Her body was sated, but it was more than that with Maverick.
Here, in his arms, it was like nothing could hurt her, like she was alive, and for the first time in her life, she was free to be herself.
Her best friends would not logically understand this.
He had a baby that needed her, and it would be wonderful to be needed. She batted her eyes against the sunshine filtering in through the blinds, still held in Maverick's muscular arms.
Everything was perfect.
She tucked her body closer to his, and he squeezed her arm slightly, which meant he was awake.
She curled into his huge chest that had held her tight and asked, “If I told you I wanted to stay on your farm," she kept her voice breezy, "and, I don’t know, fall in love and live happily ever after with you and Carter, would you laugh in my face?”
His lips curved into a smile. The boyish grin of his made her pulse skip as he said, “No, I wouldn't laugh. I’m hoping you don’t drive off and leave me brokenhearted, Jess.”
She’d be a fool if she left. And there was one thing Jess and Catherine had in common, and that was they were both smart. A giggle escaped her lips as she caressed his strong arms. “Maverick, in my past, I’ve always been two people, but you’re the only one who really gets to see a part of me I generally hide.”
His gaze narrowed, his dark hair in contrast against the white pillow. “What part is that?”
He traced her arm and the top of the sheet that covered her breasts as she answered, “The calm me, who likes the quiet away from the glimmering lights of the city, who could live happily away from the world, raising a family.”
He laughed and squeezed her backside. “Jess, you make a great stew.”
Food. A small sense of pride swelled in her chest. Catherine would never, ever have used the slow cooker or a frying pan. Catherine had servants, but Maverick liked Jess, would he understand why she hadn't told him the truth? Jess would cook again. She hugged her pillow above her and stayed in Maverick’s arms, face to face. “Other than my adopted dad, who said I made the best macaroni and cheese, you’re the only guy I’ve cooked for.”
He didn’t move a muscle but his long lashes covered his alert brown eyes as he said, “I’ll definitely want to try that then. You keep on surprising me, Jess. But I’m confused, you said you hadn’t had a burger in a long time and when we first met I thought you were going to be difficult to feed.”
Neither person she was hid anything. Except Brock. Had that hit the news yet? She’d have to check, but right now she didn’t need to think about that jerk. Not when Maverick was so awesome and here, next to her. She shook her head. “I’m only difficult when I’m supposed to be. Before you, I usually ate dinner in a restaurant where my hands never touched the dough or chopped a vegetable.”
He sat up and looked down at her as she still laid there. “I have a chef, Jess. If you don’t want to cook for me, you don’t have to.”
“I have my own chefs at home too that specialize in different ethnic dishes I might want.” She hadn't meant that to sound like a complaint. She rose quickly, holding the sheet to cover her but cupped his cheek, which had morning whiskers that brought an electric charge that woke up every cell in her body. “But I like cooking too. I’ll add sloppy joe Friday to the schedule, between all that laundry you accumulate.”
“With Carter it became a lot more.”
“I don’t mind.”
He kissed her palm. “You’re my sweetheart, and if you’re staying, my new girlfriend.”
Jess had everything she could ever need in life, and it wasn't possible to more aware of him than she was already. He breathed and she was mesmerized by the play of muscle at his throat and bare chest. “Ah perfect. I will have to call my roommates and tell them I’m not moving back.”
She leaned forward to kiss him, but he squeezed on her hip and she glanced up at his questioning expression. “Will that be a problem for rent or something?”
Seriously, he had no idea that she was Catherine Morgan. The thought zipped around her brain and didn’t stop. She sighed--how to find a way to tell him? “No. We were just together to mentally support each other as single girls. I don’t want my radio silence to be construed that something bad has happened to me when the opposite is true. I now have a great boyfriend.”
His lips met hers and she forgot about everything else.
In his kiss, she was herself.
The kiss ended and he stood, completely naked and unselfconscious. His hard body had muscles in places she hadn’t even seen movie stars or rock stars sporting. It had to be from working the land. He held out his hand for her to join him while he said, “I’d like to help you get rid of this Brock problem.”
Unsure how to answer, her body buzzed with apprehension. She headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. Granted she hadn’t checked her phone, but she’d ignored those threats.
Maybe she should just tell Maverick, but how he'd mentioned her family name with Colt made her rethink that idea. It was best to find a better time than now. “That’s the other reason to call. Maybe there's nothing left to do and my brothers took care of everything.”
Her heart raced as she closed the door. Agreeing to stay at his farm as his real girlfriend hadn't been the plan. She needed to tell him about Catherine, explain the sex tape, and her family. She quickly got out of the shower and grabbed a robe. As she walked out, she smelled the coffee and eggs with bacon that he’d ordered.
And there was Maverick, in his gray sweatpants with no shirt and her insides quaked for him rather than the food.
The Morgans usually had freshly baked breads, often flown in from her birth mother’s favorite bakery in France. She sighed and decided to tell him and get it over with. Maybe it was just competition with Colt and not because he hated all things Morgan. It was time to fess up about being Catherine. She swallowed and opened her mouth, but then Maverick asked, “Would that mean you’re thinking your fancy other half might merge into my farm life, with me?”
