St. Elmo

by Skye McNeil

  “I don’t even want to know how much this costs each month.” Her fingers danced along the island in the kitchen. “But I could live here forever.”

  After poking her nose through the entire place, Bobbi returned to the bedroom and pulled out the business outfit for her interview the next day. She would get a restful night of sleep and then nail the interview before hopping on a plane bound for the Colorado Rockies. Nothing sounded more like heaven.

  Checking the window, Bobbi wondered which of the apartments Asher and Jessie lived in now. It made sense to stay near the forestry oasis. Though, it was minimal compared to the mountains seen out her window at home. The greenery made her feel less homesick for Colorado.

  “If I move here, I’ll have to get used to the noise,” she reminded herself when the sound of feet shuffled by the front door. Thankfully, the apartment was on the fourth floor, so street traffic was barely audible.

  Flicking her dark red hair away from her face, Bobbi pulled out a comfortable pair of sweats and a sweatshirt. She was having dinner at Jessie’s later, but until then, she’d lounge and flip through the endless satellite channels Asher was sure to keep in his home away from home.

  She tore off the jeans that were a smidge too tight around her thighs and flung them with her big toe. “Ah, much better.” Next was the second skin of a shirt Clara liked to call the ‘slut rut’ whatever that meant. Probably because it’s low cut. Bobbi sighed loud enough to reiterate the comfort of it being peeled off.

  Noticing the stereo on Asher’s coffee table, she strutted over to it and turned the knobs until a popular hip-hop song emitted through the expanse. Since no one else was present, the desire to shake off the jetlag overcame her. She waited for the chorus before joining the melodious tune and busting out dance moves in her underwear alone. Yeah, New York City could work for her if the days included a bit of a wiggle to celebrate.

  »»•««

  A whoosh of air whirled from Jared’s lungs as the key turned and the door cracked open. Nothing could’ve prepared him for the scene inside. With as much silence as he could muster, he stepped through the entry, rested his bag on the floor, and shut the door behind him. He’d assumed the heavy bass was coming from another apartment, but as the distance shrank, so did his notion.

  In revered wonder, Jared leaned his shoulders against the wall, hoping to blend in so his eyes could feast on the redhead before him. As much as he loved the bright hue, he preferred her au natural brunette. Bobbi trounced around in a matching blue bra and cheeky panties set, lips not once missing a word of the song. His eyes drifted over the supple flesh, and his heart pounded in his chest while the lower half of his body demanded a different and more primal reaction. It took all his willpower to remain stoic instead of clutching Bobbi by the wrist and flinging her to the couch, him coming a close second to the fall.

  Swallowing the lump in his throat, Jared now grasped the use of pet names for body parts. On Bobbi, he understood love handles for the first time since all he craved to do was grab her roughly by the hips and make love to her until she was dripping with sweat. His fingers itched to reach out and discover the dip between her breasts and the tender flesh hidden by the dainty panties.

  “Fuck,” he mumbled, adjusting himself awkwardly. He couldn’t help it. Anytime Bobbi was around he had the same reaction. He dreamed of taking her sideways to Sunday ever since meeting her. Recalling their short-lived mountain tryst, Jared blinked several times when she started including disco moves to her dancing. Months ago, all she’d wanted was a good time. Well, it should’ve been easy since he wasn’t a settle-down type of guy. But after a week of flirting with the blue-eyed goddess, Jared couldn’t—no, he wouldn’t—make the ultimate move on her. She tried. Dear Lord, did she try. More than once, he’d almost caved, yet something always held him back. His difficult break-up was a good part of why he wouldn’t allow it, but mostly because of the impending deployment. A new relationship and thousands of miles didn’t go together well. His buddy, Spencer, got it, which was why he allowed their time to crumble when it did. Spencer always had good timing, and the night of Asher’s wedding was as good as any to call it quits. But now, shit, he didn’t want to let her out of his view.

