by Jen Talty
“Can you be more specific?” Her fingers locked behind his neck as she pressed that glorious chest against his. Her hot breath tickling his lips as she leaned in.
He reached up, prying her hands from his body and stepping back. He couldn’t let this happen. The fact he’d let his libido get the best of him and he continued to desire the woman standing in front of him, he could never let her stay the night.
His pulse kicked up and his throat tightened. He never allowed himself to feel anything other than attraction and respect for a woman and he did that by keeping them out of his personal space. His brother, Nick, always accused him of being mean to the ladies he dated, which was only partially true and only when the clear lines that he’d drawn were being encroached because someone else wanted something more than what he specifically told them he was capable of.
Only, he hadn’t made any of that clear with Tequila and he needed to right now before anything sexual could ever happen again.
And it was going to happen again.
“I’ll get you the files and then why don’t I drive you back to the base, or whatever hotel you’re staying at and we can take this up in the morning.”
Her eyes widened, then contracted to tiny slits. “I’m not leaving.”
He scratched the back of his head. “Look. You pegged me as being the kind of man who doesn’t do relationships, and you’re right. Along with that, I don’t have the woman I am sleeping with spend the night.”
“Interesting choice of words. Sleeping with and spending the night,” she said. “But I’m not looking for a relationship or a bed partner.” She patted his chest. “When this job is over, I’m out of here and back to Florida, so you can relax.”
“Good to know, but I still don’t have women spend the night, so let’s get you—”
“Doesn’t change the fact that I’m not leaving your side. I was hired to—”
“Hired by the government and now me, so I don’t need you on my six all the time.”
“Actually, I work for the Omega Team and your brothers said if you tried to turn me away or tried to take over, that I was hired by them to be your personal babysitter.” She planted her hands on her sexy hips. “I’m not leaving your side until this is solved and if you don’t want a repeat performance of earlier, fine be me. It wasn’t meant to be anything other than a fling.”
Ouch.
“I’m going to kill my fucking brother’s when this is over.”
If she wanted to stay, that was fine. She could sleep on the sofa.
He rubbed his ear, remembering the searing pain from when his mother would grab him there as a small boy.
Fuck. “You can take the bed. I’ll sleep on the pull-out.”
“Works for me.”
Chapter 5
THE LAST THING Tequila wanted to do was sleep in Ramey’s bed.
Without him in it.
The entire evening, she tried to avoid the bed, by sitting at his desk, reading through all the reports he’d given her, but her eyes slowly drooped and at one in the morning, she called it a night.
She didn’t sleep much, but when she did, Ramey crawled into her dreams and wouldn’t go away.
She rubbed the steam off the mirror in the bathroom with the towel she’d taken off her head. Running her fingers through her damp hair, she stared at herself in the mirror. When she’d woken up, the musky smell of Ramey and their insanely, sexy afternoon, lingered in the air like a string of exotic salami in a butcher shop, strong, pungent, and wild.
After finding a shirt and a pair of sweats that sort of fit her frame, she tip-toed into the kitchen on the hunt for coffee, but she didn’t make it past the bedroom door as she’d looked across the room to see Ramey, on the couch, bare-chested with one leg peeking out of the covers as he lay sprawled out on the pull-out sofa.
She turned to make a quick escape, only she walked right into the wall. “Fuck.”
“You okay?” Ramey called.
She hobbled, grabbing her toe, blood trickling out from under the nail bed. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”
He came up behind her, holding her at the waist. “That looks like it hurt.”
“Can’t say it felt good.” She let him help guide her to the recliner in the family room. Putting her leg up, she glanced down at her mangled toe, with blood dripping out of the side. “I just walked into the wall. How the hell does that happen?”
“I’ll get a bandage.”
She glanced over at him as he walked away, wearing nothing but his boxers. His muscular legs flexed with each step.
“How about some coffee, too?” she asked.
“That can be arranged.”
She turned her focus back to her throbbing toe. It didn’t really hurt that bad, even though deep bruises had started to form, but damn, her ego took a hit. She wasn’t much of a klutz, but every once in a while, she was known for doing something stupid, like walking into a wall.
He strolled in front of her and knelt with a bottle of peroxide in one hand and a small first aid kit in the other.
“I wanted coffee, not a dousing of pain.”
He laughed as he dabbed her toe. “Your nail is loose.”
“It was loose before,” she said under her breath.
“So, you make it a habit of walking into things?”
She hissed as he cleaned her open wound. It wasn’t big, but considering the damage she’d done a month ago, she figured the skin underneath the nail was raw.
He masterfully wrapped her toe in gauze and put medical tape around it. “I would think you can get that into a shoe.”
“I’ll be fine. Now how about some coffee.”
“Demanding and grumpy in the morning, aren’t you?” He rested his warm hand on her ankle. His thumb rubbing circles on her sensitive skin. “Did you sleep well?”
“Well enough.”
