by Jeannie Moon
Both men rose from the table at the same time. An understanding was developing between them, and Jonah for one, appreciated it.
She knows what she wants, he’d said. But what was that, exactly? He doubted she wanted a big brother.
“Try not to overthink it,” Mal advised. “She’s not all that complicated. In fact, I’ve never met any woman with less guile than Keely.”
Jonah didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. A guileless Keely? That made him feel guilty. But then his mind went back to the minutes before when he held her in his arms, tight against him, her soft curves molding to his body. How she felt was a very good thing.
And he had to trust her to know her own mind.
They may have had a history, but the future was an unknown. Jonah generally didn’t look more than a few days ahead. That was what the Army had done to him, that’s what serving in Afghanistan had done to him. Best friends were with him one day, and gone the next. Now, he didn’t expect IED’s to threaten Keely’s life, but he knew she wasn’t in Marietta permanently.
Maybe that’s what Mal meant by overthinking. It was possible she’d gotten so under his skin that he was thinking past days or weeks. With Keely, his mind went long-term. And that scared the shit out of him.
Mal slapped him on the back. “Come on, my rental’s down the block. Right in front of the chocolate shop.”
“I got the silver pick up right there. Follow me out to the Andersen place.”
Jonah needed to plan his escape. He’d get Mal out to Keely’s place, then go back to the ranch and blow off some steam. There had to be work to do, or horses that needed exercising. He’d do anything to get his mind off the brainy, curvy blonde who was making his blood boil.
*
The ride out of town only took about ten minutes, but the place was set down a long driveway, in a neighborhood, that was as twisty as a mountain road. Mal’s rental, a nondescript sedan, followed him closely. His plan was to turn around and leave immediately. At this point, there was no use in tempting fate. He had to keep his distance from Keely until he could figure out if this was just about getting laid, or was about her.
Of course, nothing ever went as planned. As he pulled into the dirt circle near the barn, Mrs. Andersen flagged him down. What was he going to do now? Even at thirty-two years old, if his mother found out he’d been impolite, she’d whack him right upside the head. Throwing the truck into gear and cutting the engine, he caved.
“Hey, Mrs. Andersen. I brought you something.”
“I heard we were having company,” she said, smiling at Malcolm. “Thank you for getting him here safely, Jonah.”
“No problem. I’ll be going now that I don’t have to worry about him driving into a ditch or something.”
“He drove nice and slow for me, too.” Mal emerged from his car, and turned on his charm for Keely’s mom. It was almost painful to watch, but women seem to eat this shit up. Wrapping the woman in a hug, he held tight. “I’m so glad to see you, and thanks for putting me up. I can’t wait to catch up with y’all.”
“Jonah, Keely’s in the barn. Go get her for me. I have a cake, and coffee is brewing.” Mrs. Andersen had taken Mal by the elbow and was letting him escort her into the house. “Go on,” she said. “The girl doesn’t bite.”
Did she have to say that? Thinking about the little nips he’d like to lay down Keely’s neck was the last thing he needed. Self-control was the name of the game. He would not let the woman affect him.
But the second he walked into the barn and saw her, hair in a haphazard ponytail, hay stuck to her jeans—looking every bit the country girl—he damn near lost his mind. She didn’t hear him at first, instead she hummed quietly, while laying long brush strokes over the back of a big bay gelding.
Swallowing hard, he took two steps in her direction before the horse noticed him and let out a soft puff of air alerting her to his presence. When she looked at him, Jonah saw curiosity, sweetness, and a little bit of fear in her expression.
For his part, all he wanted to do was kiss her senseless, and hoped that she wouldn’t be afraid anymore.
“Your ma sent me out. She has coffee and cake.”
“That’s my mother. Carbs and caffeine,” she smiled weakly. “Did you get Mal out here okay?”
She was inching her way toward him, her eyes bright and full of questions. Stepping in her direction, he didn’t want to get the answers wrong. “I don’t like him. He’s probably lost in the mountains somewhere.”
“You’d never do that,” she whispered. “You try to act all badass, but you’re a good guy.”
“No, I’m not.” He should do something to scare her off, something to make her run as far from him as possible, but he couldn’t. “You’re heading into the mountains soon?”
“Tomorrow.” She stood straight and tall, her hands folded in front of her. She looked nervous. “If you still want to come.”
He had no idea when they’d entered each other’s space, but she reached out and laid a hand on his chest. “Tell me what you’re thinking, Jonah.”
His mind was going thousand different directions, and every one of them led back to her. Clasping her hand in his, a warmth spread through him. This wasn’t just lust, it was something else.
Something far more important.
Bending toward her, his forehead touched hers. The contact was so innocent, but so intimate, Jonah got the answer to one of his questions. It was all about Keely.
And he was screwed.
“Jonah,” she whispered. “Will you kiss me now? Please?”
The question floored him. Once again she proved she had more nerve than he did. But it was a risk.
“Keely, I don’t know. I want to.”
“Then just do it. I want you to. I won’t break.”
There were a thousand reasons he shouldn’t kiss her, but only one that told him he should. And that one reason was beating back all his good sense—all his reason—leaving him with nothing but this sweet perfect creature, who he wanted more than anything.
