His throat was dry. Where was that coffee? Matteo ground his teeth in frustration. He was as hardheaded as Seneca claimed and twice as stupid.
The comedy of the situation is that he’d started a fling with Jessica Barlow out of a sense of obligation to uphold his company’s reputation. Why it hurt him to see her passing her key to another man was beyond him. She was nothing to him, just another LoveLines patron. So why did it bother him so much? He should be thrilled that she was having luck with the service--it kept him and his company name out of court.
An image of Jess with her head thrown back and her lips parted in ecstasy flashed behind his eyes. Damn him. He gave a mental shrug and tipped the coffee mug to his lips, savoring the bitter fluid that washed away his disappointment like a rainstorm.
Matteo shook his head. Not a rainstorm. After yesterday, he’d never think about rain the same way.
“Is this seat taken?” she asked. He didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
She’d followed him, too quickly for him to cool off. For a moment, he wondered what had happened to Stanton. Then he remembered that he didn’t care. Plastering a false smile on his face, he gestured to the empty line of leather topped stools. “Bar’s empty. Take your pick.”
Jess settled onto the stool next to his. “Hey, what you saw back there…it wasn’t what it looked like.” She fidgeted with the wooden edge of the counter.
Matteo shrugged. “No big deal. It’s a free country, Jess. We’re all here for the same reason.” At least, as far as she knew, they were. He felt a lot less guilty about letting her think he was a LoveLiner rather than the company owner.
“And what reason is that?” She looked angry, now. Her cheeks were flushed and her hazel eyes deepened to almost brown. Good, her anger matched his own intense inexplicable feelings.
Well, she wasn’t going to get anything out of him. “You tell me. Why are you here, Jess?” He wasn’t exactly sure he wanted to hear her reason.
She didn’t answer. Her face was a mask of uncertainty--indignant and shameful all in one. Though he’d always been attracted to the strong women, the fact that he’d upset her made him feel like a heel.
She took a deep breath. “Rex ran into me near the elevator. He asked me to breakfast. I dropped my key and he was handing it over when you bumped into us. It was nothing more than that.”
Matteo rubbed a palm over his freshly shaved chin, trying to ignore the flare of hope that pierced his anger. It was a plausible excuse. She had a habit of mislaying that keycard. And Stanton hadn’t appeared flustered by Matteo’s presence--there was no protective posturing to signal territorial marking. Matteo shook his head. He’d never been so confused. He should be thrilled that she’d entered into conversation for further contact from an actual client. Should be, but wasn’t.
Don’t get involved. Batting clean-up for the company. Damn, damn, damn.
He set his mug on the bar. “Are you going to go?”
“To breakfast? With Rex?” Jess shrugged. “Depends.”
He couldn’t help it. “On?” he prompted.
“On what happens today. With you.” Jess stared at him.
His heart jumped in his chest and he stifled the urge to pump his fist in the air. Instead, he called for another coffee and pushed the fresh cup across to her.
“Things went pretty well last night,” he ventured. “At least, I thought they did.”
Her long fingers wrapped around the cup handle and she took a small sip. Her cheeks pinked prettily, and he knew she was remembering last night’s passion, just as he remembered those fingers wrapped around his cock. Heat rushed to his crotch and he shifted. Her blend of shyness and bravado drew him like a stallion to a filly in heat.
“Um, I wanted to talk to you about that,” she began. “You see what happened was pretty out of character for me. I’m not the type to, well, you know….” She swallowed her last words in a swirl of black coffee and pulled a face. “I don’t do casual sex.”
Matteo paused. He could hold on to that tidbit of information, let her think she’d hooked up on the off chance that she was really out to investigate LoveLines. Then, he discarded the idea. Even if she was out to ruin his company, he wasn’t going to let her feel badly about herself.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t go through with it.” He sipped his java, feigning a casualness he didn’t feel.
Her eyes widened. “But…but I thought.” Her brow furrowed. “I saw the condom in the trash, Matt,” she mumbled. The room began to fill with happy hopefuls and tourists. Her eyes darted around the lounge filling with men and women from the program.
