Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series)

by Rivi Jacks

  Lying on the couch, I turn on the television and channel surf, keeping the sound muted. Once the pain eases, I get into the shower and then blow dry my hair. Diane calls to ask what I’m going to wear, which makes me smile. Diane is the only one of the three of us who obsesses on a daily basis about what to wear.

  By the time Jake gets home, I’m dressed in black stretchy jeans and a black tank top, which I’ve paired with a lightweight black jacket, and my black boots. Since I’m only observing, I don’t think it matters what I wear, but I smile when I look in the mirror. I’m wearing Lucas’ favorite color. Come to think of it, his men dress mostly in black too. I wonder if he’ll notice. I wonder why I care. Okay, stop this, Reece!

  When we stop outside the gates, the guard instructs us to hang a right where the driveway forks and park outside the arena building. We pull in and Lucas is across the parking lot talking to someone in a black Porsche. I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman, but I sense Lucas’ eyes on me as I get out of the truck. I look in his direction, and he smiles.

  We’re early, but I see a few faces from the community, including several family members. I wave at Sawyer and Sam. More women have shown for the training session than men and they’re already interacting with the trainers. The arena has a section of stadium seating, and I sit halfway up to get a good view of everything.

  When Lucas enters, one of his men calls to him. I see him hold up a finger in a wait gesture. He searches for me and heads my way. He has on a pair of black fatigue-type pants and a black short-sleeve T-shirt. He is still unshaven, and the way he looks and moves makes a strange yearning come over me. I lick my dry lips. I remember telling him that looking at him made me feel funny. I also think about his reply. I look away as he hurries up the steps to where I sit.

  When I glance back, he flashes me a knee-knocking grin and sits beside me. “You look beautiful,” he says. “You smell good too. Sweet.” I make a noise that makes him laugh. His warm breath fans across my cheek, making my stomach muscles clench. “I’m glad you came.”

  “Well... just following orders.” I turn my gaze to the arena. He laughs out loud, causing several of his men to glance up.

  My face grows warm. I always seem to blush around this man. I sit in silence, watching the action, nervous from his proximity. “Where’s Jake?” I finally ask.

  “He and Max are out back. We moved the archery training outside.” He stares at me. I return his gaze, which makes my stomach swarm with acrobatic butterflies. How can one man be so ridiculously handsome? It isn’t only his looks, either. The whole package is to die for. I’m just not in the market for death by broken heart. Am I? Why can’t I stay away from him then? That is the million-dollar question.

  “What?” I ask at his continued scrutiny.

  He gently picks up my hand, assessing. I bite my lip as my heart rate quickens. “You observe tonight,” he says in his deep voice, “and by tomorrow, you should be able to join in.” Tilting his head down, he raises my hand to his mouth. His gaze catches mine as he peers up from under his lashes. The intense heat in those eyes makes my breath catch. He places his mouth on the back of my hand and gently sucks. I whimper softly, and he lets me pull my hand away.

  A corner of his mouth lifts. “You stay here.” He holds my gaze and raises his eyebrow, reminding me of the last time he said that to me. My eyes follow him to the arena floor as he moves with a graceful ease. I realize I’m holding my breath and tell myself to breathe. He turns and meets my gaze dead on. He smiles an I-know-you’re-watching-me smile. I quickly look away. He is so full of himself!

  The activities below compel me to watch, and I can’t wait to be down there. I laugh when I see Andy instructing Diane at the rock-climbing area.

  Finally warm enough, I stand, take my jacket off, and hang it on the seat back. Turning, I discover, to my embarrassment, I’ve caught the attention of several of the men around the arena. I glance toward Lucas. He’s watching me as he stands talking to a couple of his men. I flush and sit down.

  After about an hour, he joins me again. I’ve been trying to keep my eyes off him, which proves to be a losing battle. “How about something to drink?” he asks with a sly grin.

  “That... sounds good.” My breathy voice reflects my reaction to watching him stalk across the arena. His eyes held mine the whole way, a predator moving in on his prey. It uncomfortably reminded me of the night at the Shotgun Shack.

