“Are you that attracted to Levi?”
She felt ready to melt just remembering Levi’s lips on her neck, and it had been the slightest touch. It shouldn’t have had such a profound effect on her. But it did. “Yes.”
Kyle muttered a curse. “Listen,” he said, “being with this...drifter wouldn’t be any better than being with me. I’m not saying that because I’m...trying to...to get back in your pants. I enjoyed our time together, don’t get me wrong—”
“You don’t have to be so diplomatic, Kyle.”
“It’s true, or I wouldn’t have come back for more. But you were right when you said I’m still in love with Olivia. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over her.”
She was beginning to feel sorry for him again. “Don’t say that.”
“Fine. Maybe that’s not true and I’ll hardly remember her name in a few months—even though I have to see her at every family event. Either way, Levi worries me. For one thing, he’s quite a bit younger than you.”
“Five years is quite a bit?” Perhaps it was to some people, but as long as he was an adult, what did age matter to someone in her situation? She couldn’t establish a permanent relationship with him, anyway.
“It’s not just his age. He doesn’t have a job. And he obviously has some mental problems.”
“What do you mean?”
“Normal people don’t go wandering around like that.”
She raked a hand through her hair. “Look what’s happening, Kyle. Look what sleeping together has produced. You’ve never tried to tell me who I can get involved with before.”
“I’m not doing it because I’m being possessive! It’s because I feel I sort of...left you vulnerable. I don’t want to be responsible for getting you hurt.”
“You didn’t leave me vulnerable.”
“Then what’s going on?”
She toyed with the jewelry holder sitting on her dresser. “I can’t explain it. He...does something to me. I’m drawn to him.”
“Sexually?”
“Yes! That, too.” Especially that. “Bottom line, I like that he’s here.”
A moment of silence indicated a change in tone. “Do your parents know you have a stranger staying with you at the farm?”
“We talked about it today.”
“They don’t mind?”
They hadn’t been happy about it, but they seemed willing to trust her judgment. “No.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t, either, except...I can’t help thinking that he’s hanging around hoping to get lucky. Once he obtains what he wants, he’ll take off.”
He wasn’t hanging around for sex. Callie knew that already. “Stop. He hasn’t made one attempt to take my clothes off. If getting lucky is what he’s after, I’d know it by now.”
A beep signaled that she had another call.
It was Godfrey. She told Kyle she had to go.
“We’ll get past what we did,” he said before she could switch over.
“I hope so.”
“I promise. Try and forget about it, okay?”
After she’d agreed to do that, he hung up and she connected with the incoming call. “Godfrey, how are you?”
“Fine. You?”
“Good.” She forced a smile so it would reflect in her voice. “What’s going on?”
“Just calling to give you an update on the pit bulls.”
“Thank you. What’s the latest?”
“Once we proved the dogs had all their shots, the county decided to fine Denny and let them live.”
She stopped pacing. “That’s it? He’ll get them back?”
“That was the original plan. He’s not a permanent resident. We thought he’d take the dogs and go, leave the area. No one around here likes killing animals.”
That was certainly the case with Callie. But those stitches on Levi’s arm created a horrific picture of what had occurred. “You said that was the original plan.”
“It was...until one of the dogs tried to take off the hand of a volunteer who was attempting to feed it.”
Callie hated hearing this—but she wasn’t surprised. It confirmed that another attack would likely occur if the dogs were released. “So now animal control is going to put them down?”
“That’s what’ll happen to Sauron. Denny can still save Spike. He might only have attacked Levi because he was following the lead of Sauron, who’s more aggressive. He seems to behave as long as he’s kept separate.”
“So pack mentality got him in trouble.”
“That’s my guess. But once a dog like that gets a taste for blood he might not settle down. It’s a risk to release him, like I said, but no one, especially me, wants to be responsible for euthanizing an animal that could live if only it had a more responsible owner.”
“How did Denny take the news?”
“He’s mad as hell. Said his dogs wouldn’t even be in the shelter if it wasn’t for Levi trespassing on his property.”
Too worn down to keep moving, Callie perched on the edge of her bed. “How does he explain this latest show of aggression?”
“Claims Sauron acted up only because he’s in unfamiliar territory, that he got spooked.” He sighed. “Believe me, he has all kinds of excuses. But there’s nothing he can do at this point. When Sauron attacked again...that sealed his fate.”
“As much as I don’t care for Denny, I feel bad. I know that in his own way he loves those dogs. It would kill me to lose Rifle.” Who was sitting in front of her, wagging his tail every time she looked at him.
“He’ll have Spike—if he pays the fine and Spike doesn’t act out before then.”
Keeping one was better than losing them both....
“How’s Levi doing?” Godfrey asked.
She summoned the energy to get up so she could saunter over to the window and gaze out at the barn. Light gleamed around the edges of its wide, heavy doors. Levi was still up. “His wounds seem to be healing. But he’s been working hard, despite those stitches.”
“He can take it—he’s young and strong. If he’s around in a few more days, give me a holler. I’ll stop by and remove his stitches. It’s not like they’re the fancy disappearing kind. I had to make do with what I had.”
“We’re grateful. Thanks for everything,” she said. Then she shook her head as she hung up. We’re grateful? She’d said that as if they were a couple....