“What about you, do you have your own house as well?”
Both Jake and his father obviously love where they live because it’s written all over their faces.
Jake chuckles. “Almost. It’s been an ongoing project and has been since I joined the Marines, seven years ago.” He pauses, his eyes glazing over as if he’s lost his own thoughts, before he shakes his head and continues, “But I’m heading home. I’ll be bunking in my old room until I can get my house finished, which shouldn’t take too long now that I’m not going to be shipping out anytime soon.” It’s hard to say whether or not he’s happy or sad about that. “It’s also on the family land, so fairly close by.” He grins. “I’ll have to give you a tour while you’re in Jackson Hole.”
“That would be great.”
Cade
As I sit here listening to Rona tell us about being left at the altar and having no family, a deep ache builds inside me that I’ve never felt before and it surprises me with its intensity.
Not even Janice, the woman I married twenty-five years ago, managed to bring out such a reaction. I’m ashamed to admit the only reason I married her was because she was pregnant with Jake and Anna. The first time I slept with her, she’d gotten pregnant. Then it was maybe two years later, when we decided to try and make the marriage work for real, that Beth arrived. Not long after, Janice walked out on us for good.
I’m just about to jump back into the conversation when they announce our flight.
“Do you need any help with your luggage or anything?” I ask Rona, although I can only see her purse.
“No, I checked my luggage in. I only have my purse,” she replies with a beautiful smile on her face.
Smiling back at her, and boy is she gorgeous, I’m praying our seats are a bit away from hers on the plane. It’s already difficult keeping my body under control. Sitting so close, or in the next seat on the plane, would make it difficult to keep my libido in check, never mind the brushing of thighs that would occur in the compact seats.
Making our way on to the plane, we realize our seats are actually in the same row. With a silent groan, I head toward them. I offer Rona the window seat, which she accepts and then Jake shoots into the middle seat before I can get my act together. The shape of Rona’s perfect bottom distracted me while she was getting into her seat.
Sitting on the aisle side has the advantage of being able to stretch my legs, as I always end up scrunched up. On this occasion though, Jake sitting so close to the woman in my thoughts isn’t helping my comfort.
Once airborne, Jake disappears to the restroom so I take advantage of his vacant seat, slipping into it. I hear Rona suck in a breath as our thighs touch, as our gazes meet and hold. She really is breathtaking and I want nothing more than to take her home with me . . . and keep her. Such a ridiculous thought, but one I’m having trouble keeping out of my head.
Rona’s tongue hesitantly moistens her lips, which has my eyes following the movement and my cock twitching. This is bad. Wanting a woman twenty-one years my junior. Someone who I think my son it attracted to, even though he’s still in love with Elise.
Returning, Jake mumbles, “Thanks Dad,” under his breath, looking disgruntled to find me in his seat as he slips into the one I vacated.
“You can have your seat back if you want it,” I offer, but pray he stays where he is.
After a pause, he looks between Rona and me. “No, it’s fine.”
I glance toward Rona, but she’s closed her eyes and seems to be sleeping.
Turning to look at Jake, I find he’s sitting back relaxing with his eyes shut so, getting comfortable, I shut my eyes for all of five seconds. The minute I shut them, Rona’s there waiting for me, without clothes, in my bed.
Reaching down, I rearrange my throbbing erection and start to count backward. It’s hell being attracted to a much younger woman, one I know I can never entertain the idea of being with.
She’s younger than Anna and Jake, my twenty-five year old twins.
Rona
Waking up on the descent into Jackson Hole, I find myself looking straight into Cade’s eyes, filled with amusement and mere inches away from mine. I must have somehow cuddled up to him during the flight, and ended up practically lying in his lap.
“Gosh, I’m sorry.” I scramble to get back into my seat all embarrassed, especially with his eyes on me. “I hadn’t realized I was sleeping on you.”
My embarrassment shoots up a notch when I accidentally put my hand on his groin and feel just how much he obviously liked having me asleep on him.
Cade inhales, sharply. “Don’t worry,” he says, sounding rather strangled, sitting up straighter in his seat.
Clearing his throat, Cade meets my gaze and asks, “So, Rona, can we offer you a lift into town?” He looks nervous as he waits my response.
Is he reluctant to end our time together?
I feel the same reluctance, and offer him a smile of assurance. “I’d love a lift, although I’m not sure where to, yet.”
Jake interrupts. “We won’t leave you until we have you hooked up with some accommodation.” His grin shows his dimples, which I’m sure makes many girls swoon.
“Thanks, guys.”
The plane shudders as it comes to a complete stop at the gate. Before I can say anything else, the cabin hums with the energy of all the weary travelers as they start gathering their luggage from the overhead bins.
Once we disembark, Cade and Jake lead the way to collect our luggage before guiding me toward the exit.
I’m relieved that my journey, for now, is finally over. It’s taken me nearly twenty hours to arrive here in Jackson Hole.
Jake stops us, saying, “I’ll go and find the truck.” He focuses on his dad. “Pass me the keys. I’ll pull up at the doors if you want to wait inside. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“The truck’s location is written on the back of the ticket.” Cade passes both keys and ticket over to his son.
