“Just starting or finishing?”
She laughed. “At this hour, starting. Want to come?”
“Sure. How far are you going?” he asked, as they began a slow jog up the road.
“I usually do about five miles. I haven’t clocked anything here so I guess I’ll go up to the castle and back, which should be at least three miles. You?”
“Don’t get to run much anymore. Too much to do around the ranch. By the time I’m done for the day, I’m done, if you know what I mean.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I sit all day so if I didn’t run or do something, my ass would be as wide as the Grand Canyon.”
He dropped back to study her backside. “Looking good, in my opinion.”
Laughing, she turned and ran backwards a couple of steps. “Stop that and get back up here.” She turned back around and he was at her side within a couple of strides.
They ran up to the castle and then past it, onto a road that led down the other side of the resort. These cabins appeared larger, with more ornate external features.
“I think we’ve jogged into the rich neighborhood,” Natalie whispered, echoing his own thoughts.
“My thoughts exactly.” He pointed past one of the cabanas. “That one has a boat. Do you think it comes with the place or what?”
“No clue but, wow! What a boat.” She looked over at him. “Are you a boating kind of guy?”
He smiled. “Fishing mostly. Used to ski but those days are long past. You?”
“Love it. I love the rock and sway of a boat. I went on a cruise a few years ago. I was afraid I would get sick, but nope. I was in heaven the entire time.” She looked at him. “You ever been on a cruise? The food is incredible.”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m embarrassed to say this is the first vacation I’ve been on in quite a while. Ready to turn around?”
“Sure.”
They started back toward the main resort.
“Got breakfast plans?” he asked.
Her lips arched up into a smile that he knew he’d never get tired of seeing. “I don’t know. Do I?”
“You do. Breakfast with me at Surfside. Race you.”
“You’re on,” she said and kicked in her boosters, leaving him behind.
He caught up with her as she jogged in place next to the moat bridge.
“This was loser buys, right?” she asked with a laugh. Being as this was an all–inclusive resort, meal costs had already been covered.
“I think I can afford that.”
They found a table on the stone terrace. The umbrella had been extended, which kept the glare from the rising sun off their faces. They weren’t alone, as there were two other tables occupied at the moment. But the expansive area spread the diners apart, giving each table plenty of privacy.
The breakfast buffet stretched along one wall and, from what Brock could see, comprised every breakfast item a guest could want. A chef at the end would prepare a fresh omelet or waffles upon request. Otherwise, eggs, biscuits, bacon, sausage, ham, muffins, English muffins, breakfast potatoes and a variety of fruit and yogurt fill the span.
He loaded his plate with an everything–but–the–kitchen–sink omelet, bacon, sausage, biscuits and potatoes. If he ate all this, he’d be jogging twice a day. As he rejoined Natalie, he noted her simple meal of yogurt and fresh fruit.
“Is that all you’re eating?” he asked, as he waved a waiter over to request coffee.
She flipped her coffee cup over as a signal to the waiter. “This is my usual when I’m home,” she said. “Most mornings I’m in a rush after my run to get dressed and to work.” Glancing back to the buffet, she added, “But now that I think about it, I’m heading back for the Belgian waffle calling my name.”
Over breakfast, she asked about his family and ranch. They talked about the changing cattle industry–of which she knew very little–and ideas he had about increasing production. She was sympathetic to his financial woes and emotionally touched by his parents’ unexpected deaths and his raising of his siblings.
He was surprised to discover that she’d had riding lessons as a teen.
“I loved the riding,” she explained, “but we lived in the city. Stabling a horse in our backyard might have upset the neighbors.”
He laughed. “But think of all the fertilizer you could have offered them.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think old lady Painter would have enjoyed having a horse eating her prize roses.”
“Couldn’t you have stabled a horse close?”
“Sure, but you know how teen girls are. We’re on to the next thing at a whim.”
Brock thought about Lauren and nodded. He’d been through lots of “but Brock. Everybody else is doing it,” phases with her.
“So how long did you ride?”
“I took lessons and rode for about four years. Then I made cheerleader and all my focus went there.”
“I bet you looked great in that short cheerleading skirt.”
Natalie laughed. “They were short, that’s for sure.”
“Can you still do a cartwheel?”
“You betcha, and the splits too.”
He grinned at the mental picture forming in his head. “I think I’d like to see that.”
“Not enough bourbon on the island,” she replied with a chuckle.
“So what are your plans for today?”
“Hmm. Well, I have a hot date tonight but that’s about it.”
“A hot date? That sounds promising.”
She hiked an eyebrow. “Could be.”
“How would you like to do something crazy today?”
“Crazy like what?” She lifted her coffee mug to her mouth. Just watching her lips wrap around the cup’s rim made him lose his train of thought. “Brock? Crazy like how?” she repeated.
“Parasailing.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Like up in the air?”
“Yeah. I’ve always wanted to and I noticed that it’s available here. But I’d love some company.”
He could almost see the cogs and gears of her brain grinding, churning through the pros and cons. Truth be told, he’d dragged up the idea just because he wasn’t ready to leave her side yet. She was funny and sexy and he was having a hell–of–a–good time talking to her.
