Gentle On My Mind

by Susan Fox

  Jake remembered “family dinners” with his parents, where they grilled him about how he’d done in school but didn’t want to hear anything else from him. Nothing about his interests, his dreams. He was sure dinners at the Kincaid household were very different.

  He took a sip of wine and tried to imagine himself in Evan’s shoes. Coming home from work, putting dinner together with his wife and daughter, then sitting down to eat and talk about their days. He choked back a snort. What would he say? “Only saw two dozen addicts shooting up today. Interviewed the girlfriend of a gang member who got beat up one too many times by her man and she’d like to talk but she’s terrified he’ll kill her.”

  He turned to Robin. “Cousin Brooke says you taught her to ride.”

  The girl’s face lit up. She had big brown eyes, just like her mother’s. Evan’s eyes, he had noticed, were blue-green, like Brooke’s. Idly he wondered whose eyes Evan’s and Jess’s baby would get.

  And then the thought hit him. Bipolar disorder was believed to have a genetic component. Evan didn’t have it, but might he carry the gene? He and Jessica were having a baby. Had they considered the risk it might have bipolar? As he tried to concentrate on what Robin was saying, he found himself hoping that everything came out right for this family.

  Soon the simple dinner was on the table and they all dove in. The food was plentiful and delicious.

  As they ate, Jake heard the story of how Evan and Jessica, childhood friends, had rediscovered each other the previous year when Evan stayed at the Crazy Horse resort ranch, where Jessica had been working as head wrangler.

  He also learned about Jessica’s parents and Robin’s father, who turned out to be Dave Cousins, the upstanding citizen who owned the Wild Rose Inn and chaired the Heritage Committee.

  The subject turned to Jessica’s Riders Boot Camp, where horse lovers would not only get lessons in Western riding, but in how to care for and communicate with horses. As Jessica spoke, it was obvious that her passion for horses was deep and abiding.

  “Brooke told me about the charitable aspect,” Jake said. “That’s admirable.”

  Eyes bright, Jess said, “There are so many underprivileged people who could easily head down the wrong path. We’ll help them develop confidence, physical competence, and a sense of responsibility. And learning how to care for and relate to a horse will also help them with human relationships.”

  If teens like Anika and Sapphire—hell, a teen like himself—had gone to a place like that, it might have changed their lives. “I’m impressed,” he told her.

  “We could always use a good accountant who’s willing to work pro bono,” she promptly said, and everyone laughed.

  “Seriously,” she added, “I’d love to give you a tour of Boots, if you have time one day.”

  “And I’ll take you riding!” Robin said. “If you don’t know how, Gramma and I will teach you.”

  “Hmm,” he said dubiously. “That’s a nice offer, but horses are a little out of my league.”

  “It’s hard to live in Caribou Crossing and avoid horses,” Evan said wryly.

  After Brooke’s chocolate-mint layer cake had been consumed with relish, Robin said, “I have to go do homework. Nice to meet you, Arnold. Sure hope you decide to move here.”

  “Thank you, Robin. It was a pleasure to meet you too.”

  “What’s your homework tonight?” Brooke asked.

  “I have to finish this story I’ve been writing. The only thing is, I’m not sure if it should have a happy ending. Maybe that’s just, you know, too easy?” She tilted her head. “What do you think, Gramma? Do you believe in happy endings?”

  Brooke tilted her head in an identical way. “Yes, but I don’t think they should come too easily. A happy ending means more if the person has to work for it.” She gave the girl a quick hug. “You’re my happy ending, Robin. You and Evan and your mom, and the new baby.”

  Robin grinned. “Thanks. Oh, and don’t forget Cousin Arnold. If he moves here, that would be another happy ending, wouldn’t it?”

  Brooke glanced at him. “Yes, I suppose it would.”

  “Homework means homework,” Evan said. “Get to it, young lady. And no e-mail or texting until you’re done.”

