I can think of better ways to warm Jillian up than fixing her furnace.
I’d rather haul her into that bedroom, pull her under the blankets, cover her tiny body with mine, and sink inside her. Hear those whimpers and moans she makes when she’s turned on, and hear my name screamed from her mouth when I make her see stars.
Jesus, King, get a grip.
Maybe I should have let Josh come in to town.
I wipe my hand over my mouth and squat next to the furnace.
“What’s wrong with it?” Jill asks from behind me, hovering over my shoulder.
“I just opened the thing up, Jill.”
“Oh.”
She bounces from one foot to the other and braces her hand on my shoulder to lean over and watch what I’m doing.
“Must you hover over me like that?”
“I want to see,” she replies stubbornly.
“You’re blocking my light,” I grumble. If she keeps touching me, I won’t be responsible for my actions.
She suddenly shoves a flashlight in my face.
“Here.”
“Point it down here,” I direct her and resign myself to sporting a hard-on while Jill “helps” me fix the furnace.
“Is the pilot light out?” she asks.
“Yeah, but I’m not sure why.” I’m not a mechanic—hell, neither is Josh—but I’m pretty handy. I tinker around but can’t find anything obviously wrong; nor can I get the pilot light lit, no matter what I try. “Damn,” I mutter.
“What?”
“I think your thermocouple needs to be replaced.”
“Oh.” She pats her hips where pockets would be and looks around. “I don’t have a thermonuclear thingamabob on me right now.”
“You have no idea what I’m talking about,” I say with a laugh.
“You would be right.”
“It means that it can’t be fixed tonight.”
Her shoulders sag in defeat, and I have to fight the desire to pull her into my arms and reassure her that it’s all going to be okay.
“Go ahead and pack a bag,” I murmur.
“Where am I going?” she asks with a frown.
“Jill, it’s about fifty degrees in here. You can’t stay here all night.”
“I’m sure I can borrow an electric heater from someone,” she replies.
“You’ll be safer in a hotel. Just pack a bag and I’ll follow you over there.”
She shakes her head and looks like she’s on the verge of tears, sending panic through me.
“I don’t think my car will make it to the hotel,” she replies softly.
“Why not?”
“I never had studded tires put on it.” She shrugs with frustration. “I didn’t have time, and then this storm hit. It took me almost an hour to make my way off the mountain this afternoon, then Max hit me at the bottom, and I slid most of my way home from there.”
My heart stills at the mention of someone running into her. “Who hit you?”
“Max Hull is in town, and he took the corner too fast and clipped my back fender. It’s a tiny dent. Ty can pull it out.”
“I don’t give a fuck about your car, Jilly. Are you okay?” Without thinking, I wrap my arms around her and hug her tight, her arms trapped between us. I can feel her trembling, and whether it’s from the cold or being in my arms, I’m not sure. I press my lips to her head and breathe in her fresh lilac scent. I rub my hands up and down the quilt covering her back, trying to soothe her.
“I’m fine. He barely hit me.” She pulls away all too soon, and I’m left feeling . . . empty.
“We’ve been telling you for the last two months to replace those tires,” I remind her.
“Yeah, well, now you can say ‘I told you so.’ ” She rolls her eyes and marches away from me, grabbing her phone from off the couch.
“Who are you calling?”
“I’m going to see if I can borrow an electric heater.”
“Just pack the bag, Jill. I’ll take you to the ranch.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Leaving you here in this house with no heat in this storm is not an option, Jillian. I’m taking you to the ranch. Grab your shit and let’s go.” I shove my hands into my pockets and glower at her, daring her to argue.
“Why are you so bossy? Just because you bossed people around in the army doesn’t mean you can boss everyone else.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh deeply. “Jesus, you are the most infuriating, obstinate woman I’ve ever met.”
“I doubt that’s true.” She sniffs and tugs the quilt more tightly around her.
