After the fourth scoop she heard voices at the top of the ridge. Saved! Until she realized one of the voices was Boobs and she was talking to a man. They stood just inside the woods. The good news was the guy wasn’t Demar. The bad news was she’d rather eat worms than be saved by Demar’s ex.
Sally strained to hear. She got nothing from the man in his low guy voice that was more North than South, but Jett’s voice carried. She mentioned a baby, then Mimi. Holy crap! Mimi? Jett was connected to Mimi? This was huge. It also meant Boobs was not on the up and up about just being here to win back Demar. In fact, she was probably using Demar. Sally did a mental happy dance. Boobs was up to something sinister, and now all Sally had to do was tell Demar, he’d see her for the user she was, and Boobs was history. All would be back to normal—providing she got out of the woods.
The pair parted, Jett going to the main house, the man keeping to the woods. She could follow him, if she could walk, but since that was out the next best thing was to keep her presence a secret so Boobs and Mr. X didn’t know she was on to them. To kill time she finished off the ice cream—spy calories didn’t count either—found a stick and struggled to her feet, wobbling on one high heel. She retrieved the shoe that wouldn’t fit on her swollen foot, put it in the bag with the brandy and empty container, then hobbled off, keeping to the edge of the woods so as not to be seen.
Using the stick-hop method she made her way to the carriage house. Did Demar have to be on the second floor? Holding on to the railing, she clamped the bag in her mouth and jumped onto the first step. Demar opened the door, looked, looked again and blinked—least his one good eye did; the other was swollen shut.
“What are you doing? What’s with the crosses? You joining a cult or something?” He was barefoot in loose cotton pants, the kind tied with a drawstring, and a gray T-shirt. One delicious man except for his banged-up face.
She tried to talk but the bag didn’t help. She stopped on the fifth step. “I’m a nurse, dammit, and you really do look like hell.”
“Very scary nurse, babe.”
“I came to minister to you, make you feel good. and then Grant made an appearance and ruined everything.” She leaned against the railing. “Let’s see, so far the truck’s in the ditch, I screwed up my ankle and I ruined my outfit.”
He came down the steps. “Have you been drinking?” He sniffed. “Nope, I smell ice cream. Mocha almond fudge?” He kissed her, his tongue sliding to meet hers. “Oh yeah, mocha fudge.”
She touched his cheek, hating that it was bruised. “I had the ice cream to share, except I fell and needed consoling. Mocha almond fudge consoles great.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and kissed that place. “Bet I can do a lot better.”
She held up the bag. “Medicine.”
He reached in. “One empty container, one very sexy shoe.” His mouth covered hers. “Love the shoes but your dad’s going to skin you alive for the brandy. This is his good stuff.”
He scooped her up in his arms and she yelped and laughed. “Then we should drink it. If I’m going to get skinned let’s make it worthwhile.”
He headed up the stairs, grunting as he went. “I can walk, Demar.”
He nudged open the door. “Your ankle’s swelling.”
He smiled, parting the split on his lip. She wiped the blood away with the pad of her thumb. “Why were you fighting with Quaid? I thought you two got along. In fact you sort of remind me of each other.”
Demar walked past the bedroom and into the bathroom. “Difference of opinion.”
“Men should learn to get over it. Shop, have lunch, compliment each other’s hairstyle.”
He set her down on one end of the vanity top, propping her foot up on a towel on the other end. “I think we need to get you cleaned up.”
“I came to look after you.” She touched his eye. “Did you have a doctor check that out? It looks bad.”
“I’ve had worse. And you have a million bug bites. What happened?”
“I cut through the woods, didn’t want anyone to see me in this getup. Can you imagine the gossip? Obsession is a mosquito magnet.”
“I think I need to see what’s so special.” He nuzzled her neck, nipped her earlobe, his hot breath on her skin making her mind blank, except for Demar. “Damn smart mosquitoes. You smell like heaven.”
“And you feel like heaven.” She ran her hands under his T-shirt, his smooth, hard muscles making her weak. His fingers crept under her top and he massaged her left nipple, then the right, into hard beads. “I’m so glad I came.”
“Ditto.” He eased the top over her head and looked his fill. “You are a feast for my eyes.” He cupped her breasts and planted a soft kiss on one, then the other. She nearly slid off the vanity. “Oh, Demar.”
“Every time I see you, you take my breath away.”
His eyes went smoky, he unzipped her shorts. “Wiggle for me, babe, so I can get these things off you.”
“I think that’s just an excuse for me to bounce around.”
He grinned. “Maybe a little.” She put her hands on his shoulders and moved her bottom side to side as he tugged the material free. “No panties. I’m one lucky guy.”
“Except this tile is freezing my behind.”
“Can’t have a frozen behind. Only a hot one.”
“Maybe this will help to warm me up.” She tugged at the thin string of his pants, the waistband loosening, the bulge underneath growing. “These are so much easier than jeans.” She kissed him. “And a lot more fun.”