“C’mon, Jess. What do you take me for? You were a tipsy and you slept it off. I’m not into taking advantage of women who aren’t in a position to refuse.”
Jess blushed. “I wouldn’t have refused. Not you, anyway.” Her lips pursed.
This time he felt his own cheeks warm. “Uh, well…maybe. I mean, we’ll see.” He couldn’t believe how he was stumbling over his words. What he really wanted was to ask her to kiss him again with those sweet, full lips. To put her hands on him and hold on tight.
Jess looked down, focused on a miniscule speck of nothing on the bar top. “So last night was…innocent?”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t say that nothing happened. I just said we didn’t have sex. I can fill you in all the details, if you like.” He stared at her over the rim of his cup. “We can relive the memories or we can make some brand new ones.” His blood stirred just thinking about it. “I’m free tonight and I’d like to continue things, if you do.” He’d finished half his coffee, but the knot in his throat hadn’t eased.
“Tonight?” Jess shook her head and looked away. “No, I don’t want to continue tonight.”
Matteo recoiled as if struck.
An emotional sucker-punch to the gut. He should have seen it coming.
He clenched his jaw to keep from asking why. “Okay.” He knew she would be trouble. Let her go. He pushed back from the bar, feeling like he’d been tossed off the electric bull at Coyote Joe’s.
Jess put her hand over his before he could escape. “I mean, I’d rather we start over. Today. I want to get to know you better before we…you know. Before things go any further.”
Matteo leaned on the bar, trying to recover his breath. “Okay.” His voice sounded strange, not at all the voice of a guy that had plans to love her and leave her.
He’d had more emotional upheaval in the last five minutes than he’d had in the past five years. Jessica Barlow was the type of woman that could do a number on him, if he wasn’t careful. He’d built barricades around his heart, barricades that women had thrown themselves against without success. But those expressive eyes and that luscious body of hers made him want to leap over his own mental barriers and give her a chance.
“What did you have in mind?” he asked. He needed to be wary.
“Breakfast?” she suggested. “Not in my room--out here.” She gestured to the sunlit lounge.
“And after that?” he asked.
Jess shrugged. “Depends.”
Beautiful, picky woman. He grinned back. “Do you trust me?”
Jess paused, as if on the verge of making one of her cynical quips. But surprisingly, she tilted her head and gave him a tentative smile. “Something fun? But no more rainstorms. I’m not taking any chances.”
Matteo smirked. “No risky walks in the rain. Check.” He smiled, a genuine one this time. “I’ll see what I can arrange.” He drained his last bit of coffee.
“Great, you check with the concierge and I’ll grab a table.” Jess pushed her unfinished coffee away and stood.
“Meet you back here in five, beautiful.” Matteo whistled as he headed towards the front desk.
Now that the drama had passed, he felt perfectly in control again--of both the situation and his emotions. Maybe he’d check with Seneca to see what options there were for secluded sight-seeing. He wanted to show Jess a good time, ex
perience something a corporate investigator from Atlanta would consider memorable. If he ran into his sister, there was little chance that Jess would notice the family resemblance, not unless they stood right next to each other. He favored their German horse-ranching father, and Seneca was a ringer for their Hispanic mother, but he didn’t want to take chances. Luckily, knowing Seneca, she was probably still in her room, checking the progress of other clients.
A brightly colored tri-fold brochure on the entry table caught his eye as he reached for the house phone. He paused as a sudden flash of inspiration jumpstarted his adrenaline. No time to waste. He’d update his sister later. Right now, he had a seduction to plan—one that was guaranteed to get Jessica’s blood rising. Matteo made his way to the front desk.
“Hello, Mr. Brandt. Everything to your liking?” The manager on duty gave him a polite smile.
“It’s fine. Just fine. You’ve been very accommodating.” Matteo glanced around the lobby, ensuring no one was within earshot.
“Well, your company’s business is very important to us. What can I do for you?”
