by Karen Kelley
“There have been reports of someone setting off dynamite in other areas within a fifty mile radius from where we were. He doesn’t seem to think it was intentional. Just some idiot wanting to blow up shit. He sent a couple of officers to investigate the area.”
I released a sigh of relief. I didn’t want to think that Eric had anything to do with it. I disliked the man immensely, but I didn’t want him to be a criminal. Sam said I was too nice. I didn’t think so. If he was some way involved I’d make sure he was prosecuted and sent to prison for a very long time. He had fooled me once, but I wouldn’t let him fool me again.
“I would’ve bet my last dollar Eric was involved,” Sam said.
We decided to eat a quick bite, then go look at the properties he’d found. Nash said he would drive since he knew the area better. Sam hurried to get in the back seat. Really? Was she trying to play matchmaker now? Paybacks could be hell.
On second thought, she might be paying me back for the time I set her up. I’d definitely blindsided her, and she hadn’t been happy. Sam said she owed me big time. I agreed that I should’ve checked the guy out a little better. It was just so hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys nowadays. Rick said he owned a collection agency. How the hell was I supposed to know he was a burglar? Maybe I had a penchant for choosing criminals.
I cast a sideways glance at Nash, then mentally shook my head. He wasn’t a criminal. At least, I didn’t think so.
But if Sam was trying her hand at matchmaking, it wouldn’t work. I had definitely sworn off dating for now. When I glanced over my shoulder, she only smiled innocently. I didn’t buy it. Not for one second.
The first property we looked at was a little too far from town, so we didn’t even get out. The next one was perfect. It was only a five minute drive to town, close enough that people wouldn’t mind driving out.
I was the visionary. I could see our store nestled amongst the trees. We shouldn’t even have to take any down to build a store or the parking lot. It would blend in with nature.
As soon as Nash pulled to a stop, I unfastened my seatbelt and got out. “How much land is there?”
“Five acres. It’s pricey, though. The real estate agent thought this would be the best one for you. She did say the seller was motivated. He’s liquidating all of his holdings and moving to Florida. He told her that he was tired of the cold Colorado winters.”
I looked at Sam “I like it. I like it a lot.” I turned to Nash. “What about utilities? How difficult will it be to get them put in?”
“That’s the beauty of it. The owner has a house on the land. The utility companies would only need to run it beyond his house, not all the way from town. That’ll save you some money. There’s only one problem.”
I felt as if my heart dropped to my feet. Sam would crunch the numbers and make sure everything was in order, but for me, I went with my gut feeling. This property felt right. Our other stores were doing exceedingly well because we’d chosen good locations. They’d all felt right.
“What?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“It goes on the market tomorrow. You’ll have to act fast and make a competitive offer if you really want it.”
I walked up the small hill and scanned the area. I could see a log house in the distance. It would be great for a general manager. There were trees, but not so many that it was congested.
“Do you want to see more?” Sam asked as she came up to stand beside me.
I shook my head. “I don’t have to. This is the one.” I’d always made quick decisions, and they usually panned out. I frowned. Except with Eric. That had been a really bad decision. So maybe I wasn’t as lucky with men.
We went into town and met with the realtor. She seemed quite excited that we were thinking about putting in a business. She gave Sam all the numbers that she would need to make sure it would be a viable piece of land for us. Sam told her we would look over everything tonight and let her know something tomorrow.
We climbed back into Nash’s vehicle and he took us around the town, pointing out historical buildings and local hangouts. As the sun was starting to go down, he took us to one of the local restaurants for dinner. As I got out, I happened to turn and look at Sam, except my gaze moved to somewhere behind her. Before I could get much more than a glimpse, the man stepped inside the store.
Sam looked behind her. “What is it? What did you see?”
“It was nothing. My eyes are just playing tricks on me.” I suddenly smiled. “I’m starved, and I plan on ordering the thickest steak they have.” But as we went inside, I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder one more time. No one was there. Had I really seen Eric? No, it couldn’t have been him. Still, the strange sensation didn’t leave me all through dinner.
Chapter 20
Nash
Sometimes being inside my own home made me feel as if I was suffocating. That’s why I loved sitting on the back porch. I felt as if I could breathe again. I took a drink of my beer and pushed against the floor with the toe of my boot, setting my rocker into motion. Ryder was the one who convinced me to go with the wrap around porch. My brother knew me well. I’d never been able to stay cooped up inside for long.
The sun had gone down a long time ago, and there was a chill in the air. I’d slipped on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, then grabbed my black hoodie. Makenna and Sam were still up. The bedroom door had been closed when I walked past, but the light was on. I assumed they were still crunching numbers. I hadn’t been able to sleep, so I went downstairs, grabbed a beer, and went outside.
There was a clean fresh scent in the air. I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. Pine trees and the scent of logs burning in my fireplace wafted around me.
I hadn’t thought everything through when I invited Sam to stay at my home rather than the hotel. I’d just wanted to give Makenna a reason to stay. I’d been desperate. Until dynamite man was caught, we couldn’t be sure if it was intentional or not. I guess keeping Makenna at arms-length so I would know she was safe was worth the price of having to take cold showers.
