Front Page Affair

by Jennifer Morey

  Back to the boat, she helped him secure the dinghy and then went into the salon with him, where he put the bag down.

  Arizona sat across from him with her legs tucked under her. Four pistols, two automatic rifles. Plenty of ammunition. It was like going through an inedible trick-or-treat bag.

  “Ever been target practicing?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She picked up a pistol and selected the corresponding magazine and shoved it into the gun. “Lincoln remembered which gun I used, too.”

  “I think I can get by with this.” Braden held another pistol, testing the feel of it in his hand.

  “Target practice?”

  “No, a field in the middle of nowhere when I was eighteen.” The memory put a smile on his lips.

  “Engineer,” she teased.

  He lowered the gun. “After a friend and I finished shooting beer cans, I took my gun apart and put it back together.”

  “What is the fascination with that?” And why the hell did she find it so sexy? On him?

  “I had to know how it worked.”

  She tried to douse the appeal of his curious mind and that grin. She’d listened to Trevor for hours as he went on and on about his work, the projects he’d been involved in, the challenges and his joy when he overcame them. But he hadn’t enchanted her quite the same. She’d loved his passion but she hadn’t really listened to his stories. With Braden, she hung on every word.

  Seeing a petite belt with a holster fastened to it, Arizona took it and slipped it around the waist of her jean shorts. Picking up the gun, she stood and slipped the gun into the holster. Slipping it back out, she tested her own handling, careful not to point it at Braden.

  Seeing him watch her, she put it into the holster and spread her arms. “Do I look like a wild west girl?” She gave a little wiggle to her hips. She’d have to thank Lincoln for thinking to add the holster.

  When Braden didn’t respond, she looked up from her new toy. His eyes smoldered with something other than amusement, rising from her hips. He stole her breath as he devoured the sight of her. That trigger-quick attraction was back again. The impact of it rendered her still.

  He stood, a slow unfolding of his statuesque body. Then he stepped over to her, his eyes never wavering. She looked up into them, enchanted, enticed, anticipating.

  Reaching for her, his fingers worked the belt of her holster. Her breath hitched as heat flushed her. His green eyes held her captive. Releasing the belt, he tossed it onto the duffel bag.

  She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Did he not like her wearing a gun? He liked something. He still looked at her, not moving away.

  Then he stepped closer. He lifted his hand and cupped the side of her face. Arizona parted her mouth to breathe easier. She tipped her head back and put her hands on his stomach, feeling hard, ribbed muscle under his shirt.

  His head came down. His eyes bored into hers.

  What was stopping her from letting this night go wherever it led? Neither one of them could predict the future. So, it was soon after his divorce. So, he had a son. None of that mattered right now.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asked.

  That she was contemplating sleeping with him? “You tell me.”

  “How about if I just show you?”

  She had a need to keep this light. Nothing serious. She could walk away from that. And so could he. “Okay, but I’m warning you...if at any time the geeky engineer comes out in you...”

  He grinned, sexy with creases along his mouth. Then his humor fled. He kissed her, just once. Soft. Smooth. Warm. Then he withdrew and she drowned in his eyes again.

  She slid her hands over his muscular chest, up over his sinewy shoulders, and pressed her body against his. Angling her head, she urged him for more. His hands moved around to her rear and lower back, holding her where she wanted to be.

  An endless kiss later, he lifted his head. She drowned in the passion in his eyes, soft and burning beneath the external lights. The gentle rock of the boat swayed her with him.

  He kissed her again, slow and poignant. Transported to a world of sweet desire, she gave herself over to it, reveling in it, worshipping it. Kissing Braden reunited her with something lost, something she never thought she’d encounter again.

  Breaking the kiss, Braden lifted her against him. She wrapped her legs around his hips and he walked with her to the master cabin, where he laid her on the bed.

  Before coming down with her, he pulled off his shirt, grabbing the hem and pulling it forward over his head, muscles rippling. Arizona removed her short-sleeved button-up shirt and left the rest as Braden kneeled on the mattress and straddled her. He unclasped her bra, his fingers brushing her skin and fanning chills of delicious anticipation from where he touched to her groin. Laying the cups of her bra aside, he freed her breasts, staring down at them before taking them in his hands. He held one and thumbed the nipple of the other.

  He kissed her mouth while he continued to toy with her. Impatient, Arizona reached between them and tugged at the button of his jeans. He left her long enough to remove them, and she removed the rest of her clothes, shrugging out of her bra and kicking out of her shorts.

  Then he was on her again, as breathless as her. He kissed her hard, his body pressing her into the mattress. His erection was unmistakable and near what awaited. She tipped her hips, rubbing against him. He groaned and began probing. She was so ready for him that he slid right in. For a moment he went still, fighting for control. Arizona held on to him, her fingers digging into his shoulders, feeling the muscles work as he held himself up on his hands and pulled back for that first thrust.

