by Lacey Silks
“You were playing the role of my girlfriend quite well back there.”
I looked up into his sky-blue eyes waiting for him to continue.
“And I was thinking whether that’s something you’d think about permanently.”
“Being your girlfriend?”
“Yes. I mean, we’ve been on a date, and sealed it with a kiss and a delicious eat-out session. As much as you’d like to deny it, I know you feel something for me, and I definitely want us to have a chance. There’s nothing really standing in our way.” With his arms around me and mine around him, we swayed from side to side. I felt him grow hard against my belly, and listening to him describe his ambush on me just minutes ago revived my craving for him.
“Nothing except that I’m working on your case.”
“You’re afraid of what your brothers would say of this?”
“I don’t fear my brothers, but I do take my job seriously, Eric. I want to find Huntz for you. I want your family to heal. Nothing would give me more pleasure than that.”
“I beg to differ.” The sly look on his face made me pause as I thought about the kinds of pleasure he could give me. Was it possible that it could be better than what he’d done to me back by the barn?
“So you’re basically saying that I can’t kiss you like this anymore?”
And with those words he lifted his hands to my face, cupping it, and lowered his mouth to mine, taking my breath away, stealing the smart words I’d wanted to say right out of me. He tilted my head for that perfect angle and I opened myself to him. My hands weaved up his back, feeling those hard muscles tense under my palms. Eric’s mouth hardened as he lowered his hands, wrapping them around me and pulling me as close as possible.
I heard myself moan into his mouth, so desperate for the kind of kiss I hadn’t had in years, and Eric slid his tongue deeper, devouring me, tasting me as if it was for the first and last time. I couldn’t imagine pulling away. And I didn’t want it to be the last time he kissed me. I wanted this to last forever because no one had ever kissed me with such passion and devotion. Not even David.
At the thought of him I pulled away, stepping back.
“What is it, Emma?”
I shook my head.
“It’s just that I haven’t let myself feel this way in a long time.”
“What do you feel, Emma?”
“I don’t know. I’m confused when you kiss me like that. Like I’m the only one in the world.”
“That’s because you are. I’m sorry if I’m moving too fast. I know this is complicated with me hiring you and all, but this, Emma” – he pointed between the two of us – “feels so right. I haven’t felt like this either – ever. We click. And I will do everything in my power to give us a fair chance.”
I understood exactly what he was saying. I wanted to give us a try as well, but I was afraid it would cloud my thinking, and when dealing with Huntz I needed my wits about me. I had to have a clear head on this case, and around Eric I found myself filled with lust and longing so deep that it was beginning to affect my decisions. Was there any way I could make this work? Concentrate on both the case and Eric? After all, my brothers always said that multitasking was one of my greatest skills.
“I’m just…”
“Scared?” he asked. “There’s nothing wrong with being afraid, Emma. Especially since in your line of work you don’t allow yourself to be. But you have nothing to fear with me.”
Eric took my hand and lifted it to his heart, pressing it there gently. I felt the beating of his heart and the warmth of his skin penetrate the fabric. “I will never hurt you. I promise.”
“Someone promised that once to me.”
“David?”
“And he died.”
“I’m sorry, Emma…”
“It’s all right. I guess I’m still healing. I couldn’t talk about it for a long time, you know. I locked myself up and lost myself in my work, and when I tried to move on, I couldn’t. None of the men I dated evoked that feeling I was looking for. But with you, the moment I saw you, I knew that you were different.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
“So what you’re saying is, you’ll give this Cowboy a try?”
I smiled. “I guess I will.”
He smacked his lips to mine and lifted me up in the air, twirling around. “Good, because I want to try all of you.”
“Not here,” I laughed as we spun.
“Let’s go home, then.” Eric set me down and I had one last look at the dusty house. “One sleepless night is enough.”
“Why sleepless?” I asked.
“Because knowing you were right in my bed last night, where I’d imagined caressing and kissing every curve of your body, was torture.”
A flash of heat slammed into me. Eric’s candid words were such a turn-on. The hormone meter inside my body spiked to the max.
“This doesn’t mean we’re jumping right in the sack, Cowboy.”
“We’ll see.” He grinned, pulling me by the hand back toward the car.
“Wait, aren’t you forgetting something?” I asked, stopping him mid-step. “What about the lunch your mom is making?”
“Crap! I guess me getting inside you will have to wait then.”
His words surprised me, and my mouth opened a fraction. There was something so arousing hearing him speak to me this way, knowing so well how much I affected him and what he wanted to do to me. When it was just the two of us, Eric was like a completely different man. Not the shy guy I’d pictured him as, but a gorgeously built hunk who swept me off my feet each time he spoke and moved.
As Eric led me back toward the house, I wondered about this beautiful place.
“Why do you think Huntz wants your parents’ farm so badly?” I asked just before he opened the door.
“Can you keep a secret?”
My eyes flew wide open.
“Cowboy, I’m all about secrets.”
“All right. I have a feeling he thinks there could be crude oil underneath the farm.”