I put my foot down, stopping the rocking motion of my chair when the back door opened. I was sitting in darkness so Makenna didn’t see me as she walked to the rail. She wore some kind of red night shirt that reached just above her knees and fuzzy red slippers on her feet. At least she’d slipped on a jacket. I had a feeling she was naked underneath her sleep shirt.
That thought did nothing to control the heat that had been building inside me. Dammit, I couldn’t help it. She had become an addiction for me. Every time she was around, my brain stopped working.
She turned, leaning against the post. Her night shirt hiked up ever so slightly. She had the sexiest damn legs.
It must have taken her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the darkness. When she realized she wasn’t the only one out here, she gasped and quickly straightened.
“It’s just me, Makenna,” I said.
She placed her hand over her heart. I could almost hear it thudding with fear, then slowing to a normal pace.
“Dammit, you could’ve said something! You scared the hell out of me,” she said.
I grinned. “I did say something.”
She raised her chin. I could feel her haughty indignation sweeping over me. “I didn’t mean to intrude.” She started to go back inside.
“Don’t go.”
“Why?”
“Do you need a reason?”
Her hesitation was brief, but she turned back leaning against the post and half sitting on the railing. “I’m only staying because I love being outdoors,” she finally said. “If I’m inside too long, I feel as if I’m in a box that’s getting smaller and smaller.”
“No matter how big the box is,” I added.
“Exactly.”
Our eyes locked. She looked away first, her gaze going to the backyard. “Did you do the landscaping?”
I pulled my gaze away from her. I was proud of what I‘d created. Up lights shined o
n the different variety of trees. Solar lights dotted the flagstone walkway. If you walked down the path, you would come to a bench that looked out over the countryside. I’d put the bench there for my parents. They loved sitting and talking. Occasionally, animals would cross their line of vision.
I turned my attention back to Makenna. “I did the landscaping. Believe it or not, it’s very low maintenance. If I’m going to be gone for any length of time, I have someone come in and take care of the yard.”
We were enveloped in silence. Then she sighed deeply.
“Do you have a large family?” she asked.
I heard the longing in her voice. This morning she mentioned an aunt, but no one else. I couldn’t imagine growing up without my boisterous brothers or deeply loving parents. She must’ve been pretty lonely.
I took a deep breath. “Jaxson is the oldest, and the first one to get married.”
“The writer?”
“Yes. Then Ryder, me, and last is Layne.
“Ryder is the machine-gun doorbell guy.”
I grinned. “Yeah, that would be him. Layne is the baby of the family. He’s a paramedic/firefighter. When my parents retired, they turned over the coffee shops to us. Now they travel a lot. In fact, they just returned from a European cruise.”
“What about cousins? Do you have a lot of them?”
I laughed. “More than I care to count. My father has three brothers and two sisters. On my mother’s side, she has four sisters and two brothers. They all have children. When we gather for a family reunion, it looks like a small town.”
“You’re lucky.”
“I’ve always thought so. I love my family.” I came to my feet, walking toward her.
She stood, tugging at her nightshirt. Like a skittish young fawn, she gauged the distance to the door. Then her stubborn streak showed and she tilted her head.
“I’m going to bed,” she stated imperiously.
“No, you’re not. But I’ll tell you what’s going to happen. I’m going to run my fingers down the side of your face right before I pull you into my arms. Then I’m going to kiss you, because I’ve wanted to kiss you all day.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to kiss me.”
“Then run away. Open the back door and hurry up the stairs. Go down the hall and slip into your bedroom. Then crawl into the safety of your bed.” I stopped in front of her.
“I... I...”
I shook my head as I ran my fingers over her cheek. “Too late, baby.” I murmured.
Chapter 21
Makenna
His lips were warm against mine. I couldn’t have moved away even if I’d wanted to—and right now, I didn’t. He slipped his hands beneath my nightshirt and cupped my naked butt, drawing me closer. And when he deepened the kiss, it was as if he was reaching all the way down to my soul and stirring a need inside me.
I’d been fighting my attraction to Nash since the moment I laid eyes on him. I vowed to stay away from men, at least for a while, until I could get my head screwed on straight.
Who the hell makes a vow like that? It was crazy stupid, and my gut told me this was right.
I curled my fingers around the back of his head, pulling him closer, letting him know I wanted him as much as he wanted me. Something close to a growl came from him.
He moved his hand around to the front, between my legs, stroking me. My body began to tremble from head to feet. I closed my eyes. God yes, this felt so fucking good.
He began to back up, moving closer to the wall. “It’s too cool out here.”
Maybe it was because we were surrounded in darkness, I didn’t know for sure, but I was afraid that if we moved from the porch the spell would be broken. I didn’t want to stop. I took a step away from him. He groaned with disappointment.
“I like the temperature,” I said as I kicked off my shoes and slipped out of my jacket, letting it fall to the floor. I reached for the hem of my nightshirt and pulled it over my head. I was completely naked. Goosebumps popped up all over my body. “Make me feel warm again,” I told him.
