tousled from sleep. Heat swirled through the pit of her stomach. How could he look so decadently sexy at such an early hour?
More of a gift than a curse so far, a voice whispered in the back of her mind.
She grabbed the mug of coffee he handed her and leaned against the counter to nibble her toast.
“How did you sleep?” Kir asked, his gaze skimming down her cream cable-knit sweater and casual slacks like a physical caress.
She battled back a girlish urge to blush as she swallowed the last of her toast and took a sip of coffee. “King snores.”
He chuckled, moving until she could feel the heat of his body. “I don’t.”
She tilted back her head, meeting his teasing smile. “And you’re telling me this because . . . ?”
“Future reference.”
“Good to know.”
He stepped even closer, his hand against brushing her hip. “I do, however, steal the covers.”
Tingles of pleasure shot through her. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“It doesn’t?”
“You seem like the kind of guy who knows what he wants and goes after it.”
His hand skimmed over her hip to the lower curve of her back. “I’m determined.”
“Stubborn,” she corrected.
“I’m also a realist.”
She instinctively arched forward, allowing herself to press against the rock-hard strength of his body. “What’s that mean?”
An aching regret darkened his eyes. “It took me years, but I finally accepted that I can’t change others. No matter how much I might want to.” He paused. “You have to decide I’m worth the risk.”
Her mouth was as dry as the desert. Kir was barely touching her but there was a connection between them that was frighteningly intimate.
Instinctively, she took a step back, breaking his light hold. “I’m too boring to take risks.”
He blinked, as if she’d just said something outrageous. “Are you kidding?”
“No.”
“Lynne, you have bumps and bruises all over you, not to mention at least one bite mark I can see.” He pointedly glanced down at her hand that was healing after her battle with a terrified Yorkie. “You drive through blizzards and work insane hours. Your entire life is a risk.”
“Not my heart.”
“Ah.” His hand lifted as if he was going to pull her back toward him. Then, with a grimace, he allowed it to drop back at his side. “What are you afraid of?”
“I don’t know.” The words weren’t an answer, but they were sincere. She briskly moved to grab her jacket, which she’d hung over the back of a chair. “I need to get to the clinic. What are you going to do today?”
Kir folded his arms over his chest, leaning against the dining table. “I thought I might take King on a walk.”
Lynne moved to pat the head of the mastiff, who had finished his breakfast and was snoozing by the back door.
“Not too far. His paws will freeze in this frigid weather.”
“He’ll be fine.” Kir smiled at the dog. “Won’t you, boy?”
King barked in agreement.
Lynne rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse and medical bag she’d left on the counter. “If I’m not home for dinner, you can find some stuff in the freezer.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Without warning Kir moved to frame her face in his hands, then he pressed a fierce kiss against her lips. “You stay safe.”
He released her before she knew what was happening, and Lynne rushed out of the kitchen and through the living room. Moments later she was seated in her truck, allowing the engine to warm. What was wrong with her? Her heart was racing fast enough to make her lightheaded, and her lips were tingling from his kiss. As if she was a giddy teenager.
Hadn’t she learned her lesson with Nash? The words, however, were hollow. Kir was nothing at all like Nash. And her increasing fascination was just the opposite of what’d happened with the men she’d dated in the past. Usually, the closer she got to them, the more she wanted to bail from the relationship. With Kir, the more time she spent with him, the more she respected and liked him.
Muttering at her ridiculous thoughts, she put the truck in reverse and backed out of the drive. Thankfully, Kir had parked across the street so she didn’t have to worry about his vehicle blocking her. And the snow had stopped on her way home from the sanctuary, so she didn’t have to clean the windows.
But as she put the engine in drive, Lynne frowned.
Something felt weird.
She allowed the truck to roll forward, trying to pinpoint the source of her unease.