Now was not the time to tell her he felt the same. He'd have to admit to lying about bringing someone there. However, there had to be something he could do.
"I don't want you to leave. Let's work something out."
Regina walked in without knocking and stopped midstride. She looked from one to the other with an expectant expression. "What's up?"
"Going over the plans for the bunkhouse,” Jenna replied. "I made burritos."
On her way to the kitchen, Regina punched Bennett's shoulder. "Cat got your tongue?"
"What the hell does that mean anyway?” he snapped at her, although he was more annoyed with himself at being painted into a corner. "And, what the heck are you doing up before noon?"
His cousin gave him a droll look. "Shows how much you know me. I am an early riser.” She poured a cup of coffee and stood next to him and studied the plans.
"Whoa, that looks amazing. That Elle sure is talented."
"It's gonna make us lots of money. Won't it, Jenna?” He looked to Jenna who'd yet to meet his gaze.
"Yes, I believe it will produce enough income to pay for itself, but it will take a couple years at least before you will see a profit."
Regina's loud laugh annoyed him. It was time for the annoying woman to leave. There was an unfinished matter between him and Jenna that needed immediate attention.
Somehow, he had to figure out how to let Jenna know the feeling was mutual. He’d fallen for her. Fallen was actually an understatement. He was boots over ass in love with the woman.
It struck him as refreshing how honest she was about her feelings and how she didn’t expect anything in return. But to be released from her contract? That, of course, was so not happening.
“Wanna go shopping?” Regina asked Jenna who’d busied herself with scribbling notes on a pad of paper.
Her hazel gaze lifted and touched on his face briefly before going to Regina. “That sounds fun,” she spoke with hesitation. “Bennett, can I take off for a few hours? Did you need me for anything?”
Shit. Yes, he wanted her there. They had to talk. He glared at Regina. “I can come with you.”
“Oh, hell no. Last time you went shopping, I didn’t get a moment’s peace. Silly fan girls all over you.” Regina shook her head.
Jenna’s lips twitched with amusement when he pouted.
It was an opportunity to spend time with Jenna away from the ranch and he was taking it. “I’ll wear sunglasses and a ball cap. They’ll think I’m Sully. Come on. I’m tired of being stuck inside.”
“Go for a horse ride.” Regina laughed, a hint she was about to relent.
Jenna surprised him by speaking up for him. “He can come. We’ll just make him suffer as our bag and purse holder.”
Regina’s brows shot up. “What a great idea.”
The truck was just as Sully described it, shiny and without a ding or scratch. The new sound system begged to be played louder than the soft music that filled the space now. Once they got back, he’d go for a drive and blast it.
Yet at the moment, Jenna in his passenger seat was better than any loud song. Her curls blew every which way in the wind as she and Regina discussed what items they planned to buy. If he understood, they planned to hit up several crafts stores, a couple clothing shops and something to do with body workings. Whatever, it didn’t matter to him.
“This truck is great. Can I turn up this song?” Jenna’s wide smile made his insides melt.
For some reason, hearing himself over the speakers was disconcerting. But his cousin and Jenna singing along and making fun of him made up for it.
“You’re so sexy in those boots!” Regina screamed and poked at his shoulder. “You know you wanna take them off,” she sang.
“Shut up,” he yelled over the music. “Your voice is about to crack my windows.”
Although he loved ribbing his cousin, he enjoyed hearing her sing. She had a good voice. Jenna’s, however, was deeper, the huskiness in her voice definitely more adept far more for singing jazz than country.
He slid a look in her direction only to lock on her breasts as she swayed to the music. Bad timing. She looked over just in time to catch him.
With a frown, he looked straight ahead and pretended to find the view of the blacktop fascinating.
“That looks great on you!”
“This is super adorable. What do you think?”
“Should we both get this? In different colors, of course.”
“Oh look, a sale.”
Seemed like the same lines were repeated over and over at every stop. Bennett somehow managed to remain unnoticed as he carried bags and sat outside dressing rooms surrounded by a myriad of colorful items.
Jenna stepped out of a dressing room in a short yellow sundress and waited for Regina. Bennett straightened in his chair at the view of her long, shapely, tan legs. In the dress, he could picture her on the beaches of her birth country, Trinidad. The color of the dress was enchanting when combined with the caramel skin and dark, rich curls.
“You should buy that dress,” he told her.
She blushed and studied her reflection in a full-length mirror. “You think so?”
“Definitely. If you don’t get it, I’ll buy it for you.” He allowed his gaze to travel over her until she fidgeted and looked toward the other dressing room. “Regina, hurry up. I want you to see this one.”
What seemed like hours later, while at the same time only moments, they walked into a small diner.
“This has been the most fun ever,” Regina declared as they followed the server to a booth.
His cousin turned to Jenna. “You have to sit next to him. If we sit next to each other, I’ll end up throat punching him.”
In that moment, Bennett could have kissed his cousin and vowed to be nice to her for eternity. Thankfully, he didn’t have to, or else it would be a vow broken, as the woman was annoying as all get out.
He motioned for Jenna to go in first and then slid in next to her, moving until he was closer than was necessary.
