Tarnished

by Becca Jameson

  “Yes.” She leaned back and glanced down. Shit. She still wore the stupid revealing clothes she’d had on in bed. She groaned and stood. “Let me go put something else on. Since you seem intent on staying.” She stomped up the stairs without glancing back.

  Hands shaking, she pulled on gray sweatpants right over her shorts and grabbed the rattiest ugly sweatshirt she could pick up off the floor. Hopefully he’d run from the house.

  When she returned, he simply looked her over from top to bottom and shook his head. “Kenzie, that isn’t going to work.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind. So, tell me what job you do that requires a college degree and then doesn’t pay enough to live on?”

  Was he mocking her? Fuck him and his condescending voice. Or maybe she was just telling herself he was an asshole so she could force herself to believe it.

  She returned to her chair and flopped down. Long locks of uncombed curls hung in front of her. She must look ridiculous. Who would want to date her in this condition? Why was he still here?

  “I work with handicapped children at the YMCA. It’s my passion, and I don’t care if it never pays the bills.”

  His eyes widened in shock. “You? Work with children?”

  “Fuck you.”

  He chuckled. “Sorry. My brothers say I’m a bit brusque. I didn’t mean to offend you. I apologize.”

  He sounded sincere, but she didn’t believe him anyway. “Riiight. You’re the cockiest bastard I’ve ever met. Why’re you even here? Didn’t I make myself clear yesterday? I. Don’t. Want. A. Man. Ever.”

  “Good, ’cause it seems that route didn’t work out so well for you anyway. How about a wolf?”

  “Ugh.” She closed her eyes and gripped the arms of the chair to keep from screaming.

  “Do you always have such a potty mouth?”

  “Do you care?” She narrowed her gaze at him once more, daring him to challenge her use of the English language on top of everything else.

  “Nope. Just surprised. I live with three brothers. You’ll fit right in. I won’t even have to slap them upside the head to behave themselves if you’re going to outtalk them in the four-letter-word department.”

  “For your information, I don’t cuss often, at least not out loud.” I’m a sailor inside my head. “And whatever notion you have of me ever even visiting your home, you should just squelch right this instant. I’m not leaving here.”

  He sobered. “Again. I apologize. I have a tendency to say the wrong things at the wrong time. But I’m hoping to convince you to give me a chance. At least a trial.”

  “A trial? What am I, a puppy?”

  “Hardly. They’re far more obedient, and all my pets adore me and wait at my feet, anticipating my every move. That doesn’t describe you.” His grin was infectious this time. She couldn’t keep a straight face any longer. He was demanding and insensitive and obtrusive, all in a sort of charming manner.

  The banter between them, though infuriating, had done nothing to squelch her ardor. She couldn’t keep her knees still while she looked at him. She tucked her feet under her, and squeezed her legs together. A deep breath to fortify herself only filled her nose with his scent. Not helpful.

  Is it all true? Seriously? When mates met, did they make a connection that couldn’t be denied?

  She decided to at least learn more about him. “And what do you do, smarty pants, that pays so well you obviously don’t live with your parents?”

  “I work at the family dude ranch. I do have my own home, which I built myself. It’s modest, but it’s mine. It’s on my parents’ property. Easier that way. I love my job, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

  “How do you do that?” She balled her fists in her lap.

  “What?”

  “Manage to say everything as though you’re defending yourself.”

  He exhaled and relaxed his shoulders. “I feel like I’m at a job interview.”

  She smiled. “I guess you are. But the problem is I didn’t post an opening.”

  “And yet, there is still a vacancy.”

  “You are so infuriating.”

  “As are you, my dear.”

  “Is everything always an argument with you?” She released her fists and pushed her hair out of her eyes.

  “I could ask you the same thing.” His gaze roamed her body, what there was of it. She was wrapped like a mummy now—an old ratty mummy that died ten thousand years ago.

