Studying her carefully as if he had to weigh her every move, he watched from lowered lashes as she sought to put the ice where it might do the best work. She ran it from his thigh to his knee and down to his ankle.
“Where does it hurt, exactly?”
“A little higher.”
She moved from his ankle to his shin.
“Higher.”
She moved the ice to his knee.
“Higher.”
“Is it your thigh?” She moved to his muscular thigh, silently wishing he’d injured his steely buttock instead.
“No, just a little higher. You’re almost there.” He smirked. “And move to the middle.”
She smiled, finally onto him. “I thought it was your leg.”
“You can’t blame a guy for trying.”
No, she couldn’t. Especially when the guy was sex on a stick. She wanted badly to indulge him but other matters took precedence.
“I’m taking you to the hospital. To get checked out.”
“I’m fine.”
“You would say that if your leg had been cut off. You’re going!” She went hands on hips.
He grinned, slow and devastatingly sexy. “Kinda like it when you get bossy, got to admit.”
“Well, they don’t call me ‘bossy lady’ for nothing.”
A few minutes later they were inside the curtained bay of the local hospital’s emergency room. Sam was on a hospital cot, arms folded behind his head looking like he would kill someone with his bare hands. The X-rays had come back and the doctor had delivered his verdict.
“I don’t know why you’re so mad,” Jill said. “We can find other stuff for you to do on opening day.”
Since their grand opening was in one week, Sam would be unable to participate in the guided tours and events. There was a hairline fracture in his ankle from an old injury, and given his history, the doctor recommended a surgical boot to be worn for six weeks. The look on Sam’s face when he heard the news told Jill that the doctor might as well have said “a year.” Or “forever.”
He continued to stare at the ceiling. She worried that he’d been taken back to the time when he couldn’t walk and it probably wouldn’t do her any good to argue that this wasn’t the same at all. But given his reluctance to enter the hospital once they’d arrived, and him developing a thousand-yard stare at the bright lights and sterile smells, she had a feeling he was stuck. Stuck in that terrible place in the desert alone. Likely filled with regret and conflict all in the past but warring now in his memories. She’d followed close behind him to triage, but wouldn’t have been allowed to go with him until Sam gave the okay.
“Sam?” She touched his elbow. “Are you okay?”
It surprised her when he jerked at the touch, then turned his head to her and slowly smiled as if seeing her for the first time. He reached for her hand, threading his warm fingers with hers.
“I’m okay, Boots.”
“Because it’s just six weeks.” She squeezed his hand. “It will go fast.”
It hadn’t escaped her that he hadn’t pushed her away tonight. Maybe he finally understood their relationship was such that she cared deeply about him. The thought of him being seriously injured on her watch...this was Sam.
“Sure. Time will fly with you riding my ass and making sure I don’t further hurt my leg.”
“Did you say riding you? Because I can do that.” She moved from the chair she’d been sitting on and squeezed her body next to his on the cot. “Move over.”
“Ow.”
“Oh god, I’ve hurt you.” She made an attempt to climb off, but his two arms restrained her, pinning her in place.
“Relax. How else am I going to get you to kiss and make it better?” He pressed his lips to her temple. “And you should know, if I’m really in pain I won’t use the word ow. I have an arsenal of curses I’d use instead.”
She smiled and met his warm lips, feeling the same old kick start to her heart whenever Sam was this close. That feeling didn’t seem likely to fade anytime soon.
God, she loved him so hard and that was terrifying.
“Okaaay, you two lovebirds,” the nurse said as she opened the curtains. “Sorry to interrupt but it’s time for some actual medicine now, not just the kind that puts stars in your eyes.”
Jill scrambled off the cot and waited in the lobby while Sam was fitted with the boot. By the time they got back to Wildfire Ridge, it was nearly two in the morning. Sam had no trouble walking up the steps to his trailer, and she followed him inside just to make sure he had everything he needed. No other reason.
“Can I get you something?”
She followed him to his cot, where he took a seat.
“About that ride.”
He wanted her even now. Such a guy. Then again, speaking for herself, she wanted him even more since he’d shown a vulnerable side of himself. She’d fallen even deeper tonight. Still, she didn’t want to be responsible for any further injury.
She sat next to him. “But your leg.”
“I won’t use my leg.” He grinned and slid his thumb across her lower lip.
“I’d like to see that.” Sam wasn’t exactly a passive lover.
“So would I. You, riding me like a bronco? It’s my favorite view on earth.”
She wanted him more than her coffee every morning, but first he had to know a few things. Because everything had changed for her since the night he’d broken her cot. Now she wanted him to know how much he’d changed her life for the better without even trying.
“I have something to tell you.” She straddled him and unbuttoned her top, wasting no time slipping it off her shoulders.
“Okay, I stopped listening. Might want to put that top back on.” His teeth pulled in his lower lip.
Her black satin push-up bra at work. She smiled and shrugged back into her blouse. Then she trailed her fingers down his rock-hard abs eliciting a groan out of him.
