by Sara Orwig
“The hurt was fleeting. Still a little, but not bad.”
“It makes our loving special.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” she asked, feeling disappointment welling up, knowing they were not in love and all he wanted to do was seduce her.
“Not bad, just special, more than I usually am involved in,” he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. He looked at her intently. “You’re not hurting now?”
“Only slightly,” she said, stroking his face. “And it was special, Jake.”
He pulled her close to kiss her deeply. Her heart now belonged to him. She faced her feelings. She was hopelessly in love with the one man she should have guarded her heart against at all costs. When he released her, she placed her palm on the side of his face, gazing into his blue eyes while he stroked strands of hair away from her face.
“Caitlin, loving you was incredible.”
“Even the way it turned out?” she asked.
“Even the way it turned out,” he repeated, showering light kisses on her temple and cheek. “Beyond my wildest expectations.” He rose up to look at her. “Stay here with me. Let’s go back Sunday. I can’t let you go now.”
“Yes,” she whispered, knowing in that moment she was falling in love with a man she not only had intended to avoid falling in love with, but a man she might be furious with in the future. If only he wasn’t a Benton. That was a flight of fancy wish because that was the one thing they had between them and the one thing that had brought them together. They had the ranch, past history, old angers and hurts, and now new ones between them.
“You have twisted me around to do what you want,” she added softly.
“I think you’re the one doing the twisting. It’s been worth it.” He kissed her lightly again.
Releasing her he slipped out of bed, and leaned down to pick her up. “Let’s go to the spa tub.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, momentarily unable to believe what was happening that seemed like a dream. Except the strong arms holding her were real, as real as the hard body she was pressed against.
Jake carried her into an enormous, lavish bathroom with a sunken tub, plants, mirrors and a bearskin rug. Grecian columns graced the decor.
“This is beautiful.”
“Absolutely,” he said, looking at her and once again, he wasn’t talking about the bathroom. He climbed down in the tub, turned on faucets and pulled her close with her back against his chest.
Warm scented water soon filled the tub while he sponged her off and she turned to do the same for him, watching water glisten on his sculpted muscles. “You are one handsome hunk, Jake.”
He grinned. “I’m glad you think so, but I believe when it comes to looks, you win, hands down. Speaking of hands down,” he said, cupping her breasts with his wet, warm hands.
She gasped with pleasure, closing her eyes as his thumbs began to circle her nipples, so lightly, slowly drawing circles that ignited desire instantly.
“Jake,” she whispered, opening her eyes to look at him. He was aroused, his shaft thick and hard. She leaned forward to kiss him as desire burst into flames.
Soon Jake stood and pulled her up with him, water splashing around both of them.
He climbed out of the tub and lifted her up to set her in front of him while he grabbed a towel and began stroking her slowly, drying her.
She clung to his shoulders. “Jake,” she said, reaching him to pull him up. “Come here. I want to kiss.”
“Shhh, this time we go slowly. I want to pleasure you. I want this to be better.”
“Kiss me, Jake. It is better,” she whispered, not knowing what she was saying to him and not caring. Desire was hot, an intense need that surprised her because she thought she wouldn’t have this driving need again so quickly.
Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to bed and loved her slowly, a sweet torment that built in her until she was trembling. This time when he entered her, pain was fleeting. In seconds pleasure was all she felt, sensations carrying her higher and higher, each stroke building until she plunged into ecstasy, moving rapidly with him as they climaxed together.
“Jake, love me now,” she cried. He held her tightly as they arched together, locked in making love. For this moment all was perfect between them. If only it could last was a fleeting thought she had. She cried out again in pleasure, rapture enveloping her.
Holding each other, they crashed after the peak. She listened to Jake gasping for breath as much as she was.
Finally, he rolled them both over and combed her hair back from her face while he showered light kisses on her. “Ahh, Caitlin, you’re perfect. Marvelous, beyond my wildest dreams. I don’t want to leave this bed this weekend. Stay here with me all weekend.”
Another invitation. Another decision. Another tie to bind her to him in a manner she had never intended. Yet, how could she say no, given how she felt about him—even stronger now that they’d made love?
I want to stay with him, even if he won’t sell my home to me, she realized, the thought scaring her more than the reality. Because I’m falling in love with Jake Benton.
She took a deep breath, then looked into his eyes. “Yes,” she whispered, realizing she was taking more chances than ever before in her life.
“Yes, I’ll stay the weekend.”
He kissed her deeply, another kiss that made her feel special, his woman. A kiss that she hoped wasn’t an illusion.
He raised up. “This has been a great night. What I’ve dreamed about all the past week, but I never knew it would be this stupendous.”
“You’re insatiable, Jake,” she said, smiling at him and he smiled in return, filling her with warmth as they shared this special time between them. If only it held meaning, she couldn’t help wishing.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“That I wish this could last,” she admitted truthfully, watching him to see how he reacted.
“It’s going to last for a long time if I have my way,” Jake declared. “I’m not letting you go now that I’ve found you. Beautiful woman, you don’t know what you do to me.”
