Behind Closed Doors

by Debbi Rawlins

  At the front door, Nathan stopped to scrape his boots on the mat. “Kitty is here today,” he said. “She does the cleaning and cooking for me. I leave one speck of dirt on her floor, and she’ll find it.”

  Beth smiled. “Keeps you in line, huh?”

  “Hell, she’s worse than Woody. Between the two of them, I’m lucky I have any say around here.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.” She took her turn at the mat, but Nathan had opened the door and waved her inside, and she realized mentioning Kitty had been a warning they wouldn’t be alone in the house.

  “How about something to drink?” he asked, following her into the foyer. “There’s always a pot of coffee brewing and a pitcher of iced tea in the fridge....”

  Beth was barely listening. The huge house with its open floor plan held a hint of Spanish influence in its arched doorways and clean white walls. Splashes of color came from the scattered rugs and contemporary artwork. “Wow, this place is amazing.” Her gaze bounced from the polished wood floor to the interesting mix of contemporary and antique furniture.

  A beautiful cherry console table sat in the middle of the foyer. She lightly trailed her fingertips over the gleaming wood, imagining a large vase of fresh-cut flowers sitting dead center. She spotted a mark left by her fingers and yanked her shirt hem from her jeans to wipe the smudge.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I just had to touch. Jeez, I know better. Sorry.”

  Nathan stopped her furious rubbing by taking her hand and drawing her away from the table. “It’s okay,” he said. “This isn’t a museum. You can touch.”

  Her gaze met his, then lowered to his mouth, slid to his clean-shaven chin and finally settled on his chest. Oh, she wanted to touch, all right. “Anywhere?”

  He let go of her, freeing his hand to slowly run up her arm. Something mysterious and promising gleamed in his eyes. Something that made her belly clench. “Anywhere,” he said, his voice rough and sexy.

  Beth inhaled deeply, unsure how to respond. She knew what she’d like to do, just not what was acceptable.

  “I thought I heard you come in.”

  Beth yanked away and whirled around to see a short, slender woman hurrying from the back of the house. Her stocking feet padded silently on the wood floor, but luckily she wasn’t close enough to have heard or witnessed their brief tête-à-tête. She smoothed her pixie-cut salt-and-pepper hair and smiled.

  “I’m Kitty,” she said. “You must be Beth.”

  Nathan snorted a laugh. “How do you know who she is? You and Woody must be on speaking terms again.”

  “Oh, hush.” Kitty waved dismissively, then paused, a glimmer of mischief entering her blue eyes. “I’d sooner converse with a mule. And you can tell him I said that,” she added with a decisive nod. When she turned to Beth, the smile was back on her face. “It’s so nice to have another woman around the place.”

  Beth immediately tensed. “I’m only here on business,” she said, automatically glancing at Nathan, who seemed no more concerned than if they’d been discussing the weather.

  Kitty bent over to pick up a small dead leaf someone had tracked inside. “Why don’t you two come with me to the kitchen for something cool to drink?”

  “Not today,” Nathan said. “Beth and I have something we need to discuss. Maybe another time.”

  “Will you be in your office?” Kitty asked with a trace of eagerness. “I can bring in some coffee or tea.”

  “Beth?” Nathan touched her arm, the action drawing Kitty’s interest. “Would you like something?”

  “No, thanks. I’d rather we settle up so I can get back to town.” She unconsciously patted her back jeans pocket, but her checkbook wasn’t there. Alarmed, she tried the other pocket. “I could’ve sworn—I must’ve left it in the truck.”

  Kitty stared blankly at her.

  Nathan’s gaze lingered on her backside, then swept up to her face. With a faint smile, he gestured to a short hall off the foyer. “My office is this way.”

  She opened her mouth to explain she had to go look for her checkbook, but something in his darkened eyes made her doubt her ability to speak. This wasn’t good. It seemed Kitty already might have the wrong idea about them. They needed privacy to get whatever they had to off their chests.