“That’s impossible. I checked the geological surveys.”
“Have you checked the ones for my ranch?”
“No. Are you saying there’s oil underneath your ranch?”
“Lots of it. I don’t know how the word had leaked to Huntz of our family’s wealth, but it had to. There’s no other reason he’d want it. Except he got the wrong property.”
“Some of that actually makes sense. He could have been after the oil originally, but now that there’s no way he’d get the property, there has to be more. We should tell your parents. ”
“We can’t.”
“Eric, secrets can destroy families. Trust me, I know. And it takes a hell of a lot to put the pieces back together. You should tell them.”
Eric shifted uncomfortably. If I was to bet, I’d say that something was off.
“I think they’ll have more peace if I find Huntz first and end his pursuit. Once that’s done, we’ll tell them. I’ll be able to withdraw the crude openly, and give my parents the retirement they deserve. I don’t want them working any longer.”
“It seems like it’s something they enjoy doing.”
“It is, but at least their financial worries would be eased.”
Eric was right, financial freedom could definitely reduce stress.
I wasn’t sure why I didn’t tell Eric about finding out that Huntz had visited Ogden, but my instinct told me it wasn’t the right time. Panic wouldn’t help me find the bastard, and neither would Eric running around asking questions and following me everywhere. I had to be subtle. The element of surprise was the only weapon I had at this time. Maybe my brothers were right. If Huntz would be coming back to this town, perhaps I should have brought reinforcements.
Chapter 15
Eric
“Thank you for the lovely meal,” Emma said to my mother. “But you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“No trouble at all, Emma
. It’s been too long since we’ve had company and more than two people at this table.”
“We’ll definitely need to change that. At least while I’m here. Right, Eric?”
She took my hand into hers, right on top of the table. My mother took a sharp breath in. A wide smile stretched across her face. I hadn’t seen that kind of joy in years. Emma was sure playing the girlfriend part to a T. Except that as of this afternoon, she didn’t need to play it, did she?
“Of course, darling.” I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, wondering how far I could push her before she was melting in my mouth again. The exchange felt so natural that I could have fooled myself into believing we’d known each other for more than a week. Her sweet smell infused the air around me, having quite the unexpected effect on my pulse.
“So, Emma. What do you do in New York? Tell us a little about your family.”
Emma happily went into telling stories about her parents, brothers, nieces, and nephews, wisely skipping the part about Cross Enterprises and her current case. I’d never seen a woman talk about her family with so much enthusiasm and love. It made my heart clench, as that had always been what my parents wanted; yet as hard as they tried, they were never able to achieve it. My parents listened as if she were telling some sort of a fairytale about a happy family they’d once had and lost. A tear collected at the corner of my mom’s eye as some fond memories of our happier times before our kidnapping must have come back to her. Unlike now, our home used to be a happy one, full of laughter and giggles, and I couldn’t help but want to have that feeling once again. Was Emma the woman who could help me bring it back? Was she the one who could finally bring our family together? She was here only on a job, though, and I had so much hope and expectation in my heart I was afraid I’d break if she found Huntz too quickly and left before I had the chance to make her want to stay longer – maybe forever. Chills swept along my arms and, as if sensing that I needed her, Emma gently grasped my thigh under the table, smoothing her hand over it. My body responded with an instant swell in my boxers. I swore that woman would be the death of me.
The comforting gesture tugged at my heart, and I got the feeling that she had definitely been sent here for a purpose – not only to help me but also to heal my family, which has been torn apart for so long. My stomach flipped inside out when I thought about the pain my parents had gone through and the fear that remained within the perimeters of my childhood home. Could Emma change that? Was there any possible way she could mend my parents’ fears merely with her presence? From the sound of my father’s belted laugh I thought I saw a spark of hope in my mother’s eyes. Emma was telling them about Jack and the twins. My mom gasped every time she mentioned a family holiday at a table suitable for a kingdom that could host each member of the Cross family. And when she mentioned Christmas traditions, my mom could no longer keep her tears concealed.
“I would love it if you could both visit us in New Jersey,” Emma said, suddenly making me aware of what her invitation implied. Me and Emma together as a couple for much longer than I could have hoped. She cautiously eyed me from the side, studying me carefully as I listened to every word that came out of her beautifully smart mouth. I nodded in agreement, noticing the immediate effect it had on her pulse. Was she being serious? I doubted the invitation wasn’t honest – after all, if my parents accepted, she couldn’t back out. But Emma was smart: seeing this sad and over-secure house, she knew they’d never leave.
“Thank you so much, sweetheart. But I don’t think we could leave here,” my mother replied, confirming my suspicions, a little sadness gleaming in her eyes.
“I guess a farm this size must be a lot of work, but I’m sure someone could help out while you’re away for a few days. You’d love it there.”
“We’ve lived here our entire lives, and we’re just used to it.” My mother shrugged. “Most of the land is leased, so all we have to take care of are the pigs. We were hoping one of the kids would take it over one day, but Eric’s grandfather bequeathed him the ranch, and Annabelle seems to want a city life.”
