One hand left her thigh to move to the underside of her breast. His fingers teased and touched there, making her nipples pucker more and her belly squirm with desperate need. But he didn’t stop there. He moved to the side of her throat, the tips of his fingers barely whispering over her. Goose bumps broke out on her neck and she shivered with anticipation of more touching, more temptation. Then he sank his hand into her hair and drew her head down to his lips. “No more teasing, sugar,” he said right before his lips came over hers in a kiss that tasted like rich, heady wine.
Kat’s breath caught. Heat flooded through her body and her skin tingled. Justin was giving her unbelievable pleasure. He smelled lime-fresh, but like the earth, too, his masculine scent bringing overwhelming memories to the front of her mind. “Straddle me, Kat,” he whispered over her lips. “I’m gonna touch you.”
Kat obeyed his command. She wrapped her legs around his waist and a groan came from deep in his throat. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, his teeth scraping with hers as he sought to go deeper and deeper. She was pliant, moving with him now, allowing him to pleasure her without question.
There were no thoughts beside the present—what was happening to her now and the growing need building up inside her. When his hand rode up her thigh this time, she welcomed him with a moan and an arch of her back. He shoved aside her panties and his thumb stroked over the sensitive folds of her womanhood. Her moan grew louder, still within the whispers of the night and darkness surrounding them.
She was vulnerable to him, in this position, allowing him to do what he would to her. But she trusted in him, trusted that he only sought to please her. He kissed her over and over as his fingers played a tune of their own on her body, slipping in and out of her womanhood, until she wanted to scream her joy. It was unbelievable. She rocked with him as he stroked her again and again, swaying with him and uttering low unintelligible things.
Justin’s eyes widened with pleasure just as she closed her own. Her body pulsed, straining with release that was so needed, so necessary to her life, that she wanted to cry tears of joy and relief when it was all over.
Justin slipped his hand out from under her panties, straightened out her skirt then brought his lips to hers one more time, murmuring, “I’ve dreamed of doing this to you a thousand times in Afghanistan.”
Sated, Kat swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d dreamed of him, too. But she never thought she’d ever be with him like this again. “Justin...”
She had no words and he seemed to understand.
He lowered her down on the bed and held her tightly in his arms. She saw his need, the strength of will he mustered to contain his lust.
Turning his body, he took her face into his hands. “This is how it is between us.”
She searched his eyes for more, to find some hope. Something to show that he trusted her, something to show that she could trust him. There were lies between them, and a son and an old woman neither of them wanted to hurt.
“I’m not going to run out on Mattie...or on...you.”
“Connor will be part of my life, Kat.” Her heart tripped seeing such love in his eyes. She understood that love. The boy was the best thing about herself. “If I’m at all wary and cautious, it’s because I’m not taking any chances when it comes to Connor.”
Kat thought about that a few seconds. “I understand, and in a weird sort of way, I’m relieved that you feel protective about him. He deserves...”
“The best from both of us.”
She stared at the deep emotions displayed in Justin’s eyes and heard the little catch in his throat when he spoke Connor’s name.
“Yes,” she whispered. Then her gaze skimmed over Justin’s taut, rigid body. He had yet to find any release or relief. With Connor sleeping in the room next door and the family still in the house, making love wasn’t an option. Not that Kat was ready for that. The physical side of lovemaking wasn’t the issue, but all the implications and complications that would follow would be too much for her right now. “Are you going to be okay?”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as he gazed at the ceiling. “I learned a lot about self-discipline in the marines. They put us through mind-blowing tests of will. Lying here with you, on this bed, and not losing my head puts me at Level Four.”
Kat couldn’t keep her lips from curling up. “I take it that’s bad?”
“It’s no walk in the park.”
“How far do the levels go?”
“Five.”
“What would that be?”
“That would be if you stripped me naked and touched me in places that needed touching.”
“And you couldn’t respond?”
“Oh, I’d respond. There would be no stopping that, but I wouldn’t be allowed to touch you back.”
Kat thought that sounded intriguing. And sexy.
“You’re a Level Five if I ever saw one,” Justin whispered in a gentle caress.
He brought his hand to her hair and played with the tendrils, watching them slide through his fingers. Air filled his lungs and he gave her one last piercing look, then rose from the bed. Leaning close, he spoke in a tortured voice. “I’ve got to get out of here. Why don’t you check in on the baby. The family will want to say good-night to both of you and then I’ll follow you home.”
She opened her mouth to protest. She didn’t need a chaperone, but Justin gave a firm shake of his head, declaring his intentions nonnegotiable.
She clamped off her words of refusal and nodded.
Some battles she was better off not fighting.
* * *
The next morning, Kat rose earlier than usual and checked on Connor, who was still sleeping in his crib. Then she peeked into Mattie’s room. She was sitting up in her bed, reading her bible. “Morning, Kat.”
“How are you feeling this morning?”
The older woman peered over her eyeglasses and gave a watery smile. “Excellent...I’m a new woman.”
It was the same response she’d given Mattie for the past two months. “I’m glad you’re feeling well. What would you like for breakfast?”
