“I must go.”
She groaned as he stood up. “All right.”
“Are you hurting? Stupid question. What I meant was, did I hurt you? Do you need your painkillers, a glass of water, anything?”
She shook her head. “No, you didn’t hurt me. Just the opposite. And I’m fine.”
Jimmy backed away from the bed, never once removing his gaze from hers.
“Call me if you need me.”
She smiled. She already needed him, but that wasn’t what he meant. “I will. Good night.”
He nodded and slipped out through the patio door. His footsteps receded as he returned to the office. Was he going to work on the accounts or just lock up? When the lights remained on, she knew he was working. She roused herself, washed up and got ready for bed.
Jimmy paced the office until his desire subsided. Such a simple kiss, and yet it left him so aroused that it took quite a while before he could sit and even attempt to concentrate on the accounts. Finally, he booted up the computer and opened the accounting program. He double-checked the receipt for the last one showing as entered and continued on from there. When next he glanced at his watch, it was past midnight. Time for bed.
Problem was, he wasn’t tired.
He sifted through the next month of receipts and kept working. Brian would bring this week’s payroll information to him on Monday morning. He hoped to be caught up by then, but life seemed to continually conspire against him. At least he had a few months’ worth of deductions sorted out. He hadn’t hit the men with them all at once. Most of the wranglers had families to care for and needed every cent they made. Still, he’d included a brief note with that first paycheck explaining the need to catch up on deductions before year-end. It was either that or they’d have to pay them all at once at tax time—never a good plan.
At two o’clock in the morning, he called a halt, backed up the files, and shut down the computer. He stood and stretched, walked over to lock the main door and turn off the lights, then followed the shimmery glow of courtyard lighting to find his way out, locking the patio doors behind him. A brief walk on such a balmy night seemed preferable to lying awake, so he started down the path toward the gazebo.
He knew better than to work at night. It always got him too keyed up and it took a while to wind down and release the work from his mind. Otherwise, he’d lie awake and think of all he had yet to do, like another month and a half of sales and expenses. And payroll.
He entered the gazebo and glanced around. It had been built on a grand scale with enough room to fit a table and chairs in the center, if so inclined, but he had other plans. He planned to build Melissa a two-seater garden swing. It would fit the gazebo perfectly and be easy to move if the space was needed for other things. He lay down on the bench seating, his hands behind his head, and stared at the stars hovering overhead.
One of his binders still held the plans for some swings he’d made during college. He smiled in remembrance. He’d made a fair profit from the sale of them too. Parents who’d come to pick up their children for long weekends and holidays bought them faster than he could make them. Quite often, he had orders in advance of production. Those were the days.
He’d never been one to socialize much, preferring to study in the evenings and work weekends instead of wasting money partying, especially after his engagement ended. Always in the forefront of his mind, he kept his dream of owning a ranch. It focused him and kept him sane. He’d envied his classmates their families. Parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, familial love. It had dragged him down when he thought on it too hard, so he’d kept busy—kept the thoughts at bay.
But now he was thinking of family again. He envisioned Melissa big with child, his child. His arms ached to hold an infant of his own, something he’d long since denied. His feelings for Melissa were the real thing. Of that, he had no doubt. He’d fallen head over heels for the feisty, blonde beauty, and therein lay his dilemma.
She already had it all—family, property, wealth. What did she need him for, other than the obvious? Jimmy knew she wanted him—physically. But she was quick to put him in his place with a minimum of words. And with his background, if they ever did get together, she’d probably think him nothing more than a gold-digger. No, he’d best keep his libido in check and keep his feelings to himself. The sooner he found a ranch of his own, the better.
Maybe he should contact his lawyer and find out how the sale of the firm was proceeding. And he needed to contact a real estate agent. He loved it here on the ranch, but it wasn’t his and never would be. Of course, he wouldn’t actually move until Melissa was feeling better. It felt good to be needed. That he could easily admit, but his attraction to his employer was a definite no-no. It was getting harder and harder to not touch her. He wanted to tell her how much he longed to hold her, to caress her silken skin, to make love with her.