  “Why don’t you get dressed and let me take you out somewhere. We could have lunch or go for a walk or something. It’s nice out. Maybe if we went out in public, you would loosen up a bit. I said I wouldn’t maul you, and I meant it. I’m clear on your level of experience. I won’t take advantage of you.”

  She glared at him. “I’m tired. I didn’t sleep much.” She squirmed under his gaze.

  He looked at her as though she were naked instead of covered as thoroughly as possible. “I didn’t either.”

  “You look much better than I do.”

  “Well, I did take a shower and get dressed.” He pointed down at his jeans and T-shirt. Did he even own other clothing? The dude ranch explained the boots. Worn and comfortable. She didn’t own boots.

  “I’m a city girl.” What the hell? Her mind was tossing out every thought with no filter.

  “I can see that. And I respect it.”

  “I can’t leave here. I have a job.”

  “Do you have vacation coming?”

  Yes. “No.”

  “Work with me, Kenz.” He blew out another breath. “I need you,” he muttered, his demeanor changing on a dime.

  Her face flushed. The heat ran down her skin and across her chest buried under the layers of cotton.

  He leaned forward. “I’m begging you to give me a chance. I can’t go home today and leave you here. It would kill me.”

  She flushed further, if that was possible, and bit her lip. A knot formed low in her stomach, an ache. She stared at his lips. Soft. Gentle. Full. She wanted him to kiss her. She needed him too. More than he knew. But she didn’t want this.

  It scared the bejesus out of her.

  “I’m…” She couldn’t finish the thought. Scared? Worried about losing myself? Afraid of falling for someone only to have them change their mind or take over my life?

  He rested his elbows on his knees and spoke softly. “I know, Kenzie. It’s normal for you to have doubts. I wouldn’t be comfortable if you didn’t. But we’ll work through this together. Please. Give me a week, and then we’ll renegotiate.”

  A week? A lot could happen in that time. She’d never survive even a day in his presence without making out with him, let alone god-only-knows what else. And then she’d be lost. She wouldn’t know who she was anymore if she let him take her.

  “You live on a farm?”

  “I do. But it’s not as rustic as you are imagining. I’m not a hillbilly. I did go to college myself. I have a degree in animal husbandry.”

  Oh. Why did that shock her? Had she been unfair to him?

  “But I work with children. What would I do on a farm without them?” Children were her life. She adored them. Other people’s kids were as close as she ever imagined coming to having her own.

  His smile grew huge. “You’re going to love it. Trust me. I have a surprise you will not regret.”

  A surprise? What, chickens?

  “I need a shower.” She lifted her gaze. “Give me a few minutes to clear my head and think?”

  “Of course. I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned back and crossed his legs.

  Without another word, she fled the room again. Could she escape his intensity by going upstairs?

  No. She could still smell him no matter where she went. His scent had permeated the house. She’d never be able to rid her space of it. If this didn’t work, she’d be doomed.

  What was she thinking? The only reason she was even considering going with him was idle curiosity and the chance to prove he
rself right. She wasn’t meant for this sort of thing.

  •

  Drake took deep breaths and tried to control his lust. He closed his eyes as he leaned his head against the back of the couch. This woman was going to kill him. Did she seriously think for one minute he found her less attractive in sweats, unshowered, and rumpled?

  If anything, it made things worse. She wasn’t pretentious. She didn’t try to impress. She was just … Mackenzie. A beautiful woman whose scent filled the house. Her curls, unruly and flying all over the place, made her more adorable than ever. And her ancient sweats did nothing to hide her unease, her obvious fear concerning her body’s reaction to his presence. Her arousal permeated the house and made his cock rigid with wanting her.

  He couldn’t sit still. He stood and paced the room, looking at pictures on the mantel and walls. So many photos of the family over the years. He smiled at a shot of Mackenzie with her sisters at the beach. The bikini she wore was a scrap of hot pink fabric that did nothing to divert his imagination. She’d been younger in the picture, maybe in her late teens, but her body had been fully mature.

