Susan Mallery - Under Her Skin

“Okay then,” she said. “I should, ah, go check out the pet store. I’ll let you know what happens.”

Fifteen minutes later she stood in front of the Titanville Pet Palace. The big windows were decorated with bright flowers and curly lettering. Lexi stepped inside.

The large space was well lit and smelled fresh. There were shelves filled with food and supplies. She heard the sound of puppies barking and birds calling. A teenager at the front counter looked up from a text book.

“Hi,” she said with a smile. “Can I help you?”

“I’m, um, just looking.”

“Okay. If you have any questions just ask me or Kathy. She knows everything.”

“Thanks.”

Lexi went down the first aisle. She had no idea what she was looking for or why she’d come. It wasn’t as if Garth Duncan would be lurking around a corner, and she doubted he would store corporate secrets on a shelf next to the rabbit chow. So what was the point?

Still, she was here. She could look around.

She studied a large cage filled with small birds.

“I don’t think so.”

The voice was light and soft. Lexi turned and found a woman standing next to her.

“You’re not a bird person. Or a reptile one.” The woman smiled. “I’m not either, but the boys like them and it’s not their fault they’re a little scary. Not the turtles. Turtles are lovely. But snakes? No. Although we have an understanding. The snakes like me. And lizards. Lizards are good.”

The woman was of average height. Maybe in her fifties, with short brown hair and beautiful green eyes. There was something about her, something Lexi couldn’t put her finger on.

“I’m Kathy,” the woman said. “I take care of the animals. Some of them are for sale, but I’m very careful about who takes them home. We have to talk first.”

It was her speech, Lexi thought. It was cautious and deliberate. As if she thought about each word before saying it. She moved easily enough, so Lexi doubted she’d had a stroke. Maybe she was challenged in some way.

“I’m not looking for a pet,” Lexi said.

“Of course you are.” Kathy tilted her head. “But what? Let me think for a moment.”

“All right.”

Lexi wasn’t sure what to do. She really didn’t want to buy an animal. So much for her snooping skills.

“Something soft,” Kathy murmured, looking at her. “Something you can cuddle.” Her eyes brightened as she smiled. “I know. A kitten.”

“I’m not really a cat person.”

“Sure you are. Come on.”

Kathy moved toward the rear of the store. Lexi trailed along. Fine. She would hold the kitten, then politely say no. How hard could that be?

There were three kittens playing together in a big cage. Kathy studied them, then picked out the marmalade-colored one. “Here,” she said, handing it to Lexi. “This is the one.”

Lexi glanced down at her black sweater and sighed. She took the kitten.

It was small and warm, with dark green eyes. The second her hands closed around its small body, she felt the tiny bones, the warm fur and the steady beat of a determined little heart. Not knowing what else to do, she settled the animal against her chest. It curled up in her hands and began to purr.

She could hear the sound as well as feel it. The kitten kneaded her palm, sharp claws lightly digging into her skin. The whole thing should have been annoying, but it wasn’t. It was…nice.

“You’ll need a litter box and litter,” Kathy said. “A water dish, food dish, food and a few toys.”

“I’m not getting the kitten.” Although it was cute.

“It’s a boy,” Kathy said as she began to collect the items. “Get him neutered when he’s six to eight months old. He had his first round of shots. You’ll need to get him the rest.” She added a book on cat care to the growing pile.

“I’m really not in a position to take care of an animal right now.” What on earth would she do with a tiny kitten in Cruz’s big house? “I’m gone all day, working.”

Kathy smiled. “You’ll be home with your babies soon enough.”

Lexi coughed. Babies? “I’m not pregnant.”

“Not yet.”

Meaning she would be soon? She thought about the birth control pills she took every morning. “I don’t think so.”

Kathy ignored her. She put kitten chow next to canned food and added a few toys. Lexi followed her to the cash register.

“This isn’t a good idea,” she said.

Kathy nodded. “I know, but it will be.” She stroked the kitten. “I’ll miss you, but you’re going to be very happy.” The last thing she put on the counter was a small pet carrier. Then she walked to the rear of the store and disappeared.

Lexi turned to the teen at the register. “Okay, this is weird.”

The girl laughed. “I know, but it happens all the time. People come in here and Kathy tells them which pet they need. The thing is, she’s nearly always right. Everyone loves her.”

The kitten had fallen asleep. Lexi knew the smart thing would be to give it back, only she couldn’t seem to do it. Fine. She would take it to work and give it to someone there. Everyone adored kittens. How hard could it be to find this one a home?

“She’s not…” Lexi paused, not sure what to say. Normal? Right?

“She used to be,” the teen said. “At least that’s what I heard. Something happened. It was a long time ago. I’ve been working here a couple of years and she’s always been like she is. But she’s right about the kitten. You’ll see.”

Lexi and the teen had to make two trips to her car to get everything in the trunk. She put the kitten in the carrier and set that next to her in the front seat. Then, feeling really stupid, she pushed the button to disable the passenger seat airbag.

“I’m taking this way too far,” she muttered, but the sleeping kitten didn’t answer. As she drove back to work, she tried to put all the pieces together.

Why would a high-powered guy like Garth own a little store like that? And what had happened to Kathy? What had changed her and how could it possibly have anything to do with Garth or her day spa?

LEXI ARRIVED BACK at Cruz’s house shortly after five. Despite her best intentions, she’d been unable to offer the kitten to anyone, which made her feel incredibly foolish. She didn’t even like cats. Except she seemed to like this one.