“Okay, I’ve got this.” Jake turns to me. “I’ll give Lucy a call at the bed and breakfast and see if they have a room for you.”
I sigh in a strange mixture of regret and relief. “Thanks, Jake.” And I really am thankful, but I can’t help wondering whether or not I’ll see both Cade and Jake again after they drop me off.
Jake disappears as Cade takes my elbow. “Let’s wait outside for Jake, and get some fresh air. After spending time in airports and on planes, I need to breathe again, and I bet you feel the same way.”
“I do, and I’d like that.”
As we walk outside its rather windy so Cade directs me toward the end of the car pickup area to take shelter in an alcove, facing away from the road and the wind.
It causes butterflies in my stomach being alone with Cade, because of how much I want to feel his lips against mine. He really is a handsome man, and I can’t get over the fact that he’s twenty-one years older. He seems to be attracted to me, but knowing his age, well, I guess he would be more interested in someone from his own generation even though I haven’t mistaken his reaction to me.
He turns to face me and I find myself transfixed by his blazing, green eyes.
“Is it far to your house?” I try to fill in the silence.
He doesn’t answer, but continues to look at me as he takes a step closer. He reaches up and places one of his hands to the side of my face.
My heart thuds with anticipation.
“Your skin is like silk.” He caresses my cheek. “I’ve been wondering how you would feel against my hands since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
I turn my face slightly into his touch and kiss his palm wanting so much more from this man. This is crazy considering how long we’ve known each other.
Sucking in his breath, he moves even closer to me.
“You need to let Jake show you around and introduce you to his friends,” he says, as though he’s in pain, while I continue to burrow into his hand.
“Why not you?” I whisper against
his skin. My eyes lock with his.
“I want nothing more than to be the one to show you around and spend time with you, but I’m forty-five—too old for you. Jake is only a year older than you are.” Taking a deep breath, he continues, “I’ve never reacted to anyone the way I react to you, and I need to get over it because anything between us is impossible.”
At this comment, I feel my heart breaking. What he’s just said seems to sadden him, and it brings tears to my eyes. I move slightly away, hoping he doesn’t see my reaction. But, unfortunately, he does.
“Hey, don’t cry.”
I’m being ridiculous. We’ve only just met, for goodness’ sake.
I turn to walk away, but he catches hold of my arm and brings me back to him with my spine against his chest.
Once there, he inhales slowly and turns me around to face him. He lifts his hands to my face and uses his thumbs to wipe my tears away before looking straight into my eyes. “If you think for one minute that seeing you go off with Jake everyday is going to be easy for me, then think again. I doubt anything is going to be the same again for me after meeting you.”
Cade is still holding my face. During our conversation, he’s gotten so close, we are now chest-to-chest and hidden from view by the alcove. My breathing has become slightly labored, and so has Cade’s. I find myself wanting just one taste of him.
“Kiss me.” I stare at him as my mind screams this is crazy. I don’t care, my body knows what it needs, and I’m letting it have its way. “At least put your tongue inside . . .” Before I can finish his lips meet mine with such force, I don’t think I’ll ever recover. As he starts kissing me, I’m not sure who moves in first. I’m pressed close to him with my back against the wall and one of my legs wrapped around his.
His mouth on mine sends tingles all the way through to my core. My arms twine around his neck as my hands go to his nape and I run my fingers through his hair. He tastes all male and smells so good. I never want this kiss to end. My nipples are hard tips digging into his chest as our tongues continue to duel.
Cade
Heaven help me, when she said to me ‘at least put your tongue inside’ I added the silent me, which she didn’t get out because I just lost it with my need to taste her.
Our lips meet. She opens her mouth to me and allows my tongue to slip inside like she asks. Our tongues fuse, and I never want to come up for air.
She tastes like coffee and chocolate. With our mouths still locked together, she wraps her arms around me, running her fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck, sending shivers straight through me to my cock.
Holding her in my arms, I move her back toward the wall for support. She wraps her leg around me and starts to rub herself against my erection. I’m in heaven and nearly come like a teenager on his first outing with a girl. She feels so good and right in my arms. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to let her go, which I know I have to do, but I’m not about to stop this kiss, at least not yet.
She pulls her mouth from mine for much-needed air, but I find it impossible to stop tasting her. Laying tiny kisses along her mouth, I move down to her neck, her collarbone, then back up to her ear. I bite down, slightly. She shivers.
Moving back to kiss her mouth, I put my hand up under her tee shirt and slowly move up to her breasts. Teasing her nipple with my fingers through her thin bra, I feel it tighten even more. With my other hand, I take hold of her butt to align her better with my erection.
She tastes so good and is so responsive to my touch that I can feel her humming with need—driving me crazy.
Fuck! What the hell am I doing? She’s young enough to be my daughter and I have my hand on her breast as she’s grinding against me. Anyone can see us. Fuck! Fuck!