  He holds his hand out, and I hesitate before giving him mine. He gently pulls me to my feet and changes his hold from hand to wrist. His fingers are on my pulse point, causing my heart rate to escalate. He peers down into my eyes with a smug smile. I glance away, knowing I am totally out of my element with him.

  We go down the steps and follow the outer wall to a break room. There are tables and chairs, a large refrigerator, a section of cabinets, and a sink. Lucas shows me the door to a bathroom, which, like the break area and the rest of the building, is clean as a pin.

  When I rejoin him, he opens the door of the refrigerator. “We have beer, soft drinks, and bottled water. What’s your poison?”

  I can’t help but giggle. “A water, please.”

  “Water,” he repeats with a smile. He hands the bottle to me and sits at one of the tables.

  I remain standing, looking at the photos on the wall, all from local areas. The bridge across the river at the county line, Dennis Burke’s round barn, and a really pretty shot of Old Soldier Cemetery. When I turn, I catch him checking me out.

  “What?” I ask, looking down at myself, wondering what is amiss.

  “Your hair looks longer the way you’re wearing it.” I sit across from him and pick up my water, feeling self-conscious with him staring. “So, you chose not to curl it?” He watches me.

  “No, my hair curls on its own.”

  “Is that right?” he asks in a silken voice.

  When I glance at him, he gives me a dark grin. I take a sip from my bottle and his eyes watch my mouth. This irritates me and makes me uncomfortable. “Do you enjoy staring at me?”

  “Am I annoying you?” He sounds amused.

  I frown. “Yes, actually, you are.”

  He chuckles. “Actually,” he mocks, “I was thinking about asking you to go to a party in Springfield with me on Saturday night.” My heart stutters. “Someone I need to speak with will be at this party, but I need my presence to appear... casual.” He sets his water down. “I know you don’t go out with strangers—” the humor in his voice is unmistakable “—but if I arrive with an enchanting blonde on my arm—”

  “We’d just be another couple.” I finish his sentence and I’m annoyed that I feel a little let down. “And it wouldn’t be a date, just a—ruse?”

  His eyes align with mine and he hesitates. “That’s right.”

  I ponder his invite as he waits for my answer with an expression I can’t place. “Okay.”

  “Good,” he replies. He leans back, seemingly relaxed, his eyes moving over me. “Black’s a good look on you.” I glance down at myself. “Do you have a little black dress?”

  I make a choked sound. “Are you going to tell me what to say too?” Who the hell does he think he is? I cross my arms and his eyes go to my breasts as the action pushes them up. I unfold my arms immediately.

  “I hope it won’t come to that,” he says, raising an eyebrow mockingly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven sharp. Be ready.”

  If he’s trying to push my buttons, he is doing a good job. “Maybe you would be better off asking someone else,” I say sarcastically.

  “Miss Reece! Such sarcasm, and in one so young,” he scoffs. Before I can respond, he stands and looks down at me as if appraising a car. “No, you’ll do.”

  I feel extremely irritated and I’m not bothering to hide it. As I hurry past him to go back to my seat in the arena, he speaks again.

  “Sofie?” I stop and look back at him with what I hope is a disdainful expression
. “Let your hair dry naturally.” At my expression, he laughs.

  I can feel the heat of his gaze all the way back to my seat. He has to be the bossiest, most irritating person I’ve ever met! Annoyed, I turn my attention to the far wall, determined to force Lucas out of my thoughts and ignore him for the rest of the evening. Rope rigging is attached to the wall at the rock-climbing area. This rigging continues right across part of the ceiling. There’s also an overly large tree trunk with limbs still attached going right up the wall. Ropes hang in and around these limbs. I suppose it’s for getting the feel of moving through the trees. It’s an intriguing setup, and out in the center of the ceiling is the hanging platform that reminds me of a tree house.

  I assume Emma Rae’s outside at the archery area since I don’t see her. Diane is getting into a harness to climb the tree. Her facial expressions and body language are hilarious.

  Sawyer joins me for a break. He and Sam want to get together with me the next evening. He’s ordered some fun stuff from his gun guy, and it’s in. They’ll give me a ride to training, and we’ll go out to their farm afterward.