She nodded. “I’m scared to death but let’s do it.”
Two hours later, they climbed into a speedboat along with another couple. The driver took them away from land and obstacles before slowing the boat.
With assistance, Natalie climbed into the leg openings of the harness. The guy helping her pulled them up her legs to her hips and then secured the waist strap. A flare of something–jealousy maybe–stabbed Brock. He didn’t want another guy’s hands on Natalie.
But then the same resort employee helped him. When he noticed the routine for him was identical to the actions taken with Natalie, he had to laugh a little at himself.
“Okay,” the boat assistant said. “Up here.” He indicated a large platform at the rear of the boat. “You don’t have to do anything. Just sit back and you’ll be lifted off.”
Brock would never admit to anyone that his legs were a little shaky climbing onto the deck. He’d been the one to suggest this. He put on his “can’t hurt me” face and stepped up.
Natalie took his extended hand and stood beside him. She looked at him, licked her lips and said, “Here goes nothing.”
The boat’s speed accelerated and they gently lifted. Brock had expected a jerk or pulling sensation but it’d been more like floating upward. As the boat sped up, the assistant let out more of the line tethering them. The boat looked smaller and smaller as they climbed higher and higher.
Natalie let out a loud laugh. “I love it. Oh my God! It’s like flying without a plane.”
He smiled at her. “Not what I expected at all. You?”
“Nope. Better. Much better. Better than sex.”
Brock arched his eyebrows. “Nothing’s better th
an sex. I’d say you haven’t had the right partner…yet.”
She giggled and looked away, a blush tinted her cheeks. “Maybe.”
Her reply was soft but it was so quiet up in the air, he could hear everything. He reached over, took her hand and squeezed.
“Look.” He pointed to his left. A pod of dolphins swam below them, rising and dipping in the ocean’s swells.
“How high are we?” Natalie asked.
“I read we’d go to about five–hundred feet. I’m thinking we’re probably at the end of our rope.”
“Feels like we are a mile in the air. Look. You can see the Sand Castle from here.”
For the next twenty minutes they held hands, floated in the air, and pointed out fish and islands to each other. There were other boats in the area but none close to where their boat was cutting through the water. Brock decided this must be what heaven was like…holding hands with a beautiful woman high above all the world’s chaos, without a care. Quiet and calm. So different from his real life where everyone needed him and, it seemed like, all at the same time.
The flying time was over too quickly. As the crew reeled them back into the boat, the ocean rose quickly to meet them. Natalie had asked the boat captain to skim them along the water as they came in for the landing. He did just that, lowering them to right above the waves, close enough they could dip their feet in. Natalie screamed with laughter as Brock caught a swell just right and was able to splash her.
But too quickly they were lifted off the water and reeled back to the platform on boat. Natalie’s smile was so wide and so happy that Brock had to laugh.
“Have fun?”
The boat crew unharnessed them and Natalie threw her arms around Brock’s neck.
“Ohmygod, Brock. That was so awesome. I feel like I’m high.”
He caught her around her waist and hugged her.
“Good. I don’t know if I enjoyed the flying or holding your hand more.”
She rolled her eyes at his comment but then winked at him.
He helped her off the deck so the next couple could take their turn. He dropped onto one of the cushions and pulled Natalie next to him. As the next couple prepared to take flight, Natalie unfastened her life jacket, wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled in.
“I’m not sure how I’ll be able to top today,” she said into his ear.
Her southern drawl and warm breath hit the tingle button on his nerves. She was the sexiest woman he’d met in ages. If only the real world wouldn’t come crashing back in nine short days.
“Oh, I can think of a few ways to top today’s high,” he said.
She giggled and kissed him. Her lips were soft and warm and his cock responded immediately. He shifted a little to give a more room to the crotch of his shorts.
The water the boat was cutting through was fairly calm but occasionally they would hit a wave and, when that happened, Natalie’s full breasts, covered in a rocking orange bikini bra, would slide up and down his arm and chest. It was the most delicious torture he’d had in ages.
Chapter Six
Natalie watched the other couple high in the air and now really understood the old saying high as a kite. She might have been out of the air and in the boat for ten minutes or so, but she was still felt the adrenaline rush from soaring. Incredible. This was why daredevils did crazy things. Even though she realized parasailing wasn’t really that dangerous, she craved that insane blast of energy again. And she had an idea who could do that for her.
Out of the corner of her eye she studied the man she was holding on to. The muscles in his arms were like stone and when he moved, his forearms became chiseled slabs of hard granite. And his shoulders! Broad and toned and–she mentally grinned–in need of some serious tanning. Brock had the infamous “farmer’s tan” she’d always heard about. Tanned from mid–biceps down. She actually found it cute. Plus she was glad he hadn’t run to a tanning salon to even out his coloring like some men might have done. She loved that he was comfortable in his own skin, even if his legs hadn’t seen any sun in at least four months.
The driver cut the boat into a turn and they bounced over the wake left by another boat in the area. She bounced on the seat cushion and her bikini–covered boobs wrapped themselves around Brock’s arm. Gad. She’d have been embarrassed if he hadn’t grinned like the devil when he felt them.