Urgh! This wasn’t helping his body relax one little bit. Jimmy pushed upright and got to his feet, deciding he may as well toss and turn in comfort. He continued his walk around the courtyard and entered his room through the patio doors. A cool shower and then bed, McGovern. No more lusty thoughts of the woman across the way.
A couple of weeks had gone by since the accident and for the first time, Melissa found she could move around without pain. What a blessed morning! She wanted to dance around her bedroom, but was afraid to push her luck. Instead, she undressed and opted for a long, hot shower. She taped a plastic bag over her cast and gingerly walked to the ensuite bath, sat on the edge of the tub, and turned on the faucets. She stood and stepped into the shower, her face upturned to the stinging spray. Heaven!
Melissa took her time, shampooed and conditioned her hair, which proved tricky one-handed, and let the heat soothe her tired, aching muscles. It felt so good to be totally clean again. She giggled with pure enjoyment as she stepped out to dry. A slight twinge in her ribs warned her to be careful. She walked, butt naked, into her bedroom to get dressed and saw Jimmy coming through the patio door.
She stumbled in embarrassment and he was there in a heartbeat, lifting her into his arms and carrying her over to the bed.
“You need to be more careful, and give yourself time to heal.”
“I’m fine, you just startled me.”
He laid her gently on the bed, only now seeming to realize her state of undress. “God, woman, you’re gorgeous.” His avid gaze raked her from head to toe, coming back again to lock on hers, his eyes heated with desire. He touched her face, his hand sliding down to her chin. His thumb idly caressed her lips for a moment before he moved his hand again, lowered it to skim her shoulder, her breast.
Her nipples hardened in response to his touch, combined with the morning breeze blowing in through the still open door. Jimmy ignored her obvious response to his touch, continuing to skim his hand down over her hip, hesitating briefly, then continuing along her thigh.
One hand, one continual touch, and she was throbbing, ready for him, wanting him, but she said not a word, tried not to move, afraid it would break whatever spell he was under.
When he brought his hand back up, he rubbed the back of it over her mound of curls, causing her to arch up off the bed. She wanted more, so much more.
“Your skin is like the finest silk,” he whispered as if to himself. “An absolute treasure. I want to touch you all over.” He looked at her then, must have sensed the desire she felt, for he lay down beside her, taking her in his arms and holding her close.
His kiss started out slow, a gentle caressing of lips as if he held his passion banked and under strict control. She’d have none of it. With her good arm, she pulled him closer, her lips parting to trace his with her tongue. Jimmy groaned and snaked his tongue out to duel with hers, kissing her so deep and so passionately, she couldn’t think, just feel. When his free hand cupped her breast, she pushed against him, glorying in the sensations running rampant through her body. Forgetting the cast, she threw her arm up to hug him tighter, but instead, she walloped
him upside the head.
“Ouch!” His husky chuckle sounded in her ears. “If you wanted me to stop, all you had to do was say so.”
“No, don’t stop. I wanted you closer. I’m sorry. I forgot about the cast.”
“Did it hurt you?” he asked, concern for her evident in his features.
She shook her head and reached for him. He obliged, capturing her lips in another mind-blowing kiss. When he pulled away, she felt bereft. The feeling quickly subsided when he slid down to capture one turgid nipple in his mouth while massaging the other one, pulling and tweaking until she writhed beneath him. Then he slid lower, caressing her nest of curls before parting her folds and licking her there.
“Ohhh! Oh, Jimmy.”
“Yes, Melissa? Do you like having my mouth on you there?”
“Oh, yes!”
He delved back in, sucking her sensitive nub and stroking in and out with his tongue. Her climax built. His ministrations brought her to a fevered pitch of desire.
“Now, Jimmy. Take me now.”