“Oh. My. God.” A pair of teenagers walked up to the booth. One leaned in and studied him. “Are you Bennett Cole?”
“He gets that all the time. No he’s the not so famous married brother, Sully,” Regina snapped and pushed a plastic coated menu in his direction. “Bennett Cole is uglier and has bad breath.”
“Oh. Can we get your picture anyway?” the braver of the teens asked, already holding her cell phone up and ready. By the looks on their faces, neither of the teens believed Regina.
Bennett agreed and his cousin shot a couple pictures of the trio. He then signed something for both of them.
Thankfully, the diner was almost empty. Hopefully, by the time the teens got the idea to tell others, they’d be done eating.
“I think it’s nice to be admired. Although I know it’s sometimes invasive, isn’t it the object of fame?” Jenna asked.
In truth, he often saw it as funny that, although he owed his fans his livelihood, they asked him for simple things like pictures and a signature. “I agree. They are who make me and who pay me. So, in actuality, I do owe them. There have been a few overeager fans that have made me uncomfortable but for the most part, people are awesome.” He grinned and winked at Regina who surprised him by smiling back.
“That’s what I love about you, Cuz. You don’t have a swollen ego.”
Jenna laughed. “Did you two actually just exchange niceties?”
“Tucker might come to town next month,” Bennett commented just to get a reaction out of Regina.
She huffed. “Don’t even mention his name when I’m about to eat, dumbass. That butthead would ruin a pig’s appetite.”
“And there it goes,” Jenna said with a chuckle.
Whatever had happened between Regina and Tucker had ended with neither wanting to discuss it. His guitarist was tight-lipped when it came to Regina and his cousin snapped at the mention of guitarist’s name. The fact that he could get a rise out of her just b
y mentioning Tucker’s name was a tool he gladly kept in his arsenal in their everlasting battle of wits.
Twenty-Seven
Surrounded by shopping bags, Jenna had to admit that retail therapy had done wonders for her mood. With Bennett at the wheel and she beside him, it felt natural, like this was the way it should always be.
She’d seen different sides of him; the relaxed Bennett, the public figure and the relentless boy cousin who enjoyed fighting with Regina. He’d also shown interest in her. The way his gaze constantly tracked her had been troublesome. Not in a bad way, but that he affected her with just a look and that her body responded to a light touch was annoying.
It was going to be hard to get over him, if she ever did. One thing was for sure. The sooner he left and went to Butte, the better for her heart and mind.
As they pulled up to Cole lands, Bennett stopped at Regina’s house and helped her with her bags. Ever the gentleman, he stood by with his arms full as Regina dug in her purse for a key.
Jenna laughed when they began arguing over why she locked the door in the first place. And she continued laughing when Regina finally tried the door and it was, indeed, unlocked. Bennett groaned loudly.
“You’re so damned ditzy,” Bennett said as they walked into Regina’s house.
He came out seconds later rubbing his shoulder where, no doubt, Regina had punched him.
His startling blue gaze met hers as he climbed into the truck. “If I help with your bags, you can pay me with something besides a punch.”
“All right, I won’t hit you.”
“A kiss?” His lips curved into a roguish grin and she tried hard not to allow the heat to rise to her cheeks.
A compact silver car was parked haphazardly beside the house and immediately upon spotting the driver, Jenna’s stomach sunk. Every good feeling from the day spent with Bennett evaporated at spotting the blonde with large sunglasses emerging.
Once parked, Bennett called out. “Hey, Lacey. Didn’t expect you until day after next.”
Lacey was the woman he’d mentioned bringing there? Now she understood the reason for his displays of affection at the concert. Bennett had done it to make Lacey jealous and, obviously, it had worked.
“Go on. I’ll get my bags. I don’t have as many as Regina.” Jenna focused on the backseat, not waiting for Bennett’s reply.
He walked to Lacey, who hugged him and began chatting about how beautiful the area was. They walked into the house, Bennett pulling her suitcase behind him as she waved her arms talking animatedly about whatever the hell.
After two trips, Jenna finally trudged into her bedroom. Once depositing her purchases onto the bed, she planned to slip out and go to the stables. Hopefully, she’d keep busy and avoid the couple, who’d gone up to the loft.
When a sniff came, Jenna cleared her throat. She would not cry. No way would she cry in front of them. If and when she did, it would be away from earshot. She rushed through the living space, noticing out of the corner of her eye that they were descending the stairs.
Once outside, she rushed to the golf cart and zipped directly to the stables.
Troy smiled as she walked into the cool, darker area and motioned her closer. “What do you think about this?” He pointed at the Cole Ranching Supply catalog. “I have a few things on the list to order. Can you ask Mr. Cole about it?”
She studied the catalog. “I like how you justified everything. I think we need to set up your office with a window looking in here.”
“Yes ma’am.” Troy beamed. “I’d thought about that. I can do the work myself.”
She assured him it wasn’t necessary as the guy had his hands full with only a part-time helper at the moment.
The rest of the day flew by as Jenna followed the foreman, an attractive man who proved to be infinitely patient in answering her questions. They walked around the area where the bunkhouse was to be built and then discussed plans over sandwiches. The next day, Elle would be there and they would finalize everything with Bennett.
