“Not yet. The cave doesn’t start going downhill for a few hundred feet and we’re not going that far. Follow me.”
Jake started walking and Erin stayed glued to the heels of his boots. She didn’t like closed in spaces. She didn’t like being in pitch black darkness. And she most definitely didn’t like being underground, or in the ground, or anywhere that wasn’t in the open.
“I’m turning the flashlight off for a few seconds,” he whispered. “Sit on the floor beside me.”
“Why are we whispering?”
Jake held the flashlight below his chin and smiled a wicked smile. “I’m creating atmosphere.”
He turned the flashlight off and Erin nearly screamed when everything went pitch black. “That’ll do it,” she muttered.
Holding her hands out, she felt Jake’s body fold toward the floor. She waited, then slid so close that she almost landed in his lap.
Montana was too cold for glow worms or fireflies. And as far as she knew, fireflies didn’t live underground. She hoped he wasn’t about to show her some prehistoric dinosaur bones glowing from radioactive particles. She peered into the darkness, waiting for something to happen before she started hyperventilating.
“Welcome to story time…” Jake flicked his flashlight on and the wall in front of them lit up like a Christmas tree.
Erin stared at the prehistoric drawings painted on the sandstone. Red and white shapes that looked like warriors and animals looked back at her. “This is amazing. How did you find it?”
“Dad brought me here when I was about Ethan’s age. We used to tell each other stories about what the figurines were doing and where they were going. This one’s my favorite.”
Jake’s flashlight moved to the left. He pointed at a warrior leading three smaller shapes. “The big guy in the front was dad. He was taking me, mom, and Lucy on a trek across the desert. Can you see the cactus plants?”
Erin stared at the wall and could just make out the spiky points of what could easily have been cactus. “How old are the drawings?”
“I don’t know. The Pictograph Caves near Billings have paintings that are over two thousand years old. Dad and I visited the caves and they look similar.”
“Have you found any artifacts? There could be all sorts of tools and weapons buried close by.” And skeletons. She glanced at the floor. For someone who didn’t like the dark, a dead body or two wasn’t something she wanted to think about.
Jake shook his head. “We didn’t look too hard. The owner of the ranch didn’t want people finding out about the cave in case they were swamped with tourists. When they sold the ranch, they left the decision on what to do about the cave to the new owners.”
Jake moved the beam of light to the opposite end of the wall. “Dad liked this drawing the best.” What looked like a grizzly bear stood on his back legs. A warrior crouched beside him holding some kind of weapon. “You wouldn’t believe the stories we found in these pictures. Dad had a great imagination.”
“Did he bring Lucy and Scott here?”
Jake took a deep breath. “Lucy wasn’t interested and mom wouldn’t let Scott come when he was little. By the time he was in his early teens, dad had died.”
“I’m sorry, Jake.”
“If I’d known…” Regret and emotions that were still raw shadowed his face. “I miss him.”
Erin leaned into his shoulder. “He created some special memories for you. That’s something you’ll always have.”
Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now tell me some stories.”
“You might be sorry you said that.” Jake smiled. “Once upon a time…”
“Did they have fairytales back in prehistoric times?”
“I don’t know. I’m using my imagination.”
“Okay. Keep going.”
Jake rolled his eyes and started telling her a story about warriors, fire, and horses with wings.
By the time he’d finished, Erin had a big smile on her face. “You should have been a writer. You had me hooked after the first few minutes.”
“Next time we come here it will be your turn to tell me a story. Are you ready to go?”
Erin nodded. “Just don’t turn the flashlight off on our way out.”
“It’s not the dark I’m worried about,” Jake said. “It’s the four-legged animals that I want to keep away from.”
“What do you mean?” Erin didn’t like the sound of being joined by anything that had more than two feet.
Jake held her hand as they walked back to the cave entrance. “Caves don’t stay empty for long in Montana. I wouldn’t be surprised if a grizzly hasn’t made their home here.”
Erin peered past the beam of the flashlight, looking for any night-time visitors. “And you’re telling me this now?”
“It’s summer. We haven’t got much to worry about.”
“That’s not very reassuring.”
“I know. Was it worth it?” he asked with a smile in his voice.
“Yes, but next time I’m taking a long stick with me.”
“As long as you use it on the wildlife and not me, I’m happy.” Jake slowed down and passed Erin the flashlight. “We’re at the entrance.” He bent down and crawled outside on all fours.
Erin didn’t waste time enjoying the scenery inside the cave. She scooted out as fast as she could go.
“I take it you’re pleased to see the stars?”
Erin looked up and breathed deeply. “I loved the paintings, but being surrounded by rock gives me the jitters. What’s going to happen to the cave?”
“The Bernards were happy to leave the paintings alone. But with more camps happening each year, they decided to have someone assess them. They contacted the park manager in Billings and he came and had a look. A team of archeologists is arriving in the next few days.”
Erin held Jake’s hand as they started walking toward the lake. “If they’re important to the area it could increase visitor numbers at the camp.”
“We’ll see,” Jake said. “There are plenty of other caves that people can look at. I’m not sure the Bernards want history buffs turning up on their doorstep. But it would be great for the kids, as long as they could get past the entrance.”