He gave in.
Gently cupping her cheeks in his hands, he tilted her head back and took in every inch of her face. She was so beautiful, everything else around him fell away. Jonah considered himself a pretty tough guy. He gone through a lot in his life, and he’d survived. There was a very good chance he wouldn’t survive her.
A tiny tear drop pricked the corner of her eye, and he brushed it away with his thumb. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I think I’m just nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous.”
Leaning in, he kissed the corner of her mouth. There was sweetness there, like peaches and honey. A slap to his senses. Brushing his lips over hers, the taste intensified, drawing him in, and when she parted her lips ever so slightly and sighed, Jonah couldn’t resist any more.
Locking her head in place, Jonah captured her mouth with his, and all that Keely was, all she had become, blasted through him like a fierce storm. He’d never in his life experienced a kiss like this, with a woman like this.
Warm and supple, her lips gave, and soon their tongues tangled as their bodies melted into one another. She was grabbing the front of his shirt, holding on; when he felt her knees buckle, he knew why. She was all in, and his mind wandered to what it would feel like inside her, moving and being surrounded by her warmth.
Abandoning her mouth for the moment, Jonah nipped her ear, moved down Keely’s long neck. She smelled almost as good as she tasted. Everything about her was fresh, clean.
“Jonah…” Her arms were wrapped around his head and neck, she was pulling him in, holding him close. “We’re in trouble, aren’t we?” The question came out on a breath.
“Big trouble.”
It was then. When the realization hit both of them, they stepped back from each other.
The sight of her was too much. Her cheeks were pink, flushed, and warm. Her lips were swollen and he could see the peaks of her nipples thro
ugh her shirt. Keely was breathing heavy, and her body looked supple and relaxed. Like she was ready to make love all night.
As for how he felt? He was so hard it hurt. If they weren’t in her parents’ barn in broad daylight, he’d take her any way she wanted him.
The woman owned him, and he was fucking screwed.
“Keely…” His voice had gone hoarse.
“Please don’t tell me you’re sorry.”
Jonah’s eyes crinkled when he smiled. Stroking her cheek, she felt everything grow warm again, right to her core.
“I wasn’t going to. I’m not sorry. I just don’t know where we go from here. That was… Jesus.”
He wasn’t wrong. She didn’t know where they would go either. She cared for him, she always had, but what if they had a relationship—a real relationship—and it fell apart? How would she deal with that, especially knowing that anytime she came home, she’d see him again?
“What do you think?” He stepped closer, and as their bodies touched again, as his hands slipped to her waist, the desire flared again. The man was dangerous.
“I don’t want to ruin anything between us. And it’s you, which is wonderful, but is it… I dunno… weird?”
His laugh rumbled deep in his chest, and then Keely was on the receiving end of one of his smiles. “Maybe a little. Especially since your brother told me this morning to keep you out of trouble.”
In spite of herself, she chuckled. “Did he? That doesn’t seem fair. He gets in lots of trouble, I’m sure.”
“It’s not fair, and he does. Maybe we need to step back and think about this a little. Before we jump into anything.”
“Will we be okay tomorrow? Alone in the hills?”
“I’ll take a really cold shower in the morning.”
“That’s probably smart,” she agreed. “Will it help?”
“Probably not.”
Chapter Six
Jonah waked into the farmhouse at the ranch, and was immediately surrounded with the sweet smell of a homemade breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, eggs and hot coffee were exactly what he needed to get himself ready for a day out with Keely. He had a feeling he was going to be exhausted by the time it was all over.
His mother was chatting with his father at the counter as they fixed their plates. Since it was Saturday, the pace at the ranch was a little slower, but chores still needed to be done. His father looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
“Well, look who’s here!” he said. “What’s the occasion?”
Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sipped it and shook his head. “Nothing. Just thought I’d come have a real breakfast for a change, if that’s okay. Spend a little time. That okay?”
“Sure. Just that this is the first time you’ve been here for breakfast in weeks.”
“It’s lovely, honey. We love seeing you.” His mother kissed his cheek and gave his father a look that scolded him without a word. “Have a seat, I’ll get you fixed up.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
His father rolled his eyes. “You can stop spoiling them anytime, Chrissy.”
Mom laughed, big and full, telling his father without a word that wasn’t going to happen. Jonah relaxed immediately. His mother, Christine, grew her family with love and discipline, raising five active boys and handling one stubborn husband without missing a beat. Never once did he question who was in charge of their house. His mother ruled the roost.
“What are you doing today? Dad could use a hand with a couple of the stallions that need exercise.”
“I’m heading out in a little while. I’m going into the mountains to help a friend with a research project.”
He saw his parents exchange glances.
“A friend?” His dad was sitting across from him, one foot resting on the opposite knee. “This wouldn’t be the friend you rescued off the highway a week or two ago, would it?”
He didn’t answer.
“Jonah?” Mom asked.
All he wanted was breakfast. He got an interrogation. Marietta was a small town in every sense, including everyone knowing everyone else’s business.
“Is that a problem?”