She had to smile, but she wondered if he was even thinking about what he said to her. It couldn’t last. Unless…he had to sell her the ranch, for intimacy to last between them. Otherwise, how could she stay in his life when he denied her something so important to her?
“I think you’re given to exaggeration,” she managed to tease, tangling her fingers in his chest hair.
“Not at all. You destroy me. You make me want you all the time. In minutes I’ll feel as if we’ve never made love and want you desperately. You will never know how desperately.”
She smiled again at him, running her finger over the tiny stubble beginning to appear on his jaw.
“I stand by what I said about you and exaggeration. But I’m glad you want me and you’ll be desperate to love.”
“Also, I’m beginning to suffer acute hunger. Since room service takes time, why don’t we turn in an order?”
Jake climbed out of bed and she watched him walk across the room and disappear in the living area. Sitting up, she pulled the sheet up beneath her arms to wait. When he returned, he had a towel wrapped around his middle and two thick menus in his hand. He climbed into bed and pulled away her sheet.
“Jake!” She grabbed the sheet, but he gripped her wrists and kissed away her protests and in seconds, as they made love again, menus slipped forgotten to the floor.
It was two hours later when Jake called room service. It had closed for the night, but with a substantial tip promised to the kitchen staff and bellhop, Jake had no trouble placing their orders.
“I’m a loyal customer so they try to keep me happy.”
“I’m trying to keep you happy,” she said, smiling at him.
“You want to keep me really happy now, you’ll come sit in my lap.”
She crossed the room to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Jake’s arms circled her w
aist and he held her close as he kissed her in return.
They spent the weekend in the hotel suite until Sunday afternoon when she pulled on her red dress and high-heeled sandals, feeling as if it had been months instead of only a couple of days since she had worn them before.
“Jake, we both have to get back to real life,” she said, going to the living area to find him dressed once again in his suit with his phone in hand while he sent a text.
“I know we do,” he said. He pocketed the phone and crossed the room to slip an arm around her waist. “Will you go out with me next weekend?”
She gazed into clear blue eyes that held desire even after a weekend of constant loving. She wanted to say yes more than anything. But she couldn’t. If he decided not to sell her her family home, her heart would be broken. “Jake, I’m glad that you want to be with me again next weekend. But, let’s hold off talking about the future for now. Our relationship is tenuous at best, something unplanned, and impossible to continue if we are poles apart on your decision. This isn’t a threat because our relationship isn’t that vital.” To you, she added silently, her heart squeezing. “Anyway,” she continued. “I’ll see you Monday in Dallas.”
“You could go home with me tonight and then you wouldn’t have to fly up commercially.”
“Thank you, but I already have my ticket, so I should stick to my plans that I’ve made. We’ll know tomorrow where we stand,” she added “Unless you can tell me now.”
For an instant there was silence between them. A tense moment when she could hear a grandfather clock tick and nothing else.
Then Jake shook his head. “I still have two men to hear from and then I’ll give you an answer. Sorry to put you off so long.”
She could read nothing from his expression, so she merely nodded. “Then we better go,” she said, picking up her small purse and walking to the door.
Jake gripped her wrist and turned her to face him. He pulled her tightly against him and kissed her, a breathtaking kiss that reminded her of the intimacy they had just shared.
Her heart pounded. Desire ignited again, as hot and strong as before. Longing tore at her and made a knot of her insides. It was a possessive kiss as well as a goodbye kiss. In that moment, she felt certain he was going to refuse to sell to her. She hurt while at the same time, she wanted him more than ever.
Just as she had expected, loving had created new demons for her to fight. She just hoped it created some for him, as well.
She suspected it wouldn’t be enough because he had been through all this before and had breakups under his belt. He would move along without much hurt.
She, on the other hand, could be losing her roots, the welfare of people she loved, as well as Jake himself.
She stood on tiptoe and again, poured herself into the kiss, trying to bind him to her by sensuality, the one way to reach him.
He released her, gazing at her intently. “Think about next weekend.”
“I’ll think about it,” she answered, knowing she wouldn’t be able to forget his invitation. “We should go now.”
He nodded and held her arm as they walked to the limo.
On the flight to Houston, they both were much more silent. She no longer felt like talking, definitely not like flirting with him. She could feel a chasm opening between them. Maybe it had been there the whole time and hope had blinded her.
At her door he kissed her goodbye again. She watched him walk back to the limo in long strides, climb in and vanish.
With a long sigh she entered her empty condo.
The phone rang and she tossed aside her purse and went to get it. When she answered, she heard Kirby’s voice on the line.
“I’ve been trying to get you,” he said, sounding nervous.
Nine
“I was out of town and just walked in the door.” From the solemn sound of his voice something had happened and instantly she thought of Cecilia who was getting up in years. “Kirby, is Cecilia all right?”
“She’s fine. That’s not why I’m calling. Sorry if I scared you about her. Caitlin, Benton Drilling hit oil in that well they’re drilling near the house.”
