Wild Ride

by Cathryn Fox

  He cocked his head, and when he saw the real curiosity moving over her pretty face, he said, “A private club, where private things happen.”

  “Oh,” she said, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth. “So you mean like, a sex club?”

  He watched her, reading her body language. “Wait, do you want to go?”

  She drew in a breath, her glance momentarily flickering to Blake before he disappeared inside the barn. Turning back to Mac, she said quietly, almost demurely, “I guess that’s up to you, since you’re the one calling the shots.”

  Mac couldn’t help but laugh. Jesus, he had no doubt that discovering all her desires, all her secret fetishes, as he coaxed her out of her shell was going to be as exciting for him as it was for her. But first he wanted to get to know her better outside the bedroom.

  “Come on,” he said, jumping from the water and pulling her out with him.

  “Where?” she asked as her wet body collided with his.

  He groaned and fought down the heat rising in him. “There’s someone I want to formally introduce you to.”

  “Oh? And who might that be?” she asked, suspicion in her eyes.

  He grabbed his clothes off the pool deck and reached for her hand. “Eleanor.”

  “Ah, Eleanor. The infamous runaway horse.”

  He eyed her. “Why is it I get the feeling you think I had something to do with that?”

  “The jury’s still out,” she replied, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

  He looked over her wet clothes. “First I should let you get changed. Benjamin delivered your luggage to your room already.”

  “Benjamin?

  “Retired rodeo rider who now works the front desk. You’ll love him.”

  He guided her to the main lodge and noted the way she kept throwing glances his way. “What?” he asked as he slicked his wet hair back.

  “I don’t know. I guess it just surprises me to find you here in the middle of nowhere.” She looked around. “I figured you’d need to be somewhere where there was a constant source of excitement.”

  “Believe me, there is always something exciting happening around here, and if not…” He paused to give her a wink before adding, “Wrangler’s isn’t too far away.”

  He led her into the main lodge, but Benjamin was nowhere to be found. “He probably left your room open for you.” They took the stairs to the second level, and he pushed her door open for her.

  Jess stepped in and her eyes widened as she took in the king-size bed, the pretty floral bedding, handcrafted oak furniture, and a vase full of fresh flowers that he’d picked earlier that morning, when he’d thought this was a stupid idea.

  She stepped up to the dresser and breathed in the bouquet. “Gorgeous,” she whispered. Turning, she leaned against the dresser and said, “This whole room is so…so pretty.”

  “Not what you expected?”

  “Let’s just say today has been full of surprises.” She walked to her bed, where Ben had left her suitcase. She unzipped it and pulled out another dress, knocking what looked like a journal to the floor.

  It instantly sent his thoughts careening back in time, to the day he looked over her shoulder to glimpse a few words. Always curious to read more, to understand her needs better, he picked it up and flipped it open.

  “Mac, don’t,” she lunged for it and held it to her chest. Her eyes were wide when she asked, “Did you read anything?”

  He dipped his head. “What is it you don’t want me to see?”

  She drew her bottom lip between her teeth. “Nothing.”

  “If it’s nothing, why can’t I see?” She clutched it tighter.

  “Because…”

  “I thought you said you trusted me.”

  “But it’s my…my most private thoughts.”

  Interested to hear more, he prodded, “As in your private fantasies?” He watched her for a long moment, and then asked, “Do you trust me enough to let me read one? You can pick it out if you’d like.”

  “I don’t think I could do that.”

  Undeterred, he pressed, “Okay, how about you close your eyes, and open to a page.” He stepped closer, and she quivered as he ran his finger down her arm. “We only have a week here, and while I’d like to fulfill every fantasy you have in that journal, we don’t have time. If you show me, I could at least be sure to fill one or two.” Her hand loosened on the book, and in a soft voice, he commanded, “Show me, Jess.”

  She blew out a shaky breath. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Closing her eyes, Jess pulled the book open and handed it to him.

