Rescued by a Stranger
Page 24
His kisses sought every inch of her skin, from her lips to her earlobes to the skin on her neck. He pushed her torso gently away and trailed his lips and tongue down her throat to the soft depression between her breasts.
“We aren’t going to get walked in on?” she murmured, not really caring.
“He’s with Louis L’Amour.” The words trailed along her skin. Her laugh morphed to a jagged gasp of pleasure when he grasped one nipple gently between his teeth.
“Let me feel your skin, too,” she rasped. He pulled away and shucked off his T-shirt, revealing a soft, dark swirl of hair that took her breath away. “Talk about beautiful.”
She scooted forward and lifted herself onto his lap, letting her sensitized breasts crush softly against his chest while she held his head and plundered his mouth. For one short moment she was in power. Then both his hands rested on her thighs and he skimmed his fingers up the stretchy fabric of her breeches toward her core. He reached the soft juncture lines of her legs and her body and feathered long strokes up and down the crease, tantalizing but not touching the aching center of her, over and over until desire spun unexpectedly into immediate need. He’d barely touched her, and he’d taken her to the brink.
She wriggled, which only intensified the heat. “No! Chase. It’s too quick. I want us—”
He cut her off with another deep kiss before drawing away. “Shhh.”
Watching her intently, his eyes now glassy, he placed one thumb pad softly against the magic spot he’d teasingly avoided. Right through the fabric—one press. Two gentle strokes. And she broke. Into colors and flight and heat and cries of pleasure.
“That’s my girl,” he crooned into her ear. “Come on, now.”
She couldn’t stop the tears of release, and he held her for the long, long fall to Earth, his feet braced to keep the Triumph steady, his arms soothing, his breath calming. “No, no,” she said finally, her tears finally slowed. “I wanted to wait for you. I wanted it together.”
“What?” His humor-filled voice resonated beneath her ear. “This wasn’t good?”
“It was perfect. I—”
“It was perfect,” he agreed. “For me, too.”
She wanted to pound on his chest, despite the euphoria that still cushioned her frustration. What was wrong with him? How could it have been perfect? She hadn’t even had her chance to pleasure him—never mind making love to him. What was he protecting her from?
What was he hiding?
She swallowed the last of her tears and swiped at her eyes. “Your turn?” she asked quietly.
“I’m pretty happy with this turn,” he said, and a lump of hurt formed in her stomach. “I want to know what happened before you got here tonight.”
She should have felt as if he’d slayed dragons for her, kept her safe and honored—given her everything and asked for nothing. Instead, she was bereft, as if he’d taken the one thing she needed most: him.
Slowly she straightened her torso and her clothing and slipped first from his lap, then the Triumph’s saddle.
He caught her hand and made her look into his eyes. “Jill.”
An ache in her heart replaced the sweet languor of moments before. “Six weeks ago I met the Barnes family,” she said dully. “That’s what happened tonight.”
A BEAD OF sweat rolled slowly down the bridge of Chase’s nose and hung suspended at the tip, like a bubble at the end of an eyedropper. It plopped onto the board he’d just pounded into place atop Robert’s deck railing, leaving a perfect wet circle. Sighing, he straightened and cocked a shoulder to wipe his face against a shirtsleeve.
“I should have gone someplace cool,” he muttered. “The Kalahari. Or the Amazon rain forest.”
Robert knelt several feet away, also wielding a hammer, and replied with a cranky grunt. Chase ignored him except to worry.
It was 11:30 a.m. and, over Sunday and Monday, mid-July had taken a turn for the scorching. He was supposed to start on a new project for Connery at the end of the week. He managed to thank his stars he wasn’t off on a scalding job site somewhere.
“Let’s break. This is too hot.”
“Go ahead, I’m fine.” Robert dragged a two-by-six from the stack beside the porch.
“Hey,” Chase snapped. “Kill yourself when I’m not around.”
Robert dropped the board, stared emptily, and finally shook his head. “Workin’ keeps me from thinking. Thinking makes me mad.”
