by Aliyah Burke
He prowled toward her and she bristled not appreciating his attitude or attempt to make her fearful. She didn’t back down as she held his gaze and her ground.
“You’re in over your head, girl. You need to sell and to me if you’re smart.”
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Phoenix? That’s what it sounds like to me. I’m asking you to get off my property now.”
He stepped closer still, but then he froze when Ward walked in.
“Let me show you out,” her friend stated in a no-nonsense tone.
She didn’t move until Ward left with him. Then she exhaled on a shaky breath.
“Does that happen a lot?”
Jules jumped with a squeak escaping at her shock of hearing Rex’s voice. “What are you doing here?”
He held up a fistful of mail. “Delivery. And you didn’t answered my question.”
“Set it on the desk.” She needed a moment.
Ward passed the window but didn’t come in. He would check on her later, she knew that without a doubt.
“Answer me.”
She snapped her gaze to his. “I don’t work for you. I owe you no explanation.”
“He frightened you.” Anger tinged his tone as he tossed the mail and approached.
“Most guys who tower over me and outweigh me by a good buck-fifty who threaten, tend to make me nervous.”
He stopped advancing. “Do I frighten you?”
Jules was shocked by the sincere concern in his tone. Still, she snorted. “Not in that same way, no.”
He lifted a black brow.
And he began approaching once more.
She swallowed, determined not to run now either. Or jump him.
Jules didn’t have much room to maneuver as she remained by the door area where she’d come in, this meant Rex came in from the other door or had already been in here for the entire spectacle.
He paused in front of her and held out his hand before touching her cheek with a soft caress.
The calluses on his hand created butterflies in her belly.
“Do. I. Scare. You?”
The low timbre of his voice heated her from the floor up. Or the top down. “No.”
“Yet, you look for a way out.”
“This isn’t proper and I have work to do.” She ducked away from his intoxicating touch and went to her desk. Needing something for her hands to do, she picked up the mail and began separating it into two piles. Bills and other. Unfortunately, the bills stack grew much higher than the other. She hated falling behind but this insurance for the therapeutic care part had skyrocketed. If it kept going this way—nope, she refused to think about what that meant.
At the bottom was a thick packet. Her gut curdled. Not another one. What did I do to deserve both this ass and Phoenix in the same day? She looked at the return stamp and rolled her eyes before sitting and reaching for a permanent marker.
The gold embossed stamp reading Hamilton Enrichment had her sneering. “He doesn’t take a hint. Enrichment my ass. Like he’s the only one enriching anything, but it is all about his pockets.”
“Who?”
Well, she’d found something that made her forget about the hunk in the room with her, Hamilton Enrichment. “This rich prick.” She waved the envelope.
Rex took it from her. “Hamilton Enrich…” he trailed off.
Jules stood and reached for him, instantly concerned by his tone. “Are you all right?”
“This sounds familiar.”
She struggled to contain her sarcasm because him remembering wouldn’t be anything other than good news. So, she opted for the high ground and took a deep breath then let it out. “How so? Think maybe you worked there? Or had business dealings with them?”
He shook his head slightly. “Not sure. Just the name sounds familiar. So damn familiar.” A low growl of frustration rolled from him.
“Give it time. I know it’s upsetting to not have all the answers.”
Rex pinned those golden amber eyes on her. “Do you? Have you been mugged and had things stolen along with your memory?” His statement had a cold bite to it.
She bristled but retained her cool. He has the right to be upset. “Never been robbed, no. But I have had a time when I had no memories.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “What happened?”
“Crushed by a horse.”
He cupped her cheek and she caught herself leaning further in toward him. She didn’t have the desire to move away from the heat and gentleness of his touch.
“Yet, you still ride.”
She nodded. “Of course. If I stopped riding because I fell off or was thrown, I would have not ridden since I was a little girl.”
“You love it.”
She smiled. “I do. Horses are magical creatures. Amazing creatures.”
“Your love for them shows. You love working with them.” He sobered and dropped his hand. “I wonder if I like my job as much as you do.”
“I’m sure you do.”
Jules reached for the envelope that came from her nemesis and stared at the gold logo. “Maybe they would be able to help you figure out who you are. I could have Ward drive you to Vancouver. It would be a long trip, but if it helps, I think it would be worth it for you.”
He turned and sat beside her on the edge of the desk. Close but not touching. Nor did he take the packet from her hand. “You know them? This Hamilton Enrichment group?”
This time, the snort did escape. “Nope, never met them.”
“But you correspond.”
She tossed the packet behind her. “In a matter of speaking. So, I couldn’t get you a meeting but I can get you a ride there.”
“You said they were in Vancouver?” He crossed his arms. “Even that sounds familiar to me.” Another head shake. He scrubbed a hand down his face, lingering on the scruff.
Jules nearly offered to help just to have permission to touch him. “The offer is there.” She slid off the desk only to halt when he gripped her wrist. His thumb circled along it, caressing her skirting pulse as he drew her between his legs.
Perfect place to be.
She didn’t want to move away.