“Good, because my pull-out is the worst thing in the world to sleep on. Worse than a long trip in the back of a cargo plane.”
“You were sound asleep a few moments ago, so it couldn’t have been that bad.”
He chuckled and leaned over her body. “I saw you tip-toe down the hallway and I saw you turn and smack your leg on the wall.”
She pursed her lips. “You could have warned me.”
“It happened too fast.” His lips hovered over hers. His gaze hooked on her eyes like a missile lock. “If you’re going to insist on staying here with me, then we’re going to have share my bed.”
“You don’t sleep with women, remember?”
He growled just as his lips landed on hers. His tongue parting her mouth like a plane cutting through the clouds. The kiss was tender, controlled, sweet. He cupped her chin, angling her head back as he eased himself on top of her.
Wrapping her arms around his strong body, she drew him in deeper, her fingers digging into his back. The recliner stretched back until it lifted off its legs.
Snap!
Bang!
His teeth came down on her lips and she felt the pinch of broken skin as his body slammed into hers and the recliner back snapped, dropping them both to the floor.
“Shit,” he muttered, pressing his hands against the hard surface, staring at her. “You broke my chair.”
She raised a brow. “I’m not the one who climbed on top of me.”
“No, but you didn’t stop me.”
She cocked her head. “Let’s just make one thing perfectly clear. I’m attracted to you and probably wouldn’t try to fend off any advances, considering yesterday’s events.”
“Good to know, but it still doesn’t change—”
She rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you that once this is over, I’m out of here. Thanks for the great time. Maybe our paths will cross again, but until then, well, until then.” The words flew from her mouth, but her hands gently roamed his back, caressing like only a lover would. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, she wanted more from him.
Only how much more?
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br /> And what exactly did that mean.
“Then we understand each other.”
She forced a smile when she really wanted to frown. “I’m hungry.” That was a dumb thing to say.
“I think I can manage some breakfast.” He rose, pulling her gently with him. “I’ve got frozen waffles or I can do eggs and sausage.”
“What about oatmeal? And fruit. Got any fruit?”
“Instant oatmeal and I’ve got some berries in the fridge. Help yourself.” He stood in front of the coffee machine, pouring water into the container. It gurgled and within minutes the room filled with the rich smell of roasted coffee beans. Nothing better.
She went about slicing up some strawberries and cleaning off a few blueberries. He’d been kind enough to boil her water and poured it over the instant oatmeal.
“What are you going to eat?” she asked, trying to make this seem normal when all she wanted was to grab him and take him back to bed.
Or run.
Both sounded appealing.
Ramey had gotten under her skin in less than twenty-four hours and she had no idea how to handle that.
“Frozen waffles,” he said as he ducked his head in the freezer before pulling out a box. “Why don’t you sit?” He nodded toward the breakfast bar.
She didn’t argue. And she was pleasantly surprised at how delicious his coffee had turned out.
“I’ve got eight interviews today and I’d like you to be near for them,” she said, holding the mug under her nose, inhaling the rich aroma.
“I’m surprised the Army hasn’t pulled you off considering you agreed with their findings.”
“I didn’t tell them that. Besides, Athena and Grey went above your boss and I’ve been given access to the plane.”
“You’re fucking kidding me. When did that happen?” His eyes widened.
“I got an email about it this morning.”
“Wow.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know the Omega Team has a lot of pull, but I’m honestly shocked.”
“Last night when I was going over your notes, I found a pattern that disturbed me.”
“Yeah, what’s that?” He leaned over the counter, staring at her intently.
“You’ve got a rotator in the maintenance crew.”
“Two of them, actually.” He nodded
“But only one that was on during both incidents and the other two you told me about.”
“That would have to Mitch Spiegel. He’s a good kid.” Ramey narrowed his eyes. “I don’t see the motivation.”
“Well, it’s something we need to pursue.”
Ramey nodded. “Did you find anything else?”
“Not yet, but I will look again tonight. For now, I want to head to the base, then we can come back here around four. My equipment should be here by then.”
“I don’t like people here without me.”
“That’s what Logan said, so he’s coming with them.”
“I guess that’s okay.” He glanced at his watch. “I should probably jump in the shower so we can stop by your hotel for some clothes for you.”
“My suitcase is in my car, which is at the base.” She scrunched her nose. “I guess I go to work like this or wear the same clothes I did yesterday and hope no one notices.”
“Or, since we’re going to drive this morning, we can stop at a small boutique shop in town on the way in.”
“That works,” she said raising her mug.
“Give me ten minutes and we can be out the door.”
She nodded, then eyed him as he disappeared down the short hallway to his bathroom in nothing but boxers.
Sexy.
Smart.
Seriously dangerous.
The kind of man her father always told her would come and take her away from him. She wiped her eyes and the tears threatening to break free. The only family she had left was her nephew, Grant, and now that he was off at college, she felt a pang of loneliness she hadn’t experienced before.