“Please refasten your life jackets,” the boat captain instructed.
As she did, Brock leaned over and said into her ear, “Damn it. I was kind of enjoying that.”
They arrived back at the Sand Castle Resort in the middle of the afternoon. The adrenaline high had worn off. The sun had drained all the energy from her. She needed a shower and a nap, in that order.
Brock jumped from the boat onto the pier and then helped her make that transition. Once on the pier, he kept ahold of her hand, and she really liked how that felt. His hands were large and warm and a little rough from work. She didn’t mind the roughness, and in fact, kind of found it sexy. Her ex–husband had gotten manicures and always made sure his hands were soft and smooth. Sometimes his hands had been more groomed than her own and that did awful things to her ego. But then, the entire marriage had been a total slap to any self–confidence she might have had about her appearance.
They climbed into Brock’s mini–truck and started across the island to their cabins.
“I’m bushed,” Natalie admitted. “I’m crashing from my high.”
“Ditto.” He glanced over and then back to the road. “But we’re still on for dinner, right?”
“Oh yeah. Seven, right?”
“How about I pick you up?”
Natalie checked the time on her phone. It was only two, so that gave her plenty of time to rest up for tonight.
“That works. Want me to just walk over to your place?”
He looked aghast. “Absolutely not. This is a date. I’m picking you up.”
She chuckled. “Works for me.”
At seven, Brock knocked on Natalie’s door. When she opened it, her heart did a little shudder and fell over in lust. Brock’s hair was still a little damp from his shower. He wore a pair of crisp khaki shorts that Natalie suspected were new. A lemon yellow short–sleeve Henley stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. The shirt did wonderful things to highlight the developed muscles of his chest and arms. It was all she could do to not lick her lips in appreciation.
“Hi,” he said, leaning a forearm on the door jamb. “Ready?”
“I am.”
They got into his truck and drove about 200 feet, where he pulled into the parking spot for cabin twenty–one.
“We’re here,” he said with the smile.
“Long drive,” she joked. “I’m exhausted.”
“I hope you don’t mind but I had dinner brought in. Breakfast at the restaurant was great but I wanted to spend a little quiet time with you. Okay?”
Okay? Hell, it was fabulous.
“Sounds like a great plan.”
His terrace was similar to hers in that it wrapped around one side of the cabana and then across the back. His view of the ocean was much the same. However, his terrace sported a cushioned two–person recliner, something hers didn’t. Gentle light from lit candles flickered in the salty breeze coming in off the ocean. The sun had long since set, replaced by a full moon and a full galaxy of stars. Palm fronds and tropical trees swayed in the breeze, making shadows
dance on the terrace floor and walls.
“This is lovely, Brock,” Natalie said.
“I didn’t ask what you liked to eat so I had to take a stab at it.”
She smiled. “I’ll eat just about anything but liver.”
“Whew. Thank goodness. Liver was on my list but I marked it off at the last minute.”
She laughed.
“Would you like a drink? I have bourbon, but also wine if you’d prefer.”
“I’ll stay with what I know.”
“Bourbon it is. I left
it in the kitchen.”
She followed him into his cabana and to his kitchen. Like her place, his was professionally decorated with comfortable, tropical–themed furniture. The kitchen was almost identical to hers with its apartment–sized appliances. A tantalizing aroma of spices and herbs filled the air.
“Smells wonderful.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Dinner is in the oven on low. Ready to eat when we are. Are you hungry now?”
Maybe, but not for the food you’re offering.
“I think a drink first might be nice, but I’ll get it. Can I pour you one?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
Natalie stepped up to the kitchen island and cracked the top on a new bottle of Maker’s Mark. As she poured, a pair of warm, strong arms wrapped around her from behind. She leaned back against the rock–solid chest pressed up to her back. Brock kissed her neck. She rocked her head to the side to give him better access. His lips caressed the skin below her ear and a shiver slithered down her spine. When he ran the tip of his tongue down the tendon in her neck and then nibbled his way back up to her chin, her toes curled. This man had a wicked mouth and knew what to do with it.
He put his hands on her waist and turned her until she was surrounded in his arms. Their gazes met and held. Natalie caught his face in the palms of her hands and pulled him down to her. His tongue eased between her lips and filled her mouth. His deep–chested groan ignited a volley of fireworks in her gut.
She slid the palms of her hands to his chest, enthralled by the twitches and jumps of his muscles when she flexed her fingers. Between the peaks and valleys of tendons and sinew she felt not an ounce of excess flesh. She pushed her hands under the tail of his shirt and lifted.
“I want to see what I’m feeling.” She blurted out the words without thinking but there was no way to suck them back. Her heart gave a rapid and almost painful kick to her sternum. Why had she said that? Would he think she was nuts?
But the smile that slowly spread across his face had her heart jumping for all the right reasons. Brock lifted his arms above his head and Natalie pushed the Henley up and off. Her knees almost gave out at the sight. Thick muscles bulged on his chest and biceps. His abdomen looked like a snow mogul course and of course she skied her hands down it. Bump. Dip. Bump. Dip. Her head swam with lust.
Brought to His Knees-Tough Guys Laid Low By Love Page 34