  Arizona arched her body with the singe of lust that numbed her. She heard her own rough breathing, half moans full of pleasure. Braden moved back and forth, agonizingly slow. She lifted her knees and hooked her ankles around him, rocking with him. The sensations catapulted her back in time. This was how it had been with Trevor. Deep and consuming. Full of rightness.

  Braden pushed into her harder, his hips meeting hers before withdrawing for another, and another, until skin slapped against skin.

  Arizona couldn’t get Trevor out of her mind. It removed her from the moment. At first slowly, then with significant impact. Her desire was doused by it. Sex with Trevor had been this way because she’d loved him so intensely. What was this with Braden? Certainly not love. And he was a man who married based on how spectacular the sex was.

  This had the makings of some pretty spectacular sex.

  But Arizona grew increasingly more despondent. Missing here was the rightness she’d had with Trevor.

  Braden was still slamming into her. Now that it meant nothing to her, it lost its pizzazz. The fizz died out like day old soda.

  At last he began to notice her lack of participation. His movements slowed. She was still very wet and he slid back and forth easily. The friction solicited enough sparks to make her contemplate changing her mind.

  He pushed in once more and went still, looking down at her, studying her, quite perplexed. She was certain this had never happened to him before.

  “Something the matter?” he asked.

  And it became almost funny. What kept it from slipping to that point was the very real fact that sex with Braden felt similar to what she’d had with Trevor, a man she loved to her core. She didn’t love Braden that way.

  “I...I can’t...”

  “You were on your way to,” he said.

  “Yes, I was...until...until I...”

  He waited, cocking his head in his disbelief.

  “It reminded me of Trevor,” she blurted.

  “What did?” He searched her face.

  “Not you.” Oh, Lord this was awkward. “The...the sex.”

  He spent a confused moment staring at her some more. �
��How did it remind you of him?”

  Her legs were still open and he was still lodged inside her. “Could you...?” She pointed down where they were still joined.

  Even more flummoxed, he rolled off her and sat beside her, looking over at her, expecting answers.

  “Just—” she sat up with him, leaning on her hand, not caring that she was still naked “—when we were...it felt similar...and...Trevor popped into my head...and then I couldn’t get rid of him. He stayed there while you were...”

  Did he understand now?

  He gaped at her, appalled. “You were turned off because you were reminded that I’m an engineer? Really?”

  “I...” She didn’t know what to say.

  Braden climbed off the bed, angry now. Injured ego. She let him get dressed and leave the cabin. How could she explain to him that it was more than that? More that entailed meaning, too much of it.

  Chapter 7

  Unbelievable.

  Braden woke the next morning to the crushing memory of Arizona. Everything had gone great until she froze up and it was like making love to a blow-up doll. Not that he’d ever done that before. It was the worst sex he’d ever had in his life. And he felt responsible. He’d failed to give her pleasure.

  It was unspeakable. Absurd. How could this happen to him?

  Flinging the blankets off him, he got up from the couch and saw Arizona in the galley, fully dressed and making coffee. He was glad somebody could sleep last night.

  She turned with a steaming cup and stilled for a second when she saw him, then went to the booth-style galley table and flipped a small notebook shut.

  “What are you doing?” Taking notes about his sister? Preparing her story?

  “Just journaling.” Putting her cup down, she tucked the journal into a backpack purse and then lifted the cup again, sipping. Nonchalant. Sneaky.

  “About what?” Bad sex? Would he prefer that or his sister?

  “Nothing much.” With one hand, she retrieved another cup and poured him some coffee.

  He took it from her. “No story, Arizona.”

  “I know. No story.” And then she mumbled, “We should get going.”

  What had she been journaling about? He believed her that it wasn’t his sister. He’d rather not examine any other possibility.

  While he released them from the mooring, she went to the fly bridge and started the engine. When he finished, he took over the controls, annoyed as hell. Why had he allowed them to go as far as they had? She’d wiggled her hips with that holster on and he’d been a goner.

  She stepped back and out of the way, taking a seat and looking ahead at the sea. He was too angry to talk to her.

  “I won’t give my father’s friend anything I write until you approve it first,” she said.

  “Why is it so important to you?” More important than respecting his family’s privacy.

  She didn’t respond. They’d already gone over this, and he already knew why.

  “It won’t bring Trevor back,” he said. “And it won’t stop people from identifying you through your father, either.”

  He might as well be talking to a wall. She kept her face averted, staring out to sea. If she’d been rigid before, she was a stone now. There’d be no getting through to her now. She was lost in grief she had never been able to cope with. She’d convinced herself that no man would compare with the one she loved. And why did he care so much? Hadn’t he told himself he needed time? It was too soon for a relationship.

  Yeah, but did he have to suffer unfinished sex with Arizona? It was his own damn fault. He was the one who’d come on to her. She was playing around, but he’d been the one to initiate. How could he have foreseen what would happen?

  “About last night...”

  He held up his hand. “No need to talk about that. It was a mistake.” He looked at her purposefully. “And I do believe in them.”