His mother shook her head and broke of a piece of her muffin. “No! I think it’s nice you’re helping Keely. She’s a lovely girl. Smart as a whip.”
“She is,” he answered. “She’s looking for locations in the mountains around here to set sensors. She’ll be analyzing hot spots, seismic activity.”
“Like volcanoes?” Seeing his mother’s eyes go wide gave him a reason to chuckle.
“The whole range was volcanic once, Mom. We get small earthquakes all the time, and no one notices. Plus, there’s lots going on in Yellowstone, so yeah.”
“That’s interesting,” said his mother, who was suddenly concerned. “Is it dangerous?”
Jonah hoped not, because the urge to protect Keely just reared up like one of his dad’s stallions.
Digging into his breakfast, he hoped his parents didn’t ask any more questions. Talking about her set off all kinds of warning bells in his head. He could feel something for her. If he was honest with himself, he already did. “It will be fine. Nothing dangerous. No rappelling or rock climbing today.”
“She’s a spitfire,” his dad interjected. “I saw her and her daddy at the dealership picking up a new Jeep for her. Seems her truck has been retired.”
“That’s good. I’m surprised it lasted this long. Gabe used to beat the hell out of that thing.”
“It’s nice the two of you are spending time together. You keep to yourself too much.” Mom was many things, but subtle wasn’t on the list. She wanted him to find a wife.
Two of his brothers were married. The oldest, Eli, lived in Minnesota; he and his wife had two kids, but they weren’t around much. Gavin, who was just a year older than him, got married a couple of months ago.
Mom knew better than to bother with his brother Dan, who at thirty-five was very set in his ways, so Jonah was the next on the mission docket. Luke, the youngest, still had a few years before she got on his case.
“Look, I’m keeping her out of trouble,” he said. “She’s got too much enthusiasm for her own good.”
His father smiled. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Enthusiasm keeps things interesting.”
“There are no ‘things’. I just don’t want her to end up hurt. Or worse.”
He still remembered how scared he was when he found her nearly frozen in a snowstorm ten years ago. The walk to the cave with her in his arms was the longest of his life. She was unconscious when he found her—pale, her lips were blue and her breathing was shallow.
When she woke up, she was shivering so badly, all Jonah could do was wrap her in a blanket and hold her until he got her warmed up. Never in his life had he felt that kind of fear. It was almost as bad as some of the missions he’d flown when he was in Afghanistan. Granted, no one was shooting at him or blowing the crap out of his buddies, but the thought of losing Keely ripped at his core.
Which is how he knew his response wasn’t just physical. His protective streak had kicked into high gear, as did his possessiveness. A voice inside him kept telling him she was the one. His and no one else’s.
If someone had told him Keely would have been the girl to capture his heart, he’d never had believed it. But then the image of her after just being kissed flashed through his mind. Loose strands of her hair being were lifted by a breeze, her eyes were closed, her cheeks were pink and soft. Desire balled in his belly.
He needed another cold shower.
*
Waiting was the worst. Having her parents watch her as she fidgeted and paced wasn’t much better. It was downright nerve-wracking.
It would have helped if Malcolm were there, but he’d left at the crack of dawn to meet with a guide about a Yellowstone trek. It sounded like they were planning on going off trail. Which could be exciting and dangerous.
Another cup of coffee was probably in order since she’d barely sle
pt the night before, and she had no idea what exactly was keeping her up. Oh sure, she was anxious about her research. There was always a possibility she wouldn’t turn up anything new, but if she was honest with herself it was more about Jonah. Ever since he’d kissed her, she hadn’t been able to shake the thought of him.
There were a couple of things she wanted to talk to him about, Harry’s House and the calendar, most of all. She’d promised Charlie she’d help, and she planned on doing so.
She also wished she could talk to him about the low ache down in her belly, the need that balled up every time he was close by, every time she thought about him. It was ridiculous. She’d been around strong masculine men most of her adult life, and she’d never reacted like this.
Field geologists and geophysicists weren’t wimps. These were people who enjoyed physical work, and they did it outdoors in all weather. Keely had the feeling Jonah saw her as some fragile little flower. She was sure he was only coming along with her to make sure she didn’t get hurt. Not that walking the trails and finding locations to set her sensors was going to get her hurt, but by Jonah’s own admission, he didn’t really know what she was doing.
Teasing him could be fun. She could tell him she was going to test acidity in some hot springs. Go on and on about the flesh-eating waters. He might need a good scare.
“What you smirking about?” her father asked.
“Nothing. Just thinking… never mind.”
Just then, she heard the sound of the truck slowing and turning into her driveway. It reminded her of all the days she waited for her father to come home from work. Her dad was a master cabinetmaker, and his shop was right on the edge of Marietta in an old, converted barn. The outside looked pretty rustic, with long roughhewn boards, painted a traditional barn red. But inside, the place was state-of-the-art. It was also beautiful. Light streamed in from windows placed high around the roofline, along with several strategically placed skylights. He had a great deal of complicated machinery, but any finish work was all done by hand.
He was commissioned by architects, designers, and local governments to make anything from a pedestal to a stair rail to hand milled molding. He was an artist, and Keely knew that he didn’t completely understand her obsession with all things technical.