  “Oh, Evan, you’re so mean to me.” But she said it in a teasing way and wrinkled her nose afterward.

  Her stepfather reached up to squeeze her shoulder as she went past his chair and she planted a kiss on top of his head. The two grinned at each other and Jake thought, She’s got her father’s smile, before he remembered that Dave Cousins, not Evan, was the girl’s biological father.

  “It’s cooling off,” Evan said. “Arnold, why don’t we go into the living room and you can ask me some questions. I know there must be a lot of things you want to check out if you’re contemplating opening a business here. I’ve just been through the process, so I can give you a lot of information.”

  “Trying to get out of doing the dishes,” Jess grumbled in a joking way.

  “Who, me?” Evan asked with pretend innocence.

  “I think it’s a good idea,” Brooke said. “Jessica and I will deal with the dishes and tidy up. You men go ahead and talk.”

  Jake nodded thankfully. Evan had given him the opportunity he’d been hoping for, and he intended to take full advantage. Besides, much as he enjoyed Brooke, he’d be glad to get away from her for a while. Seeing her with her family was driving him crazy. He knew she belonged to them; he was glad for her happiness with them. But in some small way, for a very short time, he wanted her to belong to him too. He didn’t want their relationship to be a secret. He wanted to touch her, claim her, have her smile that special way she only smiled with him.

  That sexy, cocky way that was pure woman.

  As Brooke walked to the car with Jake, she found she’d almost come to think of him as Arnold. She could understand why he was so successful working undercover.

  They waved their good-byes to Evan and Jessica, who stood in the lighted doorway, then Jake backed out of the driveway. After he headed the car down the road she touched his arm tentatively. “Jake? Are you still in there?”

  He chuckled. Jake’s chuckle. With one hand he loosened the knot of Arnold’s tie, and then he reached over and put his hand on her thigh. High on her thigh. “Fooled you?”

  “You’re very good.”

  “Wait ’til we get home, babe, and I’ll show you how good I can be.”

  Babe? Maybe she should be offended but she kind of liked it. After a night of being Gramma and Mom, it felt just fine to have her sexy young lover call her babe.

  “I’ll hold you to that,” she said, and her voice came out in a sultry purr. “Or should I just hold you?” She unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over to run a finger across the fly of his suit pants. They were passing Wade and Miriam Bly’s house, and she thought how shocked Jessica’s parents would be to see her now.

  Jake caught the hand and pressed it to him as he grew under her touch. In the distance she saw headlights from a car on the highway.

  He pulled his Lexus onto the narrow shoulder of the road and clicked off the ignition and lights. Unbuckling his seat belt, he asked, “Is anyone likely to be driving this road?”

  She had started to shake her head when he pulled her into his arms for a kiss. A kiss that stole her breath and seemed to go on forever. She kept her hand on his erection, and his own hand snuck between her legs and pressed hard.

  When they both came up for air, he said, “Bed or parking?”

  “Parking?” The word burst out as if she’d never heard it before.

  “Was that a yes or a question?”

  “I’ve never gone parking in my life. When I was a girl in L.A., Mo had a bike, not a car and—”

  “Brooke, it’s not that I don’t care about your life story, but this isn’t the time.”

  “Oh, right. Uh, what about condoms?”

  “In my wallet. I’m never going to be caught unprepared again.”

/>   Parking. Like horny teenagers. “I choose parking. We could go to the lake or—”

  “Here. Right here. No one can see us.”

  She glanced ahead, to the occasional distant lights on the highway, then back in the direction of Wade and Miriam’s home and ranch buildings. It was possible that someone from Riders Boot Camp might go into town, or be returning, but Jessica pretty much wore the guests out with her vigorous riding program.

  Parking . . . It sounded more exciting, less serious, than sex in a bed. And, after all, that was what she wanted from this man, wasn’t it? Fun and excitement.

  Jake had stripped off his jacket and hurled it into the backseat, and was now yanking off his tie. He toed off his shoes and she bent to remove hers. He reached across her, found the lever that reclined the passenger seat, and suddenly she was falling backward.