  Still watching her, Jared reminded himself that Bobbi deserved true love, not a ‘wham bam, I’m the man’ screw from a Ranger. She was the type who would make a man get down on one knee and beg for her hand after merely kissing her. It took a week for him to see it, which was why he pulled away. Hell, she had something to do with it too, though. She didn’t want anything except a steamy week, and he couldn’t allow himself to feel more for her. It made sense why it took his brother a mere seven days to fall for Jessie. Timberline’s mountains held a sexual prowess over its visitors. He was no exception. Jared fell. Hard. Thinking back now, he was glad Spencer had been there to pull his head out of the heart-shaped cloud. It was then he realized Bobbi didn’t trust him. She blamed his active military life for officially calling off their romance, and it was true. Even though the words never crossed her lips, she didn’t like the notion of him being away, but it was his life. He chose the military. He’d always choose a sure thing even if his heart didn’t agree one hundred percent. It was better that he found out her worries about his military career before they were too far gone to stop anything. Despite everything, Jared held onto hope that perhaps someday, the tall woman he watched would change her mind about his job and would want him as much as he wanted her.

  The music slowed, and so did Bobbi. Her hair tousled around her as she twirled. The cheery smile on her face dimmed when she registered his presence. Damn, she’s gorgeous. He smirked when embarrassment, shock, and anger flickered over her face.

  “Jared,” she whispered, breathless from the dancing, though he would’ve preferred it from other activities involving him.

  The wispy tone was enough to set him for life, but he nevertheless replied, “Hey, Bobbi. I enjoyed the moves, but I had another tango in mind if you care to entertain me.”

  Bobbi’s eyebrows shot sky high, and she shuffled to the bedroom, clothes flying as she went. “You’re a dick,” she stated, at last returning to the living room. Her arms were folded over a T-shirt bearing a cartoon bear, and her shorts had a matching mascot. “What’re you doing here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be in Thailand or something?” She flicked her hair over her shoulders, tempting him to grasp the long strands and yank until the scowl on her face turned to pleasure.

  “It was Uzbekistan, thanks for remembering.” He turned the lock on the door. Better to be safe in New York and all that.

  “Whatever.” She turned the radio to silent. “Why are you in Asher’s apartment?”

  “He told me I could stay until we left for the family retreat.” Switching tactics, he took a step closer and inquired, “The real question is why are you in New York City, Bobbi?”

  Bobbi kept her stunning eyes on everything except him. “It’s none of your business, but I have an interview tomorrow at a hospital.” She twisted her hands together, nervous at the situation. “And Jess told me I could crash here then we’d head out as a group.”

  Mulling over her response, Jared snagged a seat on the couch. The material was so soft it practically swallowed his aching muscles. “Good for you.” He pointed to the cushion beside him. “I’ll take the couch. This thing already claimed me as its victim, so you take the bed.”

  Concern flushed across her cheeks. “Maybe I should just get a hotel roo—"

  “Hell no,” he interrupted. “We’re family. We can make this work.” His eyes skipped to the bedroom. “Although, my back has a crick in it ever since sleeping on mats…”

  Her mouth dropped open, and he did his best not to comment further.

  “I’m kidding.” He rubbed the base of his neck. “Mostly.”

  Bobbi plopped into the spot beside him. “Did you arrange all this on purpose?” Suspicion lined her irises, but the dominant desire told him something differe
nt.

  Stretching his arm on the back of the couch, Jared leaned forward until his nose bumped against hers. “Sweetheart, if I set this up, you’d be naked right now instead of wishing you were.” He loved to see her put off by his appearance. No, he hadn’t planned it, but damn, he wished he had. Seeing her again was as illustrious as it was dangerous. Any thoughts of hiding his affection for her were shattered the moment he stepped into the apartment. His plan was to play it cool during the Christmas festivities. Fuck that. He couldn’t do it anymore. Not with her hair dyed red and chest heaving from her recent dance moves. His eyes skimmed over her outfit. Hell, she hadn’t even pulled on proper shorts. The ones she wore showed way too much of her long legs he adored.

  Her eyes widened, and those damn pink lips separated again. She was irresistible, so he did what any man would and pressed a swift kiss to her mouth. Her lips tasted as delicious as he remembered, and he coaxed her open with his tongue. A sharp gasp escaped her throat, but he quickly swallowed it with his kiss. When Bobbi kissed him back, Jared almost threw all sense out the window to take her right there on the couch. He’d wanted to since Timberline. So did she, if memory served him.