He rose long enough to dispose of his clothing, and pulled a small foil packet from his wallet.
“Here, let me.” She opened the packet with her teeth and rolled on the condom, not an easy task with only one hand. His erection was a beauty, thick, long, and hard…for her. He groaned as her fingers stroked the length of him. When he rejoined her on the bed, she lay back, more than ready for him. Positioned between her legs, he looked up. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
She held his gaze as she answered. “Don’t you dare stop now!”
He nodded once and smiled, then entered her heat, sinking deep and then paused, allowing her a moment to adjust to the fullness. “You okay?”
“Never better, cowboy.” She thrust upward and he moved inside her, pumping in and out in an age-old rhythm. She wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him closer, deeper, relishing the feel of being one with this caring, gentle man. Her insides tightened around him, signaling her coming release. Jimmy must have felt it too. His thrusts became harder, faster, as they raced together toward release, collapsing in a tangled heap in the aftermath.
“Lady, that was one wild ride.”
“Um-hmm. Sure was.” She barely had breath enough to speak.
He rolled to the side, bringing her with him, their bodies still joined as he cradled her in his arms.
“Did I hurt you?”
“Not at all. Never felt better.” She smiled up at him, brushing sweat-soaked tendrils of hair back off his forehead. “We should get up. Aaron will be looking for me.”
As if on cue, a knock sounded on the hall door. “Mom, are you awake?”
“Yes, I’ll be out in a minute.” She moved out of his embrace and sat up.
Jimmy rose from the bed and dressed, noting the open patio door. “Good thing he didn’t come around the other way.”
She glanced out toward the empty courtyard. “Uh, yeah.”
“I’m sorry. This could have been embarrassing for you.”
“Don’t you dare be sorry. I loved every minute of it.”
He grinned and strode to the patio door. “Meet you in the kitchen.” Then he returned and gave her one last, passion-filled kiss before striding across the courtyard to his own room.
What a man! And what a great start to the day!
Melissa touched her fingertips to her lips, savoring that one last kiss. She wanted to lie back and luxuriate in remembered bliss, but she pushed off the bed, grabbed another shower, then quickly dressed and headed for the kitchen, still smiling foolishly.
The next few days were uneventful except that Jimmy received word from his lawyer that he’d deposited the proceeds from the sale of the firm into his personal account. Jubilant, he jumped up and did a little dance behind the desk, unaware of the door opening.
“You look happy. What’s the occasion?” asked Melissa.
He stopped and smiled at her. “I just received an email from my lawyer. I now have enough money to start searching for property.”
“Congratulations! And here I thought you were working late.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I was, but I checked my email before shutting down for the day.”
“It’s past ten. Everyone else has gone to bed. I’m not a slave driver, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” His grin was lethal. “But I wanted to finish the payroll so I could take tomorrow off.”
“Plan to search for property already?”
“No, I’m hoping to work with the Mustangs. So far, Tippy’s been doing all the work, but I’m caught up on the accounts now and it’s time I got acquainted with my new herd.”
“So what’s your plan for this evening?” A suggestive note entered her voice as she closed the distance between them.
“I don’t rightly know. Thought I might spend some time with a pretty lady.”
“Is that so? Would I happen to know this lady you speak of?”
Instead of answering, he pulled her close and covered her lips with his own. So soft. So warm and willing. He thrilled to her response as she wrapped an arm around his neck to pull him closer.
“My room or yours, handsome?” she asked after he broke the kiss for a much-needed breath.
“Yours is closer.” He picked her up and strode from the room, not stopping until they were in her bedroom with the door closed and locked. He allowed her body to slide down the front of his, his erection hard to miss. He was more than ready for her.
They undressed in a hurry, each article of clothing removed interspersed with delightful kisses, until they stood naked, wrapped in each other’s arms. He kissed her soundly as he backed her toward the bed, becoming a tangled heap of arms and legs as they ravished each other. To his dying day, he’d never get enough of this woman—the taste, the feel, the smell of her. Even the sound of her voice turned him inside out with wanting.