Matteo glanced over his shoulder, stifling the urge to tell the guy to keep it down. When he spied a familiar redhead near the breakfast buffet, he was certain that Jess was a safe distance away. “I have something special planned for me and a guest.” Quickly he sketched in the details.
“No problem. We’ll take care of everything. Enjoy your breakfast.” The manager moved away with a smile.
It was amazing what money and the right attitude could get you these days. Matteo whistled on his way to the lounge. With any luck, he’d be back at the table before Jess had time to pour the syrup.
After breakfast, he updated his progress on sister’s voice mail and rented a car, while Jess changed her clothing. They drove forty-five minutes through winding mountain highways with vistas that mirrored a tourist’s camera with understated beauty until they reached Absarokee, a quaint little town north of the Beartooth Mountains. Jess was curious about the day’s planned activity. She’d peppered him with questions for almost the whole ride, everything from wondering if her clothing was appropriate to speculating if he was an only child.
“Why do you ask?” His heart lurched. Had she talked to Seneca? What if she’d finally put two and two together?
“You’re too good at keeping secrets.” Jess gave him a mock pout. “This isn’t fair.”
“All’s fair in…uh….” Matteo trailed off, feeling suddenly uncomfortable in the close proximity of the front seat.
Jess smothered a smile.
Damn, but she was enticing. He couldn’t get enough of her. Now that she was more relaxed, her personality blossomed. She was funny and sexy, far too sexy for him to keep his hands off her. He cursed his choice of stick shift rental. It meant he hand to keep both hands occupied instead of sliding a finger up her creamy white thigh to see if she was as soft as last night. Jess pressed her face to the window and stared at the scenery, trying to puzzle out their destination, completely oblivious to his raging desires. He couldn’t fathom how she could mistake his frequent hungry glances at her, but clearly she was oblivious to her effect on him.
She really needed to wake up and smell the proverbial coffee.
Jess was a knockout, even if she didn’t know it. The sedan had plenty of room for an afternoon adventure, especially the back seat variety. If only she hadn’t put the brakes on their sexual relationship. He wet his lips and wondered for the umpteenth time what it was about this woman that pushed him so far beyond his well-intentioned plans for satisfying her and his business ethics. This trip was turning out to be much more than he bargained for. And he suspected a wilder ride lay ahead.
“We’re here!” he announced with unfeigned cheerfulness as they rolled to a stop in a gravel parking lot.
It wasn’t until she’d seen the huge inflated raft strapped to the top of the battered white van that she’d realized where he was planning to take her.
“We’re doing what?” Jess shrieked. She stared in disbelief. Her mouth gaped, giving him a glimpse of her sweet red tongue. What he could do with that….
“You said no risky hikes,” Matteo chided, mentally shaking himself. “You didn’t say anything about this.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “C’mon, it’ll be fun.”
“Rafting? You have got to be kidding!” She put her hands on her hips. “The water is probably freezing this time of year. I can’t go in this.” She glanced down at her khaki walking shorts and the pink cotton t-shirt that clung to her breasts in an unconsciously sexy way.
“You’re absolutely right. About the water and your attire.” Matteo stalked into the overhang and pawed through a selection of wet suits and other gear hanging near the back. “Here. You’re a medium, right?” He tossed her a black and yellow wet suit, bright orange rain jacket and a pair of booties to slip over her tennis shoes.
She caught them with a bemused expression. “What if I said I couldn’t swim?”
He paused. That could be a complication. “Can you?”
Her lips compressed as she eyed the gear. “Yes,” she grudgingly admitted. “But not well enough for raging rapids.”
Raging, he thought, was an apt description for the ride he wanted with her.
“Are you planning to leave the raft?” He crossed his arms.
Jess sighed. “Of course not.”
“Lifejackets are mandatory. So are helmets, to protect that pretty head.” He patted her affectionately on the crown, resisting the urge to run his hands through her silky locks. Or to throw her down right there in the back of the van and make love to her. She wouldn’t need to swim, then.
