The Rebel

by Jennifer Bernard

  “He only wanted me for arm-candy, that’s all. He thought I’d be happy he bothered with me, a complete nobody with a sister in a wheelchair, always scrambling between paychecks, working two jobs, sometimes three—”

  “I’m sorry.” He reached out and caught her against him. Her breath caught in a hiccup of shock.

  “I could have stayed, if I didn’t care about my sister, and I’d already signed his stupid prenup anyway, if that’s what you’re so worried—”

  A grimace flashed across his face. Then, in the next second, her face was in his hands and…oh my God…he was kissing her. As if to stop her words, soothe her pain…or his…

  And she opened up to him like a flower desperate for rain. All her hot emotion poured out of her.

  His kiss was every bit as tumultuous as she’d imagined. His firm lips moved against hers, his tongue swept across the sensitive inner flesh of her mouth, spreading wild tingles everywhere it touched. He took command of her mouth, exploring and claiming at the same time.

  Her body went boneless against him. His hand gripped the small of her back, keeping her upright against the onslaught of sensation. She melted against him, nipples peaking against his chest, hot desire liquefying between her legs. Pressing close, she felt the hard bulge behind his jeans.

  So he felt it too, this wild attraction.

  But he’d just accused her of being a fortune hunter.

  Screw him.

  She pulled away from Kai and covered her mouth with her hand. He looked just as rattled as she felt. His hair was rumpled and he was trying to catch his breath.

  “Sorry,” he muttered again.

  “You might need to narrow it down a little,” she snapped. “Sorry for accusing me or sorry for kissing me?”

  He put his hands on his head and turned away from her. “Fuck. I don’t know anymore. Both. Neither.” He spun around to face her. “I wasn’t accusing you.”

  “It sure felt like it.”

  “Then I’m sorry.” He dropped his arms back to his sides, causing her heart to leap into her throat again. The air hummed between them. Somewhere outside, a guest shouted something and a car started up. “As for kissing you, I guess I’m not as sorry as I should be.”

  Kai’s head was still buzzing from that incredible kiss, so logic wasn’t his friend right now. He needed some time to get a grip on what had just happened. But Nicole was still staring at him, the color coming and going in her cheeks.

  He had to make this right.

  “I didn’t know about your sister.”

  Her expression shuttered. “Let’s leave her out of this.”

  Right. That was Nicole’s private life and she didn’t owe him any explanations. He was the one who owed her.

  “Did you really believe I was putting the moves on your dad? Oh!” Her eyes flashed fire at him. “That’s why you got all huffy when I kissed him on the cheek. What exactly were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking that you’re beautiful.” Honest answer, if not exactly to the point. He’d thought she was so beautiful that his dad didn’t stand a chance. She was wearing a long skirt and boots, along with a turtleneck sweater in a charcoal gray color that made her eyes shine like liquid sky.

  He shouldn’t have kissed her. Why had he done it?

  Because her passion had reached out and grabbed him by the heart and the only thing on his mind had been getting close to her. Tasting her. He’d forgotten everything else.

  “Cut the crap, Kai. Were you trying to throw me off? Confuse me so I’d confess my nefarious plot?”

  He scrubbed a hand through his hair in frustration. “No, Nicole. Nothing like that. It was one of those impulsive things. I didn’t plan it. I didn’t have some kind of hidden agenda.”

  Something flickered in her eyes.

  A visceral memory of the taste of her lips came back to him. He’d kissed her, but she’d kissed him right back, wholeheartedly. It wasn’t until her lips had parted, welcoming him in, that he’d taken that kiss deep.

  Maybe she was regretting that now.

  “Look, let’s forget about the kiss. We never have to mention it again, we never have to do it again. We don’t even have to think about it again.”

  She looked away, as if one of the Telemark skis had become the most fascinating thing in the room. Maybe she was thinking the same thing he was. Fat chance. That wasn’t the kind of kiss you forgot.

  “That goes without saying,” she said, chin held high. “Of course we won’t do it again.”

  “Of course.”

