by Jamie Beck
Eventually, he fell to one side and pulled her up along his chest, hugging her close. “It’s good to be home.”
He thought he heard a small gasp, but then she teased him. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were lonely in Denver.”
“I was lonely in Denver.” He peered down at her, but she kept her face hidden, so all he could see was a tangle of golden hair fanned out on his body.
She lightheartedly pinched him. “Oh, stop acting like a man who just returned from a monastery. We both know that’s not true.”
Yet it was. He hadn’t been with another woman since he started up his little affair with Kelsey, and that realization surprised him. He gripped her chin and tilted her face up to meet his gaze, considering confessing the truth, when her doorbell rang.
She snapped her head toward the bedroom door, eyes wide with anxiety. “Who the heck could that be?”
“Don’t answer it.” Trip kept his hold on her waist. He didn’t want anything or anyone to intrude on their time together this afternoon.
The bell rang a second time.
“Stay here!” She pushed off the bed and grabbed her robe.
He waited, listening to her talk to someone through the intercom. A minute later, he heard her open the door, thank someone, and then say good-bye before closing the door.
Curiosity took over, so he grabbed his underwear and entered the living room. Kelsey had her back to him, so she didn’t hear him coming. She was concentrating on reading the card that had been delivered with a bouquet of pink roses.
Every muscle in his body stiffened. Who the hell was sending her flowers? What the hell had she been doing while he’d been dealing with his dad in Denver? She sure hadn’t mentioned anyone else during any of their recent conversations.
He reached around her and snatched the card from her hand, which read: Dinner next Friday? Say yes—Cary.
“What kind of a girly name is Cary?” Blindsided, Trip flung the card onto the counter before corralling his jealousy.
“It’s a private joke.” She scowled and returned the card to its plastic holder. “I told him he reminded me of Cary Grant.”
Trip laughed, feigning a nonchalance he didn’t feel. “And he took it as a compliment?”
She slapped his shoulder. “It was a compliment.”
Being an old-fashioned, highbrow pretender was a compliment? Is that the kind of guy she thought could make her happy?
“Who is this guy, and why is he sending you roses?” Trip affected a carefree tone, although his fingers itched to knock over the vase or throw it against the wall. “Do I know him?”
Kelsey stared at him for a moment, apparently weighing her options. “You know what? According to your tips, I shouldn’t talk about this with anyone. I doubt you know him, anyway. He’s a new client. I found him a condo this week.”
“Those tips don’t apply to me, Kelsey.” He sighed when she winced at the bark in his voice.
“Oh yes, I think they do apply. Especially to you.” Her fingers brushed the tips of the flowers and her brows knitted. “Maybe this is good timing, actually. When you texted, I’d planned to end the sexual part of our friendship, but then you surprised me with the gift and . . . well, I got carried away.”
“I’d say you did.” His lungs seemed to be struggling a bit to find air. How the hell did he get here? Before he could stop the words from coming, he cupped her jaw with his palm and said, “I thought we were having fun together. You’ve seemed happy enough.”
“Happy with our secret booty calls?” She placed her hand over his and held it there before slowly lowering his hand from her face. Her next words were barely louder than a whisper. “Come on, Trip. You know me well enough to know our arrangement isn’t what I want.”
He couldn’t say which bugged him most: the resigned tone in her voice, the fact that she was being pursued by some other guy, or the realization that somewhere along the way he’d begun to really care.
“You’re the one who put all the parameters on this being such a big secret. I’d have liked to have gone out and done more.” As soon as the words flew from his lips, he regretted saying them. He’d come dangerously close to exposing vulnerability he wasn’t honestly ready to admit or accept. Yes, he enjoyed her company more than he did any other woman’s, but that didn’t mean he shared her ultimate goals of marriage and family.
She wrapped her robe more tightly to her body and stared at him. “Why are you so miffed? This whole thing has gone exactly as you proposed. We had fun together, and now that I’ve met someone who seems interested in me for more than just sex, I’m going to use your tips and, hopefully, you’ll get your hat back.” She smiled as if he might find the whole thing funny.
He didn’t.
Trip scrubbed his hands over his face to hide his feelings from her. She was right; he had proposed this whole stupid plan when he hadn’t foreseen feeling more . . . feeling anything. Now what the hell was he supposed to do with all these damn feelings?
He turned to go find his clothes, but she grasped his arm. Her hopeful golden-brown eyes searched his. “Trip, if something’s changed, now would be the time to tell me.”
While one selfish part of him wanted to keep seeing her, the bigger part knew he wasn’t anywhere near ready to take on the kind of relationship and commitment she really wanted. He cared about her enough not to play games and make promises he couldn’t keep.
“You just surprised me, that’s all, princess.” He kissed her forehead. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. Now let me go get dressed.”
He yanked his jeans back on, all the while convincing himself that this was for the best. Soon enough they’d be squaring off against each other over Wade’s project anyway, which would probably have brought an end to this fling, too. At least now they would make a clean break before things got messier.
On Trip’s way out, Cowboy scampered up against his leg. Kelsey stood near the kitchen, chewing on the inside of her cheek, looking conflicted. Trip picked up the kitten and stroked it under its chin. “You take care of our girl now, you hear?”