By the time Ramey had showered and gotten dressed, she’d gathered all her belongings, along with his notes she wanted for reference, and had done the dishes.
Sort of a domesticated thing to do, but his house was spotless and it was the least she could do as his guest.
The ride in his Jeep was bumpy and dusty, to say the least. She thought about asking where the top was, but when she looked around inside the Jeep, she realized he probably didn’t have one, which made her wonder what the hell did he did if it rained.
It had to rain every once in a while in the desert, right?
They pulled up in front of a quaint boutique in the center of a hick town in the middle of nowhere.
“Do you need money or anything?”
She smiled. “I think I can handle buying myself an outfit.”
He nodded. “I’m going to go gas up and get a soda. Want anything?”
“Water. Lots of water.” She grabbed her throat. “It’s so ever loving dry out here.”
He laughed. “You got it.”
She hopped out of the Jeep and ducked into the store, hoping she’d find something simple and she was pleasantly surprised when the first thing she saw was a pair of skinny jeans and blue short-sleeve T-Shirt, in her size. Perfect.
When she stepped from the store, Ramey had just pulled up.
“That was fast,” he said.
“I’m not a shopper, so when I find what I need, I’m done.”
“Looks nice.”
She climbed up into the Jeep and glanced in the review mirror and noticed a white car that she’d seen on the highway a mile back.
“I noticed it, too,” he said. “Whoever is in the car pulled out behind us four miles into the main road.”
“Ever see that car before?”
“Nope. And I haven’t been able to get a good look at the driver.” Ramey reached for the gear shift.
“Wait.” She jumped out of the car.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
She ignored him as she made her way down the sidewalk, glancing in a few of the shop windows. When she got five cars from the vehicle in question, whoever was driving pulled out into the street and drove off past Ramey.
She ran down the street and hopped in. “Let’s follow them.”
“Nope. I got their license plate and we’ll run it. No need to let them know we’re on—”
“Like they haven’t figured that out with me—”
“Maybe they have, but if we don’t follow them, they might think differently.”
A small SUV drove by and turned the corner tight behind the white sedan. Ramey’s phone buzzed.
“You’ve already got someone on them, don’t you?”
He looked at her and flashed a big old grin. “Let’s go figure out who’s fucking with my planes.”
Chapter 6
THE LAST THING RAMEY expected when he came into work was to be shuffled off into a conference room and interrogated by his own boss.
But there he sat, at one end, while Jasper leaned over the table, knuckles digging into the wood, staring down at him as if he were a small child getting caught writing graffiti on the boy’s bathroom wall.
“I agreed to the Omega Team coming in because I knew you weren’t at fault.”
“So, then why are you all pissed off?” Ramey leaned back in his chair, doing his best to remain relaxed when all he wanted to do was be with Tequila and all her interviews, which was obviously another bone of contention with his boss.
“Because you’ve been so goddamned paranoid lately I figured if I brought them in, they’d go over the reports and be gone because no one is messing with your flights, Ramey.”
“Yes, they are, and it’s not just the tests here. I had to crash land my chopper yesterday, and it looks like someone cut the rear rotor cable. Not to mention we found tampering with—”
“Your personal planes are not my concern.”
“Fine. Tequila found some discrepancies and concerns here at the base.�
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Jasper shook his head. “And now you have her grasping at straws. I could have had you back up in the air next week, but now you and she are setting in motion a full inquiry and it’s not just affecting you, but the entire crew, and this new program.”
“Come on, Jasper. You’re telling me you don’t find any of this remotely suspicious? Faulty top-secret equipment that half the military doesn’t know about, two crashes, and two near misses? Something is going on and I think you’re hiding something.”
Might as well put the cards on the table, though he left out the fact he’d been followed part way to work.
“Do I need to order a psych eval?”
“Did you seriously just say that?” Ramey had butted heads with his superiors before. He’d even been reprimanded a few times, especially early on in his career, but no one had ever questioned his mental stability. “I’m one of the best test pilots in the Army. I push those machines to their limit so that our pilots know what they are flying and what they can and can’t do in combat. I’ve been in more emergency landings, take-offs, simulated crashes, than anyone on this base. What happened to me with those test runs was not your run of the mill mechanical error.”
“You’re on leave until this special investigation is over.” Jasper stood upright, shoving the chair in front of him. “For your sake, I hope she finds something, because if she doesn’t, you career is toast.” With that, Jasper stormed out of the conference room.
Ramey waited until his boss’s footsteps faded into the background before standing. A combination of anger and confusion swirled in the pit of his gut. Jasper had always trusted what Ramey told him about his test runs, even when others questioned Ramey’s reports. Jasper generally had his back.
No. Jasper always had his back.
So, what the hell changed?
“How’d it go?” Tequila’s voice quieted his nerves.
That made him wonder if maybe a psych evaluation wasn’t out of the question, especially considering this morning’s kiss along with the invitation to his bed.