God, she wanted him.
He’d been nothing but a gentleman all day, seeing to her every need, listening to her vent and keeping her company. He hadn’t made any moves on her, hadn’t done anything suggestive or said anything provocative. Was he just being a good host and making sure she made it to her room?
Or was he imagining what she would look like when she stripped off her clothes and went to bed wearing nothing but his shirt?
Chapter Six
Jackson wasn’t sure who moved first, but a second later he was down the hall and Ridley was in his arms. Her hair flowed over them as he held her against the wall. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled, his libido instantly going haywire at the warm, seductive scent of her skin. There were no words spoken between them, just the unspoken desires in their eyes.
I want you.
I know.
I want you, too.
When he finally anchored a hand in her hair and tilted her face up for his kiss, it was both a pain and a relief. Her lips opened under his with a breathy little moan. He would kick himself later for his angry assault on her mouth. There was no gentleness, no finesse. He held her captive against him as he took her mouth, capturing her tongue and sliding it against his own.
She was warm and soft in his arms, her breasts pressing against his chest as he held her against him. He was holding her too tightly but she didn’t push away. She clung to him, her long legs snaking around his waist to hold him in the cradle of her thighs.
“Jackson,” she pleaded.
“Hold on, baby. Just wait.”
He groaned as she arched in his arms, rubbing her core against him. She was perfect, so soft and responsive. He worked her, angling so he could rub right against her sweet spot. Damn if she didn’t catch his rhythm right away, rocking her hips up as he ground against her.
“Jackson. Please, please, please—” She broke off with a strangled cry when he slid her down so she was riding his thigh.
She went rigid in his arms before her head fell back against the wall. Her eyelids drifted down as she shuddered beneath him.
“Oh yeah, that’s it,” he whispered.
That look. Damn if she wasn’t the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen with her head thrown back, ecstasy all over her face as her most intimate muscles clenched against his thigh.
He’d be seeing that look in his dreams.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he gasped, then took her mouth in another crushing kiss, kissing her deeply until he again had to pull away just to breathe.
He ripped his mouth from hers, the sight of her swollen lips almost making him dizzy.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to do this. You need someone to lend a helping hand, not take advantage.” He pressed his forehead against hers and took a deep breath.
It should have been better when he couldn’t see the way she looked up at him, so soft and trusting. But even with his eyes closed, he could still see her face. The way she looked at him made him feel powerless. He could literally feel his self-control oozing out, drop by drop.
“Oh, that’s right. You’re supposed to stay away from me. I’m a vulture, remember?” She licked his bottom lip and he groaned.
When she kissed a trail from his jaw down to his neck, he flinched and set her down. “That was my brother talking. I know better. But that doesn’t make this a good idea.”
“You really are a nice guy, aren’t you?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” he grumbled.
“Well, the fact that you don’t seem any happier about it than I do…” She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck, brushing her body against his, inch by inch. “…makes me feel a little better. My ego anyway.”
He stopped thinking the instant she plastered herself against him. It took a moment for him to direct enough blood to his brain to translate what she was saying.
“I’m definitely not happy about it, beautiful. I’m just trying not to be what you think I am.”
She pulled back and looked him in the eye. “Jackson—”
He cut her off before she could continue. “I have a family picnic tomorrow, so there’s going to be a lot of people around. But we always have tons of food and good music. You’re welcome to join us. I want you to make yourself at home while you’re here.”
It was asking for trouble, but he couldn’t stop himself from taking another kiss, bending her back over his arm until she was forced to cling to his shoulders to stay on her feet. Then, while she was still dazed, he turned and walked off.
There was a cold shower calling his name.
***
The next morning, Ridley threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Thank God. Even though she’d been awake since the early hours, she’d been waiting for the sun to rise so she could move around the house. It was bad enough that she was a forced houseguest. She definitely didn’t want to wake her host too early on a holiday.
She stretched and tugged the edges of Jackson’s tee shirt farther over her cotton shorts. A warm feeling spread through her as she remembered the look in his eyes last night when she’d asked to borrow something to wear. He had a way of looking at her that made her throat go dry.
The worst part was that she’d not only been restless and itchy after their hot little interlude, but because she’d been so keyed up, she’d heard every noise the house made. Every bump made her think someone was scaling the wall outside her window, every creak in the hallway sounded like footsteps. She’d had to turn on all the lights and wedge the chair from the dressing table under the handle of her door before she could even begin to relax.
Even after her makeshift security measures, she’d still spent most of the night staring at the intricate designs on the ceiling. Who would have thought you could create so many different patterns with plain white paint?
The thought of seeing Jackson after she’d all but molested him last night was just too embarrassing for words. Not that she didn’t agree with him. Sleeping together would have been a huge mistake. She was only in town for a short time, and he didn’t even know who she really was. But that didn’t mean she liked being turned down. He’d just been so… reasonable . And yes, she was petty enough to hate him for it. She hoped he’d regretted it as soon as he got to his empty bed.
