by Lane, Soraya
"You talk about your brother like he's your security dog," Blake said with a laugh.
"Where you're concerned?" she said, stretching out one perfectly manicured toe to give Scott a nudge on the knee. "He practically is."
He grabbed her foot before she could pull away. His grip was firm, but the way he ran his fingers across her ankle was so soft it made her want to sigh.
"So are you going to heed your big brother's warning?"
"About you?" she asked, wishing she wasn't finding it so hard to breathe with Scott's fingers on her skin.
"Is there anything else he's warned you away from lately?"
Scott's voice was low, husky, his tone teasing and sexy as hell. She had no clue where all this sexual tension had come from, what had ignited between them so quickly when a few days ago she'd almost resented him. But then a few days ago she hadn't known about her brother warning Scott away from her - up until that point, she'd just thought he'd been a jerk.
"Just the usual. Drugs, cigarettes and older men." She laughed.
"I always did like cougars, personally," Scott said, stroking her leg now, his fingertips slightly callused, his touch making her squirm. "But the older I get, the more attractive beautiful young skin like yours becomes."
Amanda snatched her leg back, heart racing as their flirting amped up one notch more than she was ready for. Touching her foot was one thing, but with her mother possibly watching from inside, not to mention her sisters, she wasn't going to let Scott take any more liberties. Besides, with the way she was feeling right now, Scott touching any part of her was probably dangerous.
"So what brings you over here?" Amanda asked, opening the Coke and taking a long sip to distract herself from the man watching her.
She watched Scott shrug. "I was up a ladder and I thought about you."
He'd been thinking about her? "What exactly was on your mind?" Maybe he'd tell her that he was thinking about her naked, that they needed to deal with the tension that was tighter than a knot between them.
"Dinner," he said, reaching for her soda and taking a sip before passing it back. "You free tonight?"
Amanda folded her arms across her stomach, feeling way too naked in front of Scott. She liked her body, but he was really dressed right now and she so wasn’t.
"Just the two of us?" she asked, wanting to know exactly why he was asking her, whether it was as friends, as a group, or… she gulped. Something more.
"Definitely just the two of us, unless you don't trust me to behave without company?"
She sucked in a big breath. She wanted him to misbehave. He was trying to get a reaction out of her, the way he was staring at her, his gaze unwavering, his voice deep and husky. Scott had always been a tease, and she didn't want to fall for any games.
"I trust you just fine," she said back, unfolding her arms and refusing to be embarrassed . It was her backyard, and she had every right to be lying in the sun in a bikini. "I'm guessing your place is out of the question?"
He laughed. "Yeah, unless we want your sister and my brother meddling."
"I actually meant your new place, but yeah. You're right."
Amanda tipped her head back to watch Scott as he rose. He was wearing what seemed to be his uniform of a snug t-shirt, faded out jeans that looked like they could rip at any second, and sturdy boots. He couldn't have looked any hotter if he tried.
"How about a trip into town. What do you say?"
"As in Billings or just into Rancher's Valley?" she asked.
"I was thinking the little restaurant in the valley."
"Pick me up around seven?"
He nodded, hands in his pockets. "Seven it is."
"And don't bring your motorcycle, okay? I could be wearing a dress and I expect a car."
Scott laughed and she struggled to keep her own face straight.
"Just in case you were wondering, you look great in a bikini," he said as he walked backwards away from her.
This time Amanda couldn't help the blush that ignited her cheeks. She dipped her head, couldn't meet his gaze straight away.
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Hey, it's not everyday around these parts that I get to see a half naked girl."
Amanda shook her head, trying so hard not to laugh as he left. Being around Scott was making her remember how much fun they'd all had when they were younger. And now they were older, hell, it was even better. Because now they were capable of making their own decisions, and even her brother couldn't stop her if she decided to turn tonight into something more than just dinner with Scott.
The way he'd been looking at her had made his thoughts clear, and besides, she was only here for a week, two at the most. What happened with Scott could be their little secret, and it was a secret she was starting to get desperate to keep. It had been way too long since she'd been with a man, and if she was going to have a secret fling with anyone, why not with him?
"Have fun with your visitor?"
Amanda looked up at Charlotte. Her sister was grinning ear to ear, and when Maddison emerged behind her she knew she was about to be grilled for information.
"Really nice of you both to warn me," she said, trying to sound grumpy.
They both just laughed at her.
"His eyes just about popped out of his head when he saw you in your bikini out here," Maddison teased.
Both her sisters sat down beside her. Maddison pulled her kaftan off and lay back, and Charlotte picked at a bowl of chips she'd brought out with her.
"Seriously, you could have at least called out," Amanda grumbled. "You were watching from inside the whole time, weren't you?"
"When he trailed an ice cold drink down your chest or when he oh-so-gently caressed your feet?" Charlotte asked, sending both her and Maddison into fits of laughter.
"Funny, really funny," Amanda replied, wishing she could be more angry with them.
"Honey, we're just teasing," Maddison told her, resting a hand on her arm. "Whatever's happening with Scott is none of our business. You just ignore us."