When it couldn’t be delayed any longer, Jenna finally headed back to the house. Her head hurt a bit and exhaustion from an overly busy day began to take its toll.
In the front room, Lacey sat in a chair across from Bennett.
Jenna found it odd until she noticed the blonde was filming Bennett, as he seemed to be doing an interview.
The blonde glanced over at Jenna, but didn’t smile. Instead, she nodded in acknowledgement. Of course, after finding out she and Bennett were staying in the same house, the girlfriend wouldn’t be very happy. Especially as she’d known Jenna and Bennett had a one-night stand.
“Elle and Sully invited us all over for dinner,” Bennett informed her a few minutes later. “Wanna ride over with us?”
She eyed the blonde who remained sitting and now chatted on her cell phone. “I’m very tired. It’s been a long day. I ate with the contract foreman a couple hours ago.”
“Are you sure?” He seemed to be anxious for her to come along.
No way was she going to play the “let’s make Lacey jealous” game again.
“Positive. I’m totally bushed.” She turned away and poured water into a cup for herbal tea. “Have fun. Tell Elle I’ll see her in the morning.”
“Okay.” To her surprise, he leaned forward and kissed her temple. Jenna looked up to him with a puzzled expression.
“You don’t have to wait up,” he said and jogged up the stairs.
“How do you like living here?” Lacey asked, her tone dripping with “I don’t really care”.
Jenna smiled, showing as much teeth as she could. “I absolutely love it. Bennett is a night owl, hope that doesn’t bother you.”
Okay, so that had been mean but, at the same time, it felt good.
“I can sleep through anything,” Lacey quipped and lifted her purse strap. She looked up to where Bennett had disappeared. “Bennett, are you ready?”
Tea sloshed over the edge of her cup when Jenna stirred it as she watched the golf cart disappear. “I hope you choke blondie.”
Now she was being petty. It wasn’t Lacey’s fault that things had not worked between her and Bennett. He was single and the one night together had only been a hook up.
Shit. The downside was her chest hurt and she was pretty sure it wasn’t heartburn from the sub sandwich earlier.
In the fogginess of slumber, Jenna tried to say something when she was jostled as someone nudged her shoulder. “Jenna, wake up,” Bennett whispered into her ear.
“Huh?” She blinked into the darkness. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Can I bunk here? I can sleep on the floor.”
In an instant, she was fully alert. “What are you doing in here?”
“I don’t want to give Lacey the wrong idea by sleeping on the couch. Why are you asleep so early?”
She peered at the clock on her nightstand. “It’s one o’clock in the morning.”
“Oh.”
Jenna slid over and he sunk into the mattress next to her on top of the covers.
“Thanks.”
“Did you and Lacey have a fight?”
“No why?
“Because you’re in here and not up there.”
“Why would I be upstairs?” He turned on his side and rested his head on his hand.
“You said your girlfriend was coming to spend a couple days. Are you two not sleeping together yet?” Jenna flopped onto her back to avoid being so close to him. “And won’t it piss her off if she catches you in here?”
He leaned over her and kissed her. “Nope.”
Jenna allowed his lips to linger just for a moment then she bit his bottom lip.
“Ouch!” He lay back and touched his lips with tentative fingers. “Why’d you do that?”
“Your girlfriend is in this house. She’s upstairs and you’re kissing me.”
Somehow, he managed to pull her against him and nuzzled her neck. “You are not making any sense.”
He pal
med her breast and Jenna shivered, wondering how the heck he’d managed to get his hand beneath the covers and then under her tank. A man with a mission was unstoppable, it seemed.
“I want to make love to you. I can’t stop thinking about it. You drive me crazy.” His words were like music to every sense and Jenna was unable to keep from responding.
He slid under the covers.
She yanked his shirt off.
He pulled her panties off.
She struggled to pull his boxers off.
He helped.
Then they were nude.
Every caress and kiss led to them both tangled up naked under the blankets.
Bennett licked a trail between her breasts to her pulsating stomach, each inch sending her closer to losing all control. He mumbled incoherent phrases that at any other time would have made sense. At the moment, the rushing of blood overrode any understanding.
His mouth covered hers, once again, as he settled between her legs. Jenna trailed her fingers down his back until reaching his bottom.
There was a sound on the other side of the doorway, probably one of the dogs demanding entry. Whatever it was, it shook Jenna into reality. This man was attempting to make love to her while Lacey was under the same roof.
What kind of a low down, crazy two-timer was he?
What kind of horny hooker did that make her?
“We can’t,” Jenna exclaimed and attempted to buck him off. Unfortunately, she realized a second later it was the wrong move as he was poised at the perfect spot to enter her body.
Both gasped at the sudden joining and Jenna let out a grunt followed by a moan when he began moving.
Okay, so fine, what could she do now? He was in and she was not about to let him to stop until stars and lightning flashed behind her eyelids.
Bennett tried to pull out, but she wrapped her legs around his hips. “Faster.”
And so, half an hour later, they lay next to each other gasping for breath.
“You’re beautiful when you come. And loud.”
“How are you going to explain this to Lacey?”
Montana Born and Bred Page 15
