Falling for Love by Marie Force

kissed Stephanie’s chin, she giggled.
    Dexter, the cocker spaniel, nudged at her leg.
    “Oh, God, Grant. His ears!” This time when she looked up at him, her eyes were bright with tears. “Did someone do that to him?”
    When Grant lowered himself to the floor, Sam, a white ball of fur, scurried into his lap. “Janey isn’t sure how he lost his ears. He was like that when they found him.”
    Stephanie pressed her lips to Dexter’s snout. “Poor baby. I’m so sorry someone hurt you.”
    Touched by her compassion, Grant propped the flashlight to better illuminate the room.
    She reached out to pet Muttley, a black-and-brown mongrel who was missing his tail, and the dog shied away from her.
    Grant suddenly remembered Stephanie doing the same thing the day they met. They’d been standing outside the clinic where his father was being treated after the accident at the marina. She’d been upset about his father, and Grant had intended to comfort her. When his hand landed on her shoulder, she’d flinched. He’d forgotten about that until right now.
    After hearing that her mother used to beat her, at least he knew why. Imagining Stephanie as a helpless child being beaten by the mother who was supposed to care for her filled him with rage and made him want to personally ensure that no one ever hurt her again.
    “He thinks I’m going to hit him,” she said softly.
    “It takes him a while to warm up to new people.”
    Stephanie held out her hand, encouraging Muttley to approach her.
    The dog took a tentative step and then another.
    Stephanie stayed perfectly still, giving him all the time he needed to get comfortable with her.
    When Muttley finally nuzzled her outstretched hand, a victorious smile stretched across her face.
    Watching her pleasure at the small victory, Grant felt something inside him shift and open to make room for the possibility… Desperate to keep his thoughts where they belonged, he reached a hand out to Muttley. The dog zeroed in on the wound on his palm and licked the bandage that covered it. When Grant started to withdraw his hand, Stephanie stopped him.
    “Let him tend to you.” The heat of her hand on his arm burned through his thin T-shirt. “He’s showing you he trusts you not to hit him.”
    Moved by her understanding, Grant stared at her as she kept her attention on Muttley, stroking his back and ears.
    “Are you sure dog germs are good for the cut?” he asked.
    “His mouth is cleaner than yours.”
    “Um, I’ve seen where his mouth has been.”
    “If you could put your mouth where he can put his, you’d probably never leave the house.”
    Grant went instantly hard at the thought of her mouth in places he couldn’t reach. Why was it that his body responded so predictably to this feisty woman with the fresh mouth, but not all the hundreds—if not thousands—of other less prickly women he had known? “That’s a lovely visual. Thank you for that.” 
    Stephanie laughed at his haughty tone, and he thanked God for the murky darkness so she couldn’t see what her suggestive comment had done to him.
    “What’s his name again?” she asked, nodding to the German shepherd who stood at the periphery watching the others cuddle up to them.
    “That’s Riley. He’s the boss.”
    A three-legged cat sprinted from the corner and out the door.
    “Whoa,” Stephanie said, startled by the cat.
    “That’d be Trio,” Grant said.
    “What’s wrong with Riley?”
    “He’s missing his hind legs.”
    Stephanie whimpered. “I can’t imagine how anyone…”
    “I know.”
    She raised Sam, the blind fur ball, to her chest for a snuggle. “It’s good of your sister to take them in.”
    “She’s been taking in strays since she was a little kid.” Grant glanced at her black shirt. “Sam has you all covered in white hair.”
    Stephanie’s eyes were closed, her lips parted. “I don’t care.”
    Grant swallowed hard as another burst of lust hit him like a punch to the gut. “I