  “I’m coming around,” he said. “Can’t climb over the console.” He slipped out the driver’s door.

  They would never fit in the passenger seat. The back might be a better bet. But Jake seemed to know what he was doing. He flung open the passenger door. “Scrunch over.”

  She scrunched, sliding onto her right hip and feeling the console press into her backside.

  He slid in beside her and somehow managed to close the door behind him.

  The car light went off and she wriggled, trying in the darkness to fit her body to his, wondering how they’d ever remove sufficient clothing to complete the act. When he’d suggested parking it had sounded like fun, but now she had second thoughts. “This will never work.”

  “Oh yes it will.” He did some wriggling of his own and let out a small hiss of pain.

  “Jake! I forgot all about your injuries. You can’t do this.”

  “Believe me, babe, the pain in my side is nothing compared to the ache in my—” He broke off and pulled her blouse out of the waistband of her jeans. His hand snuck inside, his palm warm on her back. He flicked the hook on her bra, and then his hand found its way to her breast and she sucked in a breath.

  “God, Brooke, you feel good.” He squeezed her nipple gently between his fingers and ran his thumb over the tip.

  “That feels wonderful.” His fingers worked magic on her breast, magic that arrowed straight down her body and ended up between her legs.

  She and Jake managed to pull her blouse over her head and free her from her bra. Then she attacked the buttons on his tailored business shirt. Finally she was able to run her fingers through his curly chest hair and press her bare breasts against him. “Above the waist,” she murmured. “What’s that called, necking or petting?”

  “Don’t worry about it because we’re not stopping there.” He unbuttoned her pants, slid down the zipper, and squeezed his hand inside, fanning it out over the front of her panties. Pink silk bikini briefs. Not that he’d know about the color, but her own knowledge made her feel more feminine. She’d always loved sexy lingerie but had given it up for many long years. Recently, she’d begun to indulge herself every now and then.

  She’d never thought a man would see her lacy self-indulgences.

  His fingers were close, so tantalizingly close, to where she wanted them to be, but her pants were too tight to allow him proper access. Shamelessly she lifted her hips, wriggling her pants and panties down her legs until she could toe them off her feet.

  Completely naked now she reveled in the sensations, even the mildly uncomfortable ones like the hard edge of the console digging into her. The slide of Jake’s hand down the curve of her hip more than made up for any discomfort.

  “You are an angel,” he murmured.

  She looked down to see her body, pale and gleaming. Her eyes had adjusted to the dim light; it wasn’t really so dark. She glanced out the window. “Starlight.” The stars were so clear here, but when she’d come to Caribou Crossing, she’d never even noticed them. She’d been so mad at Mo; she’d missed L.A. and her family so badly. Now she’d never look at the stars again without thinking about this time with Jake.

  Hungry for him, she fumbled with the buttons at his waist. It took the two of them to rid him of his pants and underwear. He retrieved his wallet and pulled out a condom, which he put on the dashboard.

  “You’re sure you’re okay?” she asked.

  “No, I’m dying of sexual frustration.”

  She giggled. “Tell me again why kids go through all this?”

  “Because they don’t have access to a bed.”

  “Hmm. And we do.”

  He captured her breast again. “Hey, this was your idea.”

  “Liar.” She reached down and gripped his erection.

  “Okay, I confess. Brooke, I’d have sex anywhere with you.”

  “Anywhere?”

  “You’re taking that as a challenge, aren’t you?”

  She stroked up and down and he caught his breath. She wanted to lean down, to circle him with her tongue, but there was no possible way she could bend her body that way. “All right,” she said, “I know how the pieces are supposed to fit together. I just can’t quite figure out how to make it happen in a car seat.”

  “When the time comes, I’ll show you.”

  “The time hasn’t come?”

  “Nowhere near. That pretty pink mouth of yours is still talking. I want you moaning and whimpering and sighing.”