Chase looked closely at the old farmer, saw his own glumness mirrored in the milky eyes, and softened. “You really got hooked on that kid, didn’t you?”
The denial was on Robert’s lips when he sagged at the shoulders and set down his hammer. “It ain’t the girl. Jill was excited, she got me excited. I’ve never seen her depressed like she’s been this weekend. Damn foolishness for a worn-out old man, that’s all.”
“You’re no more foolish than I am.”
And he was definitely a fool. He’d hurt Jill two nights ago. It had been unintentional, but she’d surprised the tar out him—the amazing little siren. She’d come for comfort, and he’d known exactly what form she’d wanted it to take. His body still hated him for not giving it. And if Jill didn’t hate him, she certainly couldn’t have much patience left for his pansy-assed excuses.
But he couldn’t let them get that close. Not if he was leaving. Not if it stood in the way of her dreams of leaving. And now the Barnes girls’ mother had only deepened Jill’s wounds. All his own issues aside, he had no idea what to do about any of it.
Chase ordered Robert to his chair under the porch eaves and fetched them two glasses of ice water. When Robert took his gratefully, Chase caught a pallor beneath the leathery tan.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course. It’s too damn hot, and I been swingin’ the hammer harder than I should. Shoulder aches some.”
“You better quit and take it easy.”
“Yeah.”
Both men turned to the spit of gravel in the driveway. Steeling himself for Krieger again, Chase was surprised when a silver Saturn rolled into view.
“I know that car,” grunted Robert. “It’s Barnes. The father.”
A tall, sandy-haired, man with a neat mustache and goatee stepped from the car, his gray-blue eyes searching until they met Chase’s.
“Barnes.” Robert called first.
“Mr. McCormick, hello. I’m looking for Jill.”
“She isn’t here.”
“Ah. I seem to be one step behind her today, I’m afraid. You must be Chase Preston.” He stepped forward with his hand outstretched. “I thought maybe Jamie made you up. You’ve made a huge impression on her.”
“She’s a great kid.”
“Thank you. In fact, it’s my girls I’d like to talk to Jill about.”
“Oh?” Robert said.
“I hope to talk her into uncanceling the lessons my wife canceled. Anita is with the twins much more than I am, and I rarely contradict her decisions, but I think I need to now.”
Chase thumped Robert on the back. “I promise you nothing would make Jill happier,” he said. “She’s taken a personal interest in both your daughters.”
“I do know that. I’ve seen noticeable differences in Jamie and Becky since they met Jill. Since they met all of you.”
Chase hesitated, but simply couldn’t hold his tongue. “Jill won’t say this, but I have to. Becky isn’t a bad kid, but we’ve all seen her bad attitude. It’s aimed at her sister, but it carries into the lessons. Does Becky really want to keep coming?”
Barnes was silent a thoughtful moment. “She does. And you’re not wrong. The attitude is real and she does turn it on Jamie. I’ve been a pretty absentee dad recently, and I’ve made Anita handle everything. It’s been my way of ignoring reality. Do you know how Jamie was injured?”
“Something about falling out of a tree?”
“A tree house. The girls had an argument, and Becky shoved Jamie off balance. She didn’t push her off of the
platform; both girls are adamant that Jamie tripped. But Anita got it in her head that Becky had some sort of deep-seated jealousy of her sister. Now she’s overprotective of Jamie and overindulgent with Becky, and I believe Becky can’t deal with the guilt. I’ve done nothing to help. My wife and I suffered through this differently.”
“Accidents can tear families apart,” Chase said.
“This weekend was my wake-up call. I’ve actually seen sparks of interest when Becky talks about Jill. She’s even mentioned some horse show in August. There were fireworks like I’ve never seen when Anita told Becky she needed to think of some different lessons to take. I had a long talk with the girls, and even Jamie wants Becky to keep riding. So, here I am.”