Mattie’s lips twisted. “Well, since I can’t have ham and eggs with biscuits and gravy, I guess I’ll settle for one of those vegetarian sausage patties.” She made a face. “Never heard of a hog farmer not being able to eat the hog.”
“You don’t have hogs anymore,” Kat said with a smile. “And the doctor says those veggie sausages are good for you.”
“I know, but my Ralph is turning over in his grave right about now.”
Kat laughed. Dear old Aunt Mattie was no wilting flower. She had a lot of pep in her still.
“I’ll get our breakfast...I’m feeling up to cooking this morning,” Mattie continued. “I bet you’ve got some work to do today. You go on and do what you have to, I’ll holler if I need help.”
“Okay, thanks, Aunt Mattie. I’m working on a new design for a little boy’s Christmas suit.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely.” Aunt Mattie closed her bible, removed her eyeglasses and folded herself out of bed. Reaching for a terry-cloth robe lying across her bed, she put her arms through the sleeves and tied the belt.
“I’ve got some news,” Kat said, lingering in the doorway.
“Did you get another rejection from those fool buyers?”
Kat had been receiving letters, almost weekly, rejecting her line of affordable baby clothing from major department stores. Those rejections were a big letdown. She believed in her work and knew it would be a hit judging by the success of her growing sales on the Babylicious website. She just needed a chance, yet her dream of becoming a professional fashion designer kept eluding her. “No, but I was offered a job from Justin Slade. He wants to pay me to refurbish the house.”
“Oh?”
“He says he has to pay someone anyway and it would make your life easier if I did it. He wouldn’t have to bring a designer into the house. We could work together, Aunt Mattie. We’ll fix this place up and make it shine. What do you think? Want me to do it?”
“Well, sure...of course. Nobody knows me or this place better than you. You’ll do a bang-up job.” Aunt Mattie’s expression grew serious. “But that’s a lot to ask of you, isn’t it? You’re already so busy.”
Kat shrugged. “Not really. I work on the designs, because I love to do it and I’m selling a little here and there, but that only takes a few hours in the evenings. This we can do together, and we’ll work around Connor’s schedule.”
Aunt Mattie tilted her head slightly to one side. “It’s what they call multitasking, isn’t it? Back in our day, it was simply called chores. Doing what needed to get done, and if that meant fourteen-hour days, we did it.”
Kat laughed. “You’re right. The label is different, but it’s the same thing.”
“Well, all right, then.”
A loud ruckus from outside the yard filtered into the house and Kat walked over to the parlor window. “What on earth?”
“Oh, it’s the bulldozer,” Aunt Mattie said, approaching the window. “The sale hasn’t gone through yet, but I figured it was okay to let Justin start up the work. That boy is in a hurry to get things done before the cold weather sets in. Tractors are going to clear the acres beyond the house and the bulldozer’s going to knock down the rotted barns and feed shacks on the grounds.” Mattie’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “I’m surprised Justin didn’t tell you, being that you saw him last night.”
Kat immediately balked. “It wasn’t a date or anything. We talked and he offered me the job.”
Aunt Mattie gave a quick nod of her head. “Nice boy, that Justin.”
“The Slades also invited Connor and I to Logan Slade’s wedding. It was a very generous offer and all, but I don’t want to go.”
“I bet Justin wants you to go. He did the asking, didn’t he?”
“Actually, no. Logan’s fiancée, Sophia, did. I think they were just being nice.”
Aunt Mattie’s eyes narrowed in on her. “You don’t want to go, or you don’t want to leave me alone?”
Kat focused on the banged-up canary-yellow bulldozer rolling past the house. Two tractors followed behind. “Both. I’d have to spend the night in a hotel.”
“Well, shoot, Kat. If you’re invited to a fancy shindig with a good-looking man and asked to stay in a nice hotel, you’re gonna do it. You know I don’t want to stop you from living your life.”
“You’re not, Aunt Mattie.” She turned her attention away from the bulldozer to look into her eyes. “You’re not stopping me from anything.”
“You know Ralph’s sister Maisey’s been wanting to come for a visit. You just tell me the date and I’ll have Maisey come by and stay with me. You’ll have time all to yourself.”
“But the wedding’s this Saturday. That’s not much notice to make arrangements.”
“Why, that’s almost a week away. Maisey’s got nothing on her dance card. She’s a widow, just like me. I’m sure she’ll come. You go on now. Accept that invitation. You deserve a little break from tending to me.”
The bulldozer crawled past the house. Justin moved fast when he wanted something. The way he was stepping up the time frame for the retreat was just another reminder that she had to be on her toes around him.
He’d boxed her into a corner with this wedding invitation. Justin wanted Connor there. With Connor, he also got Kat. And now Aunt Mattie wasn’t giving her a way to refuse the invitation.
Kat had no choice. She would go to Sophia and Logan’s wedding and Connor would get to know his relatives a little better. She shuddered at the thought. Justin’s prank, switching places with Brett and deceiving her, was a constant reminder not to believe in anyone but herself. Now Justin was asking her to trust him and his family to keep their secret.
How could she trust in anything, when she’d been let down so many times in the past?