Breaking from the kiss and trying to catch my breath, I reluctantly pull my hand from her shirt. Taking hold of her hips, I move her gently away from my throbbing erection. “We need to stop.” I kiss her softly on her lips. “I don’t want to, but this isn’t right.”
Not wanting to let her go completely, I pull her into me.
Rona
I rest my head on Cade’s shoulder as he continues to stroke my back. How the hell am I going to walk away from this guy? I heard what he said about the age difference, which I guess is a major problem, and I don’t see a way around it. As our hearts begin to calm, I pull away slightly from Cade and look up with my arms still around him.
“Are you okay?” he asks me with such a tender smile on his face.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again, unless I’m in your arms.” The words surprise me, considering we’ve only just met, but I’ve felt a connection to Cade since the moment my eyes met his back in Starbucks.
He tightens his hold on me and leaning forward, his lips meet my forehead. Placing a small kiss there, he rests his forehead against mine while gazing into my eyes.
“Please don’t say that. You have to find a younger guy to be with, although it will kill me. This closeness between us can never happen again. I can’t believe it happened. You taste and smell so good. I just can’t stop touching you. But I need to find the strength to keep my hands to myself.”
I rest against his chest and hold on as tightly as he’s holding me. I give him a squeeze and take a deep breath for strength before I pull away slightly. I look up and meet his green eyes as he gazes down at me with longing so clear in them. He leans down and caresses my lips with a really tender kiss.
Hearing Jake shout, “Dad,” we reluctantly step apart.
Chapter 2
Rona
“I’m sorry, Rona,” Jake tells me after being turned away from the reception at the Wort Hotel.
Jake’s friend, Lucy, was full up at her bed and breakfast and suggested we try the hotel. Unfortunately, they’re full up as well. The guy on reception tried to make a joke by offering me the broom closet. That went down like a ton of bricks.
Standing in the lobby, my disappointment starts to settle in, and I realize I should have called before leaving Dublin to find accommodation. I could have searched online as well.
I glance around the hotel and feel the tears in my eyes. I guess I could go to the cabin Nick and I were supposed to use, but the thought of that is filling me with dread. I’m not all that sure what I’m going to do now, especially after the guy at reception admitted the majority of hotels in the area are also booked up due to there being some sort of winter festival weekend. He actually told me to come back Tuesday!
Cade reaches out and tugs me into his side for a one-armed hug. He rubs my back, offering more comfort, but I get the feeling he’d rather be holding me a lot closer. I certainly wouldn’t object, although I’m not sure how Jake would take it.
I feel bad that instead of heading straight home, Cade and Jake are running around Jackson Hole to help me find accommodation. They must be tired—I know I am.
“You know,” Jake interrupts my thoughts, “there’s plenty of room at our house, and you won’t be alone with the both of us. My sister, Beth, and her husband, Mack, along with their kids, are staying at the house while they have work done on theirs.” Jake looks at his dad for confirmation.
Cade nods.
Jake turns back to me. “You heard the guy behind the desk about lack of accommodation. You could always move to town on Tuesday if staying with us gets too much.” He shrugs.
It would mean we head to their home now, and get warm instead of driving into the next town in the bitter cold. It might be comfortable in the truck, but with a light snow having started falling on our way into town, I don’t feel right having them drive me around in this weather. The snow isn’t sticking to the ground yet, but it will be soon. Besides, the trip to the next town over is about twenty minutes and that really is too much to ask of them.
I’m so tempted to say yes . . . but they’re strangers. I’ve only known them for a few hours, and even though Cade and I are irrevocably drawn to each other, that doesn’t mean I should just move right on in with him and
his son.
I’m so torn with what I should and shouldn’t do. If my grandmother were still alive, she’d be telling me to go with my gut instinct instead of what I consider right. They seem like well-respected men in town, and I remember the friendly hug they both received from a couple of elderly ladies on our way into the hotel. Even now, as people pass by, they are stopped to catch up with some of the hotel staff. It’s clear people in this town trust them.
Rubbing at my temples, I realize I want to move in with them—to see where this connection I have with Cade is going. Because I doubt we’ll get this chance if I stay elsewhere.
I decide to trust my instincts, and reply to Jake’s offer. “I’d love to stay at your home. That’s if you’re sure it isn’t going to cause any problems?” I look between the two men, waiting for my answer.
Cade’s look of worry turns into a smile. “We’d be happy to have you stay with us, Rona. As Jake says, there’s plenty of room and my daughter is there. I’m sure she would love having another female around for company.” As he gazes at me I can’t think of anywhere else I want to be right now.
My heart beats wildly as they lead me out of the hotel toward their SUV. The entire time I’m hoping that I’m making the right decision.
~*~*~*~
It’s a relief to be sitting in the back of Cade’s SUV with Jake behind the wheel, knowing the search for accommodation is over for now. I look out the window and all I can see is Cade and me, back at the airport. I still can’t believe what happened back there, that he wanted me so much to risk being caught in public. Not once in my life have I done anything like that. Heck! I used to get embarrassed when Nick kissed me goodbye outside the café where we sometimes met for lunch.
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