Did he know about Catherine? Probably not. She hadn’t checked the news about her today, but it usually wasn’t true or nice. She walked into his arms and hugged him as she asked, “Are you asking me to reconsider staying with you?”
He massaged her back in a way professionals wouldn't dare. “I don’t want you anywhere else, Jess Taylor. You’re the only woman I want in my life.”
Nothing else mattered. She nodded and listened to his heart beat as she said, “Then yes. I want to stay on your farm and help out with Carter, not just as a temporary solution.”
His laughter rumbled her cheek. As he let her go, he winked and said, “You do great work.”
Fair, but laundry hadn’t grounded her. She took a bow like she was on stage. “I’m hanging up the laundry towel. We can hire a maid for once a week.”
He kissed her forehead. “Done. Hiring for a maid that does laundry is easier than hiring for Carter. And now I just want to see you happy.”
She glanced up at his chiseled jaw dark with scruff and her mouth watered for him. “Then kiss me and don’t stop.”
“Absolutely.” His lips crashed into hers.
She ran her hands through his short black hair and lost herself in his hard kiss that sent little tremors to her heart.
As the kiss ended, he tugged at the curls from yesterday's updo now down her back. “One more thing we should talk about?”
Maybe he knew and didn’t care she was Catherine Morgan. Her heart quieted as she asked, “What’s that?”
He reached for her robe ties and loosened them. “I’m signing a new contract with David this Friday and need to be in West Palm Beach. Would you like to come and then we can enjoy the boat show?”
Mmm. Her body warmed as he unwrapped her like she was a present. Heat rose inside her as she asked, “Are we sailing somewhere?”
He tugged his sweatpants down, revealing how hard and ready he was for her. “No, just watching from the Best Western Confe
rence Center.”
Jess Taylor slipped her shoulder from her robe. Confessions were for later. She brushed her palms against his muscles that trembled under her soft touch as she said, “Best Western… I’ve not been to one in years. Sure.”
He walked her backward toward the bed as he stripped her of her robe, leaving it on the blue carpet next to his sweatpants. “Have you traveled recently?”
“Last time I traveled, it was to Italy, but I stayed with friends.” Her heart raced as her body hummed for more of Maverick while she lowered her lashes. “I generally stay at exclusive resorts.”
Her legs brushed against the bed frame and she sank backward on the mattress. “So this room isn’t up to your standards?”
The carpet’s quality didn't matter. His warm breath near hers absolutely did. She sighed. “It’s better than my normal. You’re here.”
He tossed the bedspread to the ground, so it was just the two of them on the sheets, naked and eager. He stared at her breasts that ached for his touch. “Jess, what am I going to do with you? Merging our lives will be hard. I’ve not had time to just go to Italy and stay with friends. I was there last to buy a vineyard.”
“Work and pleasure can be combined. It’s good for you.” But she liked his hardness. She spread her legs and tugged him on her so his muscular body covered hers. Her lips pressed up against his neck and shoulders with light kisses. “And worth it, Maverick. At least I hope so.”
“Me too, Jess. Me too.”
Maverick was the man of her dreams and maybe, just maybe together they made sense. She was transplanted to another world from his every touch and she craved all of him.
Jess slipped on a pair of tailored black pants she’d bought for working in Peter's office, and a light blue silk blouse.
Maverick spoke to the valet, wearing jeans that shouldn’t be legal for a man to wear out in public.
The outlines of his muscles were supposed to be just for her pleasure.
She could tell that they were thin from working out in the sun where he’d wear them until they ripped and then might still keep them for a while. A woman learned things about a man when she did his laundry.
Jess stood behind him and hoped no one else noticed how wonderful of a man he was--she hated competition.
Well, Jess did. Catherine never believed a man was worth her time if he was stupid enough to find another woman attractive.
A black limo pulled to the front of the hotel and Maverick turned around in his sexy navy blue t-shirt and wrapped his arms around her.
Here she felt whole and forgot everything until the driver opened the door for them. Hopefully once she told him who she was, he didn’t hold whatever Colt did to him against her. Her heart thundered and for a second she didn’t move as she asked, “What exactly did Colt do to you a few months back?”
“Nothing in the end as I found a better buyer, but he made a last minute pitch that had my original buyers leaving.” He kissed her neck and ushered her inside.
“Glad it worked out.” Goosebumps grew on her arms. She needed to tell him who she was, but now she wasn’t sure how. Catherine might not be a welcome girlfriend to him. However, as Maverick nibbled on her neck in the back seat, she forgot everything else.
Already her body was full of steam and here, she wouldn't have an outlet. The partition was up between them and the driver but still…
They drove onto the highway and Maverick pulled back when his phone rang.
She sat up and straightened her hair as Maverick checked his screen and then asked with his eyebrows arched, “Would you mind if I worked a little? I need five minutes.”
Fair. Running a business wasn’t about the bedroom. And besides, she needed to catch up with her own life too. She nodded, took out her temporary phone and checked for a hotspot--as it turned out, the limo had WIFI. Perfect. She could read her emails as they drove. “No problem. I’ll read the news while you do.”
She opened her email and relaxed, curling her legs under her as she searched for her important emails.