  “But I’m still hung up on the part about Roger. How did you know about him?”

  “I googled you,” he admitted. “Had a few beers last night and it seemed like a good idea.”

  She crossed her arms and tugged her lower lip between her teeth. “So what else did you learn?”

  When he hesitated, she gave his chest a light shove.

  “Come on, you owe me that at least. Let me defend myself. How do I know what other crazy things you think about me?”

  He drew in a breath. “Well, it appears you went off the deep end after the engagement ended. Did a lot of partying in Mexico with your girlfriends.”

  “Never been to Mexico.”

  “There were rumors about a pool boy.”

  “Aren’t there always?”

  He softened his tone as he came to a more serious topic. “Your mother died of breast cancer.”

  “That part’s true.”

  “I’m sorry.” He didn’t add that he knew how it felt to lose a mother. There was no need; she knew. He saw it in her eyes, which were starting to soften.

  “Okay, what else? Come on, cough it up.” Her tone was lighter now. Phew. Maybe he was going to get out of this alive after all.

  “This next one is more of a guess, putting two and two together.”

  “Ha. So we’re back to math again.”

  He smiled at that. “Okay, here it is. Pure theory and speculation. You’re a former drinker, possibly a recovering alcoholic.”

  Her face went stark white. Fuck. He’d stepped in it all over again. “Because you don’t drink,” he added quickly. “Jake says you never come to his bar, and one of the articles said you’d been drinking heavily just before the breakup and Roger Vance was trying to get you into rehab and—”

  In a complete shocker of a move, she hauled off and slapped him across the face. Not with full force, just enough so he felt it, and his cheek tingled. His jaw flexed in shock. He stood rock still, frozen. The skis rattled in their racks.

  She clapped her hand over her mouth, then pulled it away and looked at it as if she could barely believe it was hers. “Holy crap. I just hit you. I used physical force on you.”

  He moved his jaw back and forth. The pain, such as it was, had already faded. “Guess I got that one wrong.”

  “You did. Way wrong. But that’s no excuse.” She lifted her stunned gaze to meet his. “I can’t believe I did that.”

  The door swung open and Gracie came running in, followed by Max stumping after her with his cane.

  “What is going on?” Gracie cried. “What are you two doing?”

  “Boy, if you hurt her—” Max growled.

  Hurt her? Kai curled his hands into fists. Max’s face was an unhealthy red. So was Nicole’s, come to think of it. His must be too, after that blow. Gracie looked like she was about to cry.

  Shit.

  “I’m sorry.” He muttered the apology to everyone in general as he turned to go. “Sorry to all of you.” How many freaking apologies did that make in one day?

  “Where are you going?” Gracie cried. He heard the fear in her voice. Maybe she was afraid he was about to leave again.

  And maybe he should. He’d just brought more stress to the situation—just look at Max’s red face.

  “Gotta clear my head.” He pushed open the double doors and burst into the outdoor air. How many times had he done exactly this—stormed out of the lodge, all messed up?


  At least he knew exactly where to find an ice-cold creek to dunk his head in.

  12

  Clear Creek ran through the east end of the property. Fed by melting snowpack, home to intrepid trout, it had always been Kai’s favorite place to cool down. He stripped off every stitch of clothing and waded in. It felt like walking into a liquid ice cube. As if every cell of his body woke up and sounded the alarm—we’re going to die.

  He whooped out loud, his shouts echoing back to him through the forest. He swung his arms back and forth to amp up the BTU’s in his body. Creek water churned over the rocks, tumbling head over heels, reckless and free.

  Or maybe that was him—the reckless one. Why had he pulled out that wild theory about why she didn’t drink? Why hadn’t he asked Nicole about her engagement to Roger Vance in a civil manner? Why had he charged into the dining room, ready for war? Why had he kissed her, then turned around and insulted her?

  He could still see the desire in her eyes, still feel the press of her lips against his. She’d trusted him enough to kiss him back. But now she’d probably never trust him again.

