by Suzanne Ruby
She tugged his underwear down to the floor and ran her hands along the side of his bare hips, taking him in visually.
As soon as she touched him, as soon as her delicate hand traveled the length of his shaft, he threw his head back and closed his eyes. And prayed that he’d last more than ten seconds because he could feel a welling of pressure deep within.
Her breath warmed him, and he groaned when she ran her tongue up his length. Her tongue circled the head, touching upon the vulnerable underside. As she began to take him into her velvet mouth, he pulled away.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go further. Having her want this so badly validated him to the core. Rather, he wanted the most intimate connection with her at the moment.
He eased her shoulders back, her feet still solid on the ground and her legs open to him.
“Stay,” he said as he reached to the floor to retrieve a condom from his pants pocket.
“I wasn’t finished,” she said as she attempted to prop herself back up on her elbows.
He urged her back down. “I wouldn’t have lasted.”
He fell to his knees and rolled on the latex, which bought him some time. But now? Now, he wanted what he saw spread out before him.
This. The ease in which he penetrated her with his full length, and with one single focused thrust, was enough to convince him that he hadn’t been totally selfish by bulldozing past foreplay. She was turned on, as well.
He willed himself to last a little longer and reached between them and gently massaged her clit, circling her with his thumb while continuing to ease fully in and out at a slow, steady pace.
“Look at me,” he said.
She did. Her longing gaze, her labored breathing and the arousing rise and fall of her chest made it hard for him to not explode.
“How does that feel?” he managed to ask. It sure felt damn good to him.
She didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. Once again, her body answered for her. She arched her back and opened herself to him, even farther. Her expression looked so beautifully pained.
He wanted nothing more than to move faster and faster. Deeper and deeper. Instead, he maintained the long, slow, easy pace that seemed to take her there, and savored the benefit of her unmistakable release.
He leaned in and pressed fully into her—chest to chest, lips to lips, heat to heat—and kissed her deeply as he joined her with one final, gloriously selfish thrust.
After he caught his breath, he pulled away. One day, he’d stay connected with her all night.
She scooted back, still wearing that beautiful cocktail dress.
“Let me help you get out of that before it gets too wrinkled.” He joined her on the bed, reached around and tugged on the zipper.
“How thoughtful of you.”
“I’m unselfish that way.”
He lay back as she stood to shed the dress. The slight flare of the bottom half parachuted to the floor, revealing those full natural breasts. No bra.
Seeing her standing before him—so simple and immediate and without reservation—nearly floored him. Although her shyness turned him on, this more confident version could bring a dead man back to life.
Like the intoxicating contradiction she was, she eased under the covers, then pulled them over her breasts.
He got up, disposed of the condom and walked to the main room, where he checked his phone message from Wild Indigo. No questions after all. Only a promise that they’d give him an answer soon.
He switched off the lights and settled back in beside her. Completely exhausted and totally satisfied.
He did have one more question, which had been traipsing through his head practically since day one. Now was as good a time as any to ask.
“I was thinking,” he began. “I’d like to adopt Baby if you haven’t already lined up a home.”
Kirby kissed him on the cheek.
Was that a yes?
“You don’t have to answer tonight. Give it some thought,” he said, although he’d sleep a lot better if he knew Baby was officially his. Even though he’d given it plenty of consideration, it still felt impulsive as hell. End of the day, he’d provide a good home, if not a structured one.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Is there any other answer?”
Damn if this wasn’t the best ending to the best night he’d had in long time. He, for one, could barely stay awake.
However, in the semi-darkness of the room, he could tell her eyes remained open. Obviously, she was overthinking again.
Question was, were the thoughts good?
* * *
AS SOON AS Kirby felt sure Adam was asleep, she slid out from beneath the covers, grabbed his button-down shirt from the edge of the bed, slipped it on and tiptoed out of the bedroom.
Nothing would be better than staying right there, in his arms, for the entire night. But she needed to do something before he woke up.
She closed the door only partially to avoid engaging the squeaky hinges, and headed straight for the bookcase. There, on the top shelf, sat the group photo that had been taken at the Christmas party last year, with her standing next to Seth.
If only she could reach high enough to grab it. She was able to slide the corner of the frame toward her. It wobbled on its back leg, but it didn’t fall down.
She needed a ladder, but she didn’t have one of those. Instead, she picked up an ottoman and placed it in front of the shelves. She somehow balanced on the soft platform long enough to secure the photo.
She’d barely stepped down when Baby jetted from the bedroom, barking the entire way.
“Shh!”
The reprimand only made Baby bark louder.
Kirby padded to the kitchen area. As she tried to find a suitable hiding place for the photo, the overhead lights flashed on.