He set the kitten back on the floor then winked at Kelsey, pretending he didn’t ache with regret. “Good luck with your dreamboat, princess.”
Chapter Ten
Kelsey slammed the folded newspaper down on the counter at Backtrax and skewered Grey with the most heated glare she could muster. “Where’s your partner?”
“Steer clear of him, Kelsey. He’s been grouchy ever since he got back from Denver.” Grey unwrapped a grape Tootsie Pop and stuck it in his mouth, apparently unfazed by her death stare.
For one millisecond, she wondered if Trip’s foul mood had anything to do with her ending their trysts. Then she considered the waitlist of women hungry to warm his bed, and brushed aside her little fantasy.
“Well, I’ve got a bone to pick with Mr. ‘Concerned Citizen’.”
“Oh.” Grey’s brows rose along with both hands, indicating she’d guessed right. Trip was the man behind the open letter to the Copeland family featured on the front page of the local paper’s Lifestyle section.
“Is he here?” She picked up the newspaper roll and tucked it under her arm.
“Upstairs.”
As she marched toward the interior stairwell, she glanced over her shoulder. “Unless you own earplugs, it’s probably best if you stay down here until I leave.”
“I’ve got some work to do in the back office.” He waved her off. “Try not to break anything.”
“Hmph.” She tromped up the steps, her platform snakeskin pumps pounding a warning against the wood treads.
Fueled by the anticipation of a showdown, she barely knocked on the back door before pushing it open and barging into the kitchen. “Trip!”
“Right here, princess,” he drawled, standing in front of the open refrigerator wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
His skin was still damp from a shower, his thick, black hair glossy and wet, with
water droplets rolling down his neck. The defined muscles in his chest and arms flexed as he closed the refrigerator door and faced her.
Kelsey’s mouth opened and closed, her well-rehearsed tirade temporarily forgotten thanks to her dirty mind imagining him in the shower.
His gaze traveled from her head to her toes, which made her body flush with unwelcome desire. It had been nine days since she’d seen him. Nine days since she’d felt this rush. Nine long days since her heart had soared.
He cocked his head. “I’d be flattered by the way you’re staring at my towel, but after our last discussion, I’m guessing you’re not here looking for love.”
The smirk on his face doused her desire like cold mountain spring water, reminding her of why she’d come.
“Darn straight, I’m not. And if I were looking for love, I sure wouldn’t find it with you!” She thrust the paper toward him. “Obviously you don’t care about me at all, or you wouldn’t go out of your way to screw up this project I’m counting on.”
He snatched the paper from her hand and tossed it on the floor. “I’ve warned you more than once not to count on that deal.”
“So that makes what you’re doing okay?”
“Yes.” He crossed his arms.
It took concentrated effort to keep her gaze above his neck. Apparently he wasn’t the least bit interested in getting dressed and having a serious discussion. God, she wanted to poke those cool green eyes out of his smug face.
“Just when I was convinced there was more to you, you prove me wrong.” She shook her head. “You’re as selfish as I first believed.”
“Me?” His eyes narrowed. “You think I’m selfish for trying to stop an unnecessary and detrimental development from wrecking this community? If anyone’s being selfish, it’s you, Miss Moneygrubber.”
“Oh, please. You expect me to believe you’re doing this for the good of the community?” When he shrugged, she rolled her eyes. “If you’re so passionate about this cause, why don’t you use your real name?”
“I’ve got my reasons, not the least of which is keeping a decent relationship going between Backtrax and Wade.” He rested his butt against the edge of the kitchen counter, ankles casually crossed, apparently waiting for her to make the next move.
As always, he seemed to maintain his calm demeanor while managing to push all her buttons. Her skin itched from sheer irritation.
“Trip, if you succeed in killing this deal, I’ll lose several hundred thousand dollars in commissions and won’t be able to buy the small apartment building I’ve had my eye on. Meanwhile, you’ll gain nothing from your win . . . other than hurting me, that is. Please reconsider. If you walk away, you lose nothing.”
“Not true, Kelsey. I’ve told you already, I’ve made an investment in Backtrax and a commitment to living here, so I do have something to lose if the Wade Kesslers of the world come in and change everything. I’m sorry if this might cause a temporary setback in your personal plans, but I’ve got to do what I think is right.”
“I’ve lived here my whole life. Do you really think I’d promote development that I didn’t think would benefit the town?” When he didn’t soften, she sniped, “And you’ll excuse me if I have a hard time buying into your commitment to our town, since commitment isn’t exactly your strong suit.”
Trip’s face turned bright red as he crossed the kitchen in two long strides and got right in her face, speaking in a quiet yet terse tone. “Careful, princess. I’ve been a decent friend to you, so how about you show me the same respect?” Then he raised one brow. “Besides, you’re hardly objective about this deal.”
He stood there looking more confident and hotter than any man should look, while her insides churned.
“You really don’t feel bad about doing this to me, do you?” Rather than stomp her foot like Fee might do, she shoved at his chest. Another tactical error, which he proved when he caught her hands before she pulled away.