  And that kiss—shit. That kiss had sent fire through his blood. Even now, immersed in icy-cold water, his cock stirred at the memory.

  That was officially a first. He’d never had anything approaching a hard-on in Clear Creek before. He hadn’t known it was physically possible.

  “Kai!”

  Gracie came leaping down the trail like a gazelle in cutoffs. “Are you okay, Kai? Did you fall in?”

  “That is the only sane explanation, but no.” He snorted, immersing himself deeper into the water. “I’m naked, by the way. Fair warning.”

  Gracie didn’t seem too fazed. She perched on a stump on the embankment above the creek. “I can’t believe you swim in that water.”

  “Swimming is stretching it. I’m getting out in about forty-five seconds, so what’s up?”

  “I just wanted to make sure you’re not thinking about leaving. You can’t leave, Kai. Promise.”

  Her fierceness surprised him. Based on what happened in the ski room, Max would probably kick him out all over again. “Why?”

  “I can’t explain it.” She rested her chin on her knees. “It’s just a feeling I have. That you need to stay.”

  Gracie had always experienced flashes of intuition like that, even as a little kid. She’d had a screaming nightmare the night before the accident.

  He trusted Gracie’s “feelings,” but they weren’t the only factor. “I don’t want to make things more stressful for Max. Seems like just being here, being Kai Rockwell, is enough to bring the stress. I’m not even fighting with him.”

  “I know. It’s been great. It makes such a difference for Dad. You can’t see it because you haven’t been here. But I can. He’s got an extra sparkle in his step, more zip. More zest.” She smiled at her own goofy string of words. “More zip-a-dee-doo-dah.”

  “And that’s thanks to me?” He pushed a clump of floating leaves away from him.

  “Yup. So if you could just stop annoying Nicole, everything would be great.”

  “Stop annoying Nicole, huh? Not sure that’s possible. Especially now that I basically accused her of being a fortune-hunter.”

  “You did? Yikes. That’s bad.” She plucked a blade of grass and stuck it between her teeth. “Very bad. You should be ashamed of yourself. If she was a fortune-hunter I’m sure she could do better than some falling-down old lodge in the middle of nowhere.”

  “Hey.” He splashed water toward her. “You’re insulting our legacy.”

  “Sorry, legacy.” She made a little face at him. “There, see how easy that was? A simple apology goes a long way. I’m sure if you tell Nicole that you were in the wrong and that you deeply, deeply apologize, she’ll forgive you.”

  Kai’s hackles rose. Not only had he apologized, but Nicole was the one who had slapped him. But Gracie hadn’t seen that part, and he wasn’t about to tell her. That was between him and Nicole. “I’m not going to apologize for looking out for Dad. It’s reasonable to investigate the background of someone who’s with him all day. It would be negligent not to.”

  “That’s true.”

  Nicole’s husky voice made them both startle as she emerged from the trees. Gracie nearly fell off the stump, and Kai quickly checked to make sure the Clear Creek water completely covered him. And that it wasn’t too clear.

  “Nicole!” Gracie scrambled off the stump and blocked her line of sight to Kai. “Kai’s in there naked and defenseless. How mad are you at him? I know he can be irritating, but he’s my big brother and I love him. And he means well.”

  Nicole let out an astonished laugh. “You’re protecting your tough rescue paramedic brother from me?”

  “I don’t need protecting,” Kai called. “Although a towel would be nice.”

  “Should have thought of that before.” Gracie shot him an impish grin. “Well, so long as neither of you is about to kill the other, I think I’ll get on back to the house. I’ve got ice cream to dish, cones to fill.”

  She skipped off into the woods, leaving Kai and Nicole alone.

  Nicole had added a zippered vest and a red beanie to her outfit. She shoved her hands in the pockets of her sweater and fixed her gaze on the ground.

  “I’m very sorry I struck you like that,” she said stiffly. “That’s not the way I normally behave. All I can do now is apologize and try to do better in the future.”

  Nice apology, he had to admit. He eyed her thoughtfully, noting her embarrassed expression and flushed face. For someone like her, so cautious and guarded, it must have been truly shocking to lose her cool like that.