  Deciding not to linger was difficult with the cherry lip balm she wore. When he pulled back, Jared nodded, proud of the way her eyelids remained closed. “I’m going to hop in the shower before dinner. Don’t look unless you want to follow through,” he insinuated, standing.

  Retrieving his bag, he checked over his shoulder and saw a tiny worry line reach her brow. Disappearing into the bathroom, he affirmed this trip would be more hazardous than he first imagined. If he was expected to make it out without a wife, he’d need to do something drastic. His first choice was Spencer, but he was off on some walkabout in Australia. As badly as he didn’t want to fall for Bobbi again, his heart already shifted toward the woman mere feet from his current position. No, Jared, you can’t do it. You’re a Ranger; she’s a civilian. He lathered soap in his hands and felt his body’s wanton response to even thinking about her dancing around the living room. Damn woman will be the death of me.

  »»•««

  He kissed me. The mother loving lout planted a big one on me, and all I did was sit there and let it happen.

  Forks scraping on plates summoned her eyes up from the cavatelli she’d pushed around in marinara during dinner. Her sister was teasing Asher about naming one of his characters after her middle name, and Jared looked ready to pass out. The little information she gleaned from the rough and rumble Ranger, he wasn’t fond of love. Tilting her head to the side, she pitied him. Only a person who’d never experienced love would be so cynical. She guessed as much during their quick sparring in Timberline earlier in the year, but he was a silver-tongued devil through and through. One with eyes beautiful enough to summon me to the Dark Side.

  When Asher pecked Jessie’s neck, the tall guest stood with abrupt movements. “Bobbi, do you want to help me clean up?”

  “Uh, yeah, sure.” She stuttered and grabbed as many plates as physically possible. She followed the taut muscles of Jared’s back into the kitchen ten feet from the dining area.

  “They’re cute together,” she commented, taking the reins on the faucet.

  Jared opened the dishwasher. “Cute as the plague perhaps.”

  “What’s your problem? Can’t you be happy for them or does your military training prohibit it?” The moment the words slipped out, Bobbi regretted them. She was being catty and not because her sister’s Russian Blue wouldn’t stop meowing at her for scraps.

  “You and that mouth.” Pausing, Jared’s shoulders shook, and a soft chuckle met her ears. He nabbed the spoon from her hand. “You speak your mind. I always liked the sassy side of you.”

  “It gets me in trouble a lot,” she confessed, unable to look away from the subtly sexy way he made chores appear. Strip him down to pants alone, and he’d be the poster boy of what women dreamed about while their husbands snored on the couch.

  “Yeah, I can see where it may.” His forearm brushed against hers, the tattooed flesh transmitting a glimpse of his heat. “But it could come in handy in other places.”

  “Like where?”

  His green eyes slid over her body before resting on her face. “Like the bedroom for starters.”

  The knife in Bobbi’s grip tumbled free, slicing her finger on the way to the sink. “Ow! Dammit.” She popped the appendage under the running water, the pain minimal to the sensations in her gut at his low suggestions.

  “Let me.” Acting fast, Jared snatched her hand and examined the wound. Little by little the blood stopped gushing. The gentle way his huge hands engulfed her normally big ones for a woman comforted her more than the pressure he enforced to ease the bleeding.

  “There.” He held up her finger. “Slap a bandage on it, and you’ll be as good as new.”

  “Thanks.” It was when Bobbi’s knee bumped into the dishwasher that she realized how close they were to each other. Jared was actually straddling the machine’s door in order to come to her aid.

  “Jared, you’re going to break my brand-new appliance if you teeter,” Jessie teased, somehow close behind them.

  Whirling, Bobbi’s foot caught between Jared’s, and she tipped sideways. The Ranger’s long arms were swift to grab her before her face planted on the hardwood floor.

  “Keep it up, Bobbi, and we won’t make it to the Rockies,” Jared muttered, righting her feet.

  Officially on stable ground, Bobbi’s face heated and she offered quiet thanks to her savior before he disappeared into the living room.