The soft cotton slid from his hips but didn’t fall off. “I do believe your jammies are caught on something. I should take a peek and see what’s holding things up.” She pulled the pants free and they dropped to the floor. “My, my, what have we here? You are one well-hung stud.” He blushed and she added, “Bet that’s what all the girls say.”
“You’re my only girl.” He stepped out of his pants then pulled off his shirt.
“And now you’re wearing my favorite outfit, your birthday suit. And it looks like you’re all ready for fun. And just so you know, I’ve been thinking about this fun all day.”
He laughed and swept her into his arms. “Have you now.” He kissed her. “Me too.” He sat on the edge of the tub with her across his lap, her breast nuzzled against his broad chest, her arms around his shoulders, his erection pressing between her legs, suggesting what was to come. “I think I like sitting on your lap.”
He turned on the tap, the warm water splashing against the white porcelain. “Naked. Naked is definitely an added bonus.”
She swallowed hard, her insides on fire as he lowered her into the tub. “Lean back. Let me get a look at you. Some beautiful water nymph.”
She did as he asked, and he took her left foot and propped it on the edge of the tub by the soap dish, then put a towel under her heel. “Keeping your foot elevated will help the swelling.”
She eyed him. “And what are we going to do about your swelling?” I look like a porn star. One leg up, leaning back in a tub, showing everything I own.”
“And you own some pretty fine stuff there.” He gazed at her as water crept up around her.
“You don’t have any bubble bath, by some miracle?”
“And bubble over this fine view? No way. Oh, honey, you are so sweet.”
“And you’re sitting there like King Tut when there’s work to be done.” She pointed to herself. “That means you get to work on me.” She winked. “And then I get to work on you. It’ll be fun.”
“I’m observing.”
She pulled the hair on his leg and he yelped, “Hey.”
“Now that I got your attention, you can observe from in here. Or maybe I should come out there and take you right on the tile floor,” she whined, “you’re driving me crazy.”
“Why, I think that’s an invitation.” He laughed as he climbed into the tub then knelt between her legs and kissed her knee.
“You have really bad aim for
a cop.” She pointed to her lips. “Do that here.”
“Such an impatient woman.” He kissed the inside of her other knee as his fingers trailed up her thigh, pausing at the apex of her legs, tormenting her, teasing her, making her want him. He added more kisses as his fingers tangled into her wet curls then gently grazed her clit. Good thing the drain was closed or she would have slid right down.
He looked at her, his eyes dark, his voice husky as he said, “Do you like this?”
He turned off the water and his fingers began to massage her, slow and easy, and she thought she’d lose consciousness from the sheer ecstasy of it. “Demar,” she panted, her hips arching hungrily against his hand, begging for more. “You are incredible.”
“H’mm.” He applied a bit more pressure, lingering, then started his seduction again, barely giving her time to recover…to breathe.
Remembering—somehow—where she saw the soap, she retrieved it and lathered her hands, then stroked his penis in slow, sudsy strokes, watching it swell, her fingers tightening just a bit. His whole body quivered and his fingers suddenly slid into her, giving her more pleasure than she could ever imagine. “Oh, baby,” he hissed.
His fingers delved deeper into her, making every cell of her body scream for more…more, her legs widening in response. Her heart pounding She stroked him faster, his erection swelling, his response to her the biggest turn on of all.
“Demar!” She yelled his name as she climaxed and felt his penis pulsate with release that seemed to go on and on, matching her own.
He eased his fingers from her and leaned against the side of the tub. “Dear God, Sally girl. I think you ruined me. I’ll never be able to perform again.”
“That better not be true,” she said on a laugh that took more energy than she had at the moment.
“I’m nuts about you, Sally, and not just in the tub or storeroom or wherever we make love. I want you to know I care about you no matter what.”
“Well, you’re sounding awful serious.”
“Life has a way of spinning out of control, getting crazy, and I want you to believe that I care for you more than anything in this world.” He closed his eyes for a second. “I’m so glad you’re here. Being with you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, baby.” Something was wrong, she could feel it, see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. But what? Jett! Things had gone straight to hell since that other woman strutted into the bar.
“You know,” she said as she smiled at him, making things light again, “we didn’t get very clean in this tub. We need to try again. I think we got distracted. And it was a great distraction.” Using her big toe, she flipped the lever, letting out the cooling water. He turned on the tap, this time running the shower, which sent a soft warm spray over them. He swept the curtain closed, shutting out the harsh light, filtering it into a glow.
“This is very nice. I think I could live here with you forever.”
“We’d be in a permanent state of prune, get really bad skin, and we’d get really, really hungry.” He snagged a bottle of shampoo. “Now I get to wash you, but I’m afraid you’re going to smell like a guy.”
“Then whenever I take a sniff I’ll think of you.” She looked at her foot, propped up and smeared with mud. “I really did get dirty in the woods.”
“You could have spent the whole night there. Unless Grant came along again.”
Steam billowed, the water soothing. “Actually, there was someone besides me and Ulysses hanging around. Jett made an appearance.”
“Jett was in the woods?” His eyes widened a fraction and he stiffened for a split second. No one else would have caught it, but after just making incredible love to the man she still felt that intimate connection, an inner sense about him. Something was off and she needed to know what, since…since she was flat-out, totally in love with Demar Thacker. “She was there with another man.”