She mumbled something about ‘adventure’ and bit her lip. Matteo grinned, sensing he’d won this round. “Changing rooms are over there. I’ll wait for you by the van.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” She disappeared behind the curtain.
Matteo laughed. You and me both, querida, he thought. You and me both.
Chapter Seven
She was an adrenaline junkie.
Jess cackled as the raft dipped and spun in the river eddies, drunk on the rush of adrenaline as the raft guide barked another set of commands.
“Forward, three strokes. We’re coming up on some level three rapids. Keep sharp!” Their guide leaned into the huge oar he used to guide them away from the rocks.
Jess pulled, using her body to propel her yellow paddle through the murky water. The raft lurched past the obstacles with only a small bump on the left side.
The guide chuckled. “Good job! You two really know how to work together.”
Oh, how she wanted to be working with Matt. With, underneath, on top of…it all went together. Her libido was in overdrive around him. Matt, his face and body glittering with river spray, flashed her brilliant smile. His eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of his helmet, in a way that made her wonder what he was thinking.
She’d never had so much fun in her life.
Forget liars, forget scam artists…river rafting in Montana was like a wild roller coaster ride on water. She felt more relaxed than she had in years. Huge scraggly pines stretched overhead, and twice they saw an eagle’s nest. The magnificent birds were silent sentinels as she and Matt floated through the calmer waters toward the more exhilarating rapids.
She’d been scared and hesitant at first, as the guide had explained how they had to synchronize their efforts to keep the raft afloat and out of danger. She’d worried that Matt, with his superior strength would be irritated or condescending of her efforts.
“I mean it,” the guide continued, oblivious to the magnetic tension between her and her partner. “Most couples can’t handle this kind of teamwork. You guys rock.” He took a swig out of his canteen. “Take a break for a bit, though. The next set of rapids is around that bend.”
Jess placed her oar over her knees, being sure to keep her handle inside where it couldn’t knock anyone senseless.
“Would you take our
photo?” she asked. She tried to unhook the clasp of the inflatable dry box that held their rental car keys, Matt’s wallet, and her digital camera.
“Whoa, I’ll get it!” Matt juggled the box and his oar. “Your hands are wet.”
Jess handed it over, feeling a prickle of elation he’d agreed to a photo to commemorate this experience. Mementos of their time together. It boded well for a longer term relationship.
After the guide snapped a few shots, they focused on the scenery and the swift running water until they emerged, tired and elated, three hours downstream.
Three hours of exhilarating adventure. Just what the doctor ordered. By the end, she was tired, but elated.
“I can’t believe I did this. It was so incredible…I’ve never done anything like it!” Jess unhooked her helmet and shook her hair out while the tour guide loaded the raft onto the van. It felt good to trust her own skills.
“You were terrific!” Matt’s eyes shot sparks in the sunlight. “Hungry? We could grab some chow and picnic on the river bank before heading back.”
“You got it.” Jess paused a minute. “Hey, wait a minute. Isn’t this supposed to be an ‘all expenses paid’ trip paid by LoveLines? We’re off the hotel property and I didn’t bring my purse. You bought the excursion. Doesn’t seem right that you should shell out for lunch.”
Matt paused. “You’re worth it, Jess.”
Well, she couldn’t argue with that logic. Or the look on his face as she stripped off her wet-suit jacket. He looked like he wanted to strip off more than her jacket. Heat flared between her legs. She liked the sound of her name on his lips. Despite the chill breeze and her damp suit, she grew unaccountably hot.
“Then I’m in.” She agreed happily. It was nice being away from the lodge, away from the other LoveLiners and the pressure--almost like being on a real date. Jess grinned. And Matt actually seemed to be the perfect guy. It was still early yet, but he just might have potential.
Maybe the LoveLines program was legit, after all. She’d have to dig in further to ascertain what the client alleged and why. The thought of pouring over paperwork instead of over Matt’s hot bod made her cringe.
LIAR LIAR (Sexy Southerners series) Page 9