“Please,” I begin again, as patiently as I can, “pack some clothes and let me take you to the ranch. Everyone would feel better if we know you’re safe.”
She bites her lip and finally nods. “Okay.”
“Thank you,” I say in exasperation and take my tools out to the truck. Sure enough, I can’t even see the paths I shoveled earlier.
When I stomp back into the house, Jill has a duffel bag set by the door and is shoving her computer into a briefcase. She’s wearing sweats and a big, warm hoodie. She’s got her black-rimmed glasses on now. “I’m almost ready.”
“That was quick.”
“I won’t need much.” When she’s gathered all her papers and pulled on her coat, she turns and looks expectantly at me, and all the breath leaves my body.
God, she’s gorgeous.
She bites that pouty, pink lower lip, her blue eyes wide as she peers at me through her glasses. She looks vulnerable and small, and I want to scoop her up and protect her from everything.
“Are we just going to stand here and stare at each other all night? We’ll die from hypothermia.”
“Funny.” I take her bags and follow her out to my crew-cab Ford, stow her things in the backseat, and start the engine.
“Could you have bought a taller truck?” she asks as she pulls herself up into the cab. “I need a stepladder to get into this thing.”
“I don’t drive many short people around,” I reply with a smile.
“Seth is short.”
“Seth hops in without a problem.”
“I’m not a twelve-year-old boy,” she reminds me and rubs her hands together briskly to warm them up.
“No, you’re definitely not that, Jilly.”
“Damn, it’s really coming down,” she murmurs in awe. She’s right—the snow is falling faster than crews can clear it from the streets. As we drive on the highway heading out of town toward the ranch, the snow is coming down so hard and thick, my headlights bounce off the white flakes, almost blinding us.
“Oh no! Someone’s in the ditch!” Jill points to a small SUV with its hazard lights blinking, the front end in the ditch and the back tires spinning worthlessly in the snow. I slowly pull over to the shoulder, put the truck in park, and take Jill’s hand in mine, demanding her attention.
“Stay in this truck, Jill. I’m gonna pull them out.”
“I can help.”
“If I need you, I’ll let you know, but for now just stay here.”
I don’t need to worry about her out in this mess. She nods and I hop out of the truck and make my way down the brush- and snow-covered ditch to the driver’s side of the SUV. A woman is inside, frantically talking on her phone. A baby is crying in the backseat.
I knock on the window, startling her.
“I’m Zack King,” I yell through the glass. “I have a truck and chains. Just stay here, put it in neutral, and I’m going to pull you out!”
She sighs in relief and smiles as she cracks her window.
“Thank you so much!”
Pulling my gloves out of my coat pocket, I nod and climb up to the truck, then yank my tow chains out of the bed. Once I have the chains attached to both my truck and her SUV, I climb into the cab.
“What’s happening?” Jill asks.
“I’m pulling her out,” I reply, looking both ways on the highway for oncoming hea
dlights. There are none.
As quickly as I can, I pull out onto the road, put the truck into the lowest gear possible, and pull the small SUV out of the ditch and onto the road. As soon as I see she’s out, I throw the truck in park and get out to unhook the chains and wave at the woman as she drives slowly and carefully away.
After throwing the chains back in the bed of the truck, we’re on our way to the ranch.
“You’re soaked,” Jill murmurs.
“I’ll dry.”
She turns up the heat and takes my right hand in hers, pulling my glove off and warming my fingers. “You’re freezing.”
I glance over in surprise as she continues to warm my hand, confused as all hell at the riot of emotions racing through me. One minute she’s stubborn and impossible and the next she’s soft and sweet.
“I’d do the other one, but it’s kind of busy right now,” she says with a grin.
“Yeah, not a good idea to drive with no hands,” I agree and chuckle. She keeps my hand in hers, resting in her lap, until finally, I gently pull it away. “Thanks. That’s better. That could have been you, you know.”