She gathered as much as she could carry and made her way into the house, only to come to a stop when she heard Cruz arguing with someone in Spanish.

She followed the sounds of the voices to the entry to his study. He stood behind his desk, a man she didn’t recognize stood in front. They were obviously furious with each other, but she didn’t understand what they were saying.

She went upstairs, taking the kitten with her. After two more trips, she’d brought everything inside and had made a home for the kitten in her temporary office, across the hall from the master suite. Fifteen minutes later, Cruz walked in.

He looked angry and frustrated.

“Sorry about that,” he muttered.

“It’s fine. A business deal gone bad?”

“No.” He frowned at the kitten on her desk. “What’s that?”

“What does it look like?”

“You got a cat?”

“Sort of.”

The kitten strolled over to him and batted at his fingers. Cruz picked it up and rubbed the side of its face. The kitten immediately began to purr.

“I like cats,” he said, surprising her. “What’s its name?”

“It’s a he and his name is C.C.” The name just came to her. When Cruz raised his eyebrows, she grinned. “In honor of your company. Cruz Control.”

“You named the cat after me?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good one.” C.C. relaxed in Cruz’s arm, slowly rolling onto his back, then falling sleep with his paws in the air. Cruz took a seat by the desk and continued to rub his tummy.

“That was my father,” he said without looking up.

Lexi hadn’t been expecting that. She tried to remember what the other man had looked like, but she’d only seen his back for a second.

“I take it you two don’t get along?”

“Not for years. He was born in this country, so he’s a citizen. My mother came here illegally. She’s naturalized now, but when I was growing up, she was terrified of being deported. My father used to threaten to call immigration whenever he got mad at her. The rest of the time he just beat her until she promised to love him forever.”

Lexi stiffened. She understood the words, but couldn’t absorb their meaning. Juanita had been a kind and gracious woman. Who would ever have wanted to hurt her?

“My dad was the reason I got involved in a gang as early as I did. I needed the money to buy a gun.” Finally he looked at her. His eyes were dark and unreadable. They reminded her of the coldest part of the night.

“I was twelve. I waited for him outside, got behind him and put the gun in his back. I told him if he ever hit her again, I’d kill him. That he had an hour to pack his stuff and get out.”

She swallowed. “What happened?”

“He left. She and I never talked about it. I like to think she was relieved, that I’d saved her. She never dated much after him so for all I know, she’s still in love with him.” He shrugged. “At least she’s safe. That’s what mattered. When I was growing up, all I could think was how much better life would be without him. I was right.”

“And your dad?”

“He started showing up a few years ago. He knew I had money and he wanted some for himself. It’s easier to pay him off, so I do.”

Out of guilt? Or a connection that could never be broken, no matter how much Cruz wanted it to?

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Don’t be. I’m fine.”

He didn’t look fine. He looked…sad.

He stood and passed C.C. to her. “I have work to do.”

Then he was gone.

THAT NIGHT LEXI paced restlessly in the bedroom. She couldn’t forget Cruz’s story. Knowing it explained so much. She could see the evolution from that scared and angry boy to the man he’d become. No wonder no one got close. No wonder he wanted acceptance. Maybe everyone was broken in one way or another.

She heard footsteps in the hallway, then the bedroom door opened. Cruz stood there, silent. Waiting.

She’d worked through a thousand excuses. Exhaustion, her period, headaches. She’d done her best to protect herself, to stay clear of him because she knew the danger of being in his bed. Of what he could do to her body and how difficult it would be for her to separate herself emotionally from any physical connection.

She knew all the reasons they shouldn’t and not one of them mattered at that moment. Not when she’d seen a side of him she’d never imagined. She could resist a powerful man, but one who was vulnerable? Apparently not.

She crossed to him, raised herself on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his.

CRUZ RESPONDED immediately, pulling her close and deepening the kiss. His mouth claimed hers with a hunger that stole her breath and weakened her bones.

His mouth was firm, determined, yet he didn’t bruise as he deepened the kiss. Tongues tangled. He tasted of sex and Scotch and she couldn’t get enough of him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, as much to hang on as to be next to him. His hands roamed her body, touching, arousing, exploring. She wore a lace nightgown and panties, nothing more. But even the delicate silk was too much of a barrier. She wanted skin on skin. She wanted what he had done to her all those years ago-when he’d made love with her on a wild summer night, changing her forever.

That was the reason she’d resisted, the reason she’d needed to protect herself by avoiding him in bed. Because of who she was when she was with him that way. Their first night together had been amazing, but her own reaction had frightened her. Since then, she’d managed to keep control, but could she with Cruz?

He was all hard muscle. Her breasts were crushed against his chest, her nipples already hard and aching. As he slid his hands down to her rear, she pushed her hips against him and felt his erection.

Now, she thought frantically. She wanted him now. She wanted him to shove her up against the wall and take her. She wanted her legs spread, his body filling hers. She wanted him to claim her, mark her and leave her shaken.

It had never been like this with anyone else. She’d always preferred gentle lovemaking. The familiar, the comfortable. A polite dance to completion. Andrew had once complained she was too much the ice princess in bed. But not with Cruz.

Without thinking, she clamped her lips around his tongue and sucked. His erection surged. She squirmed to get closer, to get them closer to the next step. She wanted it all and she wanted it now.

He pulled back enough to kiss his way down her jaw. His open-mouthed kisses along her neck made her shiver. Liquid heat poured through her. She was already swollen and close enough to be desperate. She dug her fingers into his shoulders even as she pulled at the fabric of his shirt.