“You have to know something. I never stopped thinking about you after that first night. Actually, the Chris Scale was revised because of you.”
He narrowed his eyes. “The Chris Scale?”
“It’s a complicated rating...but that’s not important right now. The point is I thought I’d run into a gorgeous man who was extremely good in bed and not much more than that. And I tried to tell myself that over the years even as I compared everyone else to you.”
“Babe.” His voice was low, rough.
“But I didn’t know who you were inside. I didn’t know that you’re smart and strong and loyal. And I feel so lucky that I ran into my one-night stand even if it was while I was stuck on a flagpole.”
“Yeah, that was funny. I’m not going to lie.”
She smiled and bent to kiss his pec. “Can I take my top off now?”
“Don’t make me beg.”
She removed her top slowly this time, slipping it off one shoulder at a time and enjoying every moment of watching as the light in his eyes deepened to the dark blue of the bay. They heated further as she tossed the blouse to the side and unsnapped her bra. She was gratified when he licked his lips.
She rose to divest herself of her cargo pants and matching black panties. Then she did the same for him before she straddled him again with nothing between them but air.
“You’re so beautiful,” Sam said almost reverently, his hand around the nape of her neck and lowering her to him.
He kissed each breast tenderly, then sensuously licked a nipple with his warm tongue. When he drew each nipple in and sucked, heat consumed her, tightening her belly. Tightening everything. She pulled him even closer, feeling him grow instantly hard between her legs.
“Why are you so irresistible to me?” he roughly hissed into her hair.
“Just lucky.”
At the moment she was the luckiest woman a
live to have met this man, not once but twice in her life. This time maybe at the right time. He’d opened up to her tonight, hadn’t he? In a big way, he’d made himself available. He’d unlocked the door. Now it was up to her to walk in. To risk her heart for once and not just her body.
It was like winning the lottery twice. He was all the things she’d ever wanted in a man wrapped up in one gorgeous hard package. Strong but vulnerable. Courageous. A beautiful warrior. Beneath his tough exterior was a man who’d been hurt in a much deeper way than she’d imagined. She had a feeling that she didn’t know all of his pain, either, but he’d given her enough for now. Some hurts were too tough to talk about. She understood.
She pulled back and licked from his neck down his pecs to his abs. Taking him in her hands, she stroked him, enjoying the way his entire body tensed and he gave himself over to her. Letting her take control. He handed her a condom, which meant he’d definitely been planning or hoping for more of this, too. Encouraging. She protected them both then sank on his erection as he gripped her hips tightly.
Sam thrust into her, unable to hold back. She clung to his shoulders, riding both him and the crest of the wave. When the sweet pressure built she finally burst into a million tiny pieces.
Afterward, she lay spent in his arms. Her fingers trailed from his wide shoulders down to his strong biceps.
“What are we going to do about this?”
“This?” He nuzzled her neck.
“This. You and me. I don’t want to stop.”
“Never.” He drew her close, his arms tightening around her.
She hadn’t ever expected that Sam would be the right man. He’d simply been a hookup. And she wanted someone who would be open to a relationship. Someone whole. Now she could see that Sam had been broken in all the right ways. He’d put himself back together through sheer determination and will and she admired that about him. He was still a work in progress—then again so was she.
But in the process of getting to know him, in the pursuit of hooking up, she’d let her heart get involved. She’d fallen for him. Hard.
And she didn’t have any idea what to do about that because now there was no turning back.
* * *
Sam woke with a start. For a moment he didn’t know where he was, but then soft hair that smelled like flowers tickled his nose and he remembered. He was on Wildfire Ridge and had a soft woman in his arms. Jill. This woman, who was now far more than a simple memory he brought out when he needed to remember a better time. She was real and in his arms. His. This felt far too good.
He wanted to believe he wouldn’t ruin this. That he wouldn’t somehow say the wrong thing. Something stupid or hurtful or both. He wanted to believe he wouldn’t somehow push her away. This was another chance, and one he didn’t deserve. He understood the way she saw him and wanted to be that man. She was beautiful and kind and loyal and far too good for a jarhead like him. But because she believed in him, he had started to believe in himself again. He hadn’t been responsible for everything that had gone wrong in the arid desert. Even if he’d switched seats with Dave. If not for that, maybe Dave would have been the one thrown. There was no way to know for certain. He was going to let that go.
Judging by the hint of sunlight he saw through the window blinds, it would be morning soon and she’d spent the night with him. While he didn’t want her going anywhere, he was certain she didn’t want to be found coming out of his trailer by any of the other employees. Their relationship, such as it was, had to be secret for now.
“Jill.” He nudged her. “Boots.”
“Mmm,” she said, and nestled in closer.
“Want to wake up?”
“No.”
“It’s morning.”
“Okay.”
“The guys all get up early and usually Julian drops by for a run.”
She jerked awake and sat up ramrod straight. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“I probably shouldn’t be here.” She rolled off the cot. “They’ll want to check in with you. See how you’re doing.”
“Which is great. I’m doing great.”
She picked up clothes off the floor and started shoving them on. “Really? You’re already good?”