  She kept her eyes squeezed shut as Mac quickly read through the passage, his mind racing with ideas as he absorbed her words.

  After a moment he said, “You can open your eyes now.”

  When her lids flickered open, he closed the book and handed it back.

  “What did you read?” she asked, nervousness and intrigue in her eyes.

  “Time will tell,” was all he said, and then he jerked his thumb toward the hall. “My room is beside yours. I’ll get changed and be right back.”

  Mac hurried to his room and pulled on a clean shirt and pair of jeans. He tugged on the collar as he thought about what he’d read. His heart beat a little faster and he raked a shaky hand through his hair, wondering if he’d be able to do that for her. It’s not like he hadn’t gone there in the past, done those things, but this was Jess…his Jess…and, well, that changed everything for him.

  Once dressed, Mac hurried back to find Jess standing in her doorway waiting for him, that pretty pink flush still coloring her cheeks.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said.

  “Come on then.” He grabbed her hand again and led her to the barn. Her eyes widened, fascinated as he pointed out all the horses.

  “You really love it here, don’t you?” she asked, eyeing him carefully, like she was actually seeing him, the real him, for the first time.

  “I do.” He stopped in front of his mare’s stall and opened the door. “Meet Eleanor.”

  Eleanor pushed up against Mac. “Hey, girl,” he said. “Have I not been giving you enough attention?” Eleanor whinnied and nudged Mac hard. He laughed and nearly fell backward. “She’s got an attitude,” he said to Jess.

  She held her hand out. “Is it okay?”

  “Sure.” Mac patted his horse and Jess rubbed her nose and said, “She’s beautiful. When is she due?”

  “A couple of weeks.”

  “Hey, girl,” she whispered to Eleanor, who seemed to take an instant liking to Jess. Not that he could blame her. Jess had such a calming, soothing demeanor. “Did you name her?” Jess asked.

  He gave her a crooked grin. “Yeah, after my grandmother. She loved horses.” His heart hitched when he caught the soft smile on her face. “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” she said as Eleanor kept nudging Mac. “Do you think we can take her for a walk?”

  “Really?” he asked, liking that she cared so much about something that was important to him. “You want to?”

  She nodded eagerly. “I’m a city girl and I never get the chance. Besides, I think she’s trying to tell you something.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  Mac strapped her up and they led her from the barn. He turned toward the mountain and guided Eleanor and Jess along a path until they were at the crest of a hill overlooking the ranch.

  As Eleanor turned her attention to the grass, Jess stood near the edge taking in the view. She went quiet for a moment, introspective, then cast him a glance. “Why now, Mac? After all these years, why did you arrange this, considering we haven’t talked in ages?”

  “We used to talk,” he said. “Well, more like I talked, and you listened. But then things changed when we got older.”

  She pulled a face. “I guess you intimidated me.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you became loud and wild.”

&nb
sp; He dropped to the ground and pulled her down with him. He stretched out, propping himself up on his elbows. “It was the only way to be heard most times.” She gave him an odd look, and he went on to explain. “You were an only child. I grew up the youngest of six boys. If I wanted to be heard, I had to jump up and down and scream from the rooftops.”

  Understanding passed over her eyes. “I guess I never considered that. It was always so quiet at my place.”

  “I loved it at your place.”

  She smiled at nodded her head. “Because of the quiet, right?”

  “Yeah, but that’s not all.”

  “No?”

  “No. I loved it because you were there.”

  “Oh,” she said, her cheeks flushing again.

  He gave her a sheepish look. “I always made an excuse to come over when Mom visited.”

  “She visited a lot to keep my mom company.” She pursed her lips and added, “My father was away a lot.”

  When sadness entered her voice he asked, “Tell me about your dad. I never knew much about him.”

  “He was a salesman and a serious workaholic. I mean, my mom and I appreciated that he worked to take care of his family, but there should be a balance, know what I mean?”