“I’m not doing this ‘to you,’ Kelsey. I’m doing this for the people in the town who feel like I do. For the small retailers who’ll lose money when fancy upscale stores take over. For the wildlife and habitats that’ll be bulldozed to pave the property.”
“Oh, yes, you made your many concerns very clear in your letter.” Kelsey tugged her hands free from his grip. “There are pros and cons to every development, but that doesn’t mean you should stop progress. Now I’ve got to convince Nick Copeland and his siblings not to get cold feet, and persuade Wade not to take his business elsewhere. Clearly I don’t matter to you, but know this much: I’m not going to let you kill this deal.”
Trip softened his voice, but stepped even closer, throwing her further off balance. “I haven’t done anything but raise legitimate questions. Has Wade even done any kind of impact study to show how his ideas will affect groundwater, traffic, or any other number of factors?”
Kelsey didn’t have an answer. All she knew was how much she wanted to secure at least one part of her future. If Trip couldn’t make her the kinds of promises she really wanted, why couldn’t he at least stand aside and let her expand her business?
A swell of confusion and embarrassment tightened her throat and made her eyes start to water. She bent over to retrieve the paper from the floor and hide her emotions, then she turned toward the door, muttering, “I don’t know why I bothered coming here.”
“Maybe it’s got nothing to do with Wade’s deal.” His words were soft-spoken but as sharp as an arrow.
She placed her hand on the doorknob, unwilling to look at him or engage in further conversation about her motives. “I don’t have time for this.”
But before she escaped, his hand grasped her waist. “Maybe subconsciously you want me to stop you from going out on your big date tonight.” His mouth was suddenly at her ear, his chest against her back. “Tell the truth, Kelsey. Does this other guy knock you so off balance you don’t know whether to slap him or kiss him? Does he make you tremble this way? Does he crave your touch?”
When she hesitated, he pushed her hair aside and kissed her neck. Like every other time he held her, she melted against him, needy and restless. He pounced on her weakness, spun her around and kissed her. Hot, hungry kisses that had them both breathing heavily in mere seconds. But once he started loosening her shirt from her skirt, she stopped him.
“No, Trip. I meant what I said before. I’m not like you. I can’t be with you and see other people at the same time.”
“I haven’t seen anyone else since we got together.” He kept pulling her in to kiss her, as if that tidbit of information was merely incidental instead of earth-shattering.
“You haven’t?” She inhaled sharply and held her breath, leaning away to look in his eyes.
He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead. “No.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “Guess I haven’t wanted to be with anyone but you.” Then he kissed her again, possibly just to stop her questions. But she had more and needed answers before she went out with Mason.
“But you said no strings. You signed on to help me with another guy. I just assumed you were with other women whenever we weren’t together.”
“You assumed wrong.” He stroked her hips and tried to kiss her, but she turned her cheek before she reached out to touch his.
“So what does this mean?”
“Why does it have to mean something?” He sighed and released her. “Why can’t it just be what it is?”
“And what is it?” She stared at him, trying but failing to read his expression.
“I don’t know.” He raked his hand through the front of his hair. “I don’t project or plan or plot. I take life one day at a time. And today, I like hanging out with you, talking to you, making love with you.”
“But you still don’t want the same things I want, do you?” She chewed the inside of her cheek, her heart stretching wide with yearning.
“This is the part where
you fast-forward all the way to marriage and kids, right?” He rolled his eyes, which insulted her and left her heart aching. How could she have been foolish enough to hope for a miracle?
“You spit those words out like stale beer.”
“My doubts about the institution are better than you settling for some random guy who probably doesn’t even turn you on just because he might make good husband material.” When she looked away, he chuckled. “And you think I’m screwed up.”
Her head snapped back in his direction. Anger ebbed as disappointment and resignation rushed in to take its place. Kelsey sighed. “Maybe we’re both screwed up, but I’m not going to argue with you, and I’m not going to give up on my dreams just because you think they’re stupid.”
Trip took two steps backward, the heat in his eyes cooling. “Well, then, I guess I’ll look forward to reclaiming my grandfather’s hat soon.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.”
Kelsey fidgeted with her napkin while Mason paid the tab. He’d been a perfect gentleman all night, but she couldn’t get Trip or his accusations out of her head.
“Have I sufficiently bored you with too many stories about my girls?” Mason’s chagrined smile deluged Kelsey in guilt.
“Not unless my tales of Fee and Ty bored you.” A deflection to be sure, but she could barely concentrate. A ridiculous part of her resented Mason for not being able to rouse her more. She’d desperately wanted tonight to be a first step toward something real—and to prove Trip wrong—but the truth had only grown clearer with each conversation.
Mason was smart, nice-looking, and respectful, but he didn’t excite her. Not even the candlelit tables had helped, although the man did know his fine wines. That was a plus. Trip always chugged them like beer, the beast.
“Of course not,” he replied, intently staring at her while finishing what remained in his wineglass. “Thanks for agreeing to come out tonight, but if I had to guess, you’re hung up on some other guy, aren’t you?”
Add perceptive to Mason’s list of good traits, she thought. “I’m not hung up. Maybe I’m a little . . . I don’t know, stupid, probably.”