“How long have you been helping at the camps?”
“For about six years.” He nodded toward a mountain range barely visible in the fading light. “I started as a ski instructor, then summertime rolled around and the camp needed extra volunteers to work behind the scenes. I mucked out stalls, cooked meals, and helped where I could. It was a great escape from Los Angeles and my family were happy to see me more often. After Dan died, I cut back on the number of camps I did. Spending time with Lucy and Ethan was more important.”
Raising his hand to her mouth, Erin kissed his knuckles. “You’re a good man, Jake.”
Pulling her into his arms, he whispered, “Only sometimes.”
His chin rested on the top of her head. His heart thudded below her cheek, strong and steady, just like the arms wrapped around her body.
“Is friendship ever going to be enough between us?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” Erin snuggled closer to his warmth as the evening breeze danced through the trees. Friendship was better than nothing. Better than never seeing him again.
Kissing the top of her head, Jake moved back, cupping her face in his hands. “You’re special to me. I know we said we’d take things slowly. That we’d be friends before anything else. But I want more.” He brushed his lips along the edge of her mouth.
A delicious warmth seeped through her body. She moved slowly against him as his tongue danced in a slow caress with hers.
Moving his hands down her back, Jake pulled her bottom snugly toward him, cradling her firmly against his hips. He sighed as she wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
Pleasure shot along every nerve ending as he rocked backward and forward, pressing deep and hard int
o her body.
It had been too long since they’d made love. She didn’t care about taking things slowly. She wanted to feel his skin slipping along hers. She wanted him buried deep inside of her, shuddering as the rest of the world disappeared in a blur of heat and need. Gripping the edge of his t-shirt, she yanked it out of his jeans.
“You first,” she whispered. Jake looked at her with a wicked gleam in his eyes that made her heart race. He slowly peeled his t-shirt over his head. She reached out, tracing the dips and curves of his chest with her fingertips. His skin felt like silk beneath her hands.
“You’re turn,” he growled, pulling her t-shirt over her head. His hands caressed her body, skimming the length of her back while his lips explored her neck.
Erin shivered, moving restlessly against his bare chest. She felt his hands unhook her bra, moving to cup the fullness of her breasts, teasing her until nothing else mattered except the taste and feel of his skin against hers. She took a half step back to slow down the desire threatening to overwhelm her.
His face was tight with need. He bent forward, gently nudging the edge of one breast with his lips, sending a shock-wave sweeping through her body.
Grabbing his hair, she pulled his mouth back to her lips. He undid the zip on her jeans, opening his palm flat until the heat from his hand felt like a brand against her skin. His fingers caressed her stomach, moving lower to tease and taunt her until she was breathless.
“Down.” She pulled him toward the grass. She wanted him deep inside of her and she wanted it now.
He reached into his back pocket and tore open a packet while Erin pushed her jeans and panties off.
He stumbled when he saw her naked body. Ripping off his jeans, he lay down beside her.
She pulled him toward her, arching her back as he teased her to fever pitch, helpless against the raw need tearing through her body. “Now, Jake. Now.”
She lifted her hips as he thrust deep and hard, crying out as pleasure washed through every cell of her being.
Erin took a deep breath and opened her eyes, savoring the feel of Jake pressed against her. She ran her hands along his back, smiling as his muscles flexed under her caress. “That was incredible.”
He mumbled something against her hair before lifting his head. “Am I too heavy?”
“You have about thirty seconds of cuddle time before I get squished.” She laughed.
He slowly moved from between her legs, cradling her against his side. “I’m brain dead and boneless.”
“You’re not the only one.” Her heart soared through the evening sky, swooping and diving between the stars in a beautiful dance of joy. When they made love, it felt like two parts of the universe came together in a blinding wave of heat and light, altering the path of their lives forever.
She let her hands wander, rubbing her fingertips in lazy circles across his chest, letting them drift further down his body.
He held her hand as it caressed his belly-button. “You’re moving into dangerous territory.”
Grinning into his chest, she said, “I like how your body feels. Apart from the mosquitoes, twigs, and the odd bear or two, I could stay here all night.”
Jake rubbed his hand up her arm. “You forgot about the goose-bumps.”
“Yeah, that too.”
Kissing the top of her head, he said, “Time to get dressed. You never know when some teenage adventurers might come over here wondering what all the noise is about.”
She sat up and grabbed her t-shirt off the grass. Glancing saucily across at him, she said, “Are you saying I’m a noisy wench, sir? I seem to recall the odd moment of surprise in your voice too.” She hunted for a missing sock.
He laughed at her flushed face. “Madam, I wouldn’t be so bold as to tell you our rendezvous was anything other than completely captivating.” He threw her missing sock over to her. “And just for the record, you communicate very well. Top of the class in fact.”
Reaching across, he planted a soft kiss on her cheek. “Let’s go. I can’t promise you champagne and caviar, but how does a hot chocolate and a slice of cake sound?”
“It sounds wonderful.” With a smile on her face, she held his hand and headed back toward the camp.