  His office was huge, almost the size of Candace’s rented house. A massive desk, dark wood, maybe mahogany, sat toward the back of the room and shelves of books made up two walls. All the furniture was very masculine, from the pair of brown leather club chairs to the oversize tweed sofa. He even had a stone fireplace. The French doors, though, that was surprising.

  “Wow, you could live in here.” The polished wood floor made Beth pause, wondering if she should take off her boots. She’d hate to leave scuff marks.

  Nathan came up behind her. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want to mess up your floor.”

  “You’re fine,” he said, touching the small of her back. Probably trying to get her to keep moving. But her legs stopped working, and she froze, certain he could hear her heart pound wildly at the feel of his warm breath on her neck. “Beth?”

  “Woody seemed in good spirits. I assume he’s okay with our arrangement. Regarding Liberty...you know, for her to do the painting herself. I’m sure that means more work for him since he’ll want to keep tabs on her. Oh, I meant to ask, did you receive your lumber delivery?”

  Her sudden rambling was met with silence. Then she felt his hands on her shoulders, and he gently turned her to face him. It took her several long moments before she forced herself to meet his dark unreadable eyes.

  “Woody knows you’re invested in straightening her out, so he’s okay with the decision. I think he’ll end up being good for her since he won’t take any guff.” Nathan frowned. “Now, you mind telling me why you’re so nervous?”

  “My checkbook,” she said, swallowing. “I really thought I had it on me. Could be in the truck but I might’ve lost it.”

  “Is that the only thing bothering you?” He waited for her jerky nod, then removed his hands from her shoulders. “Look, if you’ve changed your mind about having dinner with me, I’m a big boy. I can take it.”

  “Are you kidding?” She felt the heat rise in her face. Okay, so maybe she could’ve toned down her reaction.

  “Good.” A slow smile curved his mouth. “I lied. I would’ve wailed like a baby. How about tonight?”

  God, she loved the man’s confidence. “Sounds perfect.”

  He slid his hand around to the small of her back and drew her closer. “You have anyplace in mind?”

  “Depends,” she said, tilting her head back to look at him. “Are we really going to eat?”

  Nathan looked momentarily startled, then his eyes darkened with pure male satisfaction. Tightening his arm around her, he pulled her against him. He was already getting hard, the rigid proof of how much he wanted her making her dizzy.

  She slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders, then down to clutch his flexing biceps. For two restless nights she’d relived the feel of his hard muscles under her palms. Dreamed about how amazing he would look naked.

  He brushed his lips over hers. It was a sweet kiss, not at all the one she’d expected, and then he caught her lower lip between his teeth. After the first gentle nibble, his tongue swept inside her mouth, circling and teasing, until she started to squirm from the excitement rippling through her.

  The hand on her back lowered to the curve of her bottom. His other arm came around and he cupped her backside with both hands, lightly squeezing, molding her against him. His low growl made her shift and move her head in search of an angle that would allow them to breathe. Instead, he deepened the kiss.

  She had no complaint. Not while she was wrapped in his strong arms, feeling weightless and a little woozy, without a care in the world.

  Except she had plenty to worry about. Her niece, for instance, the main reason Beth had moved to Blackfoot Falls. And, oh, God, Liberty
was just outside.... Beth stiffened and Nathan immediately slackened his hold.

  He lifted his head, his lips damp and parted as he stared down at her. Neither of them spoke right away. Her heart was still pounding, and his seemed to be keeping pace. She relaxed her grip on the back of his neck and let her palms slide to his shoulders.

  “Liberty,” she said finally. “She asked why we took so long the other night in your truck. I told her we had trouble coming to terms. She can’t know about this....”

  “This?” As his gaze lowered from her face, his frown faded to pure lust.

  She glanced down. He was staring at the stiff peaks straining against her blouse. Reverently he touched each breast, then brushed his thumbs over her hard nipples. She gasped, the contact achingly acute, even through the two layers of fabric.

  His eyes briefly closed before he looked up. He didn’t bother hiding the slight tremor in his hands when he cradled her face. “I’m listening,” he murmured. “I am. I’m trying.”