Amanda sighed. "It's actually kind of nice having you two around to tease me. I've missed this."
"Ever wonder why you and I were so desperate to leave in the first place?" Maddison asked her.
"Right now that's all I'm asking myself." She was lying. She was also asking herself whether she could go through with doing something wicked with Scott.
"I have to say, it's been pretty good being back. Hanging out with mom and Charlotte, spending time with dad."
Amanda suddenly forgot all about Scott or anything else. A lump formed in her throat.
"Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't meant that to sound like…"
She shook her head and placed a gentle hand on her sister's well rounded stomach. "It's fine. I can't even imagine how excited he must have been about this little one on the way."
They all sat in silence, looking at one another but not saying anything. They didn't need to - they were sisters and there were things that were best left unsaid rather than dredging up painful memories of what could have been - and they were all thinking the same thing. That he'd never meet his granddad.
"So what's it like actually taking a day off?" Amanda asked Charley, changing the subject.
"I should be out helping Blake, but it is kind of nice just chilling for once."
"You deserve a break," Maddison said, pointing her finger and doing her best big sister, bossy voice. "And…"
Her sister clutched her stomach and both Amanda and Charley jumped up.
"What's wrong?"
Maddie just laughed. "Sorry, he starting kicking so hard I lost my breath. Like he was doing acrobatics in there, the little monkey."
Amanda exchanged a relieved look with Charlotte and they both sat back down.
"So are you seeing Scott again?" Charley asked.
She wanted to tell them, but at the same time she didn't. "Ah, maybe."
Maddison nudged her with her toes. "Spill. If you don't tell us, we'll tatt
le to Blake."
"Playing dirty, huh?" she laughed. "Just for the record, I'm not scared of big bad brother. But yes, if you have to know I am seeing him again. Tonight."
Their smiles were contagious, and she had to try hard not to let on how much she was looking forward to it, or how into Scott she was.
"It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing more," she said.
Charlotte grinned. "The way Scott looks at you has nothing to do with friendship."
Amanda put her sunglasses back on and shut her eyes. For her own sake, she hoped her sister was right. She had plenty of friends, but what she wanted to do with Scott wasn't something she'd ever thought about doing with any of them before. She only hoped that she hadn't misread his signals, because her toes were already curling in anticipation of what might happen.
"Can I join you girls?"
Amanda pushed her sunglasses down her nose when she heard her brother approach. She was still angry at him for the way he'd spoken to her over Scott, but she couldn't stay mad with him for long. He was like a younger version of their dad - tall and dark to look at and with a heart of gold - the only difference being that nothing had ever rattled their father. Blake? He was the one to get overly protective, especially where his sisters were concerned.
"We're trying not to feel guilty," Charlotte told him as he dropped down into a chair.
"No, you're trying not to feel guilty. We're just basking in the sun," Amanda chimed in.
"Well it looks like a damned good way to spend the afternoon," Blake said. "Anyone else want another soda? I'm joining you."
Ranching work could wait, and so could her thoughts about Scott. Family was the most important thing to all of them, no matter how long some of them had spent away from the ranch at different stages of their lives. And truth be told, she was terrified of Blake finding out about her date with Scott. He was her big brother and she loved him, but she also knew she needed to make her own decisions without him looking over her shoulder. And the one thing that Blake didn't know was that there was no way Scott could break her heart, not now, because all she was looking for was a little fun. A way to blow off some sexual steam and forget about the real world for a little while.
"Hey, tell mom to come join us," Maddison called out to Blake as he walked toward the house. "And bring more food!"
CHAPTER SEVEN
SHE knew it was crazy, because they were just going out for a low key dinner, but Amanda had been getting ready for over an hour. She had clothes strewn all over her bed, and she was standing in her underwear staring at what she'd already tried on. If she hadn't been trying to make it seem like dinner with Scott was no big deal, then she could have asked her sisters for their opinions, but she had, and there was no way she wanted them to start making a fuss.
This was Scott. Scott who'd seen her grow from a gangly kid into a woman, who'd kissed her as a shy fifteen year old, who'd seen her sitting in her backyard only hours ago, wearing hardly any make up and hardly any clothes.
She sighed and reached for her favorite pair of skinny jeans. Then she played with the edge of her bra, wondering if it had been stupid to wear something black and lacy. Nonsense, she admonished herself. She was wearing it for herself, not Scott, and it was making her feel sexy as hell.
Screw it. Amanda grabbed a low cut t-shirt with jewels over the shoulders, her black leather jacket and a pair of platform heels that gave her at least four inches. Now she'd almost be able to look Scott in the eye, and she felt good. She put her lip gloss in her purse and took a moment to take a deep breath, rolling her shoulders back and forth.
So what if she hadn't been out with a guy in over a year? Scott didn't know that and neither did anyone else. The only thing she had to do now was make it past Blake and she'd be fine.
"Where are you off to looking so gorgeous?"
Damn. Amanda shut her bedroom door behind her, feeling all of sixteen years old, like she'd just been caught sneaking out.
"Um, just dinner with a friend."
Blake leaned against the wall, towel slung low around his waist and a pissed off look on his face. He'd gone from smiling to scowling in less than ten seconds.