“I know.” She sighs deeply. “I need to replace my car. I drive a lot for my job, so I probably need an SUV with all-wheel drive.”
“Sooner, rather than later.”
She just nods and continues to watch the snow in the headlights. “So, are you still living with your mom and dad?”
I glance over at her, expecting to see a teasing smile on her lips, but she’s just watching me with wide, quiet eyes.
“Well, you know how it is. I could do my own laundry, but Mom makes it so extra soft and it smells good.”
“Don’t be an ass.” She laughs and smacks my biceps.
“Actually, Mom and Dad moved into the new cabin last week.”
“Oh! It’s done already?” she asks.
I nod. Mom and Dad decided this past summer that with me home and running the ranch with Josh, it was time for them to retire. But they would never leave the ranch, so Josh and I had a small single-story home built for them on the property.
“Does your mom like her new place?” Jill asks.
“Yeah. No more stairs to climb every day, less house to clean, and Dad made sure her kitchen is badass, so she’s been baking and cooking like crazy.”
“Good for them.” Jill grins. “Your parents have worked hard all their lives. I’m glad they’re going to take it easy.”
“Well, we’ll see how long it lasts. Dad loves ranching too much to retire completely.”
“How is Seth?” she asks as I pull into our driveway.
“He’s doing so much better,” I reply. “His grades are awesome, and he’s got friends. I wish I’d moved him here years ago.”
The guilt sets in as I think of what my son went through before coming home to Montana.
Jill lays her hand on my arm and squeezes gently. “I’m glad he’s doing so much better. He’s a great kid.”
I grin and nod. “Thanks.”
Pulling up to Josh and Cara’s place, I park and turn to face Jill, who is frowning and biting her lip again. She looks almost . . . disappointed.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She shakes her head and offers me a smile. “Nothing. Thank you for rescuing me.”
“You don’t need to be rescued, Jill,” I reply and return her smile. “I’m just glad you know how to ask for help when you need it.”
I step out of my truck and retrieve her bags from the backseat, then trudge through the snow to Josh’s front door, which is now open as Cara has rushed out to hug Jill. Thor runs out of the house, lifts his leg on a snowbank, and then dashes right back in.
Smart dog.
“Dad! I creamed Uncle Josh in Need for Speed!”
“That’s my boy,” I reply and ruffle his hair when he runs over to me.
“He cheats.” Josh glares at Seth, who laughs hysterically.
“Do not. You suck.”
“I bet I can beat you,” Jill announces and Seth stills, watches her with narrowed eyes, and then shoves his controller at her.
“You can try, but I’ll beat your girl butt.”
“We should go, Seth.”
“Just one game? Please?” Seth asks, bouncing on his toes.
“Please?” Jill joins him, both of them about the same height, looking up at me with hopeful eyes, and I can’t help but burst out laughing.
“Go ahead.”
“Yes!” Jill cries and races Seth to the couch, where they settle in to race.
“Couldn’t fix the furnace?” Josh asks.
“We’re gonna have to send someone over there tomorrow,” I tell him and watch the dark-haired woman with my son.
“Thanks for going in to help,” Cara says and hugs me around my waist.
“Anytime,” I reply.
Jill is laughing and when Seth beats her in their race, she smiles widely at him and offers her fist for him to bump, which he accepts happily.
What the fuck am I going to do about her?
CHAPTER
Three
JILLIAN
“All right, Seth, it’s time to head home. You have school tomorrow.”
“Dumb school,” Seth grumbles under his breath next to me. “Maybe we’ll get a snow day.”
“Doubtful,” Cara replies with a frown. “This isn’t Texas. We’re used to snow around here.”
“Dumb school,” Seth grumbles again, making me laugh.
“Thanks for playing with me.” I nudge him with my shoulder. “This was the best part of my day.”
“It was?”
“Yeah, I had a crappy day. So thanks.”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but smiles and pets Thor before standing, putting the game away, covering his dark hair with his hat, and stuffing his feet into boots.