  “You’ve been watching too many dirty movies.”

  “Uh-uh. I was listening to you, Brooke Kincaid. In bed last night.”

  “Oh! Did I . . . make sounds? I didn’t realize.”

  “You made music, babe.”

  “It was a duet,” she said softly.

  “That it was. Your part was just a little prettier. I probably sounded like a caveman.”

  “Pretty much.”

  He put his hand on hers, which was still stroking him, and stilled its action. “Stop, I’m getting ahead of you. And sex is one place where the guy should never go ahead of the lady.”

  One of his arms was under her, cradling her in a manner that certainly wasn’t comfortable for her and couldn’t be for him either. But there was no other place for it to go. His other hand, though, drifted down her body, caressing here, tickling gently there, making her forget the discomfort. “Ladies first?” she murmured, shivering as his hand moved lower. “Such a gentleman.”

  “Not me. You talking about Arnold?”

  “It’s not Arnold I want.” His hand found the spot she’d been waiting for it to find, and she sighed instead.

  “Can I touch you again?” she asked.

  “Above the waist.”

  “Such a prude.”

  She found one of his nipples and rolled it between her fingers, but most of her attention was focused on his hand. She eased her legs farther apart.

  “Tell me what feels good,” he murmured.

  “That. All of it. Everything you do.” She whimpered and twisted, trapping his hand between her thighs, wondering how he could know her body so well. When she relaxed her thighs again, he slipped a finger inside her and she clenched, wet and needy.

  Her hand again found his erection.

  He jerked and gasped. “Hey, that’s below the belt.”

  “Your belt’s long gone. Besides, I’ve caught up with you. How about a little action?”

  “Can you reach that condom?”

  She stretched to retrieve it from the dashboard, ripped open the packet, and rolled the latex onto him.

  “You’d better take top,” he said, “or I’ll crush you.”

  “How do I—”

  But he was already grasping her hips, moving her and holding her up as he slid beneath her. A few minor contortions, a stifled moan of pain from him, and he was laying back in the seat with her straddling his thighs. “Thank God they’re only flesh wounds,” he muttered.

  “It’s not too late to quit.”

  “Oh yes it is.”

  His erection was a hard, hot column rising irresistibly in front of her and she was reaching for it when he said,
“Look outside.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Make sure there are no cops with flashlights.”

  She threw back her head and laughed, and she was still laughing when he grasped her hips and brought her farther up his body to press firmly against him. She eased up just slightly and slid against his penis, caressing him with her moist heat, finding just the right angle, knowing that if she kept it up much longer they’d both come. Just like last night.

  But tonight they had another option. She lifted her body, balancing awkwardly with one knee on the seat and the other between the seat and the door. She caught him in her hand, held him tight, then gently eased herself down, beginning to take him inside her.

  His body arched and he groaned. She knew he was holding back, wanting to thrust hard and deep, but letting her control the pace. But now she, too, wanted him hard and deep, and so she jerked forward, encompassing him in one quick move.

  He grabbed her hips again and held her tight against him, neither of them moving, for several very long seconds. Then he loosened his grip and she began to slide up and down, sometimes fast, sometimes painfully slowly. But then need overcame her and she thrust her body against his, twisting, grinding, gasping for breath.

  He plunged up to meet her, his body arching off the seat and taking her with him. She gripped his hips, using his body for leverage as they pulled apart then plunged together.

  And then he made that sound in his throat, the one that meant he was close, couldn’t hold back, and her own excitement level ratcheted up another notch.

  She knew how it felt when he came in her hand, and in her mouth. Now she held still, waiting for him, knowing that when he took those fast final strokes he would carry her with him.

  And he did. And she couldn’t remember ever feeling such pure physical bliss.

  When the powerful waves of orgasm finally subsided, she collapsed onto Jake as he sank back into the seat with a stifled groan.

  “Are you all right?” she asked. “I keep forgetting you’re injured.”