  When her eyes met his, he said, “I do. Could he have changed jobs, or at least positions in the company he worked for?”

  “He did, and promised he’d be home more, but that never happened. Once a workaholic, always a workaholic.”

  “If I had a family at home, I’d learn to delegate more, because I’d always put them first.”

  She nodded, but he didn’t get the sense that she believed him. She changed the subject and said, “For a guy who was always loud and boisterous, you seem pretty mellow right now.”

  He picked a blade of grass and put it between his teeth. “It’s you, darlin’. You have this natural, soothing energy about you that relaxes people.” He gestured with a nod toward his horse. “Just look at Eleanor. She’s been so high-strung lately, and now she looks like she’s about to nod off.”

  Jess laughed and cast a quick glance Eleanor’s way. “She does look a bit tired.” She looked back at the ranch below and went quiet.

  “Tell me something,” he asked, his smile falling.

  She nibbled her lip, like she was worried about what he was going to ask. “What?”

  He grabbed her hand and brushed his thumb over her flesh. Heat moved into her eyes, and he felt the shiver that moved through her. “Why did you really decide to stay?” he asked, so damn anxious to give her everything she’d ever wanted, needed, and get her to finally open up to him.

  She blinked up at him, her eyes telling him what he needed to know. “Because I…I wanted to see…I needed to…”

  “To explore the connection, too?” he asked.

  “Yeah, something like that,” she said.

  When she nibbled her lip again and looked into the far distance to see Blake exiting the barn with the guests, he knew exactly what she was thinking. Even though he feared it might be a bit too soon, he said, “I have an idea.”

  She blinked up at him, and he could see intrigue in her eyes. “Should I be scared?”

  “Never with me baby, never.”

  Chapter Four

  Equal amounts of excitement and nervousness trickled through Jess’s veins as she moved about her room getting ready for tonight’s adventure. She had no idea what she would see, but she had to admit, she was anxious to find out more.

  She knew that Wildman Mac would rock her world, and she had no doubt that, if she allowed herself to loosen up, she would experience more in one week with him than she had in her entire life. The truth was, everything about Mac intrigued her, from his contagious energy, the way he cared for his horse, to the way he leisurely gazed at her, desire brewing in the depths of his perceptive baby blues. God, no man had ever looked at her like that before, or had gone to such extreme measures to win her over. She had to admit, she was more than a little flattered by it all.

  Of course, she couldn’t forget that when the week was over, Mac would lose interest and move on, but she wasn’t going to dwell on that, because it wasn’t like she was here looking for long-term from him. No, Mac was a man who was on the road all the time, a workaholic like her father had been. She had seen the loneliness on her mother’s face over the years, heard her tears even though she’d tried to hide her pain, and wanted no part of a life like that. Mac might have said he’d delegate more to put his family first, but honestly, she didn’t think it was possible, not for someone with his personality. Truthfully, she and Mac were opposites in almost every way, and she’d be wise to remember that.

  When Jess settled down, she wanted it to be with someone who put his family before his work, which meant that her plan and her only plan for this week was to abandon caution, try to push past her comfort zone, and let whatever was going to happen between them physically…happen. That last thought sent a shiver skittering through her.

  Feeling restless, antsy, and completely on edge, she reapplied her lipstick and gave herself a once-over in the bathroom mirror. Since she wasn’t sure what to wear to such a club, she opted for a simple black dress that touched the top of her knees, thankful that she’d decided to toss it into her suitcase at the last second.

  She walked to her window to peer out and spotted Coop and Julia exiting the ranch’s saloon. Julia had seemed quite nervous on the plane, but from the smile on her face now, to the intense way Coop was looking at her, Jess had no doubt he had one heck of an adventure waiting for her.

  Just like Mac has one waiting for me.