“Thanks again, Zack,” I murmur and offer the tall, sexy man a grin. He just nods and shoos his son and their dog out to the truck, leaving me with Josh and Cara.
“Want to watch a movie?” Cara asks.
“I can go find something to do, give you some girl time,” Josh offers, but I shake my head no.
“Honestly, I’ve had one of the worst days I’ve had in a long while, guys. I’d like to just go take a long, hot shower and go to bed.”
“Okay, follow me.” Cara leads me down the hall to a bedroom with a soft queen-size bed, and towels and washcloths stacked neatly at its foot. “The linens are clean. The bathroom is just across the hall. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, friend.” I hug her close. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I gather my toiletries and towels, turn on the water in the shower as hot as it goes, and take my clothes off.
This has been one long day. I can’t seem to get warm, despite sitting in front of the fire with Seth, playing the game. I step under the water and flinch as it bites my cold flesh, then sigh in relief when it begins to warm me up. I go through the motions of washing my hair and shaving, and then just stand in the blissfully hot water until the temperature starts to fall.
It’s stupid to be disappointed that he brought me here rather than taking me home with him. Of course he would bring me to Cara’s. Why in the world would he take me to his house?
We’re just friends.
He has a twelve-year-old son, for the love of Moses.
Yet, for just a few moments, the thought of staying with him for the night was a tempting fantasy.
When I’m dry and dressed in clean yoga pants and an old University of Montana T-shirt, I comb out my long dark hair and blow it dry, and as I watch my fingers comb through the strands, I can’t help but remember that night months ago when Zack was inside me, surrounding me with his big, hard body. I was coming down from the best orgasm of my life as he pushed his fingers through my hair, whispering about how soft and beautiful it is. My legs go weak and my stomach tightens as I switch the dryer off and brace myself on the sink, staring at my own reflection.
“He has baggage,” I tell myself. “And you do too. Jesus, between the two of you, you could fill the cargo hold of a 747. It doesn’t matter that he’s hot as fuck and makes you crazy. It’ll never work.”
I lean in and give myself the stink-eye. “And he doesn’t want you anyway. Get over it.”
I climb into the soft bed in Cara’s spare bedroom and curl into a ball as exhaustion takes over and pulls me into sleep.
Someone is trying to bulldoze the house down.
I wake with a start as I push my hair out of my face and gaze about the still-dark room in confusion. Then I remember the cold house, Zack coming to help, and him bringing me here. I lie down and listen. Loud voices and a gurgling engine are coming from out front.
What in the hell are they doing out there?
I check the clock and wince when I see it’s not quite six yet. After yanking the covers aside, I stand and walk out into the hallway, almost running smack into Cara.
“What are they doing?” I ask and rub my eyes.
“Plowing,” she mutters, evil and bloodshed coming from her narrowed hazel eyes.
“Are you going to beat Josh up?” I ask hopefully.
“Oh, it’s all three of them,” she replies.
“What?”
“Put your eyes in and follow me.” I hurry into the bathroom to put my contacts in and join Cara back in the hall. She leads me to the front door, we shove our feet into boots and throw scarves around our necks, and step out into the cold.
The snow stopped falling at some point during the night, but not before dropping at least two feet of fluffy white powder.
And right now, at the butt crack of dawn, Josh and Zack are plowing the driveway with a big green John Deere tractor. They’re bundled up in Carhartt jackets and boots, gloves, and hats. Thor is running about, jumping in the snow, chasing sticks that Seth throws for him while he helps direct his uncle and father.
“Hey!” I call out. They don’t hear me. “How do you deal with this?” I ask Cara.
“They’re not typically this loud in the morning.” Cara props her hands on her hips and glares at her fiancé. “I usually just wake up alone.”
We continue to glare at the boys until I decide that the best way to get their attention is to demand it. With a shot to the head.
Falling for Jillian Page 2