  Sounds like a bang-up idea to me.

  The evening passes and soon it’s time to leave. Emma Rae and I ride home with Diane, and I look toward Lucas’ house as we drive by. I restrained myself from searching for him after his annoying “requests” and didn’t see him during the rest of the training session.

  “Sofie, what were you and Lucas doing back in the break room?” Diane asks. “When you walked out, I could tell you were pissed.”

  I give a disgruntled sigh. I decide to wait to tell them about my semi-date. “He was just... aggravating me.”

  “You two are a love affair waiting to happen,” she says.

  I give her a look that clearly says I think she’s nuts. She and Emma Rae share a look.

  I feel wiped out as I say goodnight to my best friends. I’ve done nothing but sit all night, but being around Lucas is exhausting! I quickly change and crawl into bed, snuggling under the covers. However, sleep is slow in coming. I have a semi-date with Lucas Santiago! Of course, he’s a wannabe dictator, telling me what to wear, how to fix my hair—

  Okay, stop this, Reece. I close my eyes and burrow into my pillow, determined to find sleep. The arrogance of the man! I pull the pillow over my head and force myself to think of something else. In all reality, I shouldn’t go out on a semi-or-whatever-anything with him. Maybe it would be best not to go.

  Rolling to my side, I work at clearing my mind, and I start to relax. My eyes open suddenly. Did he call me enchanting?

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  I baby my hand the next day, hoping to participate that evening at the arena. It’s in good shape. No swelling and no pain. I’m lucky.

  I’m ready and waiting for Sawyer and Sam to pick me up as I wander through the house, turning on a couple of lights, making sure to lock the back door. When I hear Sawyer honk, I check myself in the mirror. I’ve French braided my hair and I’m wearing a red T-shirt with jeans. I pull on a black hoodie as I head out the door.

  I train outside in archery first. Max discovers I have a little experience with a crossbow, mostly how one works. Jake acts the proud papa, but we both know I have a lot to learn. After coming inside, I proceed to the wall. I scan the arena, seeing Emma Rae and other friends, but no Lucas. Noticing his absence annoys me immensely.

  Andy helps me get into the harness. “Okay, now go up slow—Stevie will keep a hold on the line connected to your harness. If you slip, he’ll keep you from falling,” Andy reassures me. I inspect the display above me. The set-up is incredible. “Don’t be afraid.”

  I grin at him. “Oh... I’m not afraid.” I glance about. The rock wall, the ropes, and tree combine to create a compelling challenge. From the moment, I saw it, I’ve wanted to climb it.

  The guy up above (Stevie, I assume) shouts down, “Come on up, little girl. I won’t let you fall.” I turn to see almost everyone looking our way.

  I’m supposed to climb the tree trunk and make my way up to the branches where I can grab on to any of the ropes as needed. I noted the night before that once the climber made it to that point, they were supposed to continue the climb to the rope ladder. However, I want the challenge of the wall and I want to bypass Stevie, sitting on a small platform at the top of the ladder. I’ll climb the rigging strung across the ceiling to the center and make it to the suspended tree house.

  I climb, shuffling across the large tree limb nailed to the trunk and anchored with cables to the ceiling. At the rock wall, rock handholds are set in the wall at intervals, and that’s what I’ll need to grab. The first handhold is directly below Stevie. I’ll have to move across the wall and up to reach the rigging at the top.

  “Hey, girlie,” Stevie calls down to me, “you need to come on up here, go back, and grab the ladder.”

  With my foot, I find the rock jutting out from the wall. I use my right hand to test its strength, to make sure I can do this. Then I reach with my left hand toward the next handhold. I have to pull up to place my right foot on the next rock. I’m for sure not as quick as any of Lucas’ men, but I make it with Stevie encouraging me.

  I reach the rigging with Stevie a few feet below and about five feet across from me. He calls to me, appearing a little anxious, “Okay, beautiful, ready to go back down?”

  “I was thinking I’d go across to the center.” I’m already holding on to the rigging with my hands, my feet planted on a rock jutting out from the wall.