She gazed into Aunt Mattie’s aged blue eyes. “Go ahead and call Maisey.”
“So then, you’ll go?”
Kat let a sigh escape her throat. “I’ll go.”
Aunt Mattie reached out and clasped her hand. Her thin fingers gave a little encouraging squeeze. “I’m glad. You’ll have fun.”
Aunt Mattie’s generosity only made Kat feel guilty about everything. She was the one person she didn’t want to lie to and yet the lie about Connor’s paternity was the biggest lie of all.
Six
It figured the wedding was at a Golden Hotel.
Kat couldn’t catch a break. The knot inside her belly twisted another turn when Justin made that announcement on the drive up to Reno. Logan wanted the very best for Sophia, to make up for all the grief he’d caused her in the past. And Golden Hotels, renowned for impeccable service, elegantly decorated rooms and culinary excellence, were at the top of the hotel food chain. The family-run hotels were located in every major American city from New York to Los Angeles. Kat was a walking encyclopedia on the subject.
She took a swallow and trembled.
“Come here, little man,” Justin said, removing Connor from the car seat and securing him in one arm.
The valet helped Kat out of the front seat and took care of their luggage.
She kept the diaper bag and hung it over her shoulder. Connor gazed up at Justin with curiosity, and Kat smiled, her heart pounding in her chest as they entered the hotel together.
Check-in was quick. Justin had reserved adjoining suites that required taking a special elevator up to the fourteenth floor. As they approached her suite, Justin slid the plastic key card over the brass door plate. A light flashed green, the lock clicked open and he pulled the handle down to let them in. “After you,” he said to Kat. “I think you’ll like your room.”
She took a few steps inside. “It’s...beautiful.” And it was. She knew the decorator, Amando Guerrero. They’d had lunch several times in New York. He was a man with an eye for location. A Reno hotel would have all the same Golden amenities, but would also include subtle changes that emphasized the feel of the West. Remington statues of cowboys astride horses, artful rustic trim and patterns that depicted Nevada history gave the entire hotel tasteful ambience.
Justin scanned the suite with a satisfied glance and nodded. He was more interested in the little guy in his arms. But Connor began squirming and reaching for her and Justin didn’t push it. He handed Connor over. “He wants his mommy.”
Connor hugged her neck tight and then turned, giving Justin his stink face, which consisted of narrowing his eyes and pursing his rosy lips. Kat chuckled.
Justin made a similar face back at him. “Hey, buddy. You don’t know it yet, but I’m your best friend.”
Connor whipped back around in her arms. She’d assured Justin several times in the past that Connor needed time to warm up to him. It would happen in time, so she kept her lips clamped this time. She could tell Justin was impatient to have his son’s affection. He wanted Connor’s acceptance and love...now.
Kat walked to the rectangular bay window that overlooked the Reno landscape. It wasn’t New York with its towering buildings and mere slices of sky above. It was Nevada, sparse and dry, with rambling blue clouds visible for miles—white puffs that you could almost reach out and touch.
“Your luggage and baby gear should arrive shortly.”
“We’ll be fine.”
“Do you think he’ll nap?”
She glanced at the parlor sofa and then beyond to two French doors opening to a large bedroom. “Maybe. I’ll give him a snack and a bottle and see if I can get him down.”
“Okay, good. If you’ll be needing anything, I’m in the next sui
te. Just knock on the adjoining door. I’ve got to clean up and get ready for a quick walk-through rehearsal downstairs. I’ll be back for you in two hours.”
She kissed the top of the baby’s head and nodded.
Justin focused on where her lips had just touched Connor’s baby-fine brown hair and smiled. He strode over to them and took the baby’s cheek in his palm, his eyes filled with longing as Connor looked at him. With the pad of his thumb he stroked the baby’s cheek. “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
Kat knew what he meant. One glimpse at her big-eyed, dark-haired little son was enough to make her believe in miracles. He was the only thing beautiful about her world. “It is,” she said quietly.
Justin dropped his hand before the baby had a chance to turn away and focused his attention on her now. He cast soft caring eyes her way. “I’m glad he’s here today.”
She was reduced to mush when he turned on the charm. And she almost forgot how uncomfortable she was being here. But there was too much at stake. Too much to lose. She’d known hardship in her life and she’d known powerful men. Justin could hand her a world of hurt if he wanted to make her life difficult. She felt compelled to cooperate and attend this wedding but she wasn’t fooled into thinking Justin cared about her. He was trying to make up for lost time with his son. He blamed her for missing out on the first year of Connor’s life.
But he wasn’t blameless, either.
She found no need to rehash all that.
“We’ll be ready.”
* * *
It was trickier than she thought getting them both dressed and ready for a wedding. She didn’t know how long the little guy would hold up at the reception, although she had managed to get him down for a thirty-minute nap in a crib that was set up by the hotel staff. She’d brought along his monkey sheets, just in case, and Connor felt right at home when she’d laid him down on his own bedding. Room service had arrived shortly after with an array of lunch entrees that Justin had ordered.
The penniless soldier she’d met had turned into a man of privilege.
The Secret Heir of Sunset Ranch Page 9