“For you.” She spread her legs slightly to give him better access.
“You better believe it. Sitting in that hole, all I could think about were two things. This slick pussy and revenge.”
She pulled back, blinking. “Revenge?”
He nibbled her neck, sliding his tongue along the slender curve. “Yes. I can’t count the number of ways I came up with to make that mother fucker lawman pay for sending me to that shit place. The badges don’t realize that by sending a fucker up he has the opportunity to create a man’s death in so many ways.”
“Wait. You didn’t say anything about killing anyone.” Fear found its way down her spine.
“Took you long enough to catch on.” He joined two more fingers with the other two and roughly pushed them deeper.
She whimpered and clung to his shoulders as he lifted her to her toes. “I-I thought you wanted us to have a new start,” she said through pants. “Get away from here.”
“We will. Tomorrow we start on that plan. I’m going to take care of a little business and you, my sweets, will play a starring role. Like a freakin’ living and breathing movie star.”
She leaned her head against the edge of the cabinet, not capable of wrapping her brain around his words. “O.K. I’ve never seen myself as much of a movie star, baby.” She lowered her gaze.
He lifted her chin and smiled. “You’re my star. You and me, well, we’re going to turn this town upside down. Modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Fuck yeah!”
“Anything for you.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I’ve waited all my life for someone to see me. Someone to love me for who I am. You love me, right, Spider?”
“I love those tits…that’s for sure.” He manhandled one.
She twisted from his harsh grip. “That’s not what I asked.” She puffed out her lower lip.
“We’ve been through this. I might not say it often, but you’re my girl. Now, there’s this move I’d like to try,” he whispered.
He shoved his hand inside her and he covered her moan with his mouth.
Chapter 7
THREE DAYS HAD passed since he’d started helping at Shy Brooke. To Nix’s pleasure and surprise, Melly hadn’t been late again and she seemed to be proving yet another point…that she could keep up with any man. He was exhausted, more from keeping his hands to himself than the long, hard days on the land. He was used to hard work, but what he wasn’t used to was refusing himself carnal pleasure. True enough, he’d never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Melly, but he’d told himself enough times that he couldn’t have her.
When the hands had asked him to head over to Lori’s for a couple of beers, he’d jumped at the chance to unwind and get the hell away for a while. Unfortunately, the two beers had only made him antsier and didn’t ease the tension behind his zipper. So he traded the beer for a coffee, munched on half a pizza, then left.
Because he wasn’t trusting himself not to stop at Melly’s to check on her, he decided to go back home to his cabin for the night. Nix needed some time to gather his thoughts.
Stepping in, he toed off his boots and hooked his hat on the knob. Removing his 9mm from the waistband of his jeans, he secured it and placed the gun on the shelf in the closet.
His place was unusually silent. He switched on the table lamp as he passed through the living room. He had just removed his shirt and tossed it into the washer when he heard a soft knock on the door. Glancing at the clock, he wondered who would be stopping by this late.
Looking out the window, he didn’t see a vehicle. Dragging out his phone, he missed an alert that someone had triggered the alarm because he had turned off his ringer. Switching on the laptop, he clicked on the camera view of the porch. He saw a black and white picture of a woman.
Opening the door, he looked out and then using his foot to push the door wider just as the woman swiveled, a wide smile parting her rose colored lips. “Hi there, handsome. You left Lori’s before I could say goodbye.”
He stared at Hope for several heartbeats. He hadn’t even thought about saying goodbye when he’d left. She’d been there with her friends and Nix had wanted to be left alone. That being why he’d left before his buddies had. “You came all the way out here to tell me goodbye…or hello? Where’s your car?” He looked beyond her shoulder to the driveway.
“I asked Janice to drop me off. I hope that isn’t a problem.” She batted her lashes and twirled a lock of hair around her finger. The twinkling of her dark eyes told him she didn’t care one bit if it was a problem.
“Did you follow me?”
“No…of course not. I ain’t a stalker.” Her eyes glazed over.
“It’s late. I had plans to hit the sack. I have to be up before the sun rises.”
Her plump bottom lip puckered and she tilted one voluptuous hip. “Trust me. I won’t keep you from hitting the sack. And I certainly won’t keep you from rising.” The delicious slant of her tone should have made him hard, but nothing, not even a twitch. Melly, the minx, had ruined him for all women. Each time he closed his eyes he saw her.
He swiped a hand over his short hair as sweat covered his brow.
Hope shivered and brought her arms around her shoulders. “It’s a bit chilly out here. Aren’t you going to invite me in?” she asked.
The cotton ball feeling in his throat doubled in size. He motioned for her to come in. She sashayed her way across the threshold, brushing her hip against his thigh in her short journey. “Can you call your friends and have them come back to get you?”
A look of surprise crossed her expression. “No phone.”
“I’ll let you use mine.” He took out his cell and laid it on the table.
“I’m afraid I don’t know their numbers. They’re programmed in my phone and it’s in my purse. I accidentally left it in her car.”
He knew a weak excuse when he heard one. “I’ll drive you back to town.”