  “Well, I’m not too sure about that.” He glances down. “I’m not in the right place to help you hook a different safety line on. It’s not as easy as it looks, and from the expression on the boss’s face, I think we’d both be in trouble.”

  I glance down. Yes, there’s Lucas, and that’s not a happy face. Sawyer, standing behind him, waves his arm in a motion to come down.

  “Okay, I’ll go down.”

  “Grab that rope—”

  “Can I just climb down?” I ask.

  He smiles. “Yeah, go for it.”

  When I reach the point where I can drop to my feet, a pair of hands encircle my waist and pluck me off the wall. I know it’s Lucas, and when he spins me around, the first thing I notice is the muscle twitching on the side of his jaw. Not a good sign, I’m learning.

  “Come with me,” he growls.

  Andy quickly helps me out of the harness, and when his eyes meet mine, I see a glimmer of amusement. I hurry to catch up with Lucas, following him with trepidation. Why is he mad? I didn’t do anything wrong. Some of the women give me the thumbs up on the way.

  Following Lucas, I get my turn to check him out. He has a nice butt. Really nice. He continues past the break area, and I follow as he briskly walks beside the outer wall. I scurry to keep up with his long strides. I glance behind me, wondering where we’re going, and I see Cal Thomas, who knocked me unconscious my first visit here. He smiles and quickly ducks his head.

  When we reach the corner of the building, I notice a door, which Lucas opens. I just stand there, fairly certain I don’t want to go in.

  “Sofie,” he says in a deceptively quiet voice, but his expression gives me warning, “would you like for me to help you across the threshold?”

  I give a slight shake of my head. I’m pretty sure I don’t. I take a deep breath and step in. The door closes soundly behind us. I’ve entered an office containing a desk with two oversized chairs before it. A comfortable-looking leather couch occupies the opposite wall, and the far wall is made of a large shelving unit and a curtained door which I assume leads outside. A deep, plush carpet covers the floor, and I’m a little surprised at the old-world elegance hidden in this corner of the arena building.

  When Lucas doesn’t say anything, I turn to look at him. He stands close, staring down at me. His expression causes me to swallow, drawing his eyes to my throat. He quickly brings his intense gaze back to mine.

  “If you had continued across that rigging—” His voice
holds suppressed anger, his eyes— Oh my! I swallow convulsively, knowing he’s going to kiss me. He abruptly turns and moves with angry strides to the shelf unit. Opening a door to a small mini bar, he pours an amber liquid out of a decanter into a glass. He knocks it back and sets the glass down, not hard, but not easy. “You would have been out,” he snaps.

  “What?” I say to his back. “Why?”

  He faces me. “This isn’t a game, Sofie. There are rules, and they are in place for a good reason. Most of the men in the community are not comfortable with their women learning how to fight monsters, and if I can’t keep you safe while you train...”

  He’s right.

  “If you had fallen, not one of the women here tonight would be available to help us by this time tomorrow.” His voice is raspy with his anger.

  All at once, I feel the need to make him not so mad at me. “Point well taken,” I say. “But I wasn’t being careless. I wouldn’t have continued across that rigging without a safety line. I’m a good climber, but... I’ve never crawled across a rope ladder hanging upside down before,” I admit.

  He tilts his head, and his silent scrutiny makes me nervous. His eyes narrow as if assessing me. I notice that when he’s angry, his eyes are more silver than green. However, I don’t think I should point that out at this moment.

  “That brings me to the main reason I brought you in here.” Something in his voice gives me warning for the second time in a matter of minutes.

  “What?” I ask softly.

  He steps toward me—then circles me as if I’m his prey. Is this what he likes, making me feel as if I’m in danger? As he moves behind me, I feel a tingling along my spine. I bite my bottom lip in nervousness.

  “Do you know how angry I was when you came onto my property?” he asks his voice dangerously quiet. I tense, now wanting to be anywhere but here. “You do remember the night you left your shoe behind?” He stops in front of me.

  I let out a ragged breath. This I did not expect. He continues to stare at me. Does he want me to answer him?