At the Tycoon's Command by Shawna Delacourt Page A

she could say anything.
    Kim stood motionless as she thought about her options. Just when she was prepared to do battle with him over her dog-feeding assignment he had done an about-face in his attitude and stepped in front of her, blocking Terry’s verbal attack…both figuratively and literally. She was still a little flustered about Jared’s confrontation with Terry and confused by the way he seemed to have protected her. There was also the sharp edge to his voice when he made it clearto her that Terry was his half brother. It was the last thing she ever would have anticipated, especially from a member of the Stevens family.
    A warm feeling settled inside her as she replayed his words in her mind. He hadn’t embarrassed her by saying she was working off her father’s debt, he had simply told Terry that her presence was none of his business.
    Uncertainty darted through her. Jared Stevens had a very disconcerting affect on her, one that left her apprehensive about his motives and at the same time excited every time he came near her. Just the sound of his voice sent excitement coursing through her. She stared at the door where he had disappeared as she tried to figure out what to do.
    She could ignore what he had said about feeding the dog, but to do that seemed rather petty. A three-generations-old family feud was certainly not the dog’s fault. She emitted a little sigh of resignation. She would try to sort it out after she got home. But for now… She opened the cupboard he had indicated, took out the bag of dry food and set it on the counter. When she stooped to pick up the dog bowls she caught sight of something so ludicrous it took her completely by surprise.
    There, in the middle of the back door, was the largest doggy door she had ever seen. It was big enough for a good-size man to crawl through, allowing any stranger access to the house. The absurdity of it tickled her to the point where she couldn’t restrain her laughter.
    Jared reached the top of the stairs, bottle of wine in hand, as her laughter reached his ears. The sound surprised him and at the same time captivated his senses. It was the same laugh he had heard earlier that day but had not witnessed—a disarming laugh that sent little ripples of excitement through him. A moment later he saw that her smile was equally enchanting. A tightness pulled across his chest, andhis pulse raced a little quicker, the same physical reaction that assailed his senses every time he was close to her.
    He wasn’t sure why he had insisted she stay and have dinner with him. It was the same type of impetuous decision that had led him to make her the offer of working off her father’s debt. Something about her made him want to keep her close. Was it a mistake? Would he eventually regret it? Probably, but that was an intellectual concern, and he seemed to be acting on pure emotion, first his libido and then something he couldn’t identify, something that told him he liked having her around and wanted to get to know her better.
    He entered the utility room. “What’s so funny?”
    She spun around, her eyes momentarily wide with surprise and her cheeks showing the crimson blush of embarrassment. “You startled me. I didn’t hear you come back.”
    He offered her a sincere smile, one that held neither deceit nor subterfuge. “With all that laughter going on I think a truck could have rattled through here without you hearing it.”
    â€œIt’s, uh…” She suppressed another giggle as she gestured toward the dog door. “It doesn’t matter what kind of a security system you have for your house, that dog door is large enough for any burglar to fit through.”
    He chuckled as he shook his head in amusement. “Well…I sort of assumed that anyone thinking about breaking in would decide an animal requiring that big an entrance was one they wouldn’t want to encounter.”
    She