Jules closed the distance between them and allowed herself to touch him. Breaking all her rules about getting involved with anyone that worked with her.
He’s not really an employee, it’s just a temporary situation for him.
One hand sliding through his hair, she sighed. As did he. His gaze heated and her knees trembled.
Rex put his hands on her waist, his thumbs near the top of her waistband.
The man’s thick curved lashes were what women would kill to have. Hell, women paid good money to have them for themselves. They paired well with his amber gaze, doing more than hinting at seduction and the promise of desire.
“God, I want you,” he breathed.
The door handle jiggled behind them and Jules pressed her lips to his all too briefly, then moved away.
Rex stood as Ward entered through the door.
He flicked his gaze between them. “Am I interrupting?”
“Nope,” she lied through her teeth. She went to the side door, desperate to get away from the temptation with the amber eyes.
Chapter Four
Rex leaned on the railing and watched the stallion frolic in the light mist that fell. He was taking a break trying to make sense of things and had wandered to this paddock.
Hamilton Enrichment.
Damn it, he knew that name meant something to him. If he could just remember. He smacked his hand on the top rail. Con paid him no mind. Not that he was surprised, the stallion loved his mistress and didn’t much give a damn about anything else.
Maybe he could pull the company up on the PC and see if the information could assist in jogging his memory. Frustrated by his lack of recall progress, he switched gears and focused on something much more pleasurable. Or rather someone.
Jules Tarrington.
What an enigma. Full of fire and passion
but truly a woman who cared about others. Especially, the children who came out here for their therapeutic riding. It wasn’t just children they worked with here. He’d seen several adults.
She set his blood aflame and honestly, he wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to keep his hands to himself.
Especially, knowing how she feels against me. Perfect.
He gazed around again.
This place would make a beautiful place for a golf club resort.
He perused on, mentally placing buildings around. A chalet would be stunning here. Groom the trees back and have a beautiful golf course. He could see it, clear as day. Hell, where he stood would make a nice green area.
Con snorted.
Rex glanced up sharply to the stallion. Nowhere for him to run and play then. Rex hated the twinge of gilt that speared him. Staring at his hands, he frowned. His nails were chipped and two had bruises under the bed. This didn’t seem right.
Two weeks he’d been here and while on one hand, it felt as if he belonged, another part of him rebelled and refused to accept that his lot in life was shoveling horse shit.
Con flicked his tail and thundered away.
Rex strolled back to the house, wondering who he was. Alone in the house, he walked to her home office and sat at her desk after moving Acorn from the chair.
The cat was unperturbed and climbed right back into his lap.
He’d just gotten the screen up on her computer when someone knocked on the door. “Sorry Acorn,” he muttered, placing him back on the cushion where the feline curled right up in a ball and went back to sleep.
At the door, he pulled it open to find a delivery man there. “Delivery for Ms. Tarrington and Petrichor Farms.”
“I work for her. I’ll accept it and take it to her.” He scrawled his name and took the package.
“Have a good day, Mr. Hamilton.”
“Excuse me?” he asked, pausing from going back inside.
The driver turned back to him. “You signed it R. Hamilton.”
“Right, sorry. Long day.” He hefted the package. “Appreciate it.”
“Sure thing.” The man jogged to his truck and drove away.
Hamilton. He furrowed his brow. So damn familiar. With a glance at the envelope, he scowled. Bachmann and Jericho Development.
Scummy bastards.
Where the thought came from, he hadn’t a clue. But there he had it and he wanted to demand that Jules not do business with them. He also knew that would just create more questions he didn’t have answers to.
In the office, he handed it to Ward as he sat at the desk working on the computer. “It came to the house.”
Wade stared at the name and snickered before tossing it to the side.
“Something amusing?”
“Not really. The bastards never take no for an answer.” He leaned back in the chair. “They keep pressing.”
“Why?”
“Because this farm is on prime real estate for development. But she’s not selling.”
“Has she considered any offer?”
Ward narrowed his eyes slightly. “No. What’s it to you?”
“Thought perhaps some offer interested Jules. Just not this one.”
“No, no offer they send interests her. She doesn’t open them anymore.”
He furrowed his brow. “Then how does she know if the proposed offer would be acceptable or not?”
“Because she’s not interested in selling. Price doesn’t matter.”
“Everyone has a price,” he said arrogantly. “You just have to find it.”
“I don’t,” Jules snapped, walking into view. “And don’t the both of you have something else to do other than discuss things that are of no concern to either of you?” Her words were dagger sharp.
Instead of backing down and letting it go, he crossed his arms. “That’s illogical behavior.”
“I know when to go,” Ward said, slipping out.
Flames flickered in the depths of her green-gray eyes. “What? Get your memory back and remember you work for Bachmann and Jericho?” Her sneer would strip paint from a car.
“No, to both of those things. I’m saying if your pride gets in the way of a potential deal. you have a lot you could be missing out on.”
“My pride? My pride?” The gray in her eyes darkened as her anger grew.
“Yes. You should have a code and follow it.” He tried to ignore just how sexy she looked when she was angry.