  She didn’t say anything for a while, only sort of pouted at him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you kiss me. I wasn’t ready.”

  She was apologizing? He couldn’t take her mind off of Trevor. She should be ready by now, and he should have been able to get her mind off another man.

  “Why is it so hard to let go of him?”

  When she didn’t respond, he sensed that she couldn’t.

  She loved him. That was the reason. She knew it; she just couldn’t tell him that, not after they had slept together.

  “Losing him doesn’t mean you have to live the rest of your life alone, pursuing a career that will consume all your time.” He should just let this go. But something made him keep pushing. Maybe it was his injured ego. Maybe it was that he actually did care.

  “Trevor has nothing to do with why I want to be a reporter.”

  “Yes, he does.” He was more convinced than ever. She’d closed herself off from love so long that she didn’t know how to reopen herself to it. “You should follow your heart. You can be just as busy running something like a nonprofit organization.”

  He watched her resist what he said with the shake of her head, as though no one understood her. Then she grew defiant. “Is that what you did?”

  Follow his heart? Was she questioning his choice in becoming an engineer? “Yes.”

  She registered his certain answer. Her eyes closed slowly with acquiescence. She believed him.

  “Then why are you so familiar with guns? And why are you not afraid of dangerous situations? It’s like you’re ready for battle 24/7.”

  Had she really picked up on that? Her insight was keen. A flashback to his childhood sneaked up on him. He’d told no one about it but that single event had changed him. And yes, it had made him more aware of the hazards of living. But he wasn’t going to talk about that with her. He didn’t talk about it with anyone.

  “My sister is missing,” he said. “I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”

  “Are you sure? You sure were ready for it.”

  Not welcoming where this could lead, he didn’t respond. He felt her inspecting him. She did so for several minutes before she turned back to the sea.

  It wasn’t far to Tortola, and Frenchman’s Cay grew bigger as they approached. They sailed past, and he spotted the dock leading to the vacant house. Mooring offshore, they took an inflatable dinghy to shore. The mountainous foothills blocked the view of Julian’s villa. If he had guards on the lookout, they wouldn’t be able to see the dock.

  Securing the boat, he and Arizona started up the slope. There were earthen stairs guiding the way. At the top, he found a rock and broke one of the small windows. Clearing the glass, he crawled into a lower-level bedroom, making sure Arizona got in behind him. The house was large but not as large as Julian’s. And it was one level. Making their way from the bedroom where they’d broken in, they emerged into a huge open space with three couches arranged before a towering wall of windows. Deep blue rugs contrasted with the light-colored tile. Beyond the sitting area was a rectangular glass table with six tall-backed blue-cushioned chairs.

  Passing the sitting area, he saw a hallway led to the garage and a bathroom and a closet. The bathroom and the closet separated the hall from the kitchen. There was a kitchen island with a sink. Whoever stood there during meal prep could look up and see the view. At the far end of the kitchen, there was a passageway to the garage and the hall.

  After opening the garage door and finding it empty of vehicles, Braden returned to the living room where Arizona stood at the window. He joined her.

  The hillside below and ocean beyond shimmered in the sun. And to the left, they had a clear shot of Julian’s villa. Lincoln was good. This location was perfect. They had a great view of the back and some of the road leading in. They could watch the comings and goings of Julian and anyone else who had access to his villa, a
nd hopefully learn of a way in.

  Putting down the duffel bag, Braden unzipped the top. Arizona knelt beside him, sexy in her jean shorts and glittery I Love NY T-shirt. Her blond hair was pulled back, with some strands loose and hanging along her face. Her hair wasn’t short but it wasn’t long, either, just enough for a simple but stylish ponytail. Long lashes lowered over smooth skin. Slender nose. Raspberry lips void of lipstick. Everything about her switched on his baser instincts, revving up a masculine response to her feminine simplicity. Even that ponytail. He imagined holding on to it while he...

  Her blue eyes shifted and caught him.

  She blinked as though startled and then that same smoky response took over. She reacted to him so quickly.

  But just as quickly, the thought of having to erase Trevor from her mind cooled him off.

  He found the binoculars in the duffel bag and straightened to go back to the window. Nothing stirred over at Julian’s villa.

  “We have until dark to find a way in,” he said. That was a few hours away. Seeing Arizona contemplate the challenge of waiting alone together, he pulled up a chair and propped his feet up on the wide wood frame of the window. Better to watch the inactivity at Julian’s villa than her.

  * * *

  Braden tucked ammunition into the pocket of the black flak jacket and eyed Arizona doing the same. She still wore her T-shirt but had changed into jeans and hiking boots. The flak jacket fit her curves well, her gun holster hanging below, resting against her shapely thigh. Entirely too much of a girl to be wearing a gun.

  “Maybe you should wait here,” he said.

  After adjusting her gun holster, she lowered her hands to her side and said, “You have more experience at this sort of thing?”

  “I’m going to look for my sister. You don’t have to go with me.”

  “I’ll go with you. Four eyes are better than two.”