“What about Jamie?” Chase’s pulse jumped with anticipation. “Is there any chance you’d reconsider the decision about lessons for her?”
“Jamie? Take lessons?”
Chase’s eyes widened. “Your wife didn’t discuss it with you?”
“Jamie wishes all the time she could ride again, but this is the first I’ve heard about lessons for her.”
Robert made a rude grunt. Chase coughed to halt the inappropriate words bouncing on the tip of his tongue. “Michael,” he managed at last. “I’m giving you a heads-up. Jill is gonna have a pitch for you that’ll shame a vacuum cleaner salesman.”
The moment Jill arrived that evening, she skipped all three porch steps and launched herself into Chase’s waiting arms.
“Hello, my miracle man!”
He hushed her with a kiss, but just as she had done two nights before, she took the kiss over, morphed into the siren that robbed him of power, drove him mad with her skin’s natural perfume, and made him hard and aching. She grabbed hold of his neck, lifted herself off the deck, and wrapped her legs around his hips to settle on his hard heat like he’d been made to order for her.
“Is that a saddle horn in your pocket, or are you glad to see me?” she whispered.
“Evil seductress. I am very glad to see you.”
Her smile widened against his lips until her mouth could no longer shape to the task of kissing him. “Oh, Chase. I meant it about miracles.”
“So, you’re not angry at me anymore.” He feathered her nose, her eyebrows, and her cheeks with more kisses.
“When was I ever?” She pulled back, affronted, then grinned. “You did this.”
“Oh no. Michael Barnes came looking for you all on his own.”
“But you talked to him about things I wouldn’t have said. He told me you are very kind and you know a lot about people. There’s always been more to you than meets the eye, Mr. No-Account Drifter.”
Chase’s gut began its familiar, agonizing curl-up. “Just get them back in the saddle.”
“It’ll be a week so we can fit into Michael’s schedule, but that’s all. Next Tuesday for Becky and Friday for Jamie!” She slid slowly down his body, her smile wicked when he groaned.
“It’s a good thing Robert spends so much time in the house. He’d be traumatized by your welcome-home ritual.”
“As long as you aren’t, we’re good.”
“Honey, I’m traumatized as a lamb in an alligator pond.”
“You’re as much a lamb as I’m a Girl Scout.” She hooked one leg around him this time and rolled her hips.
“I agree, these ain’t no cookies you’re peddling.”
With a sultry wink, she pulled away. “I’m going to see Dee after the lesson tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“I’m nervous. I’ve barely talked to her all summer. Barely seen anyone at home, in fact. Dee’s still mad that you ignored her cookies.”
“Your sister is a beautiful woman, but I never looked twice at what she was selling.”
She traced his top lip line with a forefinger. “Dee will know what equipment I need for Jamie. And there’s one more favor—this one I need to ask of you.”
“I’m pretty much nothin’ but your slave after this.”
She took his face between her palms. “I cleared everything off my schedule for this weekend. I want you to take me on a motorcycle ride.” She rubbed against him like a little cat.
His throat went dry. “Didn’t we just try that?”
A self-satisfied smile crept onto her lips. “Why yes, we did. But I mean an actual ride. About a hundred miles north, to some lakeshore property I want to show you. I plan to spend the weekend saying thank you.”
Once again her siren song clashed with his fear. This was a bad idea, but he wanted her back on his Triumph with every fiber of his being.
“I’ll go under one condition.”
“Whatever you want.”
“I’m the only one who gets to say thank you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
DEE’S BACK WAS to her when Jill stepped into the physical therapy room at the Northfield Orthopedic Clinic. Without designer labels and provocative sways, her sister looked professional—and unfamiliar. Jill’s breathing refused to even out, like she was some wimpy kid in a dark alley. She was meeting Chase in two hours for their trip to the lake, but it seemed far away at the moment.
She rapped on the door. “Hey, sis.”
Dee turned, her dropped jaw and saucer-wide eyes transcending surprise. “Jill?”
“Am I interrupting anything?”