And she really, really, really hoped he’d had blue balls.
“It’s just chemistry. It doesn’t mean anything. Clearly I’m not irresistible since he walked away. Besides, I’m sure I’m not the first girl to borrow this shirt,” she muttered before going to stand in front of the mirror over the antique dressing table. Her appearance made her wince.
Whoa, I look rough.
She immediately headed into the en suite bathroom. She may not be a supermodel, but she had enough female vanity not to want Jackson to see her with dark circles under her eyes and bedhead.
She took a long, leisurely shower, wishing the whole time she could take the five streams of water coming from the fancy showerhead with her when she left. After wrapping herself in one of the plush towels on the rack, she brushed her teeth and carefully untwisted her hair. It fell in long waves down her back. She was thankful she’d bundled her long hair up on her head to keep it from getting wet since she didn’t have her hair-dryer.
“With any luck, Raina will call soon. Otherwise I’ll look like a hot mess. I don’t have my hair-dryer. I don’t even have enough clothes.”
Oh crap, the clothes.
She hung her head. She’d completely forgotten about the clothes she’d put in the wash yesterday. They’d been sitting for the better part of a day in the machine, so she’d no doubt have to rewash them before she could put them in the dryer.
“I guess getting up earlier has its uses.” She dressed quickly, pulling on her shorts and the same tee shirt she’d slept in, before opening the door. She peered out into the hallway. A grin tugged at the edges of her mouth. It was more than a little ridiculous how she was creeping around. What would she have
done even if Jackson was in the hallway? She squared her shoulders and walked to the staircase.
The early morning sun streamed through the expansive windows in the family room, bathing the beige furniture with buttery light. She couldn’t suppress a sigh as she walked through the room and then through the kitchen to get to the laundry room. It was such a beautiful morning that she could almost forget why she was here. It was the kind of day that just begged for coffee outside on the patio with a bowl of fruit and a good book.
She pulled one of her shirts out of the washer and held it under her nose. It didn’t smell moldy or anything and the clothes hadn’t been sitting for that long. She shrugged her shoulders and pulled an armful out and then bent to throw them in the dryer.
“Well, good morning.”
At the sound of the voice behind her Ridley stood up straight, bumping her head on the dryer. “Ouch!”
The clothes in her arms fell to the floor in a scattered heap. She held a hand to her forehead as she turned around.
One of the men she remembered from yesterday stood in the doorway to the laundry room. He looked just like Jackson so she had to assume this was Nick, the rude brother she’d overhead him talking to in the hallway. The two young boys she’d met in Raina’s backyard stood directly behind him, watching her curiously.
“I wasn’t expecting you to still be here.” He looked down at her borrowed shirt and Ridley squirmed under his gaze. Despite the fact that she knew nothing had happened, it was still weird to have his brother see her wearing Jackson’s shirt this early in the morning. She tugged the hem a little lower.
“Unfortunately, the locksmith hasn’t called back yet. Your brother was kind enough to let me stay. And to loan me something to wear while my clothes are washing.”
“How did you sleep?”
“Okay, I guess.” Ridley blushed. The way he said it came across more like where did you sleep? She turned her attention to the two boys behind him.
“Did you guys have fun with your uncle?”
“Yes! We played games and ate ice cream. All night!” The oldest boy, Chris , if she remembered correctly, was practically quivering with glee as he said it.
The little one took his thumb out to say “Ice cream!” then immediately stuck it back in his mouth.
Nick smiled ruefully. “That was supposed to be our secret, remember?”
Ridley knelt down so she was more on their level. “That’s okay. I won’t tell. I like ice cream, too.”
“Where’s your mommy?” the little boy asked. Ridley looked up at Nicholas uncertainly. He looked a little stunned.
“Sorry, he’s been really curious about that subject lately. Okay, Jase. Let’s go find your dad.” He tried to herd them back through the door. Jase didn’t move, just stood watching her. Nicholas sighed.
“It’s okay, really.” She moved a little closer to Jase and looked him in the eyes. “I don’t have a mommy anymore. She’s gone.”
“Our mom’s gone, too. We’ve just got our dad,” Chris said. He looked down at his sneakers, then peeked up at her shyly.
Ridley smiled at him. “But you’ve got a really awesome dad.”
“You look like Miss Raina.” Jase giggled and launched himself into her arms.
Nick looked at her curiously.
She grabbed Jase and pulled him into her lap. “That’s because I am Miss Raina.” She laughed weakly. “I guess I look a little different without my makeup on. Should I take that as an insult?”
Ridley couldn’t resist squeezing his chubby little body. It filled her with a small pang to think that she might not ever get to have children of her own. When she was still young enough and stupid enough to believe in fate, she’d always assumed she’d meet the perfect guy eventually. They’d get married and have the kind of family she’d always longed for.