“So this is your retirement?” Emma asked in surprise. “I mean, how long were you thinking of tending to the pigs? It can’t be an easy job. I mean, other than some of the men I’d met in New York, I don’t know much about the animals, but the workload must tire you out.”
My father chuckled.
At the thought of some of the pigs that Emma could have dated, I felt rage boil in my veins. But Emma was right. It wouldn’t take more than a few more years before my parents’ strength ran out.
“This has always been our life,” my mother replied. “It doesn’t feel like work. And we’ll sell them one day when we can’t take care of them anymore. Just… not yet. They’re important.”
They looked at each other in that loving way. The exchange was so rare I got lost in it myself. It reminded me of the good old days. It seemed that Emma was bringing all that love out of my parents without even knowing it. My parents weren’t keeping the pigs for themselves. They meant much more than anyone could understand. They had been a part of us when we were happy, and giving them away would mean losing another part of their lives that they couldn’t afford to lose right now.
“My parents started purchasing pigs by accident,” I explained. “It was Annabelle’s idea, and the team just grew from year to year.”
“So Annabelle will be returning to Ogden, then? I got the impression she wanted to stay away.”
“Your perception is correct, Emma. It seems Annabelle wants to remain in San Francisco for now. And I don’t blame her. But we’re still hoping she’ll change her mind one day. God has a way of working miracles. I’m sure when she comes home to visit after graduation, she’ll remember her roots. It’s not easy living away from the people you love,” my mother said.
Emma flinched at her reply, and for a moment pulled her hand away from mine, most likely taking my mother’s words to heart.
Why did it suddenly feel like I’d been stabbed in the chest? Could I ever convince Emma to give us a real chance? She must have been aware what that would mean: one of us leaving our family. Getting closer to each other could prove more dangerous than I wanted to admit. While I could never leave the ranch or my parents, she was tied to Cross Enterprises and her family life as well. She’d need to finish her case here and leave me, wouldn’t she? Was it even worth getting involved with this stunning woman who had stolen my heart the minute I saw her? Everything inside me shouted ‘yes,’ but was it what was best for Emma? I already felt like we were a unit that couldn’t be broken. Was this too fast?
“You said you don’t blame Annabelle. Why?” she asked. I instinctively squeezed her thigh under the table, but it was already too late.
My mom’s hands began to shake as she clasped them together and lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Emma lowered her voice.
Fuck! Getting my mom into one of her trances was the last thing I’d wanted. It wasn’t Emma’s fault. I should have been more specific about Annabelle and my mother and why my sister meant so much to her. There was one more secret our family held that Emma wasn’t aware of. A secret that was too difficult to share.
“It’s not your fault, Emma. Annabelle and Eric went through a lot when they were young. See, a man who wanted to harm our family kidnapped our children from their room at a young age. Annabelle could never forget it. And that’s why I don’t blame her for not wanting to live here.”
“That’s awful. I’m assuming they didn’t catch him, since she doesn’t want to come home.”
“You’re a smart girl, Emma. That’s right, Huntz has never been caught, but we won’t let that scare us. We need to go on for our kids and for all those who never get their kids back. We were fortunate that Eric and Annabelle escaped.”
There was more to this story that my mother had skipped, and I knew I’d have to fill Emma in on it later.
“Has anyone seen Huntz since?” Emma a
sked. “He couldn’t have simply disappeared.”
My mom’s head shot up. She looked Emma right in her eyes and said, “No, we haven’t seen him since. And neither has anyone in this town.”
Emma held her gaze, and for the first time tonight, I got the feeling that my mother was lying. Had Emma caught onto it as well? Had Huntz come back, and they didn’t tell me? Had he threatened my parents again? God, I hoped Emma could find the bastard, so I could end this family’s years of misfortune once and for all.
“Do you know why he kidnapped the kids?” Emma asked.
“He wanted our farm.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, dear. There’s nothing here, but it’s all we have. We never thought he’d go to such measures. If we’d known, we would have given him everything he wanted just to leave our children alone. But now they’re all grown up. We’re the only ones left here, and there’s no one to protect. I don’t see a reason to give up our home.”
“No one’s asking you to do so, Ma.” I reached over the table and took her frail hand in mine, holding it for a moment. “You’re safe, and we’re safe. Let’s change the subject, please.”
Emma shifted uncomfortably in her seat before perking up again. “I would love it if you could join us for the summer fest. I don’t know many people around here, and it would be lovely to see some familiar faces.”
I froze. My parents’ faces dropped for a moment. Pain was marked in their eyes, regret in the creases of their foreheads, and guilt near their tight smiles. While Emma’s invitation was meant to ease the conversation, it was not welcome. And even though my parents wanted to hide how they’d been affected, no one could mistake the seconds-long torture they’d just experienced.
“You don’t want two old farts there, Emma. You young kids enjoy yourselves.” My father spoke first.
“But I thought the fest was for everyone? It would really make me feel better knowing some people there, Mrs. Waters.”