Adam stood there, completely naked. His beauty and raw power made her almost forget why she had gotten up in the first place. But the cold, sharp edges of the frame bit into her bare chest, reminding her. She pressed it firmly against her, unable to cover the evidence with his shirt.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“I couldn’t sleep, and I didn’t want to disturb you. I came out here and was going to get on my computer, but Baby came in and started barking.”
Adam ran a hand through his hair as he took a few steps toward her.
“Your computer is over there. What are you holding?”
She gripped the frame even tighter.
He looked at the misplaced ottoman, then up to the shelf, then back at her. “Is there something you don’t want me to see?”
She shook her head, for lack of something to say. She could tell by his expression that silence wasn’t the right answer. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a right answer.
“You and Baby go back to bed. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“What time is it?” he asked.
She glanced at the clock on the microwave. “One thirty.”
He nodded. “Maybe I should go back to my place. Let you get some sleep. Obviously, I’m intruding.”
“You’re not intruding.”
“Then what are you hiding? If it’s a picture of you and your ex, or whoever it might be, I can handle it.”
“It’s not an ex.”
“Then what is it? I thought we agreed to be open.”
He stepped closer, pried the photo from her grip and took a good hard look at it.
“So you know this scumbag?”
This time, she didn’t nod or shake her head. She felt paralyzed.
“Oh. Wait. I get it. You work with him. Or maybe for him,” Adam said.
“I... Yes. I work with him.”
“At a desk.”
“The assignments desk.”
“Great,” he said as he slapped the photo down on the counter. “I need to get out of here for a while.”
“I thought you said you could handle it. Whatever it is.”
He shook his head, turned around and walked into the bedroom.
Baby ran after him, with Kirby a close second.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to scare you off after you mentioned his name,” she said.
He paused from picking up his clothes.
“I wouldn’t have held it against you, Kirby. But you outright lied to me. Which makes me wonder what else you’re lying about.”
“I didn’t lie.”
He searched the floor for his pants, then shook them out and put them on as if he couldn’t get dressed fast enough.
“That’s a stretch, and you know it. Oil and gas? Really? But never mind, let’s call it withholding instead. You’re familiar with the concept, aren’t you?”
Was he really going there, of all places? The possibility provoked her defenses.
“You weren’t exactly open with me. You withheld information, too. Anything else you’d like to tell me about Madison Kel—” Kirby inhaled sharply as soon as she realized her mistake.
Those blue eyes of his narrowed in on her.
“How the hell do you know her name? And when did this become about me?”
She wanted to explain exactly how she knew, and that she had every intention of telling him everything at some point. But, at the moment, she didn’t know what to say.
In the long stretch of her silence, his expression changed from one of confusion to one of enlightenment.
“All this is about me, isn’t it? It’s been about me the whole time. You’re the reporter we were all warned about. I can’t believe I’ve been so fucking blind. You and Wainwright weren’t satisfied with ruining my career at Becker Farms. Now you want to see how much more you can take from me by going after The Deep.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Are you the reporter or aren’t you?”
“I was assigned to investigate The Deep, but I’m not trying to take anything from you. I swear, Adam.”
He took a few angry steps toward her.
“What the hell do you think will happen to me if there’s any negative publicity?”
She couldn’t answer, even though she knew in her heart what could happen.
“Let me fill you in. It will ruin the only chance I have for a better life.” Adam shook his head. “Something about you didn’t feel right from that very first night. Or I guess it felt too right, which should have been a clue.”
He located his jacket and slipped it on.
She grabbed his sleeve. “Please don’t leave. Let me explain.”
“Stop it, Kirby. I’m not as stupid as you seem to think,” he said as he tore away from her grip and retrieved his belt and shoes.
“I never thought you were stupid. But you hid something, too. Neither of us is innocent here.”
He smiled one of those I-can’t-fucking-believe-I’m-hearing-this smiles.
“I told you I had legal problems. But that explains why the drawer was cracked open, and how you must have gotten Madison’s name. Did you get up in the middle of the night to snoop, or did you wait until I took Baby for a walk?”
“I accidentally came across the papers when you took Baby for a walk. Are you happy? Then I pulled the papers out and looked at them, like how you pulled the photo from my grip and looked at it.”
“Don’t you dare compare that to what you did.”
He towered over her.
“Tell me, Kirby. If that’s even your real name. Was the abusive-ex-husband bullshit part of your act? Because that’s the way this particular story is piecing together for me.”
“Please, Adam,” she said, though she found it hard to even breathe. “Give me a chance.”
“You had your chance, and I’m not a big believer in seconds. Do me a favor. Don’t explain anything. Ever again. Oh, and you can keep the shirt. I don’t want it anymore.”
Oh, God. This is it. This is what the end of a perfect relationship feels like. A giant, angry fist, straight to the heart.