  “Hey, what’s going on with you?” Jessie asked, taking over the open spot by the sink.

  Jared did it better, she thought as her sister stacked dishes in line.

  “Um, nothing. Just nerves before the interview,” she fibbed.

  “Mhm, right.” The faucet sprang to life, drowning out their conversation. “Jared wouldn’t happen to be part of your skittish nature, would he?”

  “What? Jared? No way.” Bobbi scrubbed the porcelain plate. “Why, did he say something?”

  “Bobbs, you’ve kind of defeated the purpose of this.” Jessie pointed to the top of the line appliance.

  Eyeing the plate, she sighed. It shone like it hadn’t been used yet. “Right. Sorry.”

  “Why don’t you sneak out and get a run in at Asher’s?” She tossed a thumb behind her. “I’ll make sure Jared stays put for a while.”

  Knowing a brisk jog in the gym would indeed clear her mind, Bobbi agreed and gathered her coat. The curiosity on Jared’s handsome face wasn’t lost on her when she ducked out the door. “Run then prepare for the interview. It’s all I need to focus on,” she repeated over and over. No matter how many times she said it, her brain kept turning to Jared. A dastardly path.

  »»•««

  Clicking through the television channels, Jared relaxed when the scent of sugared peaches and roses dispersed in the air. He let out a struggled breath and muted the television to hear the steady clop of heels down the hall. The chime on the elevator allowed him to return to his search. Bobbi was officially off to her job interview. He didn’t know the details, but if a New York hospital wanted a nutritionist from Denver, she must be good at what she did for a living.

  He caught sight of the coffee maker and resigned his efforts to find something decent to watch. He was too distracted to focus on a show anyhow. Opening the cupboard, he made quick work of the ground coffee until the machine gurgled to life.

  A caffeine buzz after the night he’d endured was a necessity. It would’ve been fine, sleeping in the apartment alone, but when he returned from Asher’s apartment to catch a glimpse of the end of Bobbi’s stretch routine, he couldn’t shut off his mind. Between the damned lotion smelling of a garden stroll and the cute way she softly rehearsed for her interview, sleep didn’t find him until the morning hours.

  Finding a mug, he poured the dark roast until it steamed. The delicate hints of butterscotch and caramel
tickled his nose and insisted he give the brew a taste. After it rolled around on his tongue, Jared determined it was the best he’d had. Well, except when he made coffee, of course.

  “Where the hell did this come from? Heaven?” He read the bright green label. “Perkatory. Huh. Isn’t that where Asher worked?” He shrugged and tossed the bag back to the counter. If the conversation of coffee types came up, he’d investigate. For the moment, relaxation was all he desired.

  “Wake up sleepyhead,” an obnoxious voice called from the doorway just as he finished the first long sip of joe.

  “Damn, can’t a man rest in peace?”

  “You do so when you’re dead.” The door slammed shut, and Jared swiveled on the cushion.

  “What, no fresh baked goods for your brother?” he taunted, noting Asher’s casual duds.

  The ex-Ranger meandered to the coffee pot. “And be the reason you gain a few? Hell no.” He opened the cupboard and retrieved a chipped mug with a popular football team logo on it. “But coffee, on the other hand, I can help you there.” He took a drink, his brows lifting. “Well, damn. Maybe you don’t need any assistance.”

  “Of course, I don’t.” Preening, Jared grinned. “Come to write?”

  “I should.” His brother sat on one of the tall barstools straddling the living room and kitchen. “But my wife seems to think I need to talk to you about Bobbi.”

  Jared opened his mouth but was shut down with a wave of Asher’s hand.

  “Look, I don’t know what happened between you guys in Timberline, but we want this Christmas to go without a hitch.”

  “I agree.”

  Asher set the mug on the counter. “All right. I was expecting a little more fight. I see the Rangers mellowed you out.”

  “Not on your life.” He flipped up his middle finger to his sibling and was met with an equally suggestive gesture.

  The brothers sipped their java, the television the solitary sound between them. It was nice, in a way. Most of the time someone was filling the void. Just sitting was a positive change of pace. At last, Asher spoke.