“No! I … no. Hold on.” She put away the piece of equipment she held and turned back, her eyes radiating rare uncertainty. “This is definitely unexpected.”
“Shocking, right? I should have called, but our track record on the phone … Anyway, I need your advice on something.”
“Mine? That is hard to believe.”
A hint of their natural volatile sarcasm crept into Dee’s voice, and Jill struggled to defuse it before it could root. She’d promised herself to beg if need be.
“I know. I’m sorry to bother you.”
Dee slipped a professional mien in place. “Don’t be silly. What’s up?”
“I’m about to start working with a new riding student, but she’s paraplegic and I’m hoping you can give me some idea how to handle the first lesson. Tell me about special equipment.”
More surprise crossed Dee’s face, but her words came out sincere. “I’m not super current on the trends in therapeutic riding, but I do have two patients who go up to We Can Ride. What sort of person is this?”
“A thirteen-year-old girl.”
“Don’t take this wrong, but wouldn’t she be better off at a properly equipped stable?”
It was a legitimate question. “Probably,” Jill admitted. “But the situation is complicated.”
“You are good at finding those aren’t you?”
“Life hasn’t been dull lately.”
“And how’s Chase?” At that Dee’s voice exposed an unmistakable edge, and Jill steeled herself.
“He’s fine.”
“Handsome as ever?” Dee flashed an insincere smile. “My ego took a little beating over him. It’s not often you find a man who’ll lie to your mother for you.”
“Hey, or a sister. I still owe you for the dog.”
“And what will you do with the dog and the man when you head off for Florida? Send them to school for you?”
Jill sighed hopelessly. Aside from the fact that Dee had neatly bundled every issue in Jill’s life into a two-sentence package and tied it with a perfect sarcastic bow, she would never be a go-to sister.
“Maybe we’d both be more comfortable if I talked to someone else.”
For an instant she imagined a shadow of remorse in Dee’s eyes, but she was all business again before Jill could be sure.
“I can tell you a little bit. But you should visit one of the organizations, too.”
“I’ve made an appointment already.”
Dee nodded crisply. “Okay. I assume this lesson is for fun, not therapy. You can use the exercises to give her confidence.”
“Do I need a special saddle? I’ve read about surcingles and pads.”
It had been years since they’d shared this many sentences, and it brought on a moment of tenderness. “Dee, why didn’t you get into this? You love horses. It would have been natural for you.”
Utter blankness swept over Dee’s features. “I would never compete with you, little sister.”
Jill gaped at her. “Excuse me?”
“Do you really think none of us knows how anything with horses turns to diamonds and gold in your hands? ‘Wanna ride, Jill?’ Sure, I’ll just win some ribbons. ‘Want to teach for me?’ Sure, watch my students win, too. ‘Hey, try vet school.’ Okay, what the heck? I can quit if I get to go to the friggin’ Olympics. Nope. No way would I have dared to be a riding instructor.”
The change in Dee was jarring, like a tremor before an earthquake.
“What in the world are you talking about?”
“About staying off your turf, about staking out my own place in the world where you couldn’t compete. But look. You’re even invading that. The only other thing I ever did better than you did was attract boys, but only because you had no idea how tiny and cute you were. You’ve proven that, too. I’m a flirt, but I know they don’t come much better than Chase Preston. Congrats on him, too.”
“This is ridiculous. Chase has nothing to do with this and I certainly don’t want your job.” For a moment they avoided each other’s eyes. “What did I ever do to you?” Jill asked. “How long have you been keeping all this buried without bothering to get it off your chest?”
“Are you kidding?” Dee poised her jaw like a weapon. “Everything I ever tried you did better. Getting the best grades, having the biggest adventures. It goes all the way back to Dad leaving. You could do no wrong even in that disaster. ‘Poor little Jillie, I’m so sorry, Jillie.’ On the rare occasions I hear from him it’s still about you. ‘Watch out for Jill. Take care of her.’ You even talk to him more than I do.”