“Maybe I can convince you to let me stay.” She took the three steps to bring her back to him and she stood on tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body close. So close he could feel the soft curves of her lush body.
Hope was beautiful, no doubt, but she deserved better than to have sex with a man who wanted another woman. Nix’s desire for Melly was so strong and he couldn’t fake that he wanted anyone else. Sure, he might get a moment’s satisfaction, but he’d have to face himself later. Gently removing Hope’s arms from his neck, he took a step back. Her eyes widened as her mouth twisted. “Really?” The word came out in four syllables.
This was the time he could explain with the standby excuse “It’s not you. It’s me,” and it would be true, but he had a feeling that’d only give her the challenge to try harder. So, he decided that being blunt was the best option. “I’m caught up with someone right now.”
Several long seconds passed and she finally gave a small shrug. “She’ll never know. Discreet is my middle name.”
“I’m sure it is, but I’d know.”
Hope gave a slight nod. “You really are something, Nix. A woman would be lucky to have you.”
“And you shouldn’t settle for anything less either.”
She laughed but it fizzled. “Well, ain’t this a doozy. I won’t be able to get my key until morning.”
“In your purse too?”
She nodded.
Although he felt she got the idea that he wasn’t interested, he wasn’t quite sure a stubborn woman like her wouldn’t think she could change his mind. Yet, he also couldn’t take her back to town and drop her off to spend the night outdoors. “How about you take my bed and I’ll sleep on the couch. In the morning I’ll drop you off wherever you need to go to get your key.”
“There it is again. That gallant lawman. Most men I know would show me the door. Or have sex with me, then show me the door.”
He never much thought the confident, beautiful woman had a softer side, but he caught a glimpse of it now. “If most men you know would toss you o
ut in the middle of the night, then you need to rethink the people you’re hanging out with.”
“Note taken. However, I can’t take your bed. The couch will do me fine.”
Exhausted, he didn’t bother arguing. He found an extra blanket and pillow for her and hit the sack, asleep the second his head hit the pillow.
Nix fluttered his eyes open and it took him a good five seconds to realize two things. Something had awakened him and it was light outside. Jumping up to a sitting position in bed, he grabbed his cell. The battery was dead. “Shit!” From the position of the sun’s light he knew he was at least two hours late.
Pound. Pound.
The hard knock on the door brought him out of the sheets and down the stairs in record time. He didn’t even bother looking through the window before he dragged open the door and blinked against the bright sunshine. The figure standing on his porch was only a silhouette backdropped by the sun. It wasn’t until she took a step that she came into the shadows and his breath stilled. Any other morning, he would have gladly welcomed the pretty redhead, but by her expression, he knew this wasn’t a friendly visit. And worse, he wasn’t alone inside the house.
Gathering his wits, he slipped outside and closed the door. He scratched his jaw.
“Rough night?” Melly asked in a sarcastic tone.
“Sort of. Did you come all the way out here to bust my balls?”
Her gaze narrowed. “Let’s see. What was the lecture I received the other day? Oh…yeah, I remember now. The life on a ranch starts before sunrise and if I can’t take it seriously, then I need to pack up and go. I bet you didn’t think you’d ever hear your own words used on you. Glad I could oblige.”
“I overslept.”
“After an evening out drinking? Don’t bother making excuses. I overheard the men talking about the boys’ night out. Did you forget we were supposed to meet at my father’s office this morning to get his approval on the irrigation system and new hires?”
Oh fuck! He screwed up. “What time is it? Can we still make it?”
She shook her head in irritation. “It’s nine o’clock, sunshine. He scheduled us to come in at eight because he would be out of the office for two days on business. And seeing that you had the papers in your truck, he couldn’t sign off on anything. Now we’re going to have to wait two more days before we can hire and that’s two days against me in showing my father that I’m responsible. If one of us isn’t taking this seriously, it’s you.” She stabbed her pointer finger in the center of his bare chest.
Chapter 8
HOW WAS IT possible that a man could jump out of bed and look this good? He had a layer of dark whiskers that would have made most men look scraggly, but instead made Nix look dangerous, warrior-like. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and seeing his bare torso reminded her of when she’d kissed his chest and dipped her tongue in each slope of his six-pack abs. She was sure the scratches from her fingernails on his back had healed, but the memory of her love marks remained. Sweat beaded between her breasts and she shifted in her boots, hoping to ease the fire of desire between her inner thighs.
She needed to stay angry with him. He’d been as firm as new leather trying to convince her that her irresponsibility affected everyone, and this morning he dropped the ball. They’d worked on the proposals for the irrigation system together and she’d interviewed a couple of ranch hand hopefuls only to have it shoved aside.
Not to mention, she was dog-ass tired. Melly’s ass stung and her thighs ached. Even a long, hot shower, and then a switch to ice cold water didn’t ease the pain. She felt a sliver of humiliation that she had believed she could handle herself physically on the ranch. Sure she could, but she’d been naïve to think she was fit enough to do hard labor. Five years had passed since she’d been on the reality show that had pushed her physically as well as mentally and emotionally. She wasn’t in the same shape she had been in, and her body was telling her she needed to get into the gym more. And, she was pregnant.