"No," he said, shaking his head and crossing his arms. "No fucking way are you going out with Scott dressed like that."
She laughed. There was nothing else she could do. "So if I was wearing an old shirt and baggy pants you'd approve?"
He looked furious. "Amanda, I'm serious. I have my reasons for not wanting you to see him, okay? I'm not trying to be a jerk here, I just need you to listen to me."
She crossed the distance between them and kissed her brother's cheek, squeezing his hand at the same time. They'd been through so much as a family lately, and as annoying as he was, he was her brother and whatever crazy stuff was going through his head, he genuinely thought he was looking out for her.
"It's just dinner, Blake. Believe me when I say I need to let my hair down and just enjoy a night out with a friend. It's nothing more than that."
He didn't say anything, but his eyes told her everything she needed to know.
"If you're not home by midnight…" he started.
"Yes, dad," she replied with a laugh, for once not having to fight emotion at the mention of her father. "I'll turn into a pumpkin at twelve, I know."
"Just make sure he brings you home," Blake said, giving her a long stare before walking back down the hall to his bedroom.
What was it about being home that actually made her feel like she'd stepped back in time? For the past ten years she'd lived alone, except for a couple of bad decisions that had seen her temporarily move in with a boyfriend. She had a loft apartment in New York that she adored, a day to day life that her family had little knowledge about, yet now she was back her brother was telling her who she could and couldn't see, and her sisters practically knew what she was thinking every second of the day.
It was crazy and intrusive, but it was also nice. Something she'd been missing without realizing it.
"Mom?"
Her mother was crossing from their living room into the kitchen, and she called out to her as she ran down the last flight of stairs.
"Amanda, you look beautiful."
"Thanks." Her mom's smile was infectious. "Are you sure you don't mind me heading out?"
"Sweetheart, I have Blake and Charlotte. You don't need to babysit me the whole time you're home."
Amanda put an arm around her mother, wishing she wasn't already wearing her heels because it only made her mom seem even smaller beside her.
"I just want you to know that I'm here for you. If you need me snuggled up on the sofa with you every night for the next month, I'll be here. I can stay."
Her mom touched her cheek, eyes locked on hers. Amanda could see her tears, but they never spilled. She could only hope that she'd inherited her mother's strength - that one day when she'd lost the love of her life, she could cope so well.
"You just go enjoy your night with Scott. I don't want you worrying about me for even a moment."
Amanda laughed. "How did you know it was Scott?"
"You forget how bad your sisters are at keeping a secret. And besides, who else would be taking you out for dinner?"
Trust them. "I'll tell him you said hi."
"I always was fond of Scott," her mom said with a coy smile.
Yeah, me too, Amanda thought. But she just gave her mom a kiss on the cheek and waved, relieved to hear the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside the house as she walked toward the door. Best of all, it wasn't a motorcycle.
Amanda pushed her worries aside, clutched her purse and yanked the door open. She deserved a night out, and she needed to just be herself, forget about why she was back here and what the future was going to be like without the patriarch of their family. And she bet Scott was just as eager to blow off some steam as she was, because there was something about being back in Montana that made her want to rebel just for the hell of it, and she bet the black sheep of the Gregory
family felt the same. Even if he was trying to be the reformed bad boy.
"Hey gorgeous."
Scott jumped out of his SUV and jogged the few steps to Amanda. He'd used that line a lot before, but tonight he actually meant it - she looked amazing. He kissed her cheek and ran his hand across hers.
"So you do actually own a vehicle," she said, smiling as he opened her door for her.
Scott braced himself against the open door, glancing down Amanda's body before meeting her gaze. He couldn't help himself - the tight cut of her jeans, the low front top that was giving him an eyeful of the top of her breasts - it was enough to make him want to drive her straight back to his place. If he actually had his own place. Instead he'd have to smuggle her past her own sister and his brother, which would be a complete passion killer.
"Jack wasn't crazy about me upgrading the farm truck when I got back," he admitted, watching Amanda's face. "But he's spent a fair bit of time behind the wheel since it arrived."
"Looks to me like it would have had ample room for my luggage," she said, one eyebrow raised in question.
He laughed. "Yeah, but what fun would that have been? Don't tell me you didn't love hanging on behind me, feeling the wind in your hair."
A pink blush crept across Amanda's cheeks, and it gave him a kick. She was still staring straight back at him, never broke their eye contact, but he knew he'd rattled her. That she had liked it, despite her protests.
"I'm not going to lie, there was something kind of awesome about it."
"Want me to drive home and swap rides?"
She planted her hand on his chest and pushed him out of the way so she could shut her door, laughing as she did it. Tonight was going to be fun, he just knew it, even if all they managed to do was flirt. Coming home had been riddled with some pretty bad memories for him, but hanging out with Amanda was keeping him away from that darkness.
"So I take that as a no?"
Amanda rolled her eyes. "I didn't spend so long doing my hair to have a helmet plonked on my head."
He shrugged. "You'd look gorgeous anyway. But seriously, I'm going to get you back on that motorcycle one day soon, and that's a promise."