That's when she noticed Valentina’s urgent email. She clicked and read fast, Catherine, you’re not answering your phone. We told your brother Mitch who was quite insistent on knowing your exact location.
Drat. Her back teeth grinded. Tess would have told him she was safe, so whatever happened was 100% to do with Brock and his attempt to blackmail her.
She closed her email and Googled her name, Catherine Morgan.
The newest news story was about five minutes ago.
Jess glanced at Maverick, hoping he didn't know about her or that sex tape. Her heart raced.
Maverick put his phone down and placed his hand on hers. “Anything wrong?”
If the updated news was about her and Maverick then she needed to confess right now. Her fingers pulsated with the urge to check the story fast, but she swallowed and squeezed his palm. “When we get back to the house, I’ll need five minutes to call my brother.”
“About Brock?” He motioned toward the phone in her hand. “You can call him now.”
Only if she told him that she was Catherine. Her lips pressed together as she stared into his brown hues. Every cell wanted to trust that he’d be there for her, but she couldn't. He had some history with Colt that might ruin everything. “I want to wait until I’m alone.”
His gaze narrowed. “Why?”
Again her heart raced. She wasn’t sure how to answer, but she licked her lips and said, “My family is, well, my family. I might need to ask my sister what I should do first.”
His phone rang. The limo took the turn off the highway and toward the farm. Maverick checked his screen and said, “Give me two more minutes.”
She nodded and settled back in her seat, checking the latest story. The headline read, Where is Catherine Morgan? The sex tape has sent her into hiding, but we’ll be back when we have breaking news.
She let out a huge sigh of relief. No one knew where Catherine was. No one knew about Maverick or last night’s date at the cotillion.
First they needed to have a conversation about Colt and Maverick’s feelings toward her family. Then she’d tell him how Jess was also Catherine. She lowered her screen. Maverick asked, “Sex tape?”
She picked up her phone and turned it off, ignoring the heat in her cheeks. She shook her head and said, “It was just a news story.”
He put his phone down on the side panel. “The Morgans aren’t a story you should be following anyhow. There is nothing but trouble with that family.”
The heat wasn’t just in her face now. Her neck was hot. Surely she must be blushing as she asked, “What do you know about them? You said you had some history with Colt?”
He settled into his seat and traced her arm. “I don’t know much about the family other than whatever farm hands are talking about. I think there is some airhead Catherine you must look like as I was reminded on the fields about how she ruined a Christmas tree at some dinner for orphans.”
A chuckle escaped her lips from the memory and she shook her head. “That was like two years ago and she tripped over her hem.”
“Like I said, I don’t know much.” He shrugged. “As for Colt Collins he almost stole my deal, but the old man Mitch Morgan… now, he caused my parents a lot of problems. David and Callie had me so angry at that man as they blamed him for my dad’s heart attack, calling it caused by stress.”
“Your father’s death? I’m so sorry.”
“It was grief talking. And besides Mitch Morgan died pretty much right after. So who knows, maybe my father decided in heaven to take that man down.”
Her father was something else. But he wasn’t here or a problem anymore. Colt might be. He was married to her half-sister, Victoria. And their father was none other than Mitch Morgan. Her bank account was probably fuller because of whatever had happened many years ago. “And Colt Collins?”
“That one I know personally.” Maverick massaged her neck and back as he said, “Colt bought multiple c
ompanies that had contracts with our farms in an effort to lower our produce prices--so low it would have bankrupted us. Bob caught wind of the set up and we used our international contacts to find new avenues which actually increased our bottom line.”
Her entire neck was tight and the massage didn't help. She said in a higher-pitched tone than normal, “I didn’t know Colt Collins had tried to take out any farming competitors. He always seemed... stable.”
Outside the windows the suburbs floated away and more country began. The wired fences around the orange trees told her she was far away from anyone who knew her as Catherine. Maverick said, “Well he had the help of the Morgan banks, and Peter, Mitch and the others he’s all related too absolutely know all about driving competition and getting stocks higher.”
“I see.” She pursed her lips. How could she bring up that she was Catherine now? He thought her family had tried to stop his business.
There was no way he’d understand that she was one of the Morgans, an accountant set to work at the banks that had tried to ruin his heritage. The fact she hadn’t started that job didn’t matter. All Maverick would see was her last name.
Maverick continued the massage on her back. “I can’t imagine a daughter who has a sex tape is anything better.”
“What sex tape?” Her stomach tightened. Maverick knew about Catherine.
“Don’t celebrities all eventually have one?”
“Do they?”
“I know what I’m told and that’s about it.”
She’d be sick if she didn’t figure out what to do. Her heart thundered in her chest as she said, “It strikes close to home for me.”
Maverick stopped touching her back. She turned toward him, wondering if he'd figured her out, but then he asked, “Why? Do you think the guy in a tape is blackmailing her or something?”
He'd hit the truth. She hugged her waist as she asked, “What if he is?”
He shrugged. “Don’t personalize celebrity troubles. I’m sure even a sex tape can be ammunition the Morgans will use to destroy some business out there and make a profit.”
“I don’t see how a sex tape can be beneficial to business.”
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