  He adjusted his crotch and wandered to the next frame. When he got to the stairs, he ascended, pictures lining the wall all the way up. Her mother was fond of preserving memories.

  Without consciously deciding, he followed his mate’s scent and entered her room. The shower still ran in the adjoining bath, the door slightly ajar. He was in her space. She wouldn’t be happy, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He needed whatever he could get, and right now this was it. Her things. Her personality spewed out for him to witness.

  Her bed was unmade. Her clothes from last night lay in a pile on the floor. He smiled. His mate was messy. Good, he wouldn’t have to impress her. He wasn’t a slob himself, but he knew some women were forever hounding their spouses to clean up more.

  He fingered her comforter and sat down on her bed. He had to repress the urge to bury his face in her pillow and inhale her scent. He’d probably come if he did.

  His cock ached. A desperate need drove him to know her better.

  Her room was feminine but not girly. The furniture was white wicker. Soft. Dainty. It seemed in contrast to her personality, which came across and brusque, angry, defiant.

  And yet her sheets and comforter were white with lace edges. Her curtains matched—thin, white, delicate material that belied its owner.

  On her desk sat a laptop and a few more photos of herself. None had pictures of friends, he noted.

  A screech made him whip his head around.

  “What are you doing?” Kenzie stood in the bathroom doorway. She had one towel wrapped around her head and another around her body. She was covered more now than she had been when she’d answered the front door.

  “Sorry. I was snooping on you a bit. I just wanted to see your space.” He glanced around. “You’re very feminine.”

  “I am a girl,” she protested. “Did you not notice?”

  He let his gaze land on her frame again, even though it was excruciating thinking about her naked under that towel. “Oh, baby, I noticed. I just wasn’t sure you did.”

  Could I be any snarkier? It made her flinch every time he teased her. And he just couldn’t stop himself. The torment just went on and on. Any time now, she was going to slap him. He figured he did it because it got a rise out of her. And even an angry Kenzie was better than a sulky Kenzie.

  She stomped through the room toward the closet and disappeared inside.

  “Don’t get dressed on my account,” he continued, biting his tongue afterward and wondering when she was going to throw a shoe at his head.

  “Ha ha.” Her muffled voice made him smile.

  He was surprised to find her still not dressed when she walked back out. She held the towel around her body as if it was a life preserver and she was floating in the middle of the ocean. “You are a determined son of a bitch, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you always get what you want?” She didn’t look at him, but headed for a tall dresser. She opened a drawer and grabbed a bra and panties. She didn’t even try to hide them when she turned toward him. The lingerie dangled from her fingers.

  “Definitely not,” he responded, staring at the scraps of pale pink lace. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat and had to restrain himself from adjusting his dick.

  “Might want to get used to that.” She waltzed past him again and disappeared into the closet.

  He exhaled and squirmed in his spot. Why had he thought coming into her room was a good idea? The woman was teasing him. No, she was testing him. She wanted to see if he would attack her, mentally or physically? He would not. Obviously she had some serious hang-ups with men and their aggressiveness. He would not disappoint her. Whatever happened between them, it would be on her terms or not at all. That was clear. If he did anything to ruin that, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

  When she emerged a few minutes later, she was dressed. Shorts. Tight tank top. Sandals.

  He stifled another groan. Her legs were perfection. She was tiny but muscular. Her skin was darker than it should be for this early in the spring. She must spend a lot of time outside. Maybe at the YMCA?

  Her hair hung in a tangled mess down her back, still damp.

  A buzz on the desktop made him glance in that direction. She grabbed her cell, peeked at the text, and tossed it back down without saying a word.

  He waited. For what he didn’t know, but whatever was going to happen was now going to be dictated by his nervous mate.

  Her next move shocked him. She stomped across the room and flung a suitcase on the bed, letting it flop open. As though he weren’t even in the house, she stuffed it with a seemingly random assortment of items—shorts, jeans, Tshirts, sweaters. She grabbed a handful of the groan-worthy panties and bras from the delicates drawer and tossed them inside. “Will it be cold at night?”

