return my loyalty, then I want no part of it.”
“Same goes for me,” Jessica quickly affirmed. “I hated playing the fool.”
“There, you see? Despite our conflicts we have something in common. We both got tripped up once in our search for the real thing. And, Jessica, about that—” Devlin slammed his mouth shut and nearly clipped off his tongue. He had promised himself that he wasn’t going to bring up that kiss, which had an impact equivalent to the detonation of a heat-seeking missile. “About that list of which animals get what,” he finished.
She handed the list to him, and he breathed a thankful sigh that he hadn’t crammed both feet in his mouth.
“If you want an umbrella, there’s one on the back porch,” Jessica informed him.
“Naw, I can’t imagine how I could get wetter than I already am,” he said as he made a beeline for the back door.
JESSICA SCRUNCHED sideways on the couch, then winced when agonizing pain shot up her leg. This twisted ankle was going to be a major inconvenience.
And speaking of inconvenience, that kiss had hit her with the force of a nuclear bomb—which was very untimely, because she had vowed not to let herself become interested in a man for at least half a decade. Time enough to learn to control her defensive mechanisms, which locked into place when she found herself the slightest bit attracted to a man. Plus, she didn’t have time to devote to a meaningful relationship or to get to know a man. The accounting business was hectic several months of the year. And there were always chores and repairs that needed her attention on the farm. When could she possibly fit in time for a man?
Better yet, Porter, answer this question. Despite all your excuses, how are you going to ignore the effects that impromptu kiss had on you? Hmm? Devlin Callahan may be quick-tempered, stubborn and opinionated, but he blew your mind with that searing kiss. Wanna deny it? Go ahead, turn yourself into a pathological liar. Then try to tell yourself that you haven’t learned more about Devlin Callahan in a week than you knew about that devious, underhanded baseball jock after six months.
“Okay, so Dev is nothing like Rex,” she admitted to herself. “Yes, he’s drop-dead handsome, but he also has substance.”
Indeed he did, Jessica acknowledged. Although Devlin could be mischievous, he was honest, sincere and hardworking, and he had dealt with humiliation and rejection and survived a broken heart. He was also reliable. Why, at this moment he was outside feeding the animals he wanted packed up and gone. He was willing to do the chores Jessica was physically unable to do. That said something about his personality and character, something Jessica couldn’t ignore and greatly admired.
Yet there was still a niggling little voice inside her that warned her to be cautious. Despite what Devlin said, he might very well be charming her into relocating her sanctuary. At present, she suspected he was operating on guilt because he held himself personally accountable for her twisted ankle.
Did she dare let her guard down completely and retest her reaction to his mind-boggling kiss?
After several minutes of concentrated deliberation Jessica decided to give Devlin the benefit of the doubt. She wouldn’t purposely antagonize him to protect herself. She’d stick her neck out a bit, test the waters, let him get to know the real Jessica Porter.
Yeah, she could do that, ease from her protective shell an inch at a time. Besides, she kinda liked the way he fussed over her, tended to her while she was injured. It had been a long time—as in never—since Jessica had felt protected, cared about. Though it might feel awkward and unnatural for her, she would allow Devlin to help her in her time of need. She would be gracious and appreciative—without constantly probing for hidden motives.
Smiling, Jessica snuggled beneath the quilt and closed her eyes to catch a few z’s. Devlin was here, and he was taking care of things. She could relax for a few minutes and catch up on lost sleep.
WITH A BUCKET of feed in each hand, Devlin hiked toward the first of dozens of pens and cages that sat a hundred yards from the house. The rain had let up, but lightning still flickered in the distance, indicating the drought-breaking storm approaching from the northwest had yet to vent its full fury. Devlin drew in a deep breath of rain-scented air and sent a prayer heavenward, thanking the man upstairs for the relief needed to bring life back to the pasture grasses and provide the needed moisture for planting crops. Mother Nature hadn’t been kind to farmers and ranchers the past two years. It had been a struggle to provide forage for his livestock….
His thoughts trailed off and he halted abruptly when a growl erupted from the shadowy cage in front of him. Devlin stared uneasily at the brown bear that paced its narrow confines. Then Devlin noticed the animal was missing the bottom half of a front leg. The crippled bear sniffed the air, testing Devlin’s scent, then growled threateningly.
“Okay, buddy, so I don’t smell like Jess, but I’m bringing the grub tonight, so don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Cautiously, Devlin opened the trap door to fill the food tray. The bear, which Jess had named Winnie the Pooh, stared him down for a full minute before hobbling over to sample the vittles.
Devlin repeated the process at the second bear cage, noting that the animal called Teddy had a handicap like Winnie’s. On and on he went, making the rounds, feeding the lame and declawed animals Jessica had taken in. There were four battered cougars, three hobbling wolves, two foxes, a couple of bobcats, two jungle cats that stared at Devlin as if he was their meal of choice, three unusual-looking raccoons, an assortment of peacocks, a boar and a couple of species Devlin didn’t recognize. That wasn’t counting the aviary cage, which was built around dwarf apple trees and housed a slew of exotic birds.
As he made the rounds with Mother Goose at his heels, Devlin wondered what compelled Jessica to care for these animals. He understood why they couldn’t be returned to the wilds. Each animal had an imperfection that made it difficult to protect itself from predators or hunt for its own food.
Devlin was thoroughly annoyed with himself for not gathering all the facts about this unusual zoo before he’d gone off half-cocked and confronted Jessica. Maybe this zoo wasn’t his thing, but he respected Jessica’s efforts to care for and protect these animals.
Devlin was feeling exceptionally sympathetic toward the exotics until a llama strode past him, halted, then spit in his face. “Ungrateful jerk,” he muttered as he wiped his cheek on his shirtsleeve. “Expect to have your kibble poisoned tomorrow, pal.”
When thunder clamored and raindrops pattered against the leaves of the overhanging trees, Devlin sprinted to the barn to drop off the feed buckets, scattered seed for Mother Goose, then hightailed it to the house. Lightning popped and crackled as he leaped onto the back porch.
Devlin had spent enough years on horseback and on tractors, studying the weather, to know when a full-fledged thunderstorm was about to break loose. This, he predicted, was going to be a real toad strangler. His ranch was likely to go from drought to flood in the course of one night.
The instant he stepped into the kitchen his stomach growled, reminding him that it was long past suppertime. He veered toward the refrigerator to see what he could scrape together. To his amusement and distaste, he discovered the freezing unit was jam-packed with frozen dinners.
Devlin remembered those years when he and Derrick had burned out on packaged meals. They had made a pact several years ago to take turns cooking Monday through Thursday so they didn’t have to eat out constantly.
Devlin poked his head in the fridge to find a dozen eggs, bread, cheese