That was all the encouragement he needed. He flung his hoodie away from him, then practically tore off his t-shirt. I watched unabashedly. He toed off his shoes, his socks were next. I was growing damp with need by the time he pushed the metal button through the buttonhole of his jeans and slid his zipper down.
They say anticipation can kill you. Right now, I believed it. He shoved out of his jeans and his briefs at the same time, then kicked them away. I didn’t move, hell, I didn’t even think I was breathing as I took in all of him. The sinewy muscles, the six pack abs, his thick cock.
My gaze drifted over him, then slowly returned until I met his gaze once more. “Naked looks really good on you, too,” I said and stepped closer, until our bodies were pressed against each other. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been intimate.”
“I’ll be gentle,” he said.
I laughed. “I won’t. I want you to fuck me fast, and I want you to fuck me hard.”
“It’s always a challenge with you, isn’t it?”
“Always.” I pushed lightly on his shoulders until the back of his knees bumped the bench behind him. He sat with a hard slap to his bare ass. I straddled him, pushing my pussy against his cock, then rubbing against him. I gasped and closed my eyes. “Oh my God, yes. This feels so fucking good,” I said close to his ear.
He pulled me in tighter, his hands on my ass. “That’s it, right there,” he said. He brought one hand up, squeezing my breast, tugging on the nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger.
Quivers of need rippled over me. “More, I need more.”
“Hang on,” he told me.
I tightened my arms around his neck. He leaned forward, grabbing his jeans, then searched through each pocket.
“Fuck,” he exclaimed, throwing his jeans down and grabbing his hoodie. He searched through the pockets until he pulled out a condom.
I laughed. I couldn’t help it.
He glared at me as he ripped across the foil with his teeth, then spit it out. “Not funny.”
“Absolutely not,” I solemnly told him.
He quickly rolled it on, then raised me up, and slowly brought me down, impaling me on him. All laughter ceased. I only wanted to feel him entering me. The man was huge and thick. I leaned forward and ran my tongue down the side of his neck. I needed to taste him.
He drew in a deep breath.
When I had taken all of him, he paused, letting me adjust to his size.
“Yes, I like that,” I whispered, then wiggled against him.
“Wrap your legs around my waist.”
I did as he asked.
When he stood. I hugged him tight around the neck. I shouldn’t have worried that he would drop me. He pulled me in nearer, holding me close, but keeping us locked together. I’d had sex before, but never like this. Not when I felt as if every part of my body was engaged. It was exquisite. It was torture. I wanted more.
He moved inside me, taking me to the edge, then slowly brought me back, only to repeat everything again.
Our breathing grew ragged. I moved against him. He grit his teeth. I leaned closer, running my tongue across his chest. It was his undoing. He began to pump faster inside me. I tightened my inner muscles. He groaned.
He grabbed my hips, moving in, then out. Harder. Faster. I closed my eyes and let myself be enveloped in his erotic world where the only thing that mattered was an earth shattering climax. Reaching for the stars and holding on when you grabbed one.
Then not thinking at all.
Only feeling.
My body began to quiver as my orgasm shook me to the very core of my being. This was what I’d been waiting for all my life. I just hadn’t known it until now.
Nash stiffened and groaned.
I opened my eyes and watched him come. If a man could be described as beautiful, then that was how he looked to me right at this moment. Wild, primitive, raw with emotion. I’d never seen a
man in the throes of passion. The lights were always off. What a fucking waste.
I’d never made love outside either. Another first. Definitely not the last time, though. Other than my vibrator, this had been the best sex I’d ever had. Actually, it was even better than my vibrator.
Nash opened his eyes and looked at me. He smiled. I returned it.
A breeze rippled over me. I shivered.
“Let’s go inside before we both freeze to death, although this would be a hell of a way to die.” He lifted me and set my feet on the porch. Before he completely released me, he pulled me into his arms for a long kiss.
When the kiss ended, I sighed. “I don’t think I’m as cold as I was a moment ago.”
He shook his head. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
He grabbed his clothes. I did the same and we hurried to the door, not bothering to put them on until we were inside. We were giggling like school kids as we hurried into the warmth of the house.
I quickly put my fingers to my lips. “Shh, I don’t want to wake Sam. Just this morning, I told her I’d sworn off men. She’d never let me live this down.”
He turned to shut the door and lock it.
“Live what down,” Sam asked as she came from the kitchen with a pint of ice cream and a spoon.
She looked at the two of us, taking in the fact that I was holding my clothes in front of me. Nash quickly turned, shielding his front.
“I had a sweet tooth, so I raided your freezer. It looks as if y’all couldn’t sleep either,” she drawled as she started up the stairs, never missing a step. “Nice ass, Nash.”
Well, hell. I looked at Nash and shrugged. “She’s right.”
His grin was slow and sexy. “I told you I had a nice ass.”
I punched him on the arm. “No, not that. She’s never going to let me live this down.” I glanced behind him. “And okay, you do have a really nice ass.”
“You think so?” he grinned.
I rolled my eyes heavenward. I had a feeling there was going to be no living with the guy now.
But he did have a nice ass.