  “I know.” She had to smile. He sounded so sweet and earnest. “I want this, too. I want you—” she whispered, cut short by a kiss that defied sweet or earnest.

  His mouth claimed hers, his tongue thrusting inside, hungry, impatient, demanding a response she eagerly gave. Yanking two snaps free, she slipped her hand inside his shirt before she realized what she was doing.

  She dragged her mouth away from his, but he followed her retreat, trying to capture her lips again, forcing her backward until she gave him a light shove.

  “Nathan, stop.” She let out a small laugh, and he frowned. “One more slipup and we each take a corner.”

  The sound he made was more grunt than agreement, though at least he pulled back. And gave her a great view of the exposed wedge of muscled chest. She sighed, feeling as frustrated as he looked.

  “You’ll have to...” She motioned with an unsteady hand. “You know...button up.”

  He glanced down, unconcerned. “Why?”

  “So I can concentrate,” she practically snapped at him, which seemed to improve his mood.

  While he fastened his shirt, he moved to his desk and sat on the edge, then crossed his arms. He was still hard—of course he was. And, what, he didn’t think that would be a distraction?

  “Let’s face it...I doubt either of us is looking for anything more than good conversation and sex,” she said, pleased to see his dark brows lift in surprise. “So there’s really no reason for anyone to know our business. Agreed?”

  He hesitated, then nodded.

  They’d already touched on this subject, so to speak, and she hadn’t intended to remind him quite like this, but then she hadn’t expected them to get carried away. “Any thoughts on how to stay under the radar?”

  “Just past the junction to Kalispell there’s an old line shack. You can leave your truck parked behind it and I’ll pick you up. Does 7:00 work for you?”

  “Um...sure.” If he’d intended to shock her with his well thought-out plan, he’d succeeded. Though he didn’t look particularly smug.

  Just sexy.

  And hot.

  His eyes glittered with promise. And his erection? Still front and center.

  8

  THE REST OF the afternoon sped by in a mad rush. Liberty had called to be picked up at 5:45 p.m., a duty Beth had delegated to Candace, who’d predictably complained. Not that Beth gave a damn. She’d needed time for some personal grooming she’d let slide. So she’d mentioned she was going to Kalispell and that was it.

  Before they got back, Beth slipped on a short denim skirt, a stretchy top and a crazy-cute pair of red Jimmy Choo shoes with a ridiculously high heel, and was out the door.

  At 6:55 p.m. she parked her truck behind the old shack, just as Nathan had instructed. She’d barely had time to check her hair and makeup when a pair of headlights swept the dark, scrubby landscape behind her.

  She recognized Nathan’s truck, and within seconds he was right there, opening her door and offering her a hand. His hair was damp and combed back, his jaw clean shaven. Her silly heart did that little fluttering thing even before their palms met.

  “You look great,” he said, running his gaze down her scoop-neck shirt, lingering a moment on the short hem of her denim skirt and then again on her shoes and matching red toenails.

  Oddly, he didn’t seem pleased.

  “But?”

  He looked up. “Nothing,” he said, shrugging. “You look incredible. I’m not sure you’ll like where I’m taking you.”

  “We’re not staying here, are we?” She glanced at the rundown shack and smiled.

  Nathan bit off a laugh. “Let’s go.”

  Beth let him help her to the truck even though she didn’t need it. The ground was uneven but not too soft, and she was good in heels. He brushed a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth before closing the passenger door. So stupid to have worn lip gloss. She might’ve gotten a better kiss. Though the night was still young.

  As soon as they were on the road, she looked back to make sure her small pickup couldn’t be seen from the highway.

  “That shack was put there before the highway came through,” Nathan said. “Nothing to worry about.” He leaned over and turned off the radio, although the light from the center console stayed on.

  Country music had been playing in the background, low enough it had barely registered. But then, she was too busy eyeing the flexing of his thigh muscles when he engaged the clutch.

  “Leave it on if you want. I don’t mind,” she said, finally noticing that his jeans were black and his white shirt was a traditional button-down and not Western. “Where are we going?”