But all the friends she’d envied who’d gotten married after college had also gotten divorced just a few years later. Considering her track record with men, she wouldn’t have fared any better if she’d actually married any of her boyfriends. The thought of putting her children through a nasty custody dispute made her feel ill.
“Okay guys.” Nick’s voice broke through her daydreaming. “Go on upstairs and put your stuff away. Make sure you wake up your father while you’re at it.” He rubbed his hands together in mock delight.
The boys whooped and raced for the stairs. Nick turned back to her. “Sorry about that. Jase has been curious about moms lately. It’s hard to explain to a toddler why everyone else lives with both parents except for him, you know?”
Ridley waved away the apology. “It’s fine. They’re adorable. Besides, I understand. I grew up without my father and I’m still looking for him.” She sighed and wiped a hand over her face. She definitely didn’t want to think about her search for her father.
After a few moments, she looked up to find Nick staring at her. She glanced behind her and then back at him. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s just that you really do look different without makeup.” He stopped and held up his hands. “In a good way.”
“Right. I’m sure vulture was meant as a compliment, too.”
“No,” he barked. At her strange look, he cleared his throat and then said in a more normal tone of voice, “It wasn’t a compliment. But let’s be real. You know exactly why I said it.” Then he turned and walked out without another word.
“What was that about? These Alexander men are all crazy.” An image of Jackson on the couch the previous night, his handsome face soft with sleep, crossed her mind. “Gorgeous, but crazy.”
She got up off the floor and finished transferring her clothes from the washing machine to the dryer. Then she went back upstairs to call her sister again. She had to get out of this house. All the testosterone was clearly rattling her brain.
If Raina didn’t answer soon, she’d be forced to resort to breaking and entering!
***
That afternoon, Jackson glanced up the stairs, guilt twisting his stomach. It was past noon and Ridley still hadn’t come down.
God, the memory of her.
He wished, in that moment, he’d gone upstairs before the movie ended. The memory of her tight little body against his was the last thing he needed right before a family picnic, but not kissing her last night would have taken more self-control than he had.
He closed his eyes and tried to think of something else before he got another erection. He ran through baseball stats, the track listing for the last album he’d produced, and was halfway through mentally reciting the states in alphabetical order before he felt calm enough to open his eyes.
He walked back to the kitchen and stared blankly out the window into the backyard where his brothers were setting up the last of the picnic tables.
He’d done the right thing in walking away, but damn if it hadn’t been one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Seducing her last night would have been a mistake. He didn’t want her to come to his bed because she was scared and feeling vulnerable. He wanted her to come to him because she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
He just hoped she hadn’t interpreted his “make yourself at home” last night as “make yourself scarce.” He really wanted her to come down and join the party. After everything she’d been through, she needed to relax and get her mind off things.
“Hey, what are you doing in here?” Nick stepped in from the patio, pulling the sliding glass doors closed behind him. “Everyone’s starting to arrive.”
Irritated that he was just standing in the middle of his kitchen mooning like a teenage boy, Jackson turned to dig in the refrigerator. A second later he handed his brother a platter of sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese.
“I’m just getting the last of the food together.”
Nick arched a brow. “Right. The fact that you’re inside has nothing to do with the beautiful girl upstairs in your bedroom.”
He didn’t look at his brother as he yanked the k
etchup, mustard, and relish bottles from the refrigerator and set them out on the table.
“Of course she’s beautiful. She’s a model, so she’s hardly going to be ugly, right? And she’s not in my bedroom—get your mind out of the gutter.”
He slammed the last bottle on the table harder than he’d intended and the wood responded with a loud CRACK.
“Can’t you just put her in a hotel?” Nick grumbled.
Jackson looked back at the stairs again. “Look, I already called a locksmith, but you and I both know that no one is coming out on a holiday. In the meantime, Ridley is staying here with us where she’s safe.”
“Ridley?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, it’s her real name. Anyway, she’s a nice girl and there’s no reason to push her off to a hotel where she’ll be by herself.”
Before his brother could question him further, namely about why Jackson felt it was his responsibility to keep her safe, the sliding door opened again and Matt came barreling inside.
“Whoa, watch it!” Nick juggled the tray in his hands, trying to keep the tomatoes from sliding off the edge as Matt clipped his shoulder in his haste to get by.
“Sorry, man. I just need to get out of here.” Matt’s cheeks were bright red beneath his normally dusky skin color. He’d either gotten an instant sunburn or was really pissed.
“What happened?” Jackson crossed his arms. Matt didn’t say anything.
Jackson looked at his brother and motioned toward the door. Without a word, Nicholas carried the tray outside to the backyard and closed the door behind him. He was glad his brother wasn’t the type to take offense. They were all great friends but he knew how Matt was. He’d have a much better chance of finding out what was bothering him if they didn’t have an audience.
“You look pissed off. You were in a decent enough mood when you got here, so what’s happened in the last hour that has you looking like you’re ready to spit nails?”
“It’s nothing. I think I should go. I don’t want to ruin your party for everyone else.”
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