  Thinking of Mac had her remembering his peek into her journal—her innermost thoughts. She grabbed the leather-bound book off her bed and flipped it open, thumbing through the pages. She’d opened it to the middle when she handed it to him, and searched for the entry he might have read. Her breath caught when she scanned a few entries, and when she came across the one with the ménage, she gasped. Could he have read that? She dropped it onto her bed and paced back to her window. At the back of the lodge near the base of the mountain, she noticed a quaint cottage, but she had little time to consider who might live there when a hard knock sounded on her door.

  She brushed her damp hands over her dress and tamped down her nervousness as she hurried across the room to answer. When she found Mac standing there staring at her, her breath caught in her throat, and a wave of nervousness rolled through her. She quickly pushed it away, and knowing she’d committed to this, wanted this, she was determined to follow through with their arrangement. With thumbs hooked in his front pockets, his stance was casual, relaxed, the look on his face completely flirtatious.

  “Hey,” he said, his smile making her weak in the knees. He leaned against the doorjamb and looked her over from head to toe.

  “Hey yourself,” she managed to get out. She crinkled her nose, suddenly uncomfortable as she took in his jeans and checkered shirt. “I think I’m overdressed.”

  He pushed off the door. “You look beautiful.”

  “Maybe I should change.”

  She made a move to go, but he stopped her. He slipped his hand around her waist and tugged her close. Her nipples pressed against his chest, and pressure brewed deep between her legs, a blatant reminder of how much she wanted to simply let go.

  He dipped his head and whispered, “You don’t have to change a thing, darlin’.”

  Overwhelmed by his close proximity and needing a moment of reprieve to gather herself, she croaked out, “Okay, just give me a second.” When he released her, she darted to the bureau to grab her purse. She drew in a fortifying breath and turned back around, only to bump into a wall of muscle.

  “Oh,” she said, surprised to find Mac standing so close.

  He captured her before she faltered, and as his big hand spread over her back, his glance momentarily flickered to the open journal on her bed. Her stomach soared, once again wondering which fantasies he’d read and if he reall
y would fulfill them. With his expression unreadable, he looked back at her and fingered the silk material on the sleeve of her dress before trailing his hands down her arm. Her throat dried when she caught the intensity in his piercing eyes.

  “Just so you know,” he said, his voice heavy with desire, the air between them sexually charged, “I’ll never make you do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

  She nodded, because beneath the heat in his eyes, there was real honesty. “Okay,” she said.

  Smile restored, he stepped back and waved a hand. “Then let’s go.”

  He guided her to his truck, and after she climbed in, they drove away from the ranch. A few miles down the road, he turned to her and directed the conversation. “Did you know that your yoga studio is just around the corner from my office?”

  She raised a challenging brow. “How is it you seem to know so much about me?”

  He grinned. “I have my ways.”

  “Tell me about these ways.”

  “Jag’s a private investigator.”

  “Ah, so that’s how you three guys tracked us down after all these years.”

  “Yes and no.” He shrugged, his look sheepish. “I’ve kind of been keeping tabs on you.”

  “Oh, really?” she said, a little surprised, and maybe a little pleased. But then again, she’d kept tabs on him, too.

  She shot him an accusing glance. “What else do you know about me?”

  He laughed. “Well, at the risk of sounding like a stalker, I know that you live alone and that early every morning, you go to the studio by yourself.”

  “So how come you never said hello?”

  He arched a brow. “Do you really have to ask?”

  Okay, okay, so they both knew she always ran in the opposite direction back in high school.

  He gave her a wink, his look boyish and sweet when he admitted, “My charm never worked on you.”

  “And yet you invite me to your ranch for a whole week.”

  His grin was sly. “Yeah, because out here, no matter where you run, I can catch you.”

  She chuckled and glanced around the countryside as he drove. “Well, I must say I’m actually looking forward to tomorrow morning. I can imagine how peaceful it’s going to be to meditate and go through my poses in the great outdoors with all the wildlife around me.” She looked at the passing scenery and said, “Why don’t you join me?”