“Well, I had some pretty good medicine last night.”
She jutted her hip out and gave him a look. “Pretty good?”
“Fantastic.”
“That’s better.” Fully dressed now, she leaned to give him a kiss.
He pulled her on top of him and made it last. And last. When he had her panting and breathless, he figured it was a good time for her to go. This way she’d want to come back.
“I’ll see you later.” She stood again. “I’ll be in my trailer drinking all of the coffee. All of it.”
Hand on the doorknob, she turned back to him. “You’re taking it easy today. Agreed?”
“Sure, boss, but I’m not going to just lie here all day.”
She scrunched up her nose like she was considering it. “Maybe you can supervise. Actually, I could use your help in the office, too.”
He quirked a brow. “In the middle of the day? Is that wise?”
“Not that kind of help! I actually meant...real help. On the financial prospectus for the investors. The numbers.”
Sam yawned. “Sorry, did you say something?”
“I know it’s boring but numbers don’t crunch themselves.”
“A sad but true fact.”
She waved him off and was out the door. Thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the trailer door. Had to be Julian. He’d been coming by lately to join him for a run. Sam was no idiot. Julian had been slowly breaking down walls. He’d ask simple questions and eventually Sam talked. Not about that medal, not about Tim and Dave, but about where he’d been and some of the things he’d never un-see. He found it helped talking to someone who didn’t blink an eye because they’d been there, too.
But Sam opened the door to Hunter, the kid. “Hey. What’s up?”
“I came here with my Mom’s friend Hudson. He’s checking with Jill about a controlled burn they’re going to do here later this month. Brought you some coffee.” The kid handed over a foam cup. He stood in that awkward gangly way only a lanky teenager nearing six feet tall could pull off.
“Thanks. Come in.” He nodded to the small living area near the kitchen.
It was odd the kid had sought him out, and he had to give him props for nerve. He hadn’t been the friendliest person.
The kid was probably here for round two. His high and tight haircut was already in place. He was so ready to prove himself to the world. Caught up in his angsty teenage self. His invisible teenage self. Sam had been that indestructible teenager. The one who was so certain he was right that he wouldn’t entertain any other possibility. He almost missed the kid he’d been. Life had been so simple then. Orderly. He’d had it all mapped out. A plan that couldn’t fail. But if he’d only listened to someone, sought counsel from someone older, would his life have been any different or would he have found other ways to screw up? One thing he did know. This kid would have to find out for himself and no one would stop him.
More importantly, no one should try.
“What happened last night?”
“I went on a night hike and fell in a ditch. I’m an idiot.”
Hunter scrunched up his brows like he thought maybe Sam had dropped his man card. Poor kid didn’t know the half of it. He’d come out of the military at times feeling like less of a man. It wasn’t true, of course, and he realized it deep down. He’d been to war with heroes like Tim and Dave who never came back. As for him, he’d simply been privileged to serve alongside them. He certainly had plenty of regrets, but that wasn’t one of them.
“Sometimes I do stupid shit. I guess I’ll always be a jarhead at heart.” Sam took a gulp of hot coffee. “
I know why you’re here. Ask me anything about the Marine Corps and I’ll tell you the honest truth. But be sure you’re ready to hear it.”
Chapter Eighteen
That evening, Jill went home to Shakira. Sam had listened and stayed—mostly—off his feet all day, supervising with the assistance of a pair of crutches, and later helping her on the spreadsheets. He didn’t seem to hate them with quite as much intensity as Jill did. Interestingly, when she’d taken a look at his work she’d been shocked by the suggestions he’d made. He’d found a way to shave off 10 percent from their expenses so that the investors would be even happier. She had no idea they taught this kind of thing in the Marines.
When she’d left the ridge, the guys were all sitting around a campfire, Sam at the center. They seemed to be exchanging war stories, if that was still a thing. She figured she should let them all hang out together in their own little tribe. She’d sort of been monopolizing a lot of Sam’s time lately. Giving no hint as to which of them was her favorite, she said goodnight to them all. Sam tipped his beer bottle in her direction and gave her a sly wink.
Yeah, he knew.
Oh, sigh. He really was her favorite. She didn’t know what they would do about that, exactly, since sneaking around wasn’t really going to work for her. After their grand opening they’d have to come clean with everyone. Because this wasn’t going away. Not anytime soon.
“Hello, Shak.” Jill checked on her food and water and let her out of the cage. She classically hopped under the table to hide from the world.
Grabbing a glass of wine, Jill opened up her laptop and went to Wildfire Ridge’s Facebook profile page. Just another task of many she’d been neglecting. To be funny, she posted status updates on the park as if the park were the one speaking.
The guides are having fun on my lake today. I decided to let them.
But sooner rather than later, Wildfire Ridge should have its own business page so she could run sponsored ads. So not only did she need to hire a general manager, she wanted someone else to maintain all the social media pages. So far all she’d really done was give pithy updates about opening day and upload photos of the ridge, and of the guides.
More than One Night Page 16