She pursed her full lips, moved closer, took his hand and dragged him to the door after her. Jules didn’t slow until she entered the barn. Still, her steps picked up as she pulled him along with her to the indoor arena’s edge. “Here,” she muttered, voice low. “Look at that.”
He glanced out into the sandy arena.
A roan—something he’d learned while working there—plodded along with three adults around. One leading and the other two were on either side of the horse, to balance or catch the rider just in case. Seated upon the equine was a skinny boy with a helmet on his head, dark blond hair stuck out from beneath the brim. The grin on his face, said it all.
“What about the pride and arrogance of those who want to take this away from children like Thomas there? Just so some rich fuck can come here with his mistress, breaking his vows of matrimony, and play golf with his other cheating cronies. Why should I have to leave to give them more money than they know what to do with?” Jules shook her head. “I won’t.” She faced him, arms crossed for a time before she threw up her hands, muttered under her breath and stomped off without a glance back.
“Progress is inevitable,” he said before striking out after her.
Rex spied her as she ducked into the mare’s barn. Entering, the barn seemed quiet expect for the occasional shifting of horses. He began moving down the aisle, appreciating the beauty of the animals in there. A lot of money resided within these walls in just horseflesh alone. He walked to the back and paused near the tack room, thinking she would be there. Nope.
Two hay bales hit the aisle behind him and he knew where she was. It took seconds for him to scale the ladder up to the hay loft. She wasn’t paying attention to anything but the hay being tossed down as she worked, while she muttered about assholes.
He smiled. Determined steps took him up to her, then he spun her around and claimed her mouth.
She stiffened then sank into his chest winding her arms around his neck, fingers spearing his hair.
He growled in his throat and yanked at her shirt.
“I’m sweaty,” she mumbled against his lips.
“So am I and were about to get sweatier.” His gaze flared with passion at his claim.
“Hay itches.”
“We’ll make do.” He took possession of her mouth once more. Her purr was the match to his flame. Tugging up her shirt, he swore as he finally had the opportunity to touch more of her soft skin.
She squirmed closer and he curved an arm around her waist, plucking her off her feet. She wriggled and sounds of thumps of her boots on the floor came to him.
Jules kissed him as if he were her last breath. He didn’t mind. Their tongues dueled and stroked along each other. With one hand, he tugged on her button-down shirt. It gave way beneath his strength.
Rex drew back and stared at the view before him. Full, plump breasts nearly overflowing the pale blue bra whose lace top had his mouth watering.
“Off,” she muttered tugging on his shirt.
He released her long enough to whip it off to fall to the pile of hay, then she was back in his embrace. His hands, splayed along her back, anchored her to him, not allowing much light between them. He wanted no space there. Wanted to feel her everywhere. Taste her everywhere.
With a groan, he loosened his grip, so he could sink to his knees in front of her. Light kisses he placed along her flat belly as he undid the button of her jeans.
She speared her fingers into his hair as he lowered her pants, lifting one leg then the other to free the
m from the article of clothing. How the hell she smelled so good he hadn’t a clue, but she didn’t smell of sweat and horses. He could scent apples and caramel.
Her panties matched the color of her bra, no lace, but a cute satin bow at the front. He ran his tongue along the top of them, loving her tremble.
“Rex,” she gasped, fingers flexing and tugging on his strands.
He nipped her skin as he palmed her ass in his hands. She was so strong and fit, yet without any doubt, extremely feminine. Leaning back slightly, he gazed up at her.
She’d captured her lower lip in her teeth, eyes nearly closed and this need burning in them that matched his own level of desire.
“Jules,” her name rolled from his tongue and he didn’t want to explain, or even think about how right it felt.
“You have too many clothes on.”
“Yes, I do.” It didn’t take him long to change that and they were laid out on a mishmash pile of their clothing. He cupped her cheek as he rolled her beneath him, stealing light butterfly kisses. Perhaps stealing wasn’t the proper term as she met each one of them willingly.
Rex wasn’t sure what was happening to him at this moment, but he knew somehow that this connection with Jules was deeper and more tangible than anything he’d had with anyone else. He left her all too tempting mouth and licked down her neck, loving each moan escaping her throat.
Nothing else mattered right then. Not that they were in a hayloft in a barn, not that his memory wasn’t there.
She shifted and whimpered, legs spreading wider to welcome him deep inside her. Her nipples were taut, poking him in the chest and he skimmed his hands down her sides, to her hips. He couldn’t recall ever being this turned on. Moving his hand between them, he brushed the swollen lips and dipped them inside. The slickness granted him easy entry.
Jules bucked bringing his digits in deeper. “Yes,” she hissed, her back arching.
He couldn’t have said it better himself. She was ready and he was about to lose the remaining vestiges of his control.
Her eyes fluttered.
Rex moved his fingers bringing them wide once more. “Watch me,” he ordered, not wanting to miss a second of staring into those eyes. “Watch me, Jules.” He took his fingers from her heat and gripped her hip, fingers digging into the flesh there. He wanted to keep her as close as he could, for as long as he could.