***
Early the next morning, Erin’s cell phone blasted her out of a deep sleep. Hanging her arm over the side of the bed, she grabbed the phone, trying to silence the chirpy music.
She pried one eye open and looked at the time. Five thirty. Good grief, didn’t some people have a life? She looked at the caller I.D.
“This had better be good Nicky, or you owe me lunch every Saturday for the next month.”
“What’s wrong with your voice?”
Erin pushed her sleeping bag down her body and shoved a sweatshirt over her head. “I’m in a room with eight other people.” She slipped out of the cabin, hugging her arm around her waist in the chilly morning air. “Is everything okay?”
“We’ve set a date for the wedding,” Nicky squealed.
“You called me at five thirty on a Sunday morning to tell me that? Why aren’t you asleep like the rest of the world?”
Nicky cleared her throat. “I had someone attached to my body and he woke me up.”
“That’s too much information.” Although she could understand how distracting having a man draped over your body could be.
“We’re getting married in two months’ time. I’m so excited.”
“Two months?” Erin frowned. No one got married that quickly. Unless there was a reason. “Are you pregnant?”
“Of course I’m not pregnant. Sam’s going to Italy in eight weeks, so we thought we’d turn his vacation into a honeymoon. And I want you to be my matron of honor. You’ll need to get your feet back here as fast as you can and help me design my dress with Emily.”
“I can’t be your matron of honor. I’m not married.” Erin rubbed her face with her hand. She could feel her brain starting to warm up.
“Chief bridesmaid, then. I don’t care. You can call yourself whatever you like, as long as you and Emily are with me on our big day.”
“I’d love to be your chief bridesmaid. I’m really happy for you, Nicky. I should be home by four o’clock this afternoon. Can I give you a call then?”
“No, you most certainly cannot. I expect you around here as soon as you get back. You can have some bubbly with us to celebrate our news. Bring Jake. More playtime might be just what you both need.”
Erin smiled at the laughter in Nicky’s voice. She’d already had lots of playtime this weekend and a glass of champagne wouldn’t come close to what they’d shared under the stars.
“I’ll see you later on.” Erin finished the call and went back to bed, thinking about Nicky’s wedding. She really did feel happy for her. Of course she did. Sam was a great guy and he loved Nicky.
But a tiny scrap of envy wiggled around at the back of Erin’s happiness. Nicky had found the man of her dreams. And here she was, newly converted to living dangerously, and seriously devoted to a baby-phobic male.
There were only two problems with her life. No ring and no booties in sight.
Dragging her tired body toward the shower, she decided there wasn’t any point wallowing in self-pity. Even if the rest of her had a hard time believing morning had arrived, her eyeballs were wide awake. She might as well help with breakfast and give herself something else to think about.
When she wandered into the kitchen, Jake looked up from the cereal cart. “Morning. What happened to the sleep-in?”
“Nicky called and woke me up.” She smiled. “And guess what? They’ve set their wedding date for two months’ time, and…” With a huge grin and a deep curtsey, she said, “You’re now looking at her chief bridesmaid.”
Jake dropped the bag of cornflakes he’d been holding and stuffed his hand in his pockets. He obviously wasn’t the least bit excited about Nicky’s fast-approaching nuptials. There wasn’t a smile, an eyebrow twitch, or a dimple in sight.
Her heart plummeted and the smile slowly disappeared off her face. “Don’t worry, marriage isn’t a contagious disease. I’m not going to rush you down the aisle after Sam and Nicky.”
He frowned.
Erin’s jaw dropped. “Don’t tell me that you never want to get married?”
He didn’t need to say anything. His face said it all. He lumped marriage into the same basket as babies. All right for everyone else who got sucked into the domestic scene, but never going to happen to him.
She wondered how she’d ever fallen for someone that didn’t want to commit to anything. Turning around, she headed out the door. If she stayed one moment longer, she’d say something she might regret and stoop to his level of emotional intelligence.
“Erin. Wait.”
Her long legs chewed into the path between the dining room and the cabins. “Go away. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
Reaching out, Jake stopped her in her tracks. “Of course I’m happy for Sam and Nicky. I guess the news they’re getting married so soon just surprised me. I thought Sam would be the last of my friends to ever get married.”
“And why wouldn’t he get married? He loves Nicky. She loves him. They want to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s not such a big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” he ground out. “Apart from a divorce settlement, marriage is about the biggest deal two people will ever make. It’s not something I’d ever thought about for me.”
Erin’s temper bubbled to boiling point. If she didn’t tell him exactly what she thought she’d burst into tears. “The trouble with you, Jake Williams, is that you’ve never thought about anyone else but yourself your entire life. You’re happy to accept the fringe benefits of a relationship, as long as you don’t have to care about someone else. I’m not going to be second best in anyone’s life, least of all yours.” Erin heaved with emotion. She wasn’t going to cry. She just wasn’t.
Jake’s voice shook. “Don’t tell me I’m shallow and selfish. I helped look after Scott for seven years before I left home. You don’t know what it’s like growing up with a brother with special needs. Getting out the door to school each day was a relief. The rest of my life turned into a disaster. I had to get away to keep my sanity.”
Forever Wishes (Montana Brides, Book 4) Page 10