  He couldn’t respond. He sat frozen, his mouth stuck. Finally he nodded. She’s going with me. Hallelujah. He didn’t want to break the spell and ruin the moment, so he remained still and silent.

  Sandals. Shoes. Socks.

  She strode back to the bathroom, and he listened to her banging around for a while. He held his breath. His mind didn’t fully understand what was happening. His heart beat frantically. She’s really going with me.

  She returned with a toiletry bag and tossed it in the suitcase. Her hair was combed. Her curls were springing to life as they dried. He loved her natural beauty. She didn’t even have makeup on. She didn’t need it. She was so pure. He vowed never to destroy that about her.

  The entire process had taken maybe ten minutes until she zipped the luggage, the sound ringing resolutely in the room.

  Drake was a lucky man.

  Kenzie hefted the suitcase off the bed and left the room. “Coming?” she called over her shoulder.

  He wanted to take the heavy bag from her. As a gentleman, he knew better. But he also feared getting slapped by the queen of feminism. Better to leave her alone this time.

  She leaned the luggage against the front door when she reached the bottom of the stairs and marched toward the kitchen. What was the rush?

  He followed her and watched as she scrawled a note on a piece of paper and left it on the table. “Can we go?”

  “Um, sure. Don’t you want to talk to your family first?” He wanted to get her out of here as fast as possible, but where the hell was her fire?

  “Nope. I’d rather be long gone before they get home. Please?” She looked him in the eye for the first time since she’d left the shower.

  “Of course,” he agreed. “But why?”

  “They will make me want to vomit with their gushing oohs and ahhs. It’ll be like prom night all over again.” She switched to a mocking voice, imitating her mother apparently. “Oh, Kenzie, dear, stand next to your mate. Let me get a good picture before you go. Be sure to buckle up. Don’t drink and drive. Use protection. Ugh.” She
rolled her eyes. “My mother is a pain in the ass when she gets excited, and this adventure would push her over the edge. Plus, my sisters are going to gloat and preen like preteens. I don’t want to be here for the festivities, if you don’t mind.”

  Drake smiled. She was so passionate when she wasn’t beating him to death with her obstinacy. “Let’s go, then.” He opened the front door and grabbed her suitcase. He wasn’t going to argue about that right now. And she didn’t comment. She grabbed a short-sleeved sweater and shrugged it on over her tank top.

  At the truck, he deposited her bag in the bed and opened the front passenger door. He didn’t touch her as she climbed in this time. He knew if he did, he’d melt and either do or say something stupid. He needed his mind clear. It was bad enough she was going to fill the cab once again with her scent.

  When he entered from his side and turned the key, he finally spoke again. “Your job?”

  “I took the week off. That was the text earlier.”

  “Okay, then. Where to now? Lunch? We can’t leave town until later this afternoon. I have to pick up my brothers. My parents are in the smaller truck without a back seat. No way they’ll all fit. If I force my brothers to leave the gathering early, they will bitch all the way home. It’s a five-hour drive. Trust me, you don’t want to listen to that.”

  “Lunch would be good.”

  “You lead. I’ll drive.”

  Chapter Five

  Kenzie sucked oxygen into her lungs. She’d had to be as hasty as possible in the house, or she’d have lost her resolve. It went against every grain in her nature to agree to this farce, but she had to do it. She needed to get this man out of her system, even if she had to sleep with him to prove her point. If she didn’t let this relationship play itself out, then neither of them would ever know how very right she was. He would hound her until she relented. She would clearly suffer until she proved herself right. Her family, who obviously gave this man their address, would not stop badgering her until she gave in.

  She knew she wasn’t cut out for mating. No way. No how. She wasn’t wired for it. And anything she might have, could have, or would have done before the incident four years ago when she was just a teenager was entirely destroyed at that time. Now she just needed to get through this week so she could say “I told you so” and return to her life, vindicated, without having to worry about the hunk of sexy man next to her coming around to torture her with his promises for the rest of her life.