Demar’s gaze met hers, a spark of interest in his eyes. “Did you see who? Any idea at all?”
Was he jealous? Her heart squeezed tight at the possibility. “Couldn’t tell, but she mentioned a baby and Mimi. I don’t trust her, Demar. I…I don’t trust her in this town and I really don’t trust her with you. She wants something, I can feel it.”
“Jett and I are friends, that’s all she wants.” The simple answer that he gave so often came quick—too quick, as if automatic and trying to hide something deeper. “She’s a cop, and the job can get to you. She’s here for a rest and to kick back,” Demar continued.
He shrugged, trying for a casual response. “If you saw her in the woods it was probably with a new friend she met here, and they were talking about what everyone else is, missing Mimi and baby Bonnie.”
“Hiding in the woods?”
“Maybe it wasn’t hiding so much as a walk in the moonlight. It is a lovely night and there are new guests at Hastings House she’s gotten to know.” He kissed Sally. “Let’s forget about Jett.”
Demar was different when he talked about that woman, as if fighting to find the right words or offer excuses for her or…or explain away her actions or something. He worked the suds into her hair, the bubbles tickling down over her skin. Right now everything was perfect and she wanted to focus on that.
She kissed Demar through the suds as she closed her eyes, avoiding the sting of the soap and the sting of the other woman in his life. But no matter how hard Sally tried to forget, deep down inside she knew something was going on with Demar and Jett, and it wasn’t one bit good for Sally Donaldson.
Chapter 8
Cynthia glanced at her watch as she left the bar. One A.M.! She kicked the front tire of her station wagon. She smelled like smoke and stale beer from spilling as many orders as she served. She was a clothes designer, not a barmaid, and anyone at Slim’s tonight would applaud that statement.
“What are you doing here so late?” came Quaid’s voice from behind her.
She spun around, hands to her chest. “You scared the heck out of me.”
“Residual effect from living in New York?”
“Pickled brain from inhaling barbecue sauce fumes.” She nodded at Max by a tree. “Dog walking?”
“Dog sniffing. Max takes doing his business in just the right place real serious.” He nodded at the Buick. “Car trouble?”
“Sally trouble. She conned me into helping out so she can seduce Demar.” Which was exactly what she wanted to do to Quaid right now.
“Hell, that should take about ten minutes.”
About as long as she’d last with Quaid. He grinned and hitched his hip onto the fender. She licked her bottom lip and tried not to drool. “She’s worried Demar’s falling for Jett, his ex-girlfriend who came to town a few days ago. Somehow I opened my big mouth and got roped into the problem. You missed that conversation since it happened after your brawl. What was that all about anyway? No one seems to know for sure, but everyone at the bar sure had an opinion. My personal favorite was that you and Demar are gay and had a lovers’ spat.”
He laughed, the rich sound floating off into the stillness of the night. “We had a little disagreement.”
“Translated that means it’s about a girl. My bet is Demar’s paying too much attention to the new girl in town and you don’t like that he’s two-timing a friend. End result is you beat the stuffing out of him, or at least tried to. How’s your nose?”
“About as good as Demar’s eye.” He assumed an innocent look that he’d probably perfected when he was a street kid talking his way out of trouble. “What Demar and Sally and Jett do is up to them and nothing to do with me.”
She grinned. “Right. Like I’m going to believe that.”
He took her arm and tugged her closer, her hip against his thigh. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, sending chills down her spine and setting fire to her gut. “Think you know me pretty well, don’t you?”
“I know you’re loyal to your friends and family. That’s why you’
re here and not in Alaska.” She captured his chin between her thumb and forefinger. She wanted him to know that what she had to say was more than idle conversation. “And I know Lawrence thinks you hang the stars each night and make the tides roll in and out each day.”
“Are you kidding? That kid knows exactly what causes those things.”
She laughed, but not the happy kind that made her feel good inside. It was one of those crappy laughs, when she wished things were different but they weren’t. “Aaron wanted Lawrence to be a pitcher for the Yankees, or a quarterback for…for one of those teams that use quarterbacks. Being the second Einstein was not on Aaron’s radar and Lawrence knows that. It didn’t do much for Lawrence’s self-esteem. You help—you help a lot. He likes you, and that you like him and respect him is more important than you can imagine right now. Thank you.”
He took her fingers and kissed the tips. “Lawrence is a great kid.”
“Except he doesn’t have a kid brain.”
“His brain is only one part of him, Cynthia. He’s still a little boy.”
His mouth covered hers as his arm slipped easily around her middle, drawing her between his legs. His hand went under her blouse, then her bra, and cupped her breast. “What are you doing?” she asked against his lips.
“If you don’t want this say the word.”
“We’re out here in the open.”
“We’re in Slim’s parking lot in the middle of the night behind a row of trees. Even gossips sleep sometime.”
She rested her forehead against his chin. “You make things so hard.”
“That’s my line.”
I’ll Be Seeing U Page 10