  He noticed more details—shoulders a little hunched, knuckles white. Tension, wariness. He was really starting to know her body language well, he realized. Strange, with so many misunderstandings between them, that he would feel so in tune with her.

  The chill was starting to seep into his bones, so in the interest of avoiding hypothermia, he dove right into his apology.

  “Apology accepted, but not really needed. I jumped to conclusions and assumed the worst.”

  Looking unimpressed, she folded her arms across her chest. “Is that it?”

  Didn’t that about cover it? He clenched his jaw tight to keep his teeth from chattering. “That was supposed to be an apology.”

  “I just feel like there’s something missing. Like the apology part.”

  His junk was going to be missing if he stayed in here too much longer. “Okay, I’ll spell it out. I shouldn’t have speculated about a prenup, your relationship with Roger Vance, or your relationship with alcohol. I’m sorry for all of the above.”

  She ran her tongue across her lips. “Thank you.”

  A loaded silence hung between them.

  Nicole cleared her throat. “I also wanted to say that I don’t blame you at all for checking into my background. Just like you said, that’s a reasonable thing for someone to do. I would have done the same thing.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her, looking for the catch. It was such a fair and logical thing to say. There had to be a trick hidden in there somewhere.

  There he went, getting suspicious of Nicole over nothing. Give it up, Kai. Maybe she was just a fair and logical person. “Then I guess we agree. I was right to google you. But I was an ass to believe things at face value.”

  “Finally we’re on the same page.”

  He grinned. For a moment they looked at each other in silence, except for the noisy rush and tumble of the creek. And his teeth beginning to chatter.

  “This is getting awkward,” he told her. “If I don’t get out soon, there might be permanent damage.”

  Her lips quirked. “Then there’s one more thing I want to say.”

  “Go for it. I want to hear everything. Bring it on.” Quickly, please.

  “My father was a heavy drinker, probably an alcoholic even though he never admitted it. He left us when I was ten, lived on the streets, then died of
a heart attack. That’s why I don’t drink.”

  “Jesus, Nicole.” He sank underwater, icy water closing over his head, then surged up through the surface again, gasping. “Thinking I might drown myself for being such an idiot. I’m really sorry. If I’d known…shit. There’s no excuse. I’m sorry. Want to push me under?”

  She shook her head with a laugh. “No. Well, maybe a little. I just wanted to explain why I reacted like that.”

  “I get it. I really do.” He shivered as a wisp of breeze chilled his wet hair. How inappropriate would it be for him to get out now?

  She cocked her head at him. “It looks like I have the upper hand at the moment.”

  “Maybe.” He shook his arms to generate some more body heat. “Probably.”

  “Then can I ask you something?”

  “Make it fast.”

  For a wild moment he hoped she’d say something about the kiss.

  But she didn’t. “How attached are you to that old library room?” she said. “I have something in mind for it, maybe some healing crystals or aromatherapy treatments, and I never see anyone using it. I’m sure if Max knew you were okay with changing that room—”

  “Oh sweet Jesus. Now? Seriously? You see a man freezing his dick off in a creek and you think, let’s talk about crystals?”

  She grinned. “Boom. Gotcha.”

  Damn. He’d been had. Completely.

  “Oh, Nurse Nicole, you are in for it now. I’m coming out. And that’s all the warning you’re getting.”

  He rose to his feet, water streaming off his body, and waded toward the shore.

  13

  So much for maintaining her calm and dignified manner. At least she’d made it through her apology. And Kai’s apology. But now he was rising up out of the water like some kind of god of the wilderness, muscles flexing, skin red from the chill. And he was the most magnificent sight she’d ever seen.

  It took every ounce of willpower she owned—which was a lot—not to openly ogle him. She quickly turned aside and averted her gaze. But even with a few quick surreptitious glances, she saw enough. Long, powerful thighs, taut stomach, not an ounce of fat anywhere. Don’t look at that dark patch between his thighs. Don’t do it.