She felt too weak to argue. Too shredded to come up with anything that could save her. Save them. So she watched him leave. Watched as he took a moment to gently pat Baby on the head, and felt grateful for that one thing. His anger toward her didn’t spill over to the innocent puppy.
Then she and Baby watched as he slammed the door behind him.
Kirby collapsed into a damp heap on the floor and sobbed herself to sleep.
The next morning, she stood on uncertain legs, took a deep breath and made a decision. As soon as she got to work, she wouldn’t just bury her notes on The Deep. She would delete them forever.
13
“WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?” Seth asked.
For once, Kirby wasn’t the least bit bothered by his less-than-flattering observations. She knew she looked horrible. It was to be expected of a person who’d single-handedly ruined her own life.
“I’m on my period. Any other questions?”
Her thoughts traveled back to that morning in the grocery store. She’d looked hideous, yet Adam easily and willingly handled the pink box, and more than willingly handled her.
She put a quick, tight leash on the tears and switched on her computer. There, front and center, sat her folder of notes on the story. It had been her ticket to greater things at one time.
Now, it offered nothing but a reminder of every wrong turn she’d taken.
She dragged the folder and its contents to the trash and emptied the digital wastebasket, feeling as empty and worthless as the icon itself.
Her cell phone dinged, alerting her to a new text message.
Reese. Not the message she wanted, and she couldn’t summon the energy to text Reese in return.
Not that she expected Adam to respond to her apology or plea or explanation. He’d made himself very clear.
What would she explain anyway? No matter how she arranged the words in her head, they all spelled deceit. Even her dyslexia couldn’t transpose them into making some kind of sense.
Seth sauntered back after refilling his superlarge ceramic mug with coffee.
“I’m worried about you, Kirby. Can I do anything to help? Need me to take this assignment off your plate? I can go at it from another angle. No need for you to get any further involved.”
Whereas she was good at facial expressions, Seth was a certified expert at reading other people’s pain.
“Not necessary. I’m on it.”
Even though she’d effectively thrown away her one chance at this story, she intended to make use of that rope Bettencourt had extended, and hang on for dear life until she could figure out something.
She started by booking an appointment with Adam at The Deep. Finally, a lucky break. One available time slot. And it’s mine. With a tap of a key, she was in. Besides, she needed a shoulder to cry on, more than ever. And he would be getting paid. He’d have no choice but to listen.
She had to tell him that Madison Kelly had recanted her accusation, and Todd Kelly confirmed in an email this morning that the serial numbers matched up. Of course, that would only prove she’d been snooping even deeper into his business.
She’d definitely tell Bettencourt everything she’d discovered, in case Seth got any bright ideas to pursue that angle after all.
“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off, Montgomery? Bettencourt isn’t even here this morning. As soon as he gets back, I’ll let him know you aren’t feeling well and that I’m covering for you.”
For once, she agreed with him.
She collected her purse and hauled her sleep-deprived, undernourished, sorry ass out the door a
nd directly home, where she would think of a way to make everything up to Adam.
Or, yet again, cry herself to sleep trying.
* * *
ADAM READ EVERY word of the document from his attorney regarding the newest allegations about the saddles.
Liars. The world was filled with them. Still, if he couldn’t beat them, he refused to join them.
His cell phone vibrated. Fabian to the rescue.
“You better be calling with some good news,” Adam said.
“I don’t know whether it’s good, but it’s news you’ll be glad to hear. I’ve rebooked all your customers from last night. You’re looking at a full plate the next few days.”
“Whatever.”
“What is up with you?”
“Trying to get some personal paperwork done,” Adam said as he massaged his temple.
“Or, maybe your girlfriend is there today?”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“She’s obviously something. Or wants to be. She booked time with you tonight. Private room. Prime time, eight o’clock. Or, as I always say, sloppy-seconds o’clock. Thought the news might cheer you up.”
Cheer him up? The whole idea of it slammed him down.
“Cancel her.”
“Is the honeymoon over already? Then why would she book you?”
“Who cares? I don’t want to see her. I have the right to decline an appointment.”
“Yes, you do. Okay, Ride. I’ll put her with someone else. It’s kinda sounding as if she might require a new shoulder to cry on anyway.”
Even though he knew he shouldn’t care, the thought of her with someone else cut to the core.
“Fab. Delete her account. Don’t give her access to anyone. She’s the reporter.”
“Wait... What? Did you say ‘reporter’? What the—”
“Sorry, man. I just found out myself.”
“Holy crap. So it wasn’t a rumor. How much did you tell her?”
“I don’t remember.”
The sound of Fabian’s panicked fingers banging against the touch screen almost drowned out his symphony of curse words. Almost.
“I’m deleting her as we speak, and with great pleasure. She’ll get a notice that her appointment has been canceled, and she’ll be locked out of her account. I’ll reset the door code, as well, so 181 is S-O-L.”