the mug until his knuckles turned white. He set it down before he broke it. She needed to be taught a lesson, but first he had to get Connor out of the way.

“There’s too much going on right now for me to concentrate on personal issues. I’m afraid I’d mess up a great friendship.”

“Hell, Karin, I’m a man, and I can’t wait forever. As soon as this business with the wolf is settled, I want to take some time for us,” he insisted. “Once your head is clear, you’ll realize we make a pretty good team.”

* * * *

If only she wanted the sheriff instead of Malcolm, her life would be so much easier. But she had no romantic feelings for Frank. He wasn’t the one who made her heart beat a mile a minute and her panties wet. Sure, he would treat her well and take care of her, but she didn’t want to be taken care of. She needed to keep some control, to be an equal partner in a relationship. A strong physical attraction and toe-curling sex didn’t hurt either.

She couldn’t put him off forever. It wasn’t fair to either of them. If he kept pursuing her, she would have to end their friendship. Losing her only friend would be rough, but encouraging him would be worse. Right now she couldn’t deal with this.

“I really need to get back to work.”

“One more thing.”

What now?

“I want to show you something.”

“Sounds ominous.”

He laid a folded copy of
The
Sentinel
in front of her. A cartoon of a feral wolf man snarling at a cowering hiker took up most of the editorial page.

“My God.” She sucked air between her teeth. “How can they print garbage like this?”

“
The Sentinel
has financial troubles just like everyone else. They’ll do anything to sell papers.”

“How do we counteract it?”

“We don’t.”

“So we do nothing?”

“More attention won’t help. It’ll just stir people up more. I just wanted you to know what you’re up against.”

“We can’t just let this go.”

“For now, it’s the best thing we can do. Just let it lie and go about your business. Before you know it, folks will find something else to be upset about.”

“I don’t know, Frank. I think—”

“Let me do the thinking on this one. Just keep an eye on the wolf. When the final autopsy report is out and the quarantine is over, things will go back to normal, and we can concentrate on personal matters.”

* * * *

Frank walked into his office and gave Glenn a dirty look. Their friendship didn’t give him the right to put his feet up on the desk.

“Get the hell out of my chair.”

“Okay, okay. No need to get huffy about it.”

“Where’s Trudy?”

“I told her to take a break while I hold down the fort.”

“All right, make it fast.” Frank took the chair Glenn vacated.

“What are you so pissed about?”

“I just saw Karin.”

“Well, that explains it. What does Ms. High and Mighty have to say?”

“She’s upset about the cartoon. I tried to calm her down.”

“You’re a sweetheart, sheriff. I hope the little wolf-girl appreciates you.”

“Stay out of my business.” Glenn wasn’t much younger than Frank, but he acted like a kid. He wouldn’t take much more of his teasing on top of everything else.

“I don’t mean anything by it, but you shouldn’t worry about her so much. After we get done with the wolf, she’ll be history.”

Frank gave him a hard look. “She might be out of a job, but she will not be history.”

“Shit, I knew it. You fuck her yet?”

Frank flipped him the bird. “Watch your mouth.”

“Okay, I didn’t mean any offense.”

“Forget it.”

“I just don’t want to see you ruin your chance to be mayor.”

“You just don’t wanna lose your chance to be sheriff.” Frank’s tight expression relaxed into a smile. “Once I get rid of these wolves, the people will be begging me to run. You just do your part, and we’ll both get what we want.”

“There’s just one little problem.”

“Which is?”

“Jude. I heard him bragging in town, something about bagging a wolf.”

“No matter. We’ll take care of the wolf long before Jude can get his hands on it.”

“That’s not the problem.”

“Get to the point.”

“He says he already shot a wolf.”

Frank frowned. “What’s he talking about?”

“He shot something. Probably somebody’s dog.”

“I hope you told him to stay outta this.”

“Of course I did. I told him we had things under control.”

“Did he listen to reason?”

“Who knows? He’s hotheaded and even worse since the fight with Connor. But I think I got him calmed down.”

“I’m counting on you, Glenn. You need to keep a lid on things until we take care of business.”

“I am, but I think we need to get the ball rolling.”

“Let’s give it a couple days. Maybe someone at the bureau will grow some balls and step in.”

Chapter Twelve

“Why can’t we just use your key? You’re the sheriff. All you have to do is say you found the lock jimmied. Who’s gonna argue with you?”

“Karin is gonna get here before me.” Glenn could be so stupid sometimes. “It’s a break-in, remember? Let’s make it look like one.”