  “My place.” Briefly taking his eyes off the road, he glanced at her. “I think it’s our best bet for now.”

  “The Lucky 7? Seriously?”

  “Are you disappointed?”

  She was staring with her mouth open. “No, it’s not that—I thought we agreed to keep things on the down low.”

  “My men got paid today. Most of them are at the Watering Hole or in Kalispell. Woody’s playing poker with a couple of the old-timers in the bunkhouse. Nobody will know you’re there.”

  “Someone is bound to see me.”

  “The garage is attached to the house.”

  She had to think about this. She really did need this thing between them to be private. Candace, with her unhealthy attachments to the wrong men, was a bad enough example. Liberty didn’t need to see Beth having a fling, especially with someone who was cutting Liberty a break—she didn’t want her niece to think she was buying favors.

  “All right, I see you’re hesitant about my place,” Nathan said. “So let’s talk about it. Kalispell is still an option. It’s a lot bigger than Blackfoot Falls. That doesn’t eliminate the risk of being seen, but it’s more likely we wouldn’t.”

  “No, I trust you know best about this. I’m probably being overly cautious. Only because of Liberty. She’s never really had a good role model.” Beth wasn’t in the habit of walking into a prearranged sexual relationship. What if tonight went badly? What if his kinks and hers didn’t mesh? This thing between them could be over in an hour, never to be repeated.

  To her relief, he let the subject drop and they made small talk for the remainder of the ride. Before she knew it, they were on the grounds of the Lucky 7, then pulling into the garage and parking next to a green Range Rover.

  Still, she didn’t breathe easy until they’d entered the house through the laundry room and ended up in the big modern kitchen. It was as gorgeous as the other parts of the house, with gleaming stainless-steel appliances and tons of beautiful peachy-brown granite. Someone sure liked to cook. As if the crazy expanse of countertops weren’t enough, there was also an oversize island, an additional sink and a grill with warming tray.

  A lot of thought had been put into the design, not just in the kitchen but throughout what she could see of the rest of the house. One casually elegant room spilled into the next. From the kitchen she saw
a massive stone fireplace, two large sofas and a flat-screen TV that was so big it had to be brand-new technology.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” Nathan said, tossing his keys on the counter near the phone. “Kitty made enough food for the whole county.”

  “Did she know you were having company?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.” He ran a hand through his hair and frowned. “She might suspect, but you don’t have to worry about her gossiping.”

  “I’m glad. It seems I’m under the careful watch of everyone in Blackfoot Falls. Makes sense, since I’m the new kid in town.” Beth moved closer to the stove and sniffed the large covered casserole that sat on top. “Please tell me this is lasagna.”

  Looking up just in time to see his rugged jaw clench, food slipped her mind for a second. Damn, he had a great face. Great body. Great everything. “Go ahead and have a look,” he said.

  She did just that, peeling back the foil at the corner. Wow. “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m starving.”

  “You wear heels that high often?”

  She glanced at him, startled. “Not lately. I wouldn’t have worn them tonight except—” Her thoughts scattered when he started toward her. She leaned back and braced her hands on the counter.

  Something dark and predatory flared hot in his eyes. His gaze briefly swept her shirt, the stretchy material pulled tight across her breasts. Whatever he had in mind, there wasn’t a lasagna in the whole world that could compete. Swallowing, she waited for him to make his next move.

  He stopped short of touching her. “Except what?”

  Blinking away the brain fog took a moment. “I usually can’t wear them on dates,” she said, her voice low, barely audible. “They make me too tall for most men.”

  “You are tall,” he whispered, putting his hands on her waist and meeting her eyes. Then he lowered his gaze to her mouth. “How about some wine? Or something harder, if you prefer.”

  “Wine is good.”

  “White or red?”

  “Don’t care.”

  “Music?” His grip on her waist tightened for an instant and then relaxed. “I have country, jazz, classic rock...” He cleared his throat as he stepped back. “You could go choose something while I open a bottle of merlot.” He yanked open the closest drawer and rummaged around. “The CDs are in the den,” he said, motioning with his chin toward the room with the TV.