“Count yourself lucky, lawman. I don’t make it a habit to chase after my employees. Next time I’ll make a call to my father.”
He blinked. “Now wait a minute, sunshine.” He shifted on his bare feet. “I’m not your employee. You didn’t hire me, and you can’t fire me. I made a mistake. It happens. Lighten up.”
“Lighten up? Did you really just tell me to lighten up?” She tapped the toe of her boot. “Easy for you to say. My future relies on these next few weeks. I have a lot of work ahead of me to prove myself and there’s no time for a man who drank himself into a stupor and smells like a whorehouse.”
He opened his mouth, she guessed to defend himself, but the door opened behind him. His mouth slammed shut and he turned two shades whiter. Melly took a step to her right to look beyond him. Her heart fell to her dusty boots. The woman standing in the doorway wearing nothing but a skimpy see-through bra, barely-there panties, and a frown made Melly’s temper flare.
Clenching her hands into fists, she looked at Nix who now had a layer of sweat on his forehead and looked like he’d swallowed a razor blade. “I didn’t know you had company. That certainly explains a lot,” she pushed through thin lips.
“It’s too early for all this yelling,” the pretty blonde slurred and leaned a flared hip against the frame of the doorway.
“I’m sorry. It appears I broke up a party.” Stuck between wanting to slap Nix hard across the face and wanting to get the hell away from the awkward situation, she chose to turn and storm off the porch. She didn’t get very far before Nix was beside her.
“This isn’t what you think,” he said.
“Oh, what can I possibly be thinking? You have a naked woman in your cabin. You two must be having an innocent discussion about the weather and…” Melly cleared her throat, “her plastic surgeon who did a fantastic job on her boobs.”
“That’s not true.”
“You think those are real? Figures.” She continued to the driver’s side of her car.
“I’m not talking about her breasts. She’s not naked. She’s wearing clothes.” He blew out a long breath.
“A strip of lace and floss don’t count as clothing.”
“I can explain.”
She turned and faced him, shoving her anger and jealousy, yes jealousy, aside. “You don’t owe me an explanation. What you do, or who you do, when you’re away from Shy Brooke is none of my concern. So, if you think you can find a shirt, bid Marilyn Monroe goodbye and find your way to the ranch, we’d love to have your presence for the staff meeting later. She opened the door, climbed in and rolled down the window. “And don’t forget to close the barn door. We wouldn’t want the horse to get free.”
She slid the gear shift into drive, slammed on the gas pedal, and kicked up rocks as she raced out of the driveaway. Looking through her rearview mirror she watched as he zipped up his jeans and his image got further and further away. Dragging her eyes back on the road ahead, she took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Tears filled her eyes, but she pushed them back. Her emotions were turned upside down. What right did she have to get angry, or jealous, that Nix had slept with a woman? A young, sexy blonde who looked like her thighs had never met butter.
Melly had made it clear that the intimacy she and Nix shared was a one-time thing only.
In truth, she guessed she’d have to get used to seeing Nix with other women. Once the baby was born, if he chose to stick around, they’d have to learn how to adjust and do what’s right for the little human they created. So that meant she’d have to put her feelings and desires aside. She had to acclimate herself to the position of authority at Shy Brooke and prove to everyone that she was her mother’s daughter too. She didn’t need to feud over some charming man who probably had more than one woman willing to ease his “tension”.
After her self pep-talk on the way back to the ranch, she believed she was doing pretty good. She’d even sat in the staff meeting, answered questions, and managed to handle Nix with a dose of cool, profes
sionalism the entire hour. Feeling empowered, and the image of him shirtless and the undressed blonde pushed to the recesses of her mind, she stopped at the stables to visit Jewels. Geared toward being a boss and making this place her own.
“Look what I brought for you.” Melly took a carrot from her pocket and held it in her palm. The mare nibbled the treat. Patting the horse’s thick neck, Melly could feel the muscles relax. “How about some fresh water?” She grabbed the metal bucket and took it outside to the pump and started to fill it. A bird chirped from a nearby tree and she looked up to check out the pretty cardinal. It flapped its wings then flew away. Following its movement with her gaze, something caught her attention near the old red shed that stood along the edge of the woods. The door was open and swinging in the breeze. The building was once storage for feed, but Melly didn’t know it was still in good enough condition to be used.
After filling the bucket and pouring it into Jewels’ trough, Melly pushed her gloves into her back pocket and headed through the field toward the building, curious. The out shed had been standing since Melly was a kid and it had weathered many a storm, obvious by the peeling paint and holes in the roof. She peeked inside and was accosted by the strong smell of leather, mold and something else…like a man’s sweat. A piece of paper was caught by the breeze and swirled around the dirt floor. Stepping into the small space, she grabbed the paper which happened to be a candy bar wrapper and while she was examining it, she heard a soft clank. Spinning on her heels, her breath swooshed from her lungs as she realized the door had closed.
Hurrying over, she gave the weathered wood a push. It shook, but it didn’t budge. “Hello?” she called through the door. Nothing. “What the hell?” she whispered. “Once I get out of here your ass is grass!” Maybe the threat would work, but the door stayed close.
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