Mindful of her injuries, he tried to be gentle, but she urged him on, faster, harder, until they reached that golden pinnacle of release and collapsed, gasping for breath.
The steady cadence of her breathing told him that she’d fallen asleep. Jimmy tucked her firmly against his side, pulling the covers over their sweat-slicked bodies the best he could. He relished the fact that she hadn’t asked him to leave. He’d almost blown it earlier—had almost confessed his love for her. That’s why he’d escaped to the office.
He analyzed his feelings as her warm breaths tickled the hair on his chest. If it were possible, he’d keep her in his arms forever, but he was an employee and would do well to remember his place in her life. A brief affair he could handle. Couldn’t he?
No strings…that was a given. She might be attracted to him, but she was way out of his league. No regrets? He was certain he’d have plenty. He loved her. It was as simple and as complicated as that.
Jimmy had worked hard all his life with one goal in mind, that of owning his own ranch. Though wealthy in his own right, it didn’t compare with the Dehavilland fortune. The trouble was, he felt like he’d come home. This ranch, this woman, even her son, appealed to him. He fit—sort of.
His glance strayed to the ceiling, to the stars twinkling beyond the skylight. Funny how he’d never noticed the skylight before. He smiled, thinking he’d never been on his back in this room, so it was highly unlikely that he would have.
Melissa shifted in her sleep, drawing closer to his warmth. What would happen when she awoke to find him still there? Maybe he should dress and slip out into the night, go to his own room. Yes, that’s what he’d do. He didn’t need to face an embarrassing morning after. He’d hold her a while longer, savor their closeness, then go.
As he looked heavenward again, one star twinkled larger and brighter than the others. He closed his eyes and made a wish, as he’d often done as a child. Only this time, the wish was very different from anything he’d ever wished for in the past.
Chapter Eleven
Melissa woke to a strange thumping sound. S
he yawned and stretched, and her sore ribs twinged in protest. She snapped open her eyes. The thumping was the sound of Jimmy’s heart beating in her ear. He’d stayed. She hadn’t expected him to, but it felt deliciously decadent to wake up beside him. Careful not to disturb him, she rose to one elbow and studied the man beside her in the bed.
It had been a hot night, in more ways than one, and his lean, muscular body was only partially covered by the sheet. It drooped low on his waist to cover his midsection, but then slid off again to expose a firmly muscled thigh. With him asleep, she could gaze upon him all she wanted to.
His upper torso was tanned a dark golden brown and beautiful. She remembered rubbing her hands over his six-pack abs, sliding her tongue over his hard nipples, and kissing his belly button. Funny how she’d never had the urge to explore her ex’s body. But then, Jimmy had a delectable body whereas Marcus had always been short, plump, and totally out of shape.
Really, what had she seen in the man? He hadn’t even treated her all that good once they’d married. By the time she’d grown weary of his sarcastic comments and put-downs and was preparing to leave, she found out she was pregnant. That changed everything for Melissa. She felt that a child needed both parents and decided to stay and hoped things improved. They never did. His walking out had been the best thing to happen to her in ten long years of marriage.
Jimmy’s normally clean-shaven face sported a heavy shadow of overnight growth. She reached out her hand and rubbed her fingers along the line of his jaw. Prickly. No way was he kissing her until after he shaved. If not, the entire house would see her pale skin covered in whisker rash. And speaking of kissing, she’d best crawl out and brush her teeth. There was nothing she hated worse than morning breath. Ugh!
She slid backward on the bed, carefully extricating herself from his hold, then sat up, easing her legs out over the edge. No time to dally, nature called. She stood only to fall back with a groan. Nature! They hadn’t used a condom. She slumped forward, her head in her hands as she mentally counted the days since her last period. Oh, my God! This was the best, or maybe the worst, time to forget protection.
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