Caitlin’s insides clenched and she turned cold. “Oh, Kirby,” she said, sitting because she felt weak-kneed. “Oh, I hate that. Jake will never sell now.”
“Hell, no, he won’t. There should be oil right under the house. They’ll tear the home place down. I’m sorry to bring the bad news to you, honey, but better from me than from any of the damned Bentons. You still have an appointment on Monday with Jake Benton?”
Hot tears stung her eyes. She had given herself—completely—to Jake. And now, even if he wanted to sell to her, he couldn’t. It wasn’t about her house anymore. It was about business. Money. And the Benton family.
She should have known better.
And he should have, too, she thought. Her blood ran cold for a moment.
“Kirby, when did this happen? When did the Bentons know?”
“Saturday morning,” Kirby answered grimly. I’ve been trying to reach you ever since we heard, but your phone just rang and rang.”
Oh, no. She’d turned it off so that she and Jake would not be interrupted. And she’d been so deeply involved with him over the weekend that she’d forgotten to turn it back on at all.
“I’m sorry I missed you, Kirby. I still have an appointment tomorrow morning with Jake. I’ll call you afterward.”
“Sure, honey. Caitlin, don’t worry about us. We’ll get along and so will you. The old house isn’t the world. You don’t spend a lot of time in it any longer and it served its purpose well.”
Her heart clenched. “I know, Kirby.”
“Honey, we love you and don’t you worry about us.”
“I love all of you, too, Kirby. I’ll call you in the morning.”
She replaced the handset and gave vent to tears, feeling alone and heartbroken and betrayed as well, although she had only herself to blame for their lovemaking, yet it was not all regrets. She loved him and she had wanted the weekend with him. Oil so close to the house. Jake would want every inch of the land now.
The minute Jake left Caitlin and was back in the limo, he called Gabe. He looked again at the curt text message that simply read: Oil. He had received it Saturday and hadn’t read it until Sunday before they left for home.
He tried to get his brother on the phone or by text, but was unsuccessful. He left messages and gave it up until he heard back from Gabriel, but it was obvious they had found oil.
The well was within three miles of Caitlin’s house. When he had left town on Friday he had been all set to tell Caitlin no, that he would not sell the land back to her. Then the weekend had happened.
The weekend had been one the greatest. He had to admire her for fighting for those people. She was caring, understanding. They had shared laughter, friendship and easy conversation. She had placed her trust in him and made love when she had known he might not sell. She was the sexiest woman he had known. Thinking about her, he could easily get aroused. Right now if she called him back to bed, he would turn around and go right back to Houston. He wanted her in his bed. He wanted her in his life.
The minute he told her no, she would be gone. She had said as much and he was certain that’s exactly what she would do. Friday, he had been prepared to let her go out of his life. Now he wasn’t. Each time he thought about telling her goodbye, his insides twisted and a bad feeling swamped him.
“Dammit,” he swore aloud, feeling helpless and a loss of control and hating having to sit in the limo without even driving to distract him. He didn’t want to tell Caitlin goodbye. Not now.
He mulled over the dilemma and thought of the possibility of offering her a far corner of the Santerre place and moving the house, but there actually were two more men who would report to him in the morning about the possibilities of wind turbines on the ranch and about drilling for oil. Gabe would see him tomorrow. He was certain the decision would be to turn her down.
Tell her no and get over her, he told himself. The prospect was untenable. He didn’t want her out of his life. Not yet.
Ten minutes after Jake arrived at his condo, Gabe showed up.
He was casually dressed in Levi’s, Western boots and a long-sleeved Western shirt with sleeves rolled up. His dark brown hair was tousled and he had a slight beard as if he had missed a day of shaving.
“Did you get my message?” he asked, following Jake into a living area.
“Yes, I did. So the well came in.”
“Yes and a good one,” Gabe said, sounding jubilant as he withdrew folded papers out of his back pocket and dropped them on a table for Jake. “Here are figures and information and you can look it all over. I wanted to make sure you knew before you see Caitlin Santerre tomorrow, even though you intend to refuse to sell to her. That old house where she was raised may be in the middle of an oil field. I always told you I thought there was oil on their ranch.”
“Well, you were right. We have the mineral rights to the Santerre ranch whether I sell the house or not.”
Gabe looked up sharply from the text he was reading on his cell phone.
“You’re not changing your mind about selling to her, are you?”
“I’m still debating,” Jake said, bracing for the storm that was coming.
“The hell you say. You weren’t ‘debating’ last week.” Gabe’s blue eyes narrowed. “What did you do this weekend? You didn’t answer the text I sent you until Sunday afternoon.”
“You didn’t answer the one I sent you—period.”
“I’ve been out at the ranch and just got back to Dallas. Where have you been?”
“I was in New Orleans with Caitlin.”
Gabriel groaned. “Dammit, did you sleep with her?”
“I don’t see that’s any of your business,” Jake snapped, becoming annoyed with his younger brother’s interference.
“Oh, hell. That means you did. That’s why you’re debating. If you tell her no tomorrow, she won’t let you back